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The InNOLEvation® Mindset PodcastAuthor: Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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149 - Esperance Biotech’s Journey Toward a Treatment for TMAU
Sunday, 25 October, 2026
Host Mark McNees welcomes back Ava Polly (CCO) and Zachary Asarnow (CEO) of Esperance Biotech to discuss their progress since first appearing on the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast. They recap traveling to Paris for iGEM and iGEM Startups, joining residencies in Vienna and San Francisco, and graduating from FSU, while noting co-founder Eli continues lab work. Esperance is developing a genetically engineered probiotic to treat trimethylaminuria (TMAU), a rare genetic disease that causes a rotting-fish odor and severe social and psychological harm, and they see broader applications, including cardiovascular disease. They describe iterating on their design, early in vitro results showing a reduction in TMA by over 98% in two hours, plans for gut simulation and animal testing, and pursuing an FDA orphan drug pathway after pivoting away from a supplement route. They also discuss incubator benefits, networking, time prioritization, and the advice they’d give their earlier selves. Contact Info email is staff@esperance.bio website is esperance.bio
