Brian Feth

More potent AAV... Great to see the public launch of Latus Bio from ex-spark founders. The company is developing novel capsids with significantly-higher transduction potential. This is exciting news and just in time for #ASGCT24. More potent AAV would simultaneously solve a number of key hurdles for the field, including: - low yields in manufacturing (including loss during downstream purification) - toxicities associated with higher doses The AAV field has been through a bit of a winter period but has the proven ability to be able to deliver to differentiated organs / targets. Its success will rely on companies like Latus solving these critical issues (and examples of commercial success, but perhaps Sarepta's starting to take care of that, too!) Reach out to discuss all things AAV and gene therapy in Baltimore next week. We'll be at booth 1962. #genetherapy #venturecapital #pharma https://lnkd.in/gtP9wQsB

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Constructive Bio is doing great work in facilitating the scalable and cost-effective production of protein and peptide drugs containing non-canonical amino acids - eliminating the constraints on protein structure imposed by the 20 natural amino acids to enabling almost any desired protein structure. Constructive's approach should enable major advancements in the efficacy of peptide drugs (e.g.: GLP-1/GIP), macrocycles, cytokines, antibodies, and kinases.

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Thank you to Endpoints News for great coverage today of Breakout Ventures portfolio company Immusoft's positive results for the first patient ever dosed with an engineered B cell therapy. The company held a webinar yesterday with KOLs (Paul Orchard, Paul Harmatz), patient advocates (Mark Dant) and our partners at CIRM (Abla Creasey). HIGHLIGHTS:  This was an MPS I adult patient, treated at the lowest dose. While a pediatric disease, this is the standard protocol. But means that expectations were low and safety was goal. The patient remained on standard of care Aldurazyme (ERT) but then took a holiday at 8 months. The treatment required 𝙉𝙊 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜/ 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙤𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣. So even at dosing, we knew this patient would experience none of the adverse events associated with the toxicity of other treatments and did not have to spend the associated time in the hospital. Since the patient was dosed November 2023:  - 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙣𝙤 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨  - confirming the safety profile - 𝙐𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙂𝘼𝙂𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡/𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 3-8 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨 after treatment. For context, in Aldurazyme’s clinical trial, none of the patients reached normal urinary GAG levels.  - 𝙃𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙎𝙁 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 25% 𝙖𝙩 6 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨, noting that the FDA has used this as an acceptable surrogate endpoint in MPS.  - 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨. These are adult patients, who are often struggling with the stiffness and lack of mobility that happens as the disease progresses. The patient saw a 30% 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 6 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙩 6 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨. Truly rewarding to see this sort of outcome in a patient. We are thrilled for what this could mean for all MPS I patients and the potential of b cells as therapy. Excited for this next phase for Immusoft and always happy to connect those of you who have been following the story directly to the company. 

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As competition increases for biotech funding, the need for an effective pitch deck continues to grow. A common mistake is neglecting to address potential risks or setbacks. Companies may feel that this will give the impression of an ill-equipped organisation and ultimately erode investor confidence. However, it can have the opposite effect. Acknowledging the risks or potential setbacks you may face demonstrates a clear understanding of the volatile nature of biotech and can show investors that you're prepared to deal with this. If done well, addressing risks can drastically boost confidence and increase your chances of securing funding. #Funding #Biotech #PitchDeck

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A lot of people do not realize that IQT (In-Q-Tel) is actively investing in support of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains and to help the U.S. build global resilience into our bioeconomy, like our recent investment in Antheia, Inc. Eugene Chiu who leads our Bio investment area highlighted that….. “While the U.S. is a leader in biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, and computational biology, there is more we must do to scale these advanced technologies to solve global problems like essential medicine shortages,”. Give the investment announcement a read below…..

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Great article by Danielle Joseph Closed Loop Partners.

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The 3rd and final part of my conversation with Sherlock Biosciences President, CEO and Director, Bryan Dechairo is now live on The Biotech Startups Podcast, and it’s an incredible look at what it takes to bring consumer health products to market. Some highlights: – What it takes to make the funding work – from articulating the pitch, to the importance of curating support from multiple believers – Leveraging outside experts to help scale the business – because not every role requires (or is best served by) someone with diagnostic experience – Navigating the challenges of bringing consumer products to market, from technological and regulatory limitations, to logistics and supply chain – Using vision, mission, and innovation to attract (and keep) the kind of uber-talented people you need, when you’ve got a best-in-class, first-in-class mandate There’s so much more, I wish we’d had time to double-click on it all. As always, it truly takes a village, especially in the sciences. Here's a quick shoutout to thank the people who positively impacted Bryan's journey, including Richard Brown, John Taylor, Alisoun Carey, Gina Drosos, James Burns, Mark Capone, Paul Meister, David Wall, and to thank them for everything they've taught him along the way! Apple Podcasts & Spotify links in the comments below! 👇🏽 #biotechnology #lifesciences #podcast

