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💡#TechTalkWednesday4 "Introducing Xaira Therapeutics: Revolutionizing Drug Discovery with AI" Today is a big day for the biotechnology and artificial intelligence industries because Xaira Therapeutics has just launched. With support from over $1 billion from well-known investors like ARCH Venture Partners, Foresite Capital, Sequoia Capital, Lux Capital, and others, Xaira is starting a groundbreaking journey to change the way we find and make medicines. What Sets Xaira Apart? End-to-End AI Integration: Xaira is not just using AI but is re-engineering the drug discovery process from the ground up. By integrating advanced machine learning, vast data generation capabilities, and robust therapeutic product development, Xaira is positioned to revolutionize our approach to medicines. Elite Foundations: Co-founded by Dr. David Baker, a renowned figure in biochemistry and protein design, Xaira is leveraging cutting-edge AI models such as RFdiffusion and RFantibody. These models were pivotal in protein and antibody design and now form the backbone of Xaira's research initiatives. A Multidisciplinary Dynamo: With a team culled from top-tier institutions and companies, Xaira combines expertise in computational biology, drug design, and clinical development under one roof. ................................................................................................................................ An optimistic thought: With AI-driven platforms like Xaira Therapeutics improving rapidly in the biotech industry, we might soon be entering a time when personalized medicine becomes usual. Imagine treatments designed just for your genetic makeup, which could make medications more effective and reduce side effects. The accuracy and speed that AI brings could quickly make healthcare more tailored to each person's specific needs. Find out more: RFdiffusion: https://lnkd.in/eiQGQw5c Xaira Therapeutics: https://lnkd.in/ej74SKqh https://lnkd.in/ebwkKPJt #XairaTherapeutics #AIDrugDiscovery #Biotechnology #MachineLearning #HealthcareInnovation #StartupLaunch

🚀 Talk about massive.... 1Bill committed capital (unless I read that wrong)! Xaira Therapeutics Launches to Revolutionize Drug Discovery and Development with AI 🧬💊 Today marks a monumental milestone as Xaira Therapeutics embarks on a mission to reshape the landscape of medicine through the transformative power of artificial intelligence. 🌐💡 Backed by over $1 billion in committed capital from leading investors ARCH Venture Partners, Foresite Capital, and a consortium of esteemed partners, Xaira is poised to redefine the drug discovery process. 💰💡 Led by a stellar team including Dr. Marc Tessier-Lavigne, former CSO of Genentech, and co-founder Dr. David Baker, a pioneer in protein design, Xaira integrates cutting-edge AI research, extensive data generation, and robust product development to accelerate therapeutic breakthroughs. 🧪🔬 With a commitment to advancing fundamental AI research and translating discoveries into life-changing treatments, Xaira represents a bold step forward in the pursuit of better healthcare for all. Wow!🌟💊 #XairaTherapeutics #AIinHealthcare #DrugDiscoveryRevolution

