Michigan has a Rich Legacy as the Birthplace of Innovation BlueWillow is a part of that legacy.
Founded as NanoBio Corporation in 2000 by Dr. James Baker, a leading physician and researcher at the University of Michigan, BlueWillow is an Ann Arbor-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of intranasal vaccines for respiratory and sexually transmitted infections. For the past 18 years, the company has been conducting innovative research that has the potential to evolve the healthcare landscape through the utilization of its oil-in-water emulsion. The mixture, made up of tiny droplets of soybean oil and solvent about 1/400th the width of the average human hair, explodes on contact with skin and binds with bacteria. The company recently shifted to the development of nanoemulsion vaccines after generating compelling supportive
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data. With that shift in focus came the new name, BlueWillow, a subtle nod to the University of Michigan and the company’s established roots in the bioscience industry. BlueWillow continued to harness its patented NanoVax adjuvant technology that uses the nanoemulsion in intranasal vaccines that elicit both mucosal and systemic immunity, a clear differentiator to traditional intramuscular vaccines that do not provide mucosal protection. “Mucosal surfaces are areas where most infectious pathogens enter the body. Having the ability to attack these invaders before they become a problem is a turning point in the world of vaccine development,” said Dave Peralta, CEO of BlueWillow. “Our
