Intelisci

Here’s an interesting publication detailing how trial efficiency can reshape early-stage development in #biotech... In Phase I studies, every decision affects the development pathway, making trial design and timing critical. By introducing flexibility into these early phases, clinical teams can meet complex study demands without compromising on speed or quality—a balance essential in today’s fast-paced therapeutic field. With streamlined processes, from recruitment through data collection, biotech R&D professionals can better allocate resources, achieve reliable results, and move confidently toward later stages of development. #BiotechR&D #BioTech #BioPharm #EarlyStageDevelopment #ClinicalTrials #TrialEfficiency #DrugDevelopment

Axonis Therapeutics has raised an impressive $115 million in an oversubscribed #SeriesA round, fueling its ambitious plans to develop first-in-class therapies for neurological disorders. This investment will advance their lead candidate, AXN-027, into clinical trials, a novel KCC2-targeted small molecule aimed at addressing the pressing challenges in epilepsy and pain treatment. Axonis is also expanding its pipeline to tackle other neurological conditions, which have been historically underserved by traditional therapies. The funding round was co-led by Cormorant Asset Management, LP and venBio Partners, with key support from Sofinnova Investments , MRL Ventures Fund LLC, Perceptive Advisors, Lumira Ventures, and Solasta Ventures. This level of support from industry leaders underlines the high potential seen in Axonis’ approach to neurotherapeutics. Notably, Raymond J. Kelleher, MD, PhD, from Cormorant, and Jonathan Leff, M.D., from Sofinnova, have joined Axonis’ Board of Directors, bringing valuable guidance as Axonis moves forward. At the helm, Dr. Joanna Stanicka, CEO, and co-founder, leads a team that has achieved remarkable scientific milestones. Joining her are Dr. Shane Hegarty, Chief Scientific Officer, and newly appointed leadership including Dr. Donald M. (Manning), Chief Medical Officer, and Jeff Imbaro, Chief Operating Officer. Their expertise positions Axonis as a promising player in translating groundbreaking science into therapies that can profoundly improve patient care. This milestone signifies a major step forward for Axonis, and I look forward to seeing how their advancements unfold for the benefit of patients and the neurological community. #Biotech #Neurotherapeutics #Innovation #AxonisTherapeutics #Neurology #LifeSciences

As #BreastCancerAwareness Month comes to a close, let’s take a look at how far treatment has come—and the promising path ahead. Thanks to continued R&D, we’re seeing breakthroughs in early detection and targeted treatments that have made a real difference in patient outcomes, giving us powerful new tools to improve outcomes. Today, molecular profiling enables treatments tailored to each patient, while non-invasive liquid biopsies provide precise disease monitoring without the need for invasive procedures. It’s all helping to make a genuine difference. Leading researchers and executives are dedicated to making these developments possible. Daniel O'Day and Gilead Sciences, through Immunomedics, have introduced Trodelvy—an antibody-drug conjugate that’s offering new hope for those with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Meanwhile, Vas Narasimhan and the team at Novartis are leading research into novel biomarkers, promising earlier diagnosis and more customized therapies. And Eric Lefkofsky at Tempus AI has set a new standard with AI-driven data analysis, which is rapidly expanding our ability to personalize treatments at scale. It’s exciting to think about the future of precision medicine and how these advancements could reshape cancer care, getting us closer to a time when every patient receives the most effective treatment possible. #BreastCancerAwareness #CancerResearch #PrecisionMedicine #Innovation #Biotech

AvenCell Therapeutics has secured $112M in #SeriesB funding, supported by Blackstone Life Sciences, Cellex Cell Professionals, and Intellia Therapeutics, Inc.. This investment will accelerate the development of its switchable CAR-T cell therapies, including its lead CRISPR-edited program, AVC-201, aimed at treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other hematological cancers. By tackling the challenges of donor cell rejection and improving therapy persistence, AvenCell’s innovative approach positions it at the forefront of gene-edited cancer treatments. Under the leadership of Andrew Schiermeier, the company is poised to deliver impactful solutions in the field of cell therapy. #Biotech #CellTherapy #CRISPR #CancerResearch #AvenCell #BlackstoneLifeSciences #Cellex #IntelliaTherapeutics

Seaport Therapeutics, led by the same pioneers who built Karuna Therapeutics, has just secured $225M in #SeriesB funding to advance its pipeline of neuropsychiatric treatments. This significant milestone comes only months after Seaport’s launch by PureTech Health, and it signals substantial progress for their lead candidate, SPT-300, targeting major depressive disorder. With backing from prominent investors such as General Atlantic, T. Rowe Price, and ARCH Venture Partners, Seaport Therapeutics is poised to make a considerable impact in the neuropsychiatric space. Under the leadership of Karuna Therapeutics co-founder Daphne Zohar, Seaport’s swift rise is one to watch, especially given the caliber of partners involved. This funding will be pivotal in accelerating trials and bringing innovative treatments closer to patients who need them. #Biotech #Neuropsychiatry #Investment #DrugDevelopment #Innovation #VentureCapitalists #Biopharma