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Weekly Tech+Bio Highlights #11: • Venture capital investment in biopharma surged in Q2, raising $7.6 billion across 107 investments. J.P. Morgan forecasts $28.2 billion in 2024, driven by significant rounds like Xaira Therapeutics' $1 billion and Formation Bio's $372 million, alongside strong M&A activity and an expanding IPO market. • VC firm venBio secures $528 million for its fifth fund to support about a dozen biotech startups over the next three years, following successful IPOs and M&A exits, including Alumis, Artiva, and RayzeBio. • GSK and Flagship Pioneering partner to develop new medicines and vaccines in respiratory and immunology, jointly funding up to $150 million initially, with potential milestones up to $720 million. • Synchron achieves the first use of Apple Vision Pro with an implantable brain-computer interface, enabling a patient with ALS to control the device hands-free and voice-free, showcasing progress for individuals with paralysis. • Adaptimmune receives FDA accelerated approval for TECELRA, the first engineered cell therapy for solid tumors. It is specifically for advanced MAGE-A4+ synovial sarcoma in adults with certain HLA types who have undergone prior chemotherapy. • Asimov launches its AI-driven 4th generation CHO Edge System, guaranteeing titers of 5 g/L for IgG monoclonal antibodies as part of its Cell Line Development Service, with advanced optimizations for various biologic architectures and increased titer range of 5-11 g/L. • Paige open-sources their foundational models PRISM and Virchow. Virchow, the first million-slide AI model for cancer developed with Microsoft Research, and PRISM, a multi-modal model for cancer insights, are now on Hugging Face for researchers and developers. • Inoviv launches MasterKey, a customizable platform for multiplexed targeted protein assays, enabling researchers to select from a vast, pre-characterized database of thousands of proteins. • Rejuvenate Biomed and SAS partner to create an AI-driven, disease-agnostic drug repurposing discovery tool on SAS Viya, aimed at accelerating drug development for age-related diseases. • Harvard spinout GRO Biosciences raises $60 million in Series B to advance its ProGly-Uricase gout drug. The technology, using non-standard amino acids, aims to avoid immune response issues seen with Amgen's Krystexxa. • 23andMe's board rejects CEO Anne Wojcicki's plan to take the company private at 40 cents per share, valuing it at $230 million. The board requests changes and expects Wojcicki's support for a revised business plan. Wojcicki owns nearly 110 million shares with significant voting power. • Insilico Medicine unveils Science42:DORA, an AI-driven tool to streamline academic writing and research for scientists, leveraging LLMs to assist in drafting scientific documents like papers, grant applications, and research summaries. More on the news and recent hot topics in our weekly newsletter, link below.

Here's the latest biotech M&A update from Sarah Cole and me. The market remained fairly active month in March with big name high value deals, as well as some significant TransAtlantic activity with acquirers on both sides of the pond. Here are our thoughts below.    ➡ In the 6 biggest deals reported the only clear trend is the interest and ongoing firepower of big pharma to acquire clinical stage assets reflecting their need to bolster sales over the next decade with the looming patent cliff.   ➡ Novo remains in the spotlight with its acquisition of Cardior Pharmaceuticals (€1bn). Based in Hannover, Germany, Cardior's therapeutic approach targets non-coding RNA and it has a lead compound currently in phase II. Later stage assets definitely remain central to big pharma M&A strategies at the minute.   ➡ Similarly, AstraZeneca hit the headlines with two acquisitions – building pipeline with Canada's Fusion Pharmaceuticals for $2.4bn (clinical stage oncology, phase II) and French company Amolyt for $1.05bn (clinical stage rare endocrinology treatment, phase III)   ➡ Ginkgo had an interesting last minute February rush (which didn’t quite make our last editorial) announcing acquisitions of Reverie Labs, Proof Diagnostics and Patch Biosciences on 29th (using the full extent of the leap year…). Two of these are an AI play, presumably off the back of last year's announcement that they are partnering with Google Cloud to build a next gen AI platform for bio engineering and security: Reverie having AI/ML tools to accelerate drug discovery and Patch having built an AI platform for sequence design which is intended to strengthen Ginkgo's gene therapy and RNA Therapeutics services. The Proof acquisition was designed to provide Ginkgo's customers with a gene editing tool and next generation of therapies. TechBio remains very much in vogue and we're seeing a lot of activity in the venture space for this too – cf Relation Therapeutics recent $35m series seed.   Reach out to us if any you're interested in any aspect of these deals or if you'd like us to cover anything else in these updates. #lifesciences #mergersandacqusitions #venturecapital

