Leaps by Bayer

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

By leveraging cutting-edge #CRISPR technology, pairwise, Inc. is transforming everyday fruits and vegetables to be more convenient, nutritious, and sustainable. From seedless blackberries to pitless cherries and CRISPR-enhanced leafy greens, Pairwise is committed to improving the quality and accessibility of produce. Additionally, their advanced row crops collaboration with Bayer is set to boost yield and resilience in essential crops like corn and soy.

🔎 Discover 3 groundbreaking ways AI could transform healthcare Personalized health powered by AI often brings to mind supercharged diagnostics, enhanced #drugdiscovery, and tailored medication schedules. However, AI can also drive down costs and boost accessibility on a global scale, sparking paradigm shifts in outdated healthcare systems. Curious? Keep reading or swipe through the graphic below to learn more. 1. “Digital twins” Using AI, a virtual copy of a patient is created, simulating treatments to provide insights without risk or to optimize drug trials. Preliminary trials help create these virtual copies, which are used to identify 'duds'—people who do not respond to standardized dosages or schedules. 2. AI resource management AI can enhance resource sharing and allocation, such as predicting ICU bed capacities during COVID. Surprisingly, it can also ensure patient privacy and safe data transmission through so-called ‘synthetic data’, patient data stripped of any identifiers, improving knowledge sharing and expertise. 3. LLM’s for patient experience LLMs in healthcare can improve patient access, by reducing paperwork burdens. While they already can recommend drug-trial protocols or diagnoses, the accuracy must improve for reliability and thus application.

Who are some of the pioneers of tomorrow? Have a look at Fierce Pharma Top 50 picks below. 🔬 🚀