CohBar, Inc. (CWBR): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money

Ever wondered about the journey of CohBar, Inc. as it navigated the complex biopharmaceutical landscape? This company, focused on developing mitochondrial-based therapeutics, represented a unique approach to tackling age-related diseases, but what defined its operational strategy and financial structure before its significant transformation? As the entity evolved, operations continued, reflected in activities like the $1.8 million spent on research and development and a reported net loss of $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2024 under its new structure. How did its foundational mission centered on peptides encoded within the mitochondrial genome shape its path, and what lessons can we draw from its business model and eventual strategic shifts?

CohBar, Inc. (CWBR) History

CohBar's Founding Timeline

Understanding the origins of a company provides crucial context for its current strategy and potential.

Year established

CohBar was founded in 2007, stemming from research into mitochondria-based therapeutics.

Original location

The company was initially based on research originating from the University of Southern California and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, later establishing headquarters in Menlo Park, California, before moving to Tuscon, Arizona, and subsequently relocating its primary operations following its **2024** merger.

Founding team members

The company was co-founded by Dr. Pinchas Cohen, Dr. Nir Barzilai, Dr. John Amatruda, and David Sinclair, pioneers in aging and metabolic disease research, based on their discovery of Mitochondrial Derived Peptides (MDPs).

Initial capital/funding

Early funding came from foundational research grants and initial seed investments, allowing the company to begin translating MDP discoveries into potential therapies before seeking larger venture rounds and eventually public market capital. Early investors played a key role, a topic further detailed in Exploring CohBar, Inc. (CWBR) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

CohBar's Evolution Milestones

Key moments mark the journey from a research concept to a clinical-stage entity, reflecting strategic shifts and operational progress.

CohBar's Transformative Moments

Certain strategic decisions fundamentally altered the company's path.

The Pivot from MDPs to Immunotherapy

The most significant transformation was the **2024** merger with Morphogenesis Inc. This move marked a complete strategic shift away from its founding focus on Mitochondrial Derived Peptides for metabolic and age-related diseases towards Morphogenesis' personalized cancer immunotherapy platform, IFx-Hu2.0. This decision was driven by challenges in advancing the original pipeline and the perceived potential of the acquired oncology assets.

Going Public and Subsequent Financings

The **2015** IPO and subsequent follow-on offerings were critical for funding operations. However, the consistent need for capital, coupled with clinical development timelines and setbacks, heavily influenced strategic options, ultimately leading towards the merger as a path forward amidst financial constraints and market valuation pressures reflected in actions like the **2023** reverse stock split.

Clinical Development Decisions

Decisions regarding which pipeline candidates to advance or pause, such as halting the CB4211 program post-Phase 1b results to conserve capital and focus resources, were pivotal. These choices reflected the difficult trade-offs biotech companies face in managing R&D spend against clinical outcomes and available funding, shaping the pipeline that existed prior to the transformative **2024** merger.

CohBar, Inc. (CWBR) Ownership Structure

Understanding the ownership landscape of a company provides crucial insights into its governance and strategic direction. Following its merger with Morphogenesis Inc. in late 2023, the entity now known as Tuum Bio, Inc. operates with a distinct ownership structure.

Tuum Bio's Current Status

As of the end of 2024, Tuum Bio, Inc., the successor to CohBar, Inc. following the merger, operates as a publicly traded company. Its shares are listed, making ownership accessible to institutional and individual investors alike, subject to market dynamics and regulatory filings.

Tuum Bio's Ownership Breakdown

The distribution of ownership significantly influences corporate decisions and reflects investor confidence. You can learn more by Exploring CohBar, Inc. (CWBR) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?, though note this reflects the pre-merger entity. For the post-merger entity, Tuum Bio, the approximate ownership breakdown near the end of 2024 is estimated as follows:

Tuum Bio's Leadership

The strategic direction and day-to-day operations of Tuum Bio are guided by its executive leadership team as of late 2024. Key figures steering the company include:

• Michael M. Narachi: Executive Chairman
• James A. Bianco, M.D.: Chief Executive Officer
• Patricia L. Weber: Chief Financial Officer
• Rajesh C. Shrotriya, M.D.: Board Member (Former Chairman & CEO of Morphogenesis)

This team combines legacy expertise with new strategic focus following the significant corporate restructuring.

CohBar, Inc. (CWBR) Mission and Values

CohBar, Inc., prior to its acquisition and renaming in late 2023, centered its operations around pioneering novel therapeutics derived from mitochondria. Its guiding principles were intrinsically linked to advancing this specific area of scientific discovery to address age-related diseases.

CohBar's Core Purpose

The company's core purpose revolved around translating mitochondrial science into treatments.

Official mission statement

While a formally published, distinct mission statement for CohBar, Inc. is not readily available from its final years of operation, its consistent strategic focus strongly implied a mission centered on: Developing novel mitochondria-based therapeutics to treat chronic and age-related diseases. This reflects the company's resource allocation, particularly its significant investment in research and development, which, according to historical filings, often constituted the largest portion of its operating expenses.

Vision statement

Aligned with its scientific pursuits, CohBar's implied vision appeared to be: To unlock the therapeutic potential of mitochondrial biology to extend healthy lifespan. This long-term aspiration underscored its research into peptides encoded within the mitochondrial genome.

Company slogan

CohBar, Inc. did not prominently feature a specific company-wide slogan in its public communications during its later operational period as CWBR. Its identity was more closely tied to its scientific platform. For further context see Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of CohBar, Inc. (CWBR).