Stories making headlines today in the biopharma industry: The biotech industry experienced a noteworthy resurgence in H1 2024, with 50 startups closing nine-figure funding rounds. Echoing the peaks of 2020 and 2021, by March 20, 21 megarounds had been announced, with momentum increasing into Q2. Most investments are directed at companies with clinical trials ongoing, signaling forthcoming data or risk reduction. Of the 50 funded, 15 had not commenced clinical trials. Flagship Pioneering, renowned for its role in creating Moderna, is seeking to expand its eighth fund by $500 million, aiming for $3.5 billion. Backed by major entities like Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management and Texas Municipal Retirement System, this increase underscores investor confidence in Flagship's influence in biotech. Oncology-focused Apollomics announced strategic cost-cutting and leadership changes. Co-founder Sanjeev Redkar and CMO Peony Yu will step down in August but remain as consultants. Apollomics will refine its Phase 2 trial for vebreltinib, now focusing on non-small cell lung cancer with Met amplification. Pfizer appointed Cyrus Taraporevala, former State Street Global Advisors CEO, to its board as it prepares for Q2 earnings and furthers cost reductions. Taraporevala also holds board positions at Shell and Bridgepoint Group. GSK is investing €400 million to assume full rights to influenza and Covid vaccine candidates from its CureVac collaboration. GSK is terminating several other collaborative programs, prompting CureVac to downsize by 30% to focus on high-value mRNA pipelines as stated by CEO Alexander Zehnder. Beacon Therapeutics raised $170 million to advance its gene therapy for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, challenging Johnson & Johnson's late-stage trial for botaretigene sparoparvovec. This financing round marks the biotech industry's 50th nine-figure round of 2024, underscoring sustained investor interest. Eli Lilly achieved approval for its Alzheimer’s drug, marking a significant victory in their battle against the disease. This approval validates years of research and stands to provide new treatment options for Alzheimer's patients. Lastly, Dupixent, co-developed by Sanofi and Regeneron, gained EU approval for treating COPD. This advancement precedes an FDA decision and enhances treatment options for chronic respiratory condition patients. #pharma #biotech #topstories #biodatastudio

As the landscape of biotech innovation perpetually evolves, a noteworthy stride has been made by Contineum Therapeutics. It's a moment of elevation—Contineum's disclosure of their IPO plans could be a formidable advance for treatments in neurological and inflammatory ailments. This forward leap doesn't occur in isolation. With a legacy intertwined through Versant Ventures' fertile innovation soil, Contineum germinated from the enduring tree of Inception Sciences. Notably, Versant's keen eye for nascent potential bore fruit when Roche embraced Inception 5 six years past, propelling forward a mission to heal the neurological fabric sundered by disease. With private funding approximating £194 million, Contineum's arsenal of small molecule medicines target afflictions from the enigmatic depths of multiple sclerosis to the perplexing realms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the sombre tides of depression. These prospects aren't mere statistical entries; they carry the hope for life-altering therapies, with one proudly owned candidate coursing through Phase 1 trials and another, in alliance with Johnson & Johnson, forging ahead into mid-stage evaluation. Here's a fraction of the puzzle often overlooked: As Contineum stands on the cusp of public trading, we find at its core an intellectual symphony—a collaboration of Versant, academic pioneers, and seasoned executives harmonizing to orchestrate 'neuro-regeneration'. The beacon lit by Contineum is but a reflection of a broader resurgence in biotech IPOs. While February's hiatus whispers of caution, March resounds with renewed vigour as Contineum became the fourth biotech prodigy to announce IPO intentions. Beyond funding, it's a testament to resilience and innovation underpinning the sector's growth narrative in recent years. Amidst this symphony, Contineum's pitch soars, seeking differentiation in a choir of rivals like Bristol Myers Squibb and Structure Therapeutics, each vying for mastery over similar maladies. Yet, their claim of distinction is no mere boast; preclinical trials hint at an edge—a difference that could define the future course for patients ensnared by these conditions. #Biotech #IPO #Innovation

