Adam Hargreaves’ Post

Advancing Drug Discovery with AI-Integrated Single-Cell Analysis Traditional methodologies often analyze cell populations, a process which can inadvertently obscure the unique behaviors and responses of individual cells. By employing AI in single-cell analysis, we can decipher these unique cellular characteristics, offering a more precise and comprehensive understanding of cellular responses to therapeutic agents. Cutting-edge technologies, such as AI-enhanced data analysis and advanced imaging modalities, facilitate the accurate detection and interpretation of subtle morphological changes in cells. These changes, including alterations in cellular size, shape, or complexity, serve as vital indicators of cell health, functionality, and response to potential therapeutics. Moreover, AI-assisted analysis of phenotypic responses at the single-cell level uncovers additional layers of data. Phenotypic changes, indicative of alterations in gene expression, protein functionality, or metabolic activity, can elucidate the mechanistic pathways of drug actions at the cellular level. This enhanced understanding can expedite the development of safer and more efficient therapeutic agents. The future of drug testing is unfolding before our eyes, driven by the power and precision of AI. Let's continue to expand the horizons of our knowledge and technology to improve patient outcomes. If you're interested in discussing the implications of AI-integrated single-cell analysis in drug discovery and development further, please feel free to connect or comment below. Here's to ushering in a new era of personalized and effective therapeutics! #drugtesting #precisiononcology #singlecell

📈𝘽𝙞𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙖 𝘽𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣: 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝘼𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 5 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 📚 📌 Entrada Therapeutics has raised $100M through a stock sale to advance its Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatments. Following positive data from healthy volunteers on its exon skipping treatment, they secured investments from Janus Henderson Investors and several unnamed groups, including a US-based healthcare investor. Entrada is now gearing up for two Phase 2 trials for its exon 44 and exon 45 skipping treatments. 📌  Exsilio Therapeutics has secured $82M in Series A financing to tackle gene therapy challenges. The company remains at the early stage of its journey in delivering potential therapeutics but with funding to advance its genomic medicines, the Series A represents a strong endorsement of its technology. 📌 GRAIL announced on Monday that it has successfully completed its spinoff from DNA sequencing giant Illumina and will debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on Tuesday under the ticker symbol GRAL. Illumina has provided funding to support Grail's long-term plans and will retain a minority 14.5% stake in the cancer detection biotech. 📌 EvolutionaryScale launched Tuesday with a $142 million seed round from tech-focused investors. The startup aims to condense hundreds of millions of years of biological trial-and-error into a work week. As part of the growing field of de novo protein design, EvolutionaryScale leverages AI to help design protein-based drugs more quickly and identify new leads on challenging targets and diseases. 📌 Formation Bio, under the leadership of CEO Benjamine Liu, is tackling the essential but often overlooked tasks in drug development. Instead of focusing on discovering drugs, they're leveraging AI for patient recruitment, medical writing, protocol development, biostatistics, and more. With a $372 million Series D led by a16z, Formation Bio is set to enhance its efficiency goals and expand its pipeline through strategic dealmaking. #biotechnews #biotech #biopharma #biopharmanews

Our partner Eddie Eltoukhy has identified these opportunities in Biotech. Eddie has a PhD in bioengineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and over a decade experience as an operator. Reach out to him if you are working on these areas of biotech. Pear VC - Technology-Driven Therapeutic Platforms Companies developing therapeutic assets with a core product engine Proprietary tool, workflow, or samples leading to novel biological data sets Preference for omics platforms or high throughput screening / engineering workflows First-in-class or best-in-class drugs - Next-Generation Therapeutic Modalities Technologies to improve the efficacy, safety, access, or reach of next-gen modalities including the following: Genomic medicines (gene tx & gene editing) Cell therapies Targeted protein degraders Antibody-drug conjugates Radiopharma - Precision Medicine New technologies supporting the discovery of novel biomarkers and the generation of proprietary data sets for applications in: Disease screening Therapy selection Recurrence monitoring - Life Sciences + AI Software Platforms Software & AI-driven platforms to improve all aspects of life sciences R&D, including: Target discovery and validation Drug design and optimization Manufacturing Regulatory Clinical development

