Leaps by Bayer

Guardian Agriculture is revolutionizing crop management with drone technology and AI. Their precision drones deliver targeted treatments, boosting yields and reducing environmental impact. Committed to #sustainability, Guardian Agriculture empowers farmers with real-time data for proactive decision-making, transforming agriculture for a better future.

Congratulations to the entire team at eGenesis, Inc. and CEO Michael Curtis on raising this Series D funding. 👏 The investment will propel the company’s lead kidney transplant candidate, EGEN-2784, toward first-in-human trials, support other pipeline projects, and scale production. We are delighted to continuously support eGenesis on their path to revolutionizing organ transplantation. The company recently completed the world's first porcine kidney transplant in a human under FDA approval. eGenesis' work leverages modern genome editing tools to create organs designed to reduce rejection risk, offering hope to millions suffering from organ failure worldwide.

Despite the absence of a cure for #AlzheimersDisease disease, recent drug approvals are sparking new hope. 👉Explore the timeline to discover key milestones in the history of Alzheimer's drug development. Historically, treatments have focused on alleviating symptoms without addressing the underlying cause of the disease. After two decades of no new Alzheimer’s drugs, the FDA has recently approved two new drugs: donanemab and another immunotherapy called lecanemab. Both drugs are slowing down disease progression. While these advancements are promising, the journey toward a real cure for Alzheimer's is far from over. Continued innovation and research are crucial to fully understand and combat the complexities of this devastating disease. We must keep pushing the boundaries of science to bring meaningful solutions to those affected. Read more in a recent Forbes op-ed from Head of Leaps. Link in the comments.

🌍 The future of medicine is here: explore the transformative power of cell & gene therapy Watch Bayer's CEO Bill Anderson and Ruth R. Shah, a trained cell and molecular biologist, explore how the emergence of #cellandgene therapies, new classes of medicine, hold the potential to revolutionize the treatment of a wide range of diseases. From rare disorders to more common conditions like #cancer, these therapies are already making a significant impact.   At Leaps by Bayer, we’re fortunate to be part of this wave of innovation. Our portfolio company BlueRock Therapeutics, which was acquired by Bayer in 2019, has seen promising results from an 18-month Phase 1 clinical trial for a new cell therapy aimed at treating #Parkinson’s disease. This therapy shows potential in restoring lost cellular function, and the FDA’s Fast Track designation underscores its importance in the field.   Bayer also works alongside pioneering partners like Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio) to advance gene therapy programs, using viral vectors to deliver therapeutic genes directly to patients’ cells. With over 150 clinical trials currently exploring gene editing technologies, the future is full of promise.   These advancements are about more than just treating diseases — they’re about transforming lives. As we continue to innovate and invest in these areas, our hope is to make these therapies widely accessible, offering new possibilities to patients around the world.   Dive into the full interview to learn more: 

🌱 We are thrilled to share that portfolio company EarthOptics has merged with Pattern Ag to form a category-leading company in soil digitization! 🌍 Operating under the EarthOptics name, this merger brings together cutting-edge soil sensing technology and advanced Predictive Agronomy, creating a comprehensive "digital twin" of soil. This powerful combination will empower farmers with unparalleled insights into their soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties, optimizing crop management and boosting farm profitability and sustainability. #SustainableAgriculture #SoilHealth #Agritech Read more: https://lnkd.in/gEEbxK5S

The latest op-ed from Head of Leaps, Juergen Eckhardt, explores a potential new era in #Alzheimer's treatment. The recent FDA approval of Eli Lilly’s new #immunotherapy, donanemab, marks a significant milestone in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. This follows closely on the heels of lecanemab's approval, offering new hope to millions affected by this challenging condition. While these therapies—designed to clear toxic amyloid proteins from the brain—only slow cognitive decline by about 30%, they provide crucial time where patients can hold onto their memories and independence. However, as the scientific community cautiously celebrates these advancements, it’s clear that we’re just at the beginning. The potential of amyloid-targeting drugs is tempered by significant risks, and there is much work to be done in developing even more effective treatments. Exciting developments in Alzheimer's vaccines and the biology of aging could pave the way for future breakthroughs, offering a multifaceted approach to tackling this complex disease. Read more in the full article.

🚀 Portfolio company ReCode Therapeutics is advancing innovation in #cysticfibrosis treatment. ReCode Therapeutics has received clearance to begin a Phase 1b study for RCT2100, an inhaled therapy designed to deliver CFTR mRNA and promote functional CFTR protein production in cystic fibrosis patients. We're thrilled to see ReCode reaching this milestone, bringing them one step closer to addressing unmet needs in CF treatment.

Despite a company-wide restructuring, Bayer’s appetite for innovation remains undeterred. From strategic collaborations to high-impact acquisitions, the company is focused on fostering scientific breakthroughs across healthcare and agriculture. As Juergen Eckhardt, Head of both Leaps by Bayer and Bayer’s Pharma Business Development team, highlights, “We are firing on all cylinders.” Leaps contributes to Bayer’s strategy by investing in potential breakthrough technologies at the early stages, unleashing the potential of scientific innovation to transform lives. Curious about our approach to dealmaking and what’s next on the horizon? Dive into the full article to learn more. Link in the comments.

#Alzheimer’s disease poses significant hurdles in diagnosis, treatment, and finding a cure. Despite advancements in research, the journey remains complex. 🔎 Early detection is tough due to overlapping symptoms with normal aging. 🩺 Advanced diagnostic tools are essential but not always accessible. 🩹 Current treatments manage symptoms but don’t offer a cure. 🔬 Personalized approaches are needed to enhance effectiveness and minimize side effects.

Capstan Therapeutics is redefining the future of medicine with groundbreaking cell-based therapies. Their mission? To harness the power of #precisionmedicine and transform how we treat serious diseases. Their technology enables them to pursue two distinct approaches to treating disease: engineering immune cells and targeting pathogenic cells. 🔬 Engineering of immune cells: They can deliver mRNA-encoded CARs to specific subsets of immune cells, engineering them to eliminate pathogenic cells that express antigens recognized by the CAR. 🩹 Targeting of pathogenic cells: By delivering mRNA-encoded gene editing machinery to pathogenic cells, they can modify the cells’ DNA to treat genetic diseases.