Leaps by Bayer

We're excited that Bayer | Pharmaceuticals and portfolio company Dewpoint Therapeutics are advancing their partnership to bring hope to patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a challenging heart condition with limited treatment options today. By combining Dewpoint’s groundbreaking biomolecular condensate technology with Bayer’s expertise in research, this collaboration aims to address DCM at its root cause for patients with specific genetic mutations.

Unlocking the potential of the ‘dark genome’🧬 In his latest op-ed, Juergen Eckhardt explores how the groundbreaking research on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) like SAMMSON is shifting the focus of #cancertherapy. Once considered "junk," these genomic elements are now emerging as critical players in tackling diseases like #melanoma, as well as neurological and #autoimmunedisorders. 🔬 As more pharmaceutical companies recognize the vast potential of targeting lncRNAs, we are on the brink of a new era in medicine. With advances in technologies like #CRISPR and #RNA interference, and deeper insights into the roles of lncRNAs, we could eventually see innovative treatments for some of the most challenging diseases, from cancer to neurodegenerative disorders. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eQ3QSb4x

Collaborating with the Leaps by Bayer team on various innovation & engagement programs over the past year has been incredibly rewarding - culminating with our "Bean Feast" celebration in London, uniting influential #agrifood investors & innovators. 🫘 🫛 ➡️ ICYMI: Leaps is a corporate impact investment leader, tackling 10 of humanity’s biggest challenges through life science innovations. With over $1.9 *BILLION* invested in 60+ companies, they're reshaping sustainable #proteins, agriculture’s footprint, cancer cures, & more. The 'Bean Feast' took place at the historic 'Woolwich Works,' which brings quite the legacy - from the #Beatles performing there 60 years ago to King George III hosting the original #beanfeast celebration in 1773. We leaned into this rich history and, under Karyn's creative leadership, crafted a deliciously nourishing & sustainable dinner concept (complete with bean-themed cocktails & edible centerpieces) celebrating the cultural significance & exciting potential of #beans for food systems (#beansishow, right, Paul Newnham? 😉).    Speaking of #plantpotential, our guest of honor was the one-and-only Angie Burnett, a plant biologist & program director at Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA). Newly formed in the UK, this agency takes on high-risk, high-reward research (much like #DARPA in the US). Angie and I held a fireside chat about her work on 'Programmable Plants'—including developing synthetic #chromosomes and #chloroplasts that function across species. 🌱 Imagine not just being able to edit an existing plant but designing one entirely from scratch. What would you make it do? 🤩 (let me know in the comments below ⬇️) The night was teeming with engaging discussions with investors. It is clear that while we all understand this is a challenging sector to invest in, we must persevere to address the climate crisis and improve human health. Working together as a community will help drive the necessary changes and make it work! Which is why it was fantastic to see Paimun (PJ) Amini show such leadership and action with the newly released #AgPlaybook. He spearheaded this collaborative industry resource to help startups & investors with ag-tech product development (more in an upcoming post - find the link in comments below). Of course, I had to share my book with him too. #changemakersguide Cheers to the Leaps team - especially the visionary Karyn Riegel and André Guillaume for this opportunity to work together - and reconnect with Sara Olson, PhD and Derek Norman too. These are some of the most knowledgeable leaders in the agrifood investment space! (Final point: taking fresh approaches to event programs and experiences makes sure that authentic connections and breakthroughs happen. If my team and I can support any of you with designing innovative, creative, and immersive events and speaker programs related to the future of food, agriculture, or climate, please get in touch. We 💚 this kind of thing!)

17 years ago, Dr. Shinya Yamanaka turned the world of science on its head by reprogramming skin cells to an embryonic state. This breakthrough paved the way for the field of #celltherapy, promising hope for treating conditions like #cancer, #Parkinsons, and #diabetes. During a recent conversation with Head of Leaps Juergen Eckhardt, Dr. Yamanaka shared his vision of using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to create off-the-shelf treatments. With over 50 clinical trials underway globally, we're on the brink of life-changing innovations in areas like Type 1 diabetes, corneal diseases, and cancer immunotherapy. At Leaps by Bayer, we're proud to see this legacy in action. Companies like our former portfolio company BlueRock Therapeutics and GC Therapeutics are pushing boundaries, turning these possibilities into real solutions for patients in need. Read more in this recent Forbes column by Juergen Eckhardt: https://lnkd.in/ezm_Jp2X

