polyphosphate
(2)
Cayuga Biotech
Cayuga Biotech is a clinical-stage biotech developing first-in-class therapeutics that stop life-threatening bleeding by accelerating the body's own clotting cascade. Its lead candidate, CAY001, is a synthetic polyphosphate-silica nanoparticle (polyP-SNP) designed to work where conventional hemostatic agents fall short - non-compressible hemorrhage from trauma, surgery, blood thinners and inherited bleeding disorders. Founded on research from UC Santa Barbara, the company harnesses polyphosphate, a natural cofactor stored in platelets, to normalize thrombin production and speed clot formation without slowing clot breakdown.
Andrea Ashford-Hicks
Andrea Ashford-Hicks is the CEO of Cayuga Biotech, an early-stage platform biotechnology company developing biomimetic polyphosphate therapies for severe bleeding. She joined in 2022 after two decades in biopharma, including leading the FDA approval and commercial launch of RETHYMIC at Enzyvant Therapeutics and progressive roles at Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Agenus, EMD Serono and Schering-Plough. She holds dual degrees in biology and finance from the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School.