Ramp Alumni Company Tiny Cargo Expands
RAMP alumni Tiny Cargo Company is expanding in the City of Roanoke! The biotech start-up has announced the creation of three jobs and $500,000 in capital investment and upfitting an existing 10,800-square-foot warehouse to include a clean room—the first commercial clean room in Roanoke—and production space. Their expansion prepares them to manufacture exosomes for worldwide supply and XoLacta, a drug/therapeutic targeted to treat radiation exposure and as a radio protectant during cancer treatment.
Dr. Spencer Marsh, Tiny Cargo’s Chief Scientific Officer, said, “Tiny Cargo’s purpose is to unlock the healing power of exosomes for all humanity, and with this, its ambition is to be a global leader in the supply and licensing of exosome technology.”
Tiny Cargo, led by Dr. Robert Gourdie and Dr. Marsh, developed and patented the world’s first scalable process for isolating cow milk exosomes. Exosomes are tiny particles that all cells secrete that contain signaling messages to turn on and off crucial functions in the body. They have a vast range of potential, high-value applications, from fortifying infant formulas to adult supplements for gut, bone and muscle health to advanced skin repair serums in the beauty industry. Tiny Cargo is the first to produce exosomes at scale and will produce them from milk sourced from Homestead Creamery in Franklin County.
Tiny Cargo is a prime example of how Roanoke’s innovation ecosystem supports companies in their journey toward commercialization. The expansion was facilitated by Roanoke’s Innovation Corridor, a collaboration of investments by Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Carilion Clinic, the City of Roanoke and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Roanoke Regional Partnership assisted Tiny Cargo in identifying a workable real estate solution, allowing them to keep their expansion project in the region. Tiny Cargo expects the site to be operational starting in March 2025.
If you have a high-growth potential idea in life sciences or technology, RAMP is here to help you navigate the path to commercialization. No matter where you find yourself in the startup lifecycle, RAMP wants to connect you with regional resources if you are building a technology-based business with high-growth potential. The RAMP program includes different levels of support to help companies on their business journeys. Read more about RAMP’s various programs and start your own journey.