When people think of Las Vegas, biotech innovation probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But Martin Schiller, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Las Vegas-based Heligenics, is working to change that.
His company, born out of research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), is developing cutting-edge technology to accelerate and improve the drug discovery process – right from the heart of Southern Nevada.
Revolutionizing Drug Discovery
“We basically invented a way to barcode molecules,” Schiller explains. “That lets us test many of them at once, which means we can discover new drugs faster, better, and cheaper than traditional pharmaceutical methods.”
Traditional drug development is notoriously slow and expensive, often taking years and billions of dollars to bring a new treatment to market. Heligenics aims to do the same discovery phase work in as little as six to 18 months at a fraction of the cost.
Martin Schiller, Ph. D,
Founder & CEO, Heligenics
The company’s technology works to improve the quality of therapies as well. Schiller uses insulin as an example. While traditional insulin works, it breaks down quickly, while other drugs can trigger immune responses that make them ineffective. Heligenics is engineering new, more stable versions of several drugs like insulin that last longer in the body and resist immune rejection.
That blend of science and entrepreneurial drive reflects Schiller himself. A serial entrepreneur who started his first business at 14, Schiller was inspired to launch Heligenics in 2018 after teaching a course at UNLV called Great Biological Discoveries. In studying the most important breakthroughs in science, he saw a pattern.
“None were driven by traditional hypotheses,” says Schiller. “They were driven by new ways and tools for observing the world. That gave me the idea for our approach.”
Rethinking Las Vegas as a Biotech Hub
Las Vegas may seem like an unconventional place to build a biotech company, and Schiller is the first to admit that infrastructure and support for the industry are still developing. “When I started, there wasn’t even any available lab space,” he says. “We had to reinvent the wheel.”
In mid-2023, Heligenics moved into Class A wet lab space at Roseman University of Health Sciences. The partnership gives the company room to grow while helping Roseman attract other bioscience firms – something Schiller says is a necessary step in building a regional biotech hub.
Despite the challenges, Schiller believes Las Vegas offers unique advantages for biotech startups. Chief among them: cost.
“On the coasts, by the time you raise Series A funding, founders often lose control of their companies,” Schiller says. “In Las Vegas, things are less expensive, and I still have majority ownership. That’s a huge advantage.”
Talent recruitment has also been more promising than many might expect. While the local pool of trained lab technicians is still limited, Heligenics has successfully recruited top-tier scientists from around the country. “People recognize that our business is doing something truly unique, and they want to be a part of it,” Schiller says.
Building a Biotech Ecosystem
Building a sustainable biotech ecosystem in Southern Nevada will take time but it’s something Schiller is confident can happen. About a year ago, a group of local leaders identified nine “pillars” needed to support the industry – from startup funding to lab space to professional services. They’re now working with the city and county to coordinate those efforts.
“Biotech is a big part of building a healthcare system that works for a city of 2.5 million people,” says Schiller. “Right now, we don’t have enough of that infrastructure. But we’re at the point where the region needs to take it seriously and commit a significant investment.”
The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) is among the organizations working to accelerate that progress.
“We’re focused on building a strong and diverse regional economy, and biotech is a key part of that vision,” said Danielle Casey, President & CEO of LVGEA. “Heligenics has been an invaluable partner in helping to lay the foundation for a thriving biotech sector in Southern Nevada, and we’re grateful for their commitment and collaboration.”
Schiller remains optimistic about Las Vegas’ startup ecosystem, noting he’s turned down multiple offers to relocate Heligenics to more established biotech hubs.
“UNLV gave me an opportunity when I moved here 15 years ago. I feel a sense of loyalty to this region,” he says. “Besides, we’ve already done the hard work to get this going here. Why start over?”
What’s Next
Schiller’s years of hard work are paying off. The company is closing in on contracts with major pharmaceutical companies and moving several of its drugs toward the clinical stage – milestones that could not only validate the company’s work but also serve as proof-of-concept for biotech in Las Vegas.
Until then, Schiller and Heligenics are proving that with the right mix of vision and science, it’s possible to build a biotech future in a city best known for its glitz.
To learn more about how LVGEA can help you locate or grow your business in the Las Vegas region, connect with our Business Development team.
