Crystal Brown’s journey to biotech entrepreneurship is anything but conventional. With a background in the automotive industry, she made an unexpected leap into the world of artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery. Now, as the co-founder and CEO of CircNova, a Michigan-based biotech startup, she is pioneering a new approach to developing therapies for diseases that currently lack effective treatments.
CircNova has secured a $3.3 million seed round to advance its AI-powered technology that targets circular RNA, a relatively new and promising class of genetic molecules. Unlike traditional RNA, which exists in linear strands, circular RNA forms loops that regulate vital biological processes. The potential therapeutic applications of these molecules span across complex conditions such as ovarian cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and rare genetic diseases.
At the core of CircNova’s innovation is NovaEngine, a proprietary AI platform that identifies, designs, and produces novel non-coding circular RNAs. Unlike large language models, NovaEngine operates similarly to DeepMind’s AlphaFold, using deep learning to predict RNA structures and generate viable drug candidates. What sets CircNova apart is its integration of AI with a physical wet lab, allowing the company to produce and validate these molecules in real-world experiments. In collaboration with the University of Michigan, the company is pushing the boundaries of RNA-based therapies.
The technology behind CircNova stems from the work of co-founder Joe Deangelo, a seasoned biotech executive with experience at Neochromosome and Apex Bioscience. Alongside investor and chief business officer William Grenawitzke, Brown is leading the company into a new era of AI-powered drug discovery. With its innovative approach and fresh funding, CircNova is poised to make significant strides in treating diseases that have long eluded effective therapies.
