Launch of Covalt Bio
- May 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 11
Chapel Hill, NC, May 1, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Covalt Bio announced its official launch as a biotechnology company advancing a novel light-controlled drug delivery platform toward clinical application. Built on pioneering research and a vision to transform how therapeutics are delivered, the company is focused on enabling precise, localized activation of drugs at the site of disease. By improving targeting and control over drug activity, Covalt Bio aims to enhance treatment effectiveness while reducing off-target toxicity and dose-limiting side effects.
Covalt Bio is dedicated to developing a broadly applicable drug delivery platform designed to:
Precisely localize drug activity at the disease site, maximizing effectiveness
Reduce off‑target toxicity and dose‑limiting side effects
Unlock new therapeutic potential for existing and novel drugs across multiple indications
The company is led by a complementary founding team that bridges deep scientific innovation with proven company‑building experience:
Juliana Blum, PhD – Co-founder & CEO
Brianna Vickerman, PhD – Co-founder, Inventor & CTO
Dr. Blum previously served as an advisor to the technology during its early development within Eshelman Innovation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she recognized its potential to reshape how medicines are delivered. She is a co‑founder of Humacyte, a Duke University spinout that achieved a major milestone with FDA approval of its lead bioengineered vascular graft, SYMVESS, in 2024—one of the first approvals of its kind in regenerative medicine.
“From the moment I saw this technology, it was clear it could enable a new class of precision therapeutics,” said Blum. “Having helped build a company from academic roots to FDA approval, I’m excited to partner with an entrepreneurially driven scientific founder like Brianna to build Covalt Bio thoughtfully, rigorously, and from the ground up.”
A New Era in Precision Medicine
Covalt Bio’s approach has the potential to impact a wide range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiovascular disease, and other complex conditions where targeted delivery is critical.
The launch of Covalt Bio represents a significant step forward in translating academic innovation into real-world healthcare solutions. By combining cutting-edge science with entrepreneurial leadership, Dr. Vickerman and her team aim to redefine how therapies are delivered—bringing a new level of precision to modern medicine.
“So many breakthrough drugs fail to reach patients because they can’t be delivered safely or precisely enough,” said Dr. Vickerman. “Our technology changes that equation by giving us direct control over where and when a drug is active—making treatments more precise, more tolerable, and ultimately more effective.”
ABOUT COVALT BIO
Covalt Bio is a biotechnology company developing innovative drug delivery technologies that improve patient outcomes by maximizing efficacy and minimizing side effects. Through its proprietary light-activated platform, the company aims to enable safer, more targeted therapies across a broad range of diseases.
Media Contact
Logan Zwerneman, PhD
