Nirrin

Nirrin Technologies, founded in 2017 by Bryan Hassell, Ph.D., is a biotechnology firm based in Billerica, MA, focused on advancing bioprocess analytics. The company is developing noninfectious bioprocess monitoring technology to provide real-time process control for adaptive manufacturing. Its core technology, a High-Precision Tunable Laser Spectroscopy (HPTLS) platform, aims to resolve analytical bottlenecks in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, thereby reducing development costs and accelerating time-to-market.

The founder, Bryan Hassell, who now serves as CEO, has a background that directly informs the company's mission. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Harvard University, where his work on an organ-on-a-chip model contributed to a significant DARPA grant and the launch of Emulate Bio. His experience includes serving as a Principal Investigator for the U.S. Department of Defense, evaluating small business innovations for national security, and as an Investment Associate at Anzu Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in industrial technologies.

Nirrin's business revolves around providing next-generation sensors and analytics for the biopharma and life sciences industries. The company's clients include developers and manufacturers of advanced therapies such as cell and gene therapies, biologics, and vaccines. Its flagship product, the Atlas™ system, utilizes the HPTLS platform to deliver quantitative chemical data from a small sample in about a minute. This system overcomes challenges associated with conventional methods that require offline analysis or less reliable proxy sensors. Atlas can simultaneously analyze various components like proteins, glucose, lactate, and cell density in real-time. This capability supports both upstream applications, such as bioreactor automation, and downstream processes like buffer verification and protein quantitation.

The company has secured strategic investments and grants to fuel its development. Notable funding includes a strategic investment from Gamma Biosciences and a $2 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These funds are directed towards expanding the HPTLS product line and enhancing applications for real-time monitoring in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. Nirrin has also established a Scientific Advisory Board composed of experts in biomanufacturing and advanced therapeutics to guide its research and development programs.

Keywords: bioprocess monitoring, process analytical technology, tunable laser spectroscopy, HPTLS, biomanufacturing analytics, real-time analysis, cell therapy manufacturing, gene therapy, biologics production, pharmaceutical sensors, downstream bioprocessing, upstream bioprocessing, monoclonal antibodies, vaccine manufacturing, biopharma automation, glucose monitoring, cell density measurement, protein analysis, buffer verification, life sciences tools