The 2024 OTC Technology Showcase will be held at Nationwide Children's Hospital Conference Center on March 7th at 1 p.m. Register here for in-person or virtual attendance and join us: https://bit.ly/42U76Lw Six presenters will showcase their innovative research and emerging projects stemming from the Abigail Wexner Research Institute. Presenters affiliated with Nationwide Children’s Hospital will delve into their research and pioneering initiatives as part of the showcase. Afterward, a panel of industry experts will discuss trends and opportunities in pediatric medical device development. Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi, DVM, PhD, is a leading specialist in the art of applying gene editing technologies. In his presentation, he will discuss REMEDY, a novel method that corrects heterozygous mutations (one good gene and one bad one) without the need for an exogenous donor DNA template. “We turned off [a] bad gene, but unexpectedly, there were two good genes. Where did the second good gene come from? We (myself and Yasemin Sezgin) didn’t know. But the idea was, when we got deeper and deeper, we realized that as soon as we turned off the bad gene, the second good gene moved closer to the bad gene and started fixing it—so both became good. This is REMEDY, an accidental discovery, but a transformational one for so many patients.” Medical breakthroughs often conjure images of extensive research and testing processes. However, for Dr. Kararoudi, the path to transforming patient care took a serendipitous route. “We didn’t invent anything, really, it just happened accidentally, right? I don’t see myself as a person who invents something from scratch, but I know how to simplify things. Innovation is simplifying ways that we can help patients, anywhere in the world, especially people in low- and middle-income countries that have no access to cell and gene therapies.” Visit here for more information about the Technology Showcase, including agenda and parking details: https://bit.ly/49vFdMf #InnovateWithUs #Pharma #Pharmaceutical #Therapeutics #Investing

🚀 Big News from Radar Therapeutics! 🚀 Radar Therapeutics has successfully raised $13.4 million in seed financing to advance its mission of developing smart programmable medicines using molecular RNA sensors! 🎉💉 The funding round was led by NfX Bio with participation from major investors including Eli Lilly and Company, Biovision Ventures, and KdT Ventures. Additional support came from PearVC, BEVC, and other esteemed investors. 🙌💰 What They're Working On: 🔬 Programmable Genetic and mRNA-Based Therapeutics: Radar Therapeutics is pioneering the use of RNA sensors—mRNAs that control gene expression based on cell-specific RNAs—to enable precise, targeted, and timed drug delivery. This approach aims to minimize systemic side-effects and enhance therapeutic efficacy. Key Highlights: 🌟 Innovative Technology: The RADAR platform allows for the rational design of precision therapeutics, capable of altering cell biology, deleting harmful cells, or reprogramming cells for autoimmune diseases. 🌟 Expert Leadership: Co-founded by synthetic biology pioneer Jim Collins, Ph.D., and Xiaojing Gao, Ph.D., with industry-leading insights from CEO Sophia Lugo and CSO Eerik Kaseniit, Ph.D.. 🌟 Impactful Publications: Featured in Nature Biotechnology, showcasing highly specific, compact sensor sequences for targeted gene expression. 🌟 Industry Recognition: Honored with the AbbVie Golden Ticket, Johnson & Johnson West Coast Cell and Gene Therapy Symposium "Judge's Choice" award, and the Amgen Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Award. “We’re leveraging the explosion in single-cell transcriptomic data and advances in RNA-editing enzymes to create smart mRNA therapies,” said Eerik Kaseniit, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder. “By leveraging a broad dataset offered by single-cell transcriptomics, Radar can precisely identify cellular signatures and engineer programmable therapies accordingly, offering unparalleled specificity to avoid off-target effects,” said Omri Amirav-Drory, PhD, Partner, NfX Ventures. With the support of these top-tier investors, Radar Therapeutics is set to advance its preclinical programs and continue expanding its team. 🚀 #Biotech #mRNA #RNAEditing #PrecisionMedicine #GeneticTherapeutics #HealthcareInnovation #Investment #SeedFunding #SmartMedicine #BiotechInnovation #SingleCellTranscriptomics #DrugDevelopment #RadarTherapeutics

In the past two decades, we've witnessed a remarkable surge in biomedical and therapeutic innovations, highlighted by milestones like the Human Genome Project, CRISPR discovery, and the swift development of Covid-19 mRNA vaccines. This era, defined by rapid progress in biology, has been driven by substantial increases in investment. Venture capital in the U.S. biotech sector jumped from just under $4 billion in 2000 to nearly $25 billion in 2022, while Pharma R&D investments rose from $38 billion to $83 billion over the same period. These financial infusions have fostered the creation of diverse new medicinal modalities, such as gene therapy and RNA-based medicine, broadening our capacity to address various diseases, including those previously thought untreatable. However, as these new modalities emerge, finding their specific applications in treating diseases has become increasingly competitive. The healthcare industry now faces the challenge of integrating these innovations into clinical practice, determining the most effective treatments for specific conditions amid a growing array of options. Learn more about the current state of therapeutic modalities market in this article by Ben Portney, Adela Tomsejova, and Jorge Conde: https://lnkd.in/gp9svciy #biotech #drugdevelopment #biopharmatrend

