Incircular | Robust proteins for biotech applications
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Robust proteins

 

for applications

 

in biotech and pharma

Our Company

A spin-out from the VU University Amsterdam

The foundation of Incircular was developed from an idea originating from a team of experts in the labs of Prof. Tom Grossmann where chemistry, molecular biology and structural biology are uniquely combined. Incircular is a spin-out from the VU University Amsterdam and holds the exclusive license for the INCYPRO technology. We develop robust proteins for their broad applicability and for the development of novel applications. We are actively seeking new partnering opportunities where we provide robust INCYPRO proteins that easily withstand the required conditions for a specific application.

Our Technology

INCYPRO: In situ cyclization of proteins

Incircular uses an innovative technology, called in situ cyclization of proteins (INCYPRO), to stabilize the 3D structure of proteins. It involves a structural-based rational design, molecular biology methods and protein chemistry. INCYPRO delivers highly stabilized proteins (towards temperature, denaturing agents, and other conditions) with only minimal modification, retaining the protein’s natural structure and activity (binding, chemical transformation).

Our Publications
Benefits
Enhanced stability

Proteins tolerate higher temperatures and different buffer compositions.

Minimal modification

Our y-shaped small molecule efficiently keeps the protein structure in place.

Retained function

While being more robust, the function of the protein remains unchanged.

Partners

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Get in touch, let’s collaborate!

Team

Antrea

Antrea Kyriakidou

Business
Developer

BIOGRAPHY

Antrea is a business developer. She holds a Master’s degree in Bio-pharmaceutical Sciences and Business Studies from Leiden University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Surrey. She started her career as a laboratory technician and later on as a laboratory manager in diagnostic laboratories, and soon after the completion of her Master’s degree, she gained experience in regulatory affairs and business development. Antrea joined the Incircular team in 2024.

David Hamilton

Dr. David Hamilton

Chemistry
Senior Scientist

BIOGRAPHY

David is a (medicinal) synthetic chemist. He undertook his Master’s Degree in Chemistry at The University of York, UK, spending his final year at Takeda Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, UK. In 2016, he embarked on a PhD in Fragment-based Drug Discovery, designing 3D cyclobutane fragments, within the group of Prof. Iwan de Esch at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. David joined Incircular in 2022.

George

Dr. George Hutchins

Protein Engineer
Senior Scientist

BIOGRAPHY

George is a biochemist, completing his PhD in 2021 specialized in de novo heme-protein design at the University of Bristol, UK. George then joined the Grossmann group at VU Amsterdam as a postdoc, helping to develop the INCYPRO technology through a combination of experimental and computational techniques, prior to joining the Incircular team at the start of 2024.

Lorenzo Vallino

Lorenzo Vallino

Molecular Biology
Sr. Research Associate

BIOGRAPHY

Lorenzo is a biologist. He received his Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Pavia, Italy. Lorenzo started his career at the Department of Molecular Medicine Pavia where his work involved cloning, protein expression, purification and characterization. In 2021, Lorenzo joined the Incircular team

Dr. Marcelo Masman

Dr. Marcelo Masman

Computational Biochemistry
Principal Scientist

BIOGRAPHY

Marcelo is a chemist with a specialization in computational molecular modeling and bioinformatics. He received his PhD from the University of Groningen in 2010. After several post-doctoral research projects, he became a senior researcher at the University of Amsterdam (Prof. Mutti). Marcelo is also a chemistry teacher. Marcelo has been part of the Incircular team since 2022.

Dr. Saskia Neubacher

Dr. Saskia Neubacher

CEO
& Co-founder

BIOGRAPHY

Saskia is a chemist. After her chemistry studies at the Free University Berlin, she continued with her PhD in chemical biology at the Humboldt University in Berlin. She then became associate editor for chemistry journals at Wiley-VCH. In 2016, Saskia joined Tom’s group as project leader at the VU University Amsterdam and continued research on INCYPRO. She launched Incircular in 2021.

Sharmila Srinivasan

Sharmila Srinivasan

Molecular Biology
Sr. Research Associate

BIOGRAPHY

Sharmila is a biochemist. She holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Glasgow. She started her career in bacterial protein expression and purification at the Translational Research Platform for Veterinary Biologicals, India. Sharmila is part of the Incircular team since 2022.

Dr. Sven Hennig

Dr. Sven Hennig

Scientific Advisor
& Co-founder

BIOGRAPHY

Sven is a biochemist and crystallographer. He received his PhD from the Max-Planck Institue for Molecular Physiology. After post-doctoral research at the Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research in Perth, Sven started his own research group in 2012 at the Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max-Planck Society. He joined the VU University Amsterdam in 2017 as head of crystallography and assistant professor for structural chemical biology.

Prof. Tom Grossmann

Prof. Tom Grossmann

Scientific Advisor
& Co-founder

BIOGRAPHY

Tom is a chemist. He received his PhD in chemistry from the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany. After post-doctoral research at Harvard University, Tom started his independent career at the Max Planck Institute and the Chemical Genomics Center in Dortmund. Since 2016, Tom is full professor and Chair of Biomimetic Chemistry at the VU University Amsterdam.

News

Support

Funded under Horizon Europe framework – EIC Transition project INCYPROnext (Ref: 101057978 —  HORIZON-EIC-2021-TRANSITIONOPEN-01) during the period 06/2022 – 05/2025.

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