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Seattle biotech firms looking to fundraise should attend this event. "This panel will feature experts from local funding agencies. Come gain insight into the how/when a biotech company can and should apply for funding!" #biotech #capital #fundraising

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This is exciting! Prolific Machines, Inc. based in Emeryville, California, has raised $55 million in a Series B round led by Ki Tua Fund. The company, founded in 2020 by Deniz Kent, PhD, Max Huisman, and Declan Jones, focuses on using light to optimize cell growth for producing proteins used in food and medicine. Traditional methods of growing cells involve expensive and hard-to-control molecular processes. Prolific Machines believes light offers a cheaper and more precise alternative. Their bioreactors use light to direct cell growth, potentially reducing costs and improving consistency. The new funding will help Prolific Machines commercialize their technology and acquire customers. The company is already engaging with commercial partners and aims to make their bioreactors available for producing high-value bioproducts like nutritional proteins and antibodies. What do you think? https://lnkd.in/dkSbZ_wQ

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We're so excited to welcome Caladan Bio to Wireframe Ventures' portfolio and celebrate the launch of their first product, The Caladan 250! As biotech and life sciences investors, we've witnessed an explosion of companies building with novel gene sequencing and editing toolsets and the impact they've had on drug discovery and drug development over the last couple of decades. It's been clear that these same tools would transform the way we manufacture a wide range of products from materials to fuel to chemicals and even food. However, the scale up of synbio companies outside of life sciences has been limited by the available infrastructure -- built for companies with entirely different cost structures. Industrial biotech companies creating animal-free food and materials, next-gen specialty chemicals, and fossil fuel alternatives can only break out if they can meet cost parity with incumbent products. Caladan offers the tools to increase experimentation throughput while enhancing data availability and quality, allowing these companies to leverage modern AI and ML tools, all at half the cost of the industry standard. We're thrilled to partner with Michael Kobida and Rob Jauquet on this seed round, and invest alongside Twelve Below, Collaborative Fund, and Lerer Hippeau!

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Attn: GinkgoJ -- is this an acquistion target #NoNeedToSayAnythingHere #WeKnowThatYouAreAPublicCompany #WillYouBeAbleToEatThisInEurope #FrenchMayPirateThisJustLikePurpleTomato #IfNoreChocolateIsAvailable #PerhapsLongevityFundsCouldInvestInThis #YouHeardItHereFirst #CocoaForLifeExtension #ReachOutToBryanJohnsonForMoreDetails #TheIdealLifeExtensionBacteriaForMenMayHaveEvenMoreCapabilities #DoYouHaveExtraRoomInYourSABToExploreThis #CertainHarvardProfessorsCouldBeCEOOfYourLifeExtensionSpinouts #OnlyWithRightManagementCarveouts......

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#digitalisation and #automation of #biopharma #manufacturing workflows, leading to #smartmanufacturing - don't miss this Bruker #webinar in a few weeks, with Anna Codina Matteo Pennestri and Sergey Shilov

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🌟 Exciting News from Cache! 🌟 "Cache DNA, a life sciences company revolutionizing biological sample and data storage infrastructure, today announced the closing of its seed round. The team raised an undisclosed amount from notable investors, including Climate Capital Bio, Exor Ventures, Hawktail, LifeX Ventures, Pillar VC, and Trousdale Ventures, including support from Illumina and founders such as Alec Nielsen. The funds will help power R&D and support commercial development efforts and key partnerships to bring their solutions to market." 🧬🔬 See the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/gcRuzkSF 🔗 James Banal and I set out on this mission to store the biomolecules of today to unlock the possibilities of tomorrow. With our talented Cache team, we couldn't be more excited to leave freezers behind with our next-generation approach to molecular preservation 🧊 Join the growing number of commercial labs, academic medical centers, and biobanks worldwide by trying out our technology yourself. Apply for a demo kit here (https://lnkd.in/g8c8hgBz), and learn more at www.cache-dna.com. 🌐 #Biotechnology #Innovation #LifeSciences #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #PrecisionMedicine #Multiomics #Pathology