Our team member Sara Olson, PhD moderated an insightful conversation discussing regulatory hurdles around the use of next-gen crop protection in #agriculture at this week’s World Agri-Tech London Summit. What a great conversation it was 👏

🚀 Phases of Ag Product Development 🚀 Navigating the journey from concept to commercialization in AgTech can be a daunting task. This graphic illustrates the 5 key phases of Ag Product Development, providing a roadmap for startups, investors, and industry leaders alike. 🌱 Each phase presents unique challenges, from defining the problem in the initial stages, to pre-launch preparation and eventual market expansion. Here's a quick breakdown of the key stages: 💡 Phase 0 - Define the Problem: Research the opportunity, understand the market, and deeply engage with farmers and customers to ensure your solution is addressing the right challenge. 🌱 Phase I - Pre-Field Discovery: Develop proof of concept and test under optimal conditions while establishing an initial IP and regulatory strategy. 🔍 Phase II - Early Product Development: Assess safety, establish freedom to operate (FTO), and test across more geographies to prove your product's versatility.🔧 Phase III - Advanced Product Development: Focus on scalability, cost reduction, and generating critical data for regulatory dossiers. 🚀 Phase IV - Pre-Launch Preparation: This is where the final regulatory approvals, scale-up production plans, and go-to-market strategies come together. 🌍 Phase V - Launch & Market Expansion: Scale production, drive down costs, and extend your product’s lifecycle into new markets. Understanding the risks and costs at each phase can make or break a product’s success. The further along you get, the more time and money is spent, but the lower the risk of failure becomes. Read more in the recently launched Ag Playbook — a comprehensive guide designed to help startups, investors, and industry players navigate the complexities of bringing new products to market.

Another exciting announcement of the day: Congratulations to portfolio company Capstan Therapeutics for being named one of Endpoints News 11 most promising #biopharma #startups of the year. 🥳 This recognition highlights Capstan's continuous drive to #grow and #innovate, aiming to transform patient outcomes in #oncology and the #autoimmune field. 💙

Our former portfolio company BlueRock Therapeutics has just announced encouraging results of their 24 month data from their Phase I clinical trial for bemdaneprocel - an investigational #celltherapy for treating #Parkinsons disease. Bemdaneprocel continues to show a favorable safety profile in all 12 participants in the trial’s high and low dose cohorts.    BlueRock's company story has been a testament to successful #collaboration and #innovation. From our first Leaps investment in 2016, followed by the Bayer | Pharmaceuticals acquisition of BlueRock in 2019, up until their recent Phase I results - BlueRock tells an exemplary story of how young #startups innovate to address unmet medical needs and realize better patient outcomes.   Congratulations to Seth Ettenberg and the entire BlueRock team.

"I went from being bedridden to standing atop the highest free-standing mountain. […] It's paramount that we make gene therapies for sickle cell diseases accessible." Jimi Olaghere, a sickle cell patient, has defied the odds by becoming the first person cured by #CRISPR #genetherapy to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro! His journey showcases not just a personal triumph, but the transformative potential of gene editing in curing previously incurable diseases like sickle cell. His climb, both literal and medical, symbolizes hope and new possibilities for millions battling this condition. Read more: https://lnkd.in/exNKjg-i

In the fast-evolving world of AgTech, startups are constantly faced with tough questions: “What data proves your product works?”, “What milestones have you achieved?” Bringing new #agricultural #innovations to market is hard, especially when there’s no standardized process to follow. That’s why we're excited about the launch of the Ag Playbook—a comprehensive guide designed to help startups, investors, and industry players navigate the complexities of bringing new products to market. From understanding R&D costs and timelines to partnering with established players, this Playbook offers a common framework to evaluate and develop AgTech innovations more effectively.🌾 Whether you're an AgTech entrepreneur, investor, or industry leader, this Playbook will serve as your roadmap to help feed the world sustainably. Thanks to all who contributed, especially Paimun (PJ) Amini for leading the way! Read the Ag Playbook here: https://lnkd.in/gjggcCQB