In 2017, iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation (iMBP) emerged from a deeply personal turning point in Dr. Urban A. Kiernan’s life. After losing his wife to cancer in 2006, Kiernan was forced to reconsider the future of healthcare and his contribution to science. “It turned my world upside down,” he shares. “But it also made me think beyond the world of biomarkers and diagnostics. What comes next, and how do we truly impact patient outcomes?”
While advances in early detection and biomarkers could identify diseases, Kiernan saw a critical gap: the lack of therapeutic solutions that could address the root causes of these conditions. This realization fueled his drive to innovate in the field of precision medicine, ultimately leading to the creation of iMBP and his educational podcast, “Decoding Health,” on YouTube.
The traditional drug development model is often slow and costly, with limited progress toward addressing many of today’s most significant health challenges, and many just address symptoms, not root causes. However, at iMBP, Kiernan is focused on developing innovative therapies aimed at addressing complex, widespread diseases like cardiovascular conditions, obesity-related diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.
This isn’t Kiernan’s first foray into biotech. Previously, he played a crucial role at Intrinsic Bioprobes (IBI), a company specializing in proteomics and biomarkers, which was acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2011. Kiernan gained invaluable experience in diagnostics and drug development there, learning firsthand the importance of collaboration in advancing science. However, during his time at Thermo Fisher, the demands of global business development and single parenthood (the sole parent of two daughters) weighed heavily on him.
In 2016, Kiernan took a step back and recalibrated, setting the stage for the launch of iMBP. Initially conceived as a “one-drug wonder” company, Kiernan soon realized that simply adding another drug to the crowded pharmaceutical market was not his end goal.
Combining his expertise in proteomics with the potential of emerging technologies, he instead dove into precision medicine and developed the company’s proprietary iPlatform, which is a blend of biotechnology and AI. “It is the foundation for which iMBP can and is tackling some of the most complex diseases of our time,” explains Kiernan. “We’ve created a system that doesn’t just address symptoms. It targets the underlying causes and the root mechanisms driving these diseases. That’s where the real change happens.”
Unlike traditional treatments that often focus on alleviating symptoms, iMBP’s platform aims to intervene in the genetic and biochemical pathways that drive disease progression. iMBP’s iPlatform leverages advanced biotechnology tools and artificial intelligence to design therapeutics to address the root causes of diseases at the molecular level. This method allows for developing highly personalized therapies tailored to the individual’s specific genetic makeup, environmental factors, and lifestyle, offering a more precise and effective treatment strategy.
For example, in cardiovascular disease, iMBP’s research centers on the metabolic pathways contributing to atherosclerosis and heart disease. The iPlatform has led to the development of multiple drugs that can more effectively regulate the body’s fat metabolic processes. In neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, iMBP focuses on the pathogenic mechanisms specifically contributing to cognitive decline in patients with the Apolipoprotein E4 genotype. The intent is to halt or even possibly induce healing to reverse the disease progression in this high-risk patient group. Similarly, the company is addressing obesity-related diseases by targeting the metabolic imbalances that lead to associated health issues such as diabetes, fatty liver, and kidney disease.
These are not niche problems but global health challenges that are both urgent and historically underserved. iMBP has already secured two NIH SBIR Awards and formed strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as OmniAb, AWS, and Nvidia, positioning the company to make significant strides in techbio and the development of precision medicine.
With a portfolio of four drug assets currently in development, Kiernan is also cultivating an “incubator mindset,” constantly exploring new approaches and partnerships to broaden its impact. “This isn’t about solving just one problem; it’s about building a platform that can address many,” Kiernan said. The company’s ambitions extend beyond its current drug pipeline to include new technologies and collaborations that can drive innovation across the healthcare landscape.
Kiernan’s journey, marked by triumphs and hardships, gives iMBP a sense of purpose beyond business. “If there’s one takeaway I hope people get from my story,” he reflected, “it’s that the work we do should leave the world better than we found it. If I can inspire even one person to rethink what’s possible, then it’s all worth it.”
With a growing team of experts, a promising pipeline, and a focus on long-term impact, iMBP is proving that healthcare innovation can go hand-in-hand with improving lives. Kiernan’s leadership reflects how personal experience and professional expertise can come together to create lasting change. The work Kiernan is doing at iMBP is not just about creating new treatments; it’s about transforming healthcare to offer patients not only better outcomes but also the possibility of healthier, longer lives.
If you want to learn more about Kiernan and iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation’s iPlatform technology and therapeutic pipeline, you can head to their website.