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Harnessing a Value Chain Mindset in Biotech Investing At Zentynel Frontier Investments, we are in the unique position of meeting a diverse array of entrepreneurs, many of whom come from a rich scientific or technical background and have taken the bold step into the biotech startup arena. These individuals are not only brilliant but also deeply committed. Through our interactions, we have noticed a clear pattern: success is not just about what you know, but how you connect the dots. Many Latin American professionals, trained in tech and settled abroad, start in the operational trenches of big corporates in Europe or the U.S. After seasoning their skills, they often exit the corporate track, armed with a sharp strategic focus—a robust value chain mindset. Consider the value chain of 'Diabesity'—a sector transformed by GLP-1 drugs. The stakes are enormous, and the disruptions profound. Beyond better glycemic control, these drugs are carving out substantial market share in obesity management. Analysts project the Diabesity market could skyrocket to $105 billion by 2030. Every link in this chain, from health expenditure to disease prevalence, is impacted. Here’s where it gets interesting: as metabolic conditions improve, so does life expectancy, altering long-term health consumption patterns. Cardiovascular and osteoarticular markets are also in flux. Enhanced metabolic health might delay heart diseases, while reduced body mass index could mean fewer bone and joint injuries. The cascade of consequences doesn’t stop there. Demand for bariatric surgery and sleep apnea treatments could plummet. With effective GLP-1 treatments, the need for continuous glucose monitoring might also wane. This ongoing narrative is truly dynamic. The forces that once held sway over metabolic disease markets are shifting, crafting a novel landscape. This level of integrated thinking—typical of experienced founders and a cornerstone of niche funds like ours—is crucial. We are just at the beginning. More innovations will build on current ones. Let's engage, innovate, and adapt to harness the full potential of biotech investing. #BiotechInvesting #ValueChainMindset #Diabesity #GLP1  #LatinAmericanBiotech #ScienceAndBusiness #ZentynelVC

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LaunchBio Inc. understands life science founders and we see/know the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to hiring the C-suite. The right leadership team can transform a startup’s trajectory, while the wrong hires can slow progress or even derail growth entirely. Please join us tomorrow for, Hiring the C-Suite: Building the Right Leadership Team for Growth - https://lnkd.in/d4AdBDz6 NOVEMBER 19, 2024 1PM PT / 4PM ET Online (we like in-person too but online meetings are pretty convenient);) And you'll want to get to know our speakers. Stephen M. Perry, Russell Hayward & Russell Allen are leaders in our industry who can and will help you as you scale. See you tomorrow.

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What would you tell your scientist friend? This is a hypothetical scenario I created for a panel discussion two weeks ago, but I thought about turning it into an open discussion where investors and biotech experts can weigh in. The goal is to compile a list of advice and tips that scientists considering the transition to biotech founder can easily access (publicly available here on LinkedIn). Here are my three main pieces of advice: 1. Find your purpose first Setting up and growing a biotech company is a rewarding but challenging journey. Take the time to reflect on whether this is truly what you want to do, as your purpose will be your anchor during difficult times. 2. Divide et impera There will be many unknowns, but break them down into smaller, manageable problems that you—or someone else—can tackle. Company creation is essentially problem-solving, something you’ve already done extensively in academia. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert in everything. The success of your biotech company will also depend on how well you build and work with a team that complements your expertise. Learn the basics of biotech company creation and reach out to those who’ve successfully made this transition before. 3. Explore your technology’s potential through the eyes of the patient. Avoid emotional bias when evaluating the impact and value of your technology. A patient-centric perspective can help you focus on creating real-world solutions. For those who know me personally, you know that if you ask me for favor A, I’ll often do B and C as well (if I can). So, this is probably more than just a quick piece of advice! 😉 Let’s tap into the wealth of experience among investors and biotech experts here on LinkedIn and get this started #biotechfounder #scientistfounder #fundraising Dan Marks Sophie de Boer Christine Brennan Dominic Schmidt Daniel O'Mahony Luis Pareras MD, PhD Adrian Rubstein

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Coming out of the Biocom California CEO Summit, I share biotech investor predictions and CEO insights in the latest edition of Vital Signs: https://lnkd.in/ghXYRsaq

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As always, great thoughts from Bruce Booth of Atlas Venture https://lnkd.in/dewT7jdy And it's so important to focus on early quality of team, science and initial data set (not excluding reasonable valuations and lean cap table)

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