HARTFORD—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced on Monday that innovator Azitra Inc. in Branford has been named Innovator of the Month. Azitra was founded by two graduate students at Yale University to combine synthetic biology tools with microbes naturally found on the skin. They are a clinical-stage medical dermatology company leveraging the power of the microbiome to address serious skin diseases and conditions. Azitra is developing both therapeutic and consumer products and currently has programs in development to treat cancer therapy associated skin rashes, targeted orphan indications, atopic dermatitis and overall skin appearance.

Azitra currently has 14 employees in Connecticut and will be adding more research staff in 2021. They are planning to initiate two clinical trials in 2021 and have developed innovative strategies for conducting them in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Azitra expects continued growth during the next year as they move their lead therapeutic product into clinical trials for cancer-therapy associated rashes and continue to advance consumer programs focused on improving skin appearance.

“Azitra is a great model of innovation born right in Connecticut. Since 2014, they’ve helped diversify the ways in which we treat skin diseases and conditions. Their initiatives will impact the future of therapeutic research and I am proud to highlight this important and growing company.” said Murphy.

"We are thankful for the support we have received from Connecticut, especially during our recent move to Branford," said Jeanne Bertonis, Chief Operating Officer of Azitra. "Azitra expects continued growth during the next year as we move our lead therapeutic product into clinical trials for cancer-therapy associated skin rashes and continue to advance our consumer programs focused on improving skin appearance. Being located in Connecticut has given us great opportunities and we are honored to have been named Innovator of the Month by Senator Murphy."

Earlier this year, Azitra formed a collaboration with Bayer AG to develop cutting-edge skin products using engineered and wild-type bacteria for biotherapeutic, over-the-counter and cosmetic applications. In addition, the company closed on a $17 million Series B financing in October. The company says that being in Connecticut has served them well and that they are excited to be recognized by Murphy for their innovation.

Murphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies – the Angel Tax Credit Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.

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