Our Partners

Fannin
Houston, Texas

Allterum is a spin-out company out of Fannin. Fannin is Houston’s most active biomedical development group focused on developing early stage pharmaceutical and medical device assets, both those in-licensed in from academic institutions and those developed internally. Fannin’s approach to early-stage commercialization of academic research complements the more traditional academic paths of either out-licensing the technology to industry or spinning it out as a standalone VC-funded startup. In its hybrid approach, Fannin serves as both the management team and the early investor, collaborating with the academic inventors to advance the technology, leveraging grant funding when appropriate. Fannin evolved this approach as a way to address the biotech development gap in places, like Houston, that have a powerful research engine, but lack the critical mass of commercialization seen in the biotech hubs of Boston and San Francisco. Since inception, Fannin has brought in ~35 programs, of which ~15 are active including three in the clinic. We have had ~$193 million invested across our programs of which ~$69 million was from grant funding, with the rest coming from investors. An additional critical element to Fannin’s model is helping grow life sciences product developers locally through its apprenticeship programs. The program includes part-time interns and full-time product development associates (formerly “fellows”). Our product development program has grown to become one of the largest of its kind, with over 300 interns and fellows in the last decade, with alumni active in institutions and biotech companies across the Houston ecosystem and nationally.

Texas
Allterum received one of the first Product Development Seed Awards from Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), including ~ $3 million for preclinical development. In 2023, Allterum was awarded a $12 million product development grant from CPRIT, which will support the clinical introduction of a therapeutic antibody targeting acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). CPRIT is a state agency that funds cancer research in Texas. Researchers and organizations in Texas are invited to apply for grants that match CPRIT’s mission and three goals to develop and advance innovation in the area of cancer for the prevention and cure of cancer.