Leslie Mitchell

Wow - 2 ex-Meta employees launch EvolutionaryScale landing $142m to advance AI in biology. EvolutionaryScale has introduced ESM3, a cutting-edge language model for biology that predicts protein sequences, structures, and functions. This model can simulate millions of years of evolution, generating new proteins with potential applications in medicine, research, and sustainability. ESM3 represents a significant advancement in AI's ability to design and engineer biological systems. There will be comparisons with AlphaFold3, intrigued where this goes... https://lnkd.in/dhtQDtsA #AIinDrugDiscovery #genomics #proteomics

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Spot-on analysis of Illumina's financial history from startup, with a focus on Jay Flatley's legendary ability to keep a cap on expenses before GRAIL destroyed that discipline. Well worth a read if you're involved in a company that’s finding its way through today's brutal funding environment (or current ILMN management 😥): https://lnkd.in/gAZ6VHbj "Adversity breeds resilience. Just ask Illumina. No, not that Illumina. The OG Illumina led by Jay Flatley." "Recent [Illumina disastrous] history distracts from the blueprint Flatley and the primordial [🤣] team laid down for everyone who followed. Almost no one has paid attention, but biotech's current funding dry spell suggests aspiring entrepreneurs should be taking notes." "Operating efficiency is a lost art in company formation. Despite having a blueprint for over two decades, no other biotech company serving the R&D inputs sector has come close to replicating Illumina's success." "Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. (founded 2008), 10x Genomics (2012), and Twist Bioscience (2013) were born into an era of easy money. They were built like it, too. PacBio (2004) is spiraling toward bankruptcy, whether investors realize it or not, primarily because it never prioritized operating efficiency in its two-decade history. It shows, too." "If adversity breeds resilience, and resilience breeds profitable operations, then some of the world's most efficient businesses ever created are forming right now during biotech's current funding crunch." [👏👏👏] "We just can't appreciate it yet. We don't even know the names of many of these companies. Some primordial teams are meeting right now, reading this, and about to launch a motherfucker of a business. Good." [👏👏👏]

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What a fantastic event held by AWS and supporting companies. 2 big takeaways: 1) AI is rapidly changing to address issues and drive reliability with new tools from AWS and others. 2) Like any tool, you can't let this happen to you, you need to plan and apply it systematically for the benefit of your company. It was great to hear of the planned implementation and strategic alignment some companies are taking to best poise them for success.

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This is the kind of #FridayRead that I like to share! Boston/Cambridge has regained the top spot in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News's ranking of the top U.S. biopharma clusters. The article leads by citing a recent commentary about biotech clusters globally over the last four decades, with Massachusetts making the top three (alongside Northern California and Southern Kanto in Japan). What the researchers found we did right shouldn't be a surprise to anyone: early biotech investment; consistent scientific excellence; large partner networks; and broad foundation of organizations. And what did GEN find when they did their deep dive? The Boston/Cambridge region leading in NIH and VC funding, as well as lab space, and second in patents. https://lnkd.in/e_j4AXa7

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What a thrill for us to be recognized as a finalist in the Transformational Therapy Category at the Biotech Week Boston Awards gala last night!   Our team at Indaptus Therapeutics, Inc. is passionate about re-thinking cancer treatment by developing innovative therapies that challenge conventional precision and targeted approaches. We're pushing boundaries, and it’s exciting to see our efforts acknowledged alongside some of the industry’s top innovators. Chaunte Lowe, OLY, a 4-time Olympian and cancer survivor, set an inspiring tone as host. Her resilience and story of overcoming adversity resonated with everyone in the room, and served as a powerful reminder of the perseverance it takes to innovate and save lives. It was also great to reconnect with a legend in the field of immunotherapy, Arthur Krieg from Zola Therapeutics, and talk about his latest work.  It’s fascinating to listen to someone who has been at the forefront of innovation for so many years, and I always learn something new every time we speak. And a special shoutout to Adam Thomas (he/him) from MOMA Therapeutics. Besides being a fantastic presenter, he surely should have won a "best dressed" award for his sharp kilt! Though we didn’t bring home the award this time, it was a privilege to be a finalist and celebrate the accomplishments of everyone attending.  Congratulations to all the winners, and here’s to continuing our shared mission to drive forward life-saving innovation.   #BWBAWARDS #IndaptusTherapeutics #Biotech #LifeSciences #CancerResearch #NeverGiveUp

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