Pioneering the Future of AI-Enhanced Drug Discovery with Stoked Bio

Stoked Bio, an AI-driven biotech company based at McMaster University, aims to tackle significant health threats including antibiotic-resistant bacteria and brain cancer. The company, co-founded by Jon Stokes, utilizes a unique AI-driven drug discovery platform named Mosaic. This platform stands out due to its biology-first approach, generating high-quality disease-specific data to train its models. Mosaic exposes disease samples to extensive chemical libraries to identify non-obvious drug candidates often overlooked by traditional screening methods.

Stoked Bio’s primary focus is on developing promising candidates for treating antibiotic-resistant strains like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as glioblastoma, a particularly lethal brain cancer. However, the company faced challenges connecting its research with the commercialization resources and expert networks essential for bringing its solutions to market.

The company's partnership with Innovation Factory (iF) began in 2024 when they entered the Synapse Life Science Pitch Competition. Stoked Bio won $14,000 in in-kind services from CDD Vault, which facilitated valuable expert advice and pitch training. Following this success, the company received support from the Southern Ontario Pharmaceutical and Health Innovation Ecosystem (SOPHIE) program, funded by a Government of Canada investment of up to $5.2 million through FedDev Ontario. SOPHIE is designed to help innovative healthcare technology companies develop, test, and commercialize their solutions.

Currently, Stoked Bio is focused on enhancing the "druggability" of a chemical scaffold for glioblastoma through medicinal chemistry and research into its mechanism of action. The goal is to refine this candidate for eventual preclinical development. CEO Jeff Skinner emphasized the pivotal role of Innovation Factory in shaping Stoked Bio’s strategy and connecting them with necessary resources. The support they received through programs like the Synapse Competition and SOPHIE has been essential in advancing their key initiatives and developing foundational business materials.

Intellectual property is a significant aspect of Stoked Bio’s strategy. They have successfully secured patents for their AI-generated antibiotics with assistance from the McMaster Industry Liaison Office (MILO) and are pursuing additional funding from sources like IP Ontario. Opportunities to showcase their technology have also emerged, including a presentation at OBIO’s 2025 Investment Summit, aimed at engaging global investors interested in innovative health solutions.

Moving forward, Stoked Bio joined LevelUp, a “Made at Mac” initiative providing office space in McMaster Innovation Park, further embedding the company within the supportive ecosystem of McMaster University. Stoked Bio exemplifies how strategic support and funding can fast-track the transition from research-driven ideas to real-world healthcare products. By leveraging various programs and resources, the company is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the future of healthcare.

For those interested in the SOPHIE program, further inquiries can be made for more information on how to engage with this initiative.