Secretome Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of therapeutics derived from neonatal cardiac progenitor cells (nCPC) to treat underserved diseases. The company’s lead product, STM-01, is in clinical development for adult and pediatric forms of heart failure, and their pipeline includes novel secretomes (the unique combination of molecules and biological factors that are secreted by cells) for neurodegenerative and dermatological diseases. The company was founded in late 2018 as a University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) startup company (then known as NeoProgen), licensing an intellectual property (IP) portfolio based on research led by Sunjay Kaushal, MD (former Professor of Surgery at University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)). Dr. Kaushal and his collaborators discovered that the regenerative properties of nCPCs (derived from tissue otherwise discarded following surgery on infants) can be particularly effective in healing muscle tissue in the heart.

Based in Baltimore, Secretome Therapeutics recently made headlines with their announcement of a $20.4 million investment to support two Phase 1 clinical trials and to further advance their lead asset, STM-01. Over the years, the company has also been successful in pursuing various grant and investment opportunities offered by the Maryland innovation ecosystem. In their first year, the company raised $1.5 million in seed funding through the combined investment of the University System of Maryland Momentum Fund, TEDCO, and UM Ventures, Baltimore. In 2020, and again in 2024, Secretome was the recipient of a Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Commercialization Award. The 2024 award supported translational development and scaleup of the nCPCs for regenerative medicine applications, including dilated cardiomyopathy. Beginning in 2022, Secretome conducted GMP manufacturing studies in collaboration with the Fannie Angelos Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory and the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Djordje Atanackovic, MD (Professor of Medicine at UMSOM and Medical Director of the Fannie Angelos Cellular Therapeutics Lab) commented, “It’s been gratifying to collaborate with a company developing a promising technology that was initially developed right here at UMB.”  

Vinny Jindal, co-founder, president, and CEO of Secretome Therapeutics, said “Our company is proud to be a partner with UMB as well as other Maryland institutional supporters and investors as we work to advance our novel therapies to address life-threatening cardiovascular diseases and conditions driven by inflammation.”