Surf

Surf Bio, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California-based preclinical biopharmaceutical company working on the reformulation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other biologics so they can be delivered subcutaneously rather than by intravenous infusion. Its SnapShot technology platform is built around a proprietary polymer excipient that enables mAb concentrations above 600 mg/mL and administration of doses exceeding 1,000 mg in a single shot from a standard autoinjector. The company frames the resulting benefits as faster administration (an injection in seconds rather than an hours-long infusion), at-home self-administration instead of in-clinic provider administration, and longer intervals between doses because higher doses can be given at once.

The platform originated in the laboratory of Stanford University professor Eric Appel, who serves as Surf Bio's Chief Scientific Advisor, and Surf Bio states it is leveraging this licensed technology. An August 2025 company announcement described a peer-reviewed study by Stanford researchers, published in Science Translational Medicine under the title "Glassy Surfactants Enable Ultra-High Concentration Biologic Therapeutics" (lead author Carolyn Jons, Ph.D.), in which spray-dried protein microparticles suspended in a non-solvent liquid carrier exceeded 500 mg/mL and were injected through a standard 27-gauge needle at clinically relevant forces. The company reports in-vitro and in-vivo safety and efficacy data, and states that preclinical microparticle formulations retained protein activity and structure.

Surf Bio was launched in 2021 by founders of Bigfoot Biomedical and Mode AGC (referred to in one company release as AGC). Its leadership includes CEO and co-founder Bryan Mazlish (co-founder of Bigfoot Biomedical, former Bigfoot president and current board member, previously in quantitative finance and founder of Overlook Capital) and co-founder, President and Chief Medical Officer Jennifer Schneider, MD (previously founder and CEO of Mode AGC, which exited to Insulet Corporation). In March 2025 the company announced the appointment of Doug Hecker as Head of Technical Operations."]

Founding story

The company was launched in 2021 by the founders of Bigfoot Biomedical and Mode AGC to commercialize a drug stabilization/delivery technology developed in Eric Appel's laboratory at Stanford University. CEO Bryan Mazlish co-founded Surf Bio in 2021 after entering the life sciences field following a family diagnosis, work that led him to co-found the diabetes device company Bigfoot Biomedical in 2014. Co-founder Jennifer Schneider, MD, a Stanford-trained physician who practiced orthopedic and hand surgery for 15 years, had previously founded and led the insulin dosing algorithm company Mode AGC through an exit to Insulet Corporation.

Business model

Surf Bio positions SnapShot as a formulation platform licensed or applied to partners' proprietary products rather than as its own therapeutic pipeline. It states it has multiple ongoing collaborations with multinational pharmaceutical companies, and describes its ideal partner as an innovative API manufacturer seeking advanced subcutaneous delivery for its product pipeline.

Traction

The company reports multiple ongoing collaborations with leading multinational pharmaceutical companies and in-vitro and in-vivo safety and efficacy data supporting SnapShot. Supporting Stanford research surpassing 500 mg/mL protein formulations was published in Science Translational Medicine in August 2025. Remaining stage is described as preclinical.

Latest developments

On August 20, 2025, Surf Bio announced the publication of peer-reviewed Stanford research in Science Translational Medicine demonstrating feasibility of subcutaneous delivery of ultra-concentrated biologics (formulations exceeding 500 mg/mL delivered through a standard 27-gauge needle). Earlier, in March 2025, the company appointed Doug Hecker as Head of Technical Operations. Company release listings also indicate a planned SnapShot presentation at PODD 2025 and CEO participation in the 5th Annual Needham Private Biotech and MedTech Company Virtual 1x1 Forum.