CohBar, Inc. (CWBR) How It Works

CohBar, Inc. operated as a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing mitochondria-based therapeutics (MBTs) derived from mitochondrial DNA. However, the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations in late 2023, liquidating its assets.

CohBar's Historical Product/Service Portfolio

CohBar's Former Operational Framework

CohBar's operations centered entirely on research and development prior to its dissolution. The company focused on identifying novel peptides encoded within the mitochondrial genome, known as Mitochondrial Derived Peptides (MDPs). Its process involved:

• Discovery research to identify and characterize new MDPs.
• Preclinical studies (in vitro and in vivo) to evaluate the therapeutic potential and safety of peptide candidates.
• Advancing lead candidates, such as CB4211, into early-stage human clinical trials (Phase 1a/1b) to assess safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics.
• Heavy reliance on Contract Research Organizations (CROs) for conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, and Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) for peptide synthesis.

This R&D-intensive model aligned with its scientific goals, aiming to translate mitochondrial biology insights into treatments, a reflection of the company's former Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of CohBar, Inc. (CWBR). Funding primarily came from equity offerings and grants, with significant capital allocated to R&D activities; for instance, R&D expenses were reported as $11.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, illustrating the operational focus before financial difficulties led to closure.

CohBar's Historical Strategic Advantages

Before ceasing operations, CohBar's primary strategic advantage was its pioneering position in the nascent field of mitochondria-based therapeutics derived from MDPs. This offered a potentially novel approach to treating complex metabolic and age-related diseases. The company built an intellectual property portfolio around these peptides. However, significant challenges included the inherent risks of early-stage drug development, the long timelines required for clinical validation, and ultimately, the inability to secure sufficient funding to sustain operations through clinical milestones, leading to its bankruptcy in 2023.

CohBar, Inc. (CWBR) How It Makes Money

As a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing mitochondria-based therapeutics prior to its merger and rebranding, CohBar, Inc. did not generate revenue from product sales during its operational period ending in 2023. Its activities were primarily funded through equity financing and potentially collaboration agreements, focusing on advancing its research and development pipeline.

CohBar, Inc.'s Revenue Breakdown

CohBar was pre-revenue from product sales through the end of its independent operations reported in 2023 fiscal year data.

CohBar, Inc.'s Business Economics

The core economics revolved around significant investment in research and development (R&D) to discover and advance drug candidates through preclinical and clinical trials. This model requires substantial capital infusion long before any potential revenue generation. Key cost drivers included:

• Clinical trial expenses
• Personnel costs for researchers and scientists
• Laboratory supplies and equipment
• Regulatory filing fees
• General and administrative overhead

Success depended entirely on achieving clinical milestones, securing regulatory approval, and eventually commercializing a product or partnering/licensing assets. The company's economic viability was tied to its ability to raise capital to sustain its high cash burn rate during the extended development phases inherent in biotechnology. You can explore more about the company's strategic direction here: Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of CohBar, Inc. (CWBR).

CohBar, Inc.'s Financial Performance

Based on the final reporting period as CohBar, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the company's financial health reflected its clinical-stage status. Key metrics included:

• Revenue: $0 (Consistent with pre-commercialization stage).
• Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: Approximately $4.9 million for the year ended Dec 31, 2023, representing the core investment in its therapeutic pipeline.
• General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: Approximately $6.5 million for the year ended Dec 31, 2023, covering operational overhead.
• Net Loss: Reported a net loss of approximately $10.8 million for the fiscal year 2023, driven by R&D and G&A spending without offsetting revenue.
• Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents were crucial for funding operations; the year-end 2023 balance reflected capital raised less operational cash burn. (Specific balance depends on final pre-merger reporting).

These figures underscore the typical financial profile of a development-stage biotech firm, where performance is measured by pipeline progress and capital management rather than profitability.

CohBar, Inc. (CWBR) Market Position & Future Outlook

Following its 2023 merger with Morphogenesis Inc., the company pivots its future outlook primarily on advancing its lead oncology candidate, IFx-Hu2.0, positioning itself as a clinical-stage entity focused on novel cancer immunotherapies. Success hinges critically on clinical trial outcomes and navigating the complex immuno-oncology landscape.

Competitive Landscape

The competitive environment is dominated by established players and numerous biotechs developing immuno-oncology therapies. Direct comparison is challenging as IFx-Hu2.0 has a potentially novel mechanism, but competition exists within its target indications.

Strategic Initiatives

Key strategic initiatives planned around 2025 revolve heavily around clinical execution and funding.

• Advance clinical development of IFx-Hu2.0, focusing on generating robust safety and efficacy data from ongoing or planned trials based on 2024 progress.
• Secure adequate funding through equity offerings, partnerships, or other means to support operations and clinical trial costs, managing cash burn which stood as a significant factor in 2024 financials.
• Explore potential strategic partnerships or collaborations to leverage the IFx platform or support later-stage development and commercialization.
• Continue pipeline evaluation stemming from the technologies acquired in the merger.

Opportunities & Challenges

Industry Position

As of early 2025, the company operates as a high-risk, potentially high-reward clinical-stage biotechnology firm focused squarely on oncology following its strategic merger. Its industry position is defined by the potential of its lead asset, IFx-Hu2.0, rather than current market share or revenue, which were non-existent from product sales in 2024. Success in clinical trials is paramount to elevating its standing and validating its therapeutic approach, aligning with its redefined corporate direction. You can explore the foundational elements guiding this direction in the Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of CohBar, Inc. (CWBR). Its valuation and future prospects are tightly linked to clinical milestones and the ability to secure capital to sustain operations, a common characteristic for companies at this stage.