Target2Drug BioAdvisory

Still plenty of big pharma interest in oral IBD drugs against validated targets like a4b7, but overcoming the technical challenges and proving the efficacy in large trials remain elusive. Lessons for AI/ML-enabled small-molecule drug discovery companies trying to take a shot at oral IBD drugs? - A sizeable deal with big pharma might require some patience. High binding affinity and in vivo efficacy data are unlikely to be sufficient for getting a deal that makes Fierce Biotech's headline.

Congrats for Lilly's dedication to Alzheimer's disease. After years of setbacks, its persistence is finally paying off. After witnessing first-hand how thoroughly Lilly thought about optimizing the ecosystem in preparation for a disease-modifying Alzheimer's drug launch almost 10 years ago, I'm hopeful its launch will go much better than Leqembi's.

When I first started Target2Drug BioAdvisory a year and a half ago, I planned on advising biotech startups by leveraging my big pharma and startup operating experiences, which were highly valued by my startup clients. But working with 2 venture investors in the last 7 months and evaluating dozens of investment opportunities has brought me fresh perspectives, which will undoubtedly make me a much better advisor for my startup clients, especially in this challenging funding environment. Interested in hearing about those fresh perspectives? DM me or let's meet at #BIO in San Diego.

Endeavor's audacious endeavor to reverse IPF is producing exciting results. The totality of the evidence seems to indicate the drug, ENV-101, might be improving the lung function. This is a giant step forward compared to the current standard of care drugs Ofev and Esbriet, which can only slow down disease worsening with significant tolerability issues to go with it. With that said, it's only 12-week data in a small Ph2a trial - we've seen plenty of spectacular Ph3 failures in IPF in the past, so the jury is still out on whether the efficacy will hold up in a larger and longer trial. In addition, for this novel MoA, will there be any long-term safety issues?

Big money for big indication with big unmet needs! The billion dollar question is whether anti-TSLP will work in COPD, given the many spectacular Ph3 failures we've seen in the past. Even if it works, will it be differentiated enough from AZ/Amgen's Tezspire, which will have years of physician experience in asthma on their side?

Macrocycle is gaining interest from big pharmas lately, such as Merck, Lilly, Genentech, and Astellas. Combining the affinity of a mAb and poential versatility of a small molecule, it can be a modality with wide applicability as a drug itself, or a target-binding component in peptide-drug-conjugates or radiopharmaceuticals. PeptiDream is a clear leader in this space. The question is whether we will see some new startups in this space to really drive innovation. #Merck #Lilly #Genentech #Astellas

A sad day for all ALS stakeholders, but a right decision by Amylyx. My heart goes out for those affected by the layoff as a result of the withdrawal.