Two Alpha Gals are working to address and think innovatively about Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), an allergic reaction to mammal and mammal byproducts, including red meat and pork, that can be caused by a tick bite. Revivicor provides organs from gene-edited pigs to overcome the critical shortage of human organs for transplants. Most recently, Revivicor has begun working with GalSafe pigs as a form of human therapeutics. Come to this month’s Beer & Biotech to learn how two cutting edge companies are modifying solutions for people with AGS.
Bios:
Dr. David Ayares founded Revivicor, Inc. in 2003 and serves as its President and Chief Scientific Officer. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Revivicor, in partnership with United Therapeutics, develops genetically engineered pigs for xenotransplantation to address the global organ shortage. The company created the first FDA-approved GE pig, GalSafeTM, and provided pigs for landmark transplants, including the first-ever heart transplant at the University of Maryland in 2022 and an LVAD+ Thymokidney transplant at NYU in 2024. Before founding Revivicor, Dr. Ayares was VP of Research and COO at PPL Therapeutics, known for cloning Dolly the sheep. He led the team that cloned the first cows with humanized milk and the world’s first pigs. Prior to PPL, he spent 7 years at Abbott Laboratories and Baxter Healthcare, developing transgenic mouse models and diabetes treatment technologies. Dr. Ayares earned his undergraduate degree from Purdue University, his PhD from the University of Illinois, and conducted postdoctoral research at MIT. For more information, please visit https://www.revivicor.com/.
Candice Matthis and Debbie Nichols, founders of Two Alpha Gals (TwoAlphaGals.com) and the Alpha-gal Foundation (AlphaGalFoundation.org), are dedicated to helping individuals navigate life with alpha-gal syndrome without sacrificing joy. Through their personal experiences and commitment to community building, they provide valuable resources and support for those affected by this condition.