Imagine saving millions in clinical trial costs while improving accuracy... ...Unlearn.AI’s digital twin technology is making that a reality. CEO Charles Fisher explains how this advanced approach is reshaping trial design, optimising resources, and accelerating drug development. Companies such as Eisai US, Merck, and Bristol Myers Squibb have already partnered with Unlearn.AI, recognising its potential to revolutionise clinical trials. Garry Neil, CEO of Avalo Therapeutics, and Sean Khozin, CEO of CancerLinQ®, have also highlighted the impact of this innovative technology in improving efficiency and outcomes for patients. As AI continues to integrate into clinical research, it is becoming clear that digital twins are no longer a concept of the future but a tool actively reshaping the way we approach drug discovery and development. Alyssa Vanderbeek Andrew Stelzer Chris Boerner #Biopharma #ClinicalTrials #AIinHealthcare #Biotech #Innovation #DrugDevelopment #PrecisionMedicine

“Knowledge of what causes human disease has exploded in the ‘omics’ era, but the ability to discover and develop new molecules to treat those diseases hasn't kept pace,” said Terray Therapeutics CEO and co-founder Jacob Berlin, PhD. “Trained on rapidly iterating, precise data generated at unprecedented scale in our labs, Terray’s AI will dramatically improve the success rate of small molecule development and bring relief to patients.” Terray Therapeutics has just secured an additional $120M in #SeriesB funding (bringing its total equity financing since inception to over $200M) to propel its small molecule programs forward. In an industry where precision and speed in drug development are paramount, Terray’s AI-powered platform offers a new approach to addressing the challenges of traditional discovery methods. This milestone comes with the backing of key investors like NVIDIA and Bristol Myers Squibb, who clearly see the transformative potential in this partnership. Together, they aim to tackle the bottlenecks in traditional drug discovery, combining Terray’s proprietary AI technology with the expertise of industry heavyweights. Other milestones include: ✅ Rapid progress on internal immunology programs, driven by AI-powered chemistry optimization. ✅ Strategic partnerships with Calico Life Sciences and Bristol Myers Squibb to address complex disease targets. ✅ Development and publication of the industry-leading COATI chemistry foundation model and the application of latent diffusion machine learning for small molecule design—a first in the field. ✅ Strenghtened leadership at Terray with the addition of experienced figures such as Feroze U. (Fez Ujjainwalla) as Chief Business Officer and Anna Goranson as Chief People Officer. Additionally, biotech veterans like John Maraganore, Bassil Dahiyat, and Sudha Parasuraman have taken on strategic roles within the company, further solidifying its leadership position in the industry. Bedford Ridge Capital nVentures Maverick Capital Goldcrest Capital Madrona Venture Labs Two Sigma XTX Ventures Digitalis Ventures Sid Shenai Kimberly Powell #Biotech #AIinHealthcare #DrugDevelopment #TerrayTherapeutics #SmallMolecule #PrecisionMedicine #BiopharmaInnovation #Biopharma #Innovation

Congratulations to John Maraganore, Tracy Zimmermann, PhD, and the team at City Therapeutics on securing $135 million in Series A financing, a significant milestone for the advancement of RNAi-based medicine. This infusion of capital underscores growing confidence in RNA interference technologies, which hold the potential to revolutionize therapeutic approaches, particularly in areas where traditional treatments have faced challenges. As more investment flows into this space, we can expect to see transformative innovations that could reshape the treatment landscape. With a leadership team that includes John Maraganore, co-founder and executive chair, Barry Greene, CEO of Sage Therapeutics, and Ron Philip, CEO of Orbital Therapeutics, City Therapeutics is well-positioned to pioneer new frontiers in RNAi therapies. Supported by prominent investors such as Fidelity Investments, Regeneron Ventures, and Slate Path Capital LP, the company is set to push the boundaries of what's possible in this exciting field. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, The Invus Group, Rock Springs Capital, Sebastian Trousil, RTW Investments, LP, Mark Keating, Kotaro Nakanishi, Hans-Peter Vornlocher, Axolabs, Phillip D. Zamore #Biopharma #Biotechnology #RNAi #RNAtherapeutics #PharmaInnovation #LifeSciences #Pharmaceuticals #DrugDevelopment #HealthcareInnovation #MedTech

Judo Bio has launched with $100M in Series A funding led by Atlas Venture. The company is focused on developing kidney-targeted siRNA therapies using its proprietary megalin-STRIKERS platform. This approach aims to treat both systemic and renal diseases by silencing specific genes involved in metabolic and electrolyte imbalances. The funding will accelerate their lead candidate into clinical trials and expand their R&D efforts. Rajiv Patni, MD Alfica Sehgal Jonathan Lawrence Mayur Patel, PhD Shi-Ying Ding Steven Robinette #Biopharma #Biotechnology #siRNA #KidneyTherapies #GeneSilencing #PrecisionMedicine #AtlasVenture #DrugDevelopment #RenalHealth #ClinicalTrials #SeriesA #VentureCapitalists #VentureCapitalist