It´s strategic investment Friday.......IPO edition. Well, the new year fireworks keep blazing in the biotech IPO sky, and the latest rocket to take off is none other than Kyverna Therapeutics. These guys are gunning for public market fuel to propel their two lead CD19 #CAR-T therapies through the clinic - KYV-101 for #autoimmune diseases like lupus nephritis, MS, and myasthenia gravis, and KYV-201, an "off-the-shelf" version developed with Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. Their KYV-101 aims at B cells, those little autoimmune mischief-makers, with the ambition of not just zapping them, but potentially "resetting" them to play nice. That's a whole new level of cellular diplomacy if you ask me. They've got some heavy hitters in their corner. Gilead's been backing them since Day One, and last August they snagged $145 million from Bain Capital Life Sciences and others. They're even partnered with Verily, Alphabet's precision health and Biotech arm, to use its state-of-the-art immune mapping platform (Immune Profiler) to elucidate biomarkers of treatment response in autoimmune patients treated with Kyverna’s KYV-101 Of course, the CAR-T space is crowded, and competition is fierce. But Kyverna's got a well-rounded pipeline, with research programs targeting IBD and beyond, and ambitious plans to venture into regulatory T cells and novel humanized CAR constructs. This is no one-trick pony. So, will Kyverna's IPO blast off to Mars or crash and burn? It's still early days, folks, but with the IPO window "gradually reopening" as PwC says, and with Alto Neuroscience, Metagenomi, CG Oncology, and ArriVent Biopharma already lighting up the launchpad, I wouldn't bet against these CAR-T contenders. My advice? Buckle up, biotech fans, it's gonna be a wild ride. #biotech #IPO #CAR-T #autoimmune #precisionmedicine #investmentbanking #lifescience #investment #biotech #investor #market #business #PE #pharmaceutical #health #vc #capital _________________________________________________________________________________ Have you enjoyed this? Recommend Repost ♻️ if you find it useful Follow me, hit the 🔔 Adrian Rubstein

🚀 Very Exciting Stealth Launch! 🚀 Mirador Therapeutics, led by former Executives from Prometheus Biosciences, Inc., including Mark Mckenna, Olivier Laurent, and Allison Luo, has launched from stealth with a staggering $400 million. Based in San Diego, Mirador will focus on precision medicines for immuno-inflammatory and fibrotic diseases 💊. The funding was led by ARCH Venture Partners, with early investments from OrbiMed and Fairmount Partners, and support from an impressive lineup of further investors 💸💸 Mirador's innovative development engine, Mirador360, combines human genetics with data science to create new precision medicines. Their goal? To revolutionize treatment options for patients through accelerated and precise drug development! 🌟Exciting times lie ahead for Mirador!🌟 #PrecisionMedicine #Biotech #Innovation #Stealthmode #Venturefunding #pharma #Fibroticdisease #Autoimmune #immunoinflammatory

The biggest private biotech investments in May 2024 https://buff.ly/3VfuBLC The biotechnology sector continues to attract significant attention from investors in 2024, and the latest report from Labiotech sheds light on the most promising trends and investments in the field. Here’s a closer look at what’s driving this momentum and what it means for the future of biotech. 1. Record-Breaking Funding Rounds May 2024 has seen some of the largest funding rounds in biotech history, highlighting investor confidence in the sector’s potential for transformative advancements. Companies focusing on personalized medicine, gene therapy, and advanced diagnostics are leading the charge, securing multimillion-dollar investments. 2. Rise of Personalized Medicine Personalized medicine continues to be a major focus, with significant funding directed towards startups developing tailored treatments. The ability to customize therapies based on individual genetic profiles promises to revolutionize healthcare, offering more effective and targeted solutions for patients. 3. Growth in AI-Driven Drug Discovery AI is playing an increasingly crucial role in drug discovery, accelerating the development process and reducing costs. Startups leveraging AI to identify new drug candidates are attracting substantial investment, reflecting a shift towards more efficient and innovative approaches in pharmaceutical R&D. 4. Expansion of Advanced Diagnostics Advanced diagnostic technologies, particularly those enabling early detection of diseases, are seeing a surge in funding. Innovations in this area are not only improving patient outcomes but also driving cost savings in healthcare by enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis. 5. Emphasis on Sustainability and Green Biotech Sustainable biotechnology is gaining traction, with investors showing interest in companies that are developing eco-friendly solutions. From bio-based materials to sustainable agricultural practices, green biotech is positioned as a key player in addressing global environmental challenges. 6. Increased Focus on Rare Diseases There’s a growing interest in developing treatments for rare diseases, which, despite their individual rarity, collectively affect millions of people worldwide. Biotech companies specializing in orphan drugs are receiving increased funding, recognizing the high unmet medical need and potential market opportunities. The biotech sector is at an exciting crossroads, with significant investment fueling innovations that promise to reshape healthcare and improve lives. #BiotechInvestments #PersonalizedMedicine #AIinHealthcare #AdvancedDiagnostics #SustainableBiotech #RareDiseases #GlobalCollaboration #Innovation