🚀 Key Takeaways from ‘ChatGPT for DNA’: Revolutionizing Osteoporosis Drug Discovery Massive Funding & Visionary Backing: Relation Therapeutics recently secured a hefty $35 million, with notable support from NVIDIA’s venture arm and other leading investors. This move highlights the tech and biotech communities' confidence in Relation’s innovative approach to drug discovery for osteoporosis, an area begging for breakthroughs. Innovative Approach: Dubbed the “ChatGPT for DNA,” Relation is pioneering a blend of machine learning, genomics, and lab integration to unlock the mysteries of osteoporosis at a genetic level. Their work aims to identify new targets by understanding genetic variants and their impact on gene expression, pointing towards more effective treatments. Strategic Expansion & Expertise: With a close eye on expanding their pipeline into immunology and metabolic disease, Relation isn't stopping at osteoporosis. The leadership under David Roblin, a veteran in drug development, ensures a blend of technological innovation with deep industry know-how, setting the stage for potentially groundbreaking developments. 💭 Some Thoughts: 📈 The Bull Case: The combo of AI and genomics isn’t just enhancing research; it’s transforming our approach to understanding and treating diseases. With this approach, we could significantly reduce the time from discovery to clinical trials and help us move closer to personalized treatments. 📉 The Bear Case: While the AI-genomics combo opens new frontiers in drug discovery, it's not without its hurdles. First, this innovative approach's long-term success and clinical efficacy remain to be seen. Also, incorporating AI into healthcare introduces ethical questions around genetic data privacy and the equitable distribution of such advanced treatments. Lastly, the tech and biotech sectors are notorious for overhyping capabilities. If expectations aren't managed, we risk disillusionment if breakthroughs don’t materialize as fast or as successfully as hoped. What do you think? 

Interesting article about the development of various therapies and their position in the market.

Stories making headlines today in the biopharma industry: In a significant move, Jaguar Gene Therapy has decided to carve out a new entity, Advanced Medicine Partners, to oversee its chemistry, manufacturing, and controls operations. Backed by Deerfield, ARCH Venture Partners, and Nolan Capital, the newly formed company is taking over Jaguar's under-construction facility in North Carolina with plans to commence clinical manufacturing by 2025. In another development, the US Patent and Trademark Office has dismissed Seagen’s accusations against Daiichi Sankyo on patent rights violations. Seagen had claimed that its ADC linker technology was unlawfully utilized by Daiichi in its range of products, including AstraZeneca-partnered Enheru. The case has now been ruled in favour of Daiichi. Meanwhile, Dewpoint Therapeutics has announced a 15% reduction in its workforce in the buildup to its debut clinical trials next year. The trials set to focus on colorectal cancer and ALS mark the company's transition from a discovery-phase startup to a drug development firm. Encouragingly, none of the condensate scientists and experts are impacted by this downsizing. Lastly, Tr1x, a startup working on Treg cell therapy, has come out of stealth mode with a whopping $75 million capital injection. The company's innovative approach seeks to 'trick' helper T cells into transforming into Tr1-like via cell engineering, paving the way towards the development of an off-the-shelf therapy. The biotech landscape continues to shift rapidly with continuous advancements and disruptions. #pharma #biotech #topstories #biodatastudio

Get inspired by a new wave of biotech engineering companies changing the game in Maryland's Innovation Hub. 🚀 They are challenging the status quo and bringing groundbreaking solutions to pressing human health issues. Find out what makes them tick in our latest article: https://lnkd.in/eYsat75v Featuring: - Cogentis Therapeutics, Inc., founded by Kent Werner and Sean Evans, is developing neurotherapeutics to prevent neurodegeneration and restore brain function. - b.well Connected Health, started by @Bryan Jones and Kristen Valdes, provides an integrated solution for consumer engagement, health management, and cost containment. - NDBbio LLC, an enigmatic force in the biotech, medical device and life science scene. - AAVogen, set up by Buel D. (a.k.a. Dan) Rodgers, developing gene therapeutics for muscle wasting diseases. - MultiplexDX International., conceived by Pavol Cekan and Vladimir Wolf, working towards developing accurate, specific and affordable diagnostic tests to fight cancer. - Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, founded by Carl Merril, Greg Merril and Gregory L. Merril, providing therapeutic solutions to target multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria. - Neuraly Inc., brainchild of Seulki Lee, Viktor Roschke and Zoltan Mari, undertaking critical neurodegenerative disease research. - Cartesian Therapeutics, formed by Michael Singer and Murat V. Kalayoglu, pioneering cell and gene immunotherapies. - Catalio Capital Management, set up by George Petrocheilos and R. Jacob Vogelstein, investing in breakthrough biomedical technology companies. - Salubris Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to creating novel antibody and protein-based therapeutics. - CoapTech, founded by Howard Carolan and Steven Tropello, aiming to improve medical care delivery by bringing in innovative medical devices. Cheers to these game-changers! Let's continue to celebrate their revolutionary approaches and transformative contributions to biotechnology. 💡 #Biotech #Innovation #GameChangers #MarylandTech+#EngineeringNess