Maintaining passion for her work as the president and chief executive officer at InvivoSciences stems from a deep personal connection to heart failure, having lost her father to the disease, said Ayla Annac, a two-time Titan 100. “This personal experience drives my commitment to advancing precision medicine in heart failure treatments,” she said. “The knowledge that our work could save lives keeps me motivated even during the toughest moments.”
InvivoSciences Inc. (IVS) is a pre-clinical-stage biotech company developing approaches to develop precision HF therapies for cardiometabolic diseases. The company’s innovation utilizes its predictive precision medicine development technology platform, Kokordia™, combining patient-derived micro heart on a chip, NuHeart™, AI-assisted patient-stratification diagnostic technology, and automated instrumentation for safe and effective precision medicine development. IVS201, discovered by the platform, is its lead drug development program targeting heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
In the past year, under Annac’s leadership, InvivoSciences completed the FDA package to be ready for the pre-IND meet to advance its lead precision drug program IVS201 for Heart Failure Preserved Ejection Fraction to clinical trials. As a result, the company was selected as a finalist in the 2024 Wisconsin innovation awards.
In addition, Annac led the charge to form a strategy of collaboration with academic institutions and industry partners, which has accelerated the firm’s research capabilities. This approach has facilitated strategic partnerships and discussions with leading pharmaceutical companies, allowing the firm to explore co-development opportunities.
Financially, the growth strategy included securing non-dilutive funding and seeking private investment funding to support phase 1 clinical trials, which will be key in advancing the research pipeline and expanding operational capabilities. “These strategic efforts have positioned InvivoSciences for growth with a drug pipeline in the cardiac and heart failure precision medicine space,” said Annac.
As a leader, Annac said she embraces continuous learning. “In the ever-evolving biotech field, staying updated on the latest advancements and innovations allows me to remain engaged and inspired,” she said. “Sharing this passion with others is crucial for rallying the team and attracting strategic partners and investors for each stage of our milestones.”
She also makes it a point to create a purpose-driven culture within InvivoSciences. “By aligning our goals with a broader mission, I can consistently share the enthusiasm and make sure that everyone involved feels part of something transformative, and I can keep attracting the right investors and partners who share our vision and mission for growth and precision medicine development for heart failure,” said Annac.