Elects to launch in Massachusetts

A group of up-and-comers backed by biotech veterans in the Boston area is moving to the VDC. Their startup is called Novophage Therapeutics which plans to make engineered viruses that may help combat the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics.

Its scientific advisors include MIT’s prolific biotech inventor Bob Langer, and Boston University bioengineering professor James Collins.

Research related to the firm’s science was led by co-founder Dr. Timothy Lu, an assistant professor at MIT. Dr. Michael Koeris is the CEO of Novophage. The VDC will be the first formal home for the startup.

One year ago, the company won Purdue University’s Life Sciences Business Plan Competition and became eligible to receive free business incubator space in one of Purdue Research Park’s technology centers in the state for up to one year. The elected to launch in Massachusetts. Novophage was a finalist in MassChallenge, the world’s largest startup competition.

The Venture Development Center is Boston’s leading startup incubator for technology and life science companies.