Ahmedabad-based biopharma startup Lamark Biotech has successfully raised Rs 6.5 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by the Indian Angel Network (IAN) Group, including IAN Alpha Fund, BioAngels, and domain experts such as Dr. Vinayender Tulla, Dr. Nita Roy, and Venkataraman KNK.
Pioneering Thermostable Biologics for Greater Accessibility
Founded in 2018 by Dr. Vaibhav Bhatia, an entrepreneurial biochemist, Lamark Biotech is on a mission to transform drug delivery for chronic and life-altering diseases by tackling a critical challenge in biologics: cold-chain dependency.
Their proprietary ProteoStrong™ platform stabilizes fragile protein-based drugs—such as insulin, monoclonal antibodies, and enzymes—without altering their molecular structure, enabling these medicines to remain effective even outside refrigeration. This breakthrough is especially crucial for India and other regions where cold storage infrastructure is limited or unreliable.
Dr. Bhatia, also the CEO, emphasized,
“We’re accelerating our thermostable insulin program and expanding ProteoStrong to more critical therapeutics. Our priority is clear—make safe and high-efficacy biologics accessible to all. We believe, ‘if it is not accessible, it is not a medicine’.”
Targeting India’s Rs 4,000 Crore Insulin Market and Beyond
Lamark’s flagship product, InsulinStrong, a thermostable crystalline form of recombinant human insulin, aims to disrupt the Indian insulin market valued at Rs 4,000 crore. InsulinStrong boasts a shelf life of two years at room temperature, eliminating the need for cold storage and significantly reducing costs.
The startup plans to extend its platform to other critical therapies, including diabetic eye disease treatments and cancer immunotherapy, expanding its impact across Southeast Asia and the UAE.
Strategic Collaborations and Future Roadmap
Lamark Biotech leverages R&D facilities at the Venture Center, NCL Innovation Park in Pune, and collaborates with academic institutions such as Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) and international partners in Spain and Europe.
In the next 24 months, the company aims to:
File new international patents
Initiate early clinical trials
Build strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), and global health agencies
Industry Experts Backing Innovation for Low-Resource Settings
Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder of IAN Group, highlighted the significance of Lamark’s innovation:
“Investment in Lamark represents IAN’s commitment to growing innovations that solve real problems. Their thermostable biologics can make critical treatments affordable and accessible to millions in India and globally, especially in low-resource environments.”
Why Lamark Biotech’s Innovation Matters for India
India faces significant challenges in delivering biologics due to the high costs and logistical complexities of cold-chain storage. Lamark’s technology promises to:
Reduce wastage caused by temperature fluctuations
Lower treatment costs by cutting cold storage expenses
Enhance access to life-saving medicines in rural and underserved areas
This aligns perfectly with India’s healthcare goals of universal access and affordable treatment.
Conclusion
Lamark Biotech’s recent Rs 6.5 crore funding milestone marks a significant step towards revolutionizing biologics in India by making them thermostable and accessible. With strong backing from seasoned investors and a clear roadmap, Lamark is set to address one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare delivery, promising better outcomes for millions of patients across India and beyond.
This development is a beacon of hope for patients dependent on biologics like insulin, and a testament to India’s growing prowess in biotech innovation.