Two startups supported by Bengaluru-based bioincubator Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) have emerged victorious in the global Johnson & Johnson (JnJ) Innovation’s Global Health Discovery QuickFire Challenge: Flavivirus Infections and Innovation Japan Smart Healthy Aging QuickFire Challenge.

Aaarna Therapeutics is the only company to feature as a winner in the 2023 JnJ Innovation’s Global Health Discovery QuickFire Challenge: Flavivirus Infections while Qure.ai is the only Indian company to be featured among the four awardees in the JnJ Innovation Japan Smart Healthy Aging QuickFire Challenge. 

Bengaluru-based Aaarna Therapeutics is an mRNA therapeutics company developing mRNA expressed CRISPR-Cas based broad spectrum antiviral therapeutics, vaccines and prophylactics. While Mumbai-based Qure.AI is a digital healthcare company providing artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) and deep learning-driven radiology analysis and interpretation solutions for X-Rays, and CT scans. 

Both winners will receive grant funding from a total pool of $300,000, access to Johnson & Johnson Innovation’s Asia Pacific ecosystem including a dedicated workstation for one year at JLABS @ Shanghai, and mentorship from experts across the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies (Johnson & Johnson).