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Pearl Diagnostics, Inc.
Pearl Diagnostics is a Baltimore-based in vitro diagnostics company spun out of Johns Hopkins University that develops non-invasive urine tests to detect life-threatening lung infections. Its proprietary Smart Antibody technology identifies circulating microbial extracellular vesicles, and its lead product, the MycoMEIA Aspergillus Assay, became the first urine-based test to win FDA 510(k) clearance for aiding diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. The company raised an $11.2M Series A in March 2026 to commercialize in the US and expand across Europe.
Eric Gornstein
Eric Gornstein is the Chief Executive Officer of Pearl Diagnostics, a Johns Hopkins spinout in Baltimore that makes MycoMEIA, the first FDA-cleared urine test for invasive aspergillosis. A biopharma commercialization veteran with more than 25 years leading product launches, partnering and deal-making across therapeutic areas, he joined Pearl in late 2025 to take the company from FDA clearance to the market and into Europe. Earlier he helped launch Radius Health's first product, Tymlos, and worked in business development and cell therapy partnerships at companies including bit.bio and Talaris Therapeutics.
Clasp Therapeutics
Clasp Therapeutics is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company building off-the-shelf, antibody-like T cell engagers that target cancer driver mutations presented on tumor cells via HLA. Spun out of Johns Hopkins and co-founded by cancer-genetics pioneer Bert Vogelstein and immunotherapy leader Drew Pardoll, Clasp uses its proprietary pHLAre platform to redirect a patient's own T cells to kill tumors with what the company calls absolute specificity - hitting mutant peptides found only on cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. The company launched publicly in March 2024 with a $150 million Series A and dosed its first patient in April 2025.