Excedr Monthly | February, 2025
Hey readers,
February has been a month. One of dynamic shifts in the biotech industry—from significant funding fluctuations to groundbreaking research advancements. Guess what? The landscape is always shifting.
This month's key takeaway: ?? Adaptability is crucial. Staying informed and agile allows us to navigate uncertain times and identify (nay, seize) emerging opportunities.
In this edition, we cover:
Let's dive in. ??
?? Latest from the Biotech Startups Podcast—
Presented by Excedr, a podcast for scientist-entrepreneurs.
This month's featured guests were:?
Parag Shah, CEO and Founding Managing Director at K2 HealthVentures -? Discusses the evolution of biotech venture lending, the role of debt vs. equity in life sciences fundraising, and the founding of K2 HealthVentures. Parag also shares insights on scaling Hercules Capital into a multi-billion-dollar fund, the impact of evergreen capital structures, and the challenges of building a strong investment firm culture.
Oguzhan Atay, CEO and Co-Founder of BillionToOne - Shares his journey from a small town in Turkey to Stanford, his passion for science from an early age, and the founding story of BillionToOne. Also discusses how his company is revolutionizing prenatal screening and oncology diagnostics, the challenges of securing funding as an immigrant founder, and the role of Y Combinator in BillionToOne’s growth.?
Kate Yen, CEO and Founder of Auron Therapeutics - Discusses her transition from academia to industry, leading the development of FDA-approved IDH mutant inhibitors at Agios, and founding Auron Therapeutics. Kate also shares insights on translational biology, building a lean biotech startup, securing pharma partnerships, and leveraging AI to map cancer biology and identify new drug targets.?
Becky Beattie, CEO of LaunchBio - Shares insights on the evolution of LaunchBio, the role of shared lab spaces in biotech ecosystems, and how initiatives like Investor Connect and HiveBio are expanding funding opportunities for underrepresented founders.
Catch up on the latest conversations with biotech founders and investors—listen to all recent episodes of The Biotech Startups Podcast here.
??? Biotech News Roundup—
Industry highlights this month.
MIT Chemists Leverage Generative AI for Rapid 3D Genomic Mapping
MIT researchers have developed a generative AI model that predicts three-dimensional genome structures in minutes, significantly accelerating the study of gene expression and cellular function. MIT News.
Weill Cornell Researchers Develop Self-Destructing Bacteria for Safer Tuberculosis Vaccines
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have engineered mycobacteria strains with "kill switches" that can be activated to terminate the bacteria after they initiate an immune response, aiming to create more effective and safer tuberculosis vaccines. This innovation could enhance vaccine safety in human trials and improve protection against TB infections. Weill Cornell Newsroom.?
Research Reveals 'Ticking DNA Clock' Behind Huntington's Disease
Scientists have discovered that the mutation causing Huntington's disease remains harmless for decades before expanding to a critical length, at which point it produces toxic proteins leading to neuron death. This finding offers new insights into the disease's delayed onset and suggests potential therapeutic strategies targeting DNA repeat expansions. Fierce Biotech.
Personalized Kidney Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Trial
In a small trial, a personalized kidney cancer vaccine triggered strong immune responses, with all patients remaining cancer-free for three years. Researchers at Dana-Farber and Harvard Medical School see promise, though larger studies are needed. HMS News & Research.
NIH Funding Cuts Stir Concerns
Proposed reductions in NIH research funding have sparked alarm among biotech investors, highlighting potential long-term impacts on innovation and public health. Health Economics.
BridgeBio's Oncology Spinout Goes Public
BridgeBio Oncology is set to merge with Helix Acquisition Corp., aiming to secure approximately $450 million to advance their oncology pipeline. BioPharma Dive.?
Notable Funding Rounds
?? Eikon Therapeutics raised a significant $351 million in Series D funding to propel their drug discovery initiatives. Crunchbase.?
?? Atrandi Biosciences secured $25 million in Series A funding to expand into the U.S. market and advance their Semi-Permeable Capsule technology. GenomeWeb.
?? Blog Posts—
Editor's Picks from the Excedr Blog.
An overview of how biotech companies are valued using scientific progress, intellectual property, and future market potential instead of traditional revenue-based models.
An explanation of how bridge rounds provide short-term financing to help startups reach key milestones and sustain growth between major funding rounds.
An analysis of the surge in venture capital investment in life sciences, with a focus on emerging technologies like AI-driven drug discovery, gene editing, and digital health solutions.?
A guide to crafting a biotech pitch deck that effectively balances scientific innovation with commercial viability to attract venture capital investment.?
An overview of bridge rounds as interim financing solutions that help startups sustain operations, reach key milestones, and secure their next major funding round.
Stay safe. Until next time.
-Tom and the Excedr team ??