September 16, 2019 | From the Trenches

Early Company Evolution – People, Pipeline, and Purse

“Time flies when you’re having fun.” That’s how I feel as I reflect on the first three years of the growth of Kyn Therapeutics. So much has happened since my R&D colleague Michelle Zhang and I moved into the seed space at Atlas Venture (see photo below of our cozy abode) to begin work on Kyn. As a first-time scientifically-trained biotech CEO, I assumed it would be similar to leading a project team in pharma – after all, the company started with only one asset! Turns out it’s more complex, and there have been many twists and turns along the way. While you can change focus from day-to-day, no area can be neglected, and don’t even think about choosing the wrong wine for a Board of Directors dinner.

This blog was written by Mark Manfredi, CEO of Kyn Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC.

September 5, 2019 | In the News

Novartis bankrolls IFM Due’s cGAS/STING pipeline—with $840M buyout option

Just five months after Novartis put down $310 million for IFM Therapeutics’ inflammation-focused unit, the Big Pharma has come back for more. This time, it is teaming up with IFM Due, the subsidiary IFM created to develop treatments targeting the cGAS and STING pathways, with an exclusive buyout option worth up to $840 million.

September 5, 2019 | From the Trenches

Navigating The Unknown: Practical Thoughts On A Team That Can Rise To The Occasion

One of the joys of building a company is that meeting one’s milestones routinely places us in positions that are new, where past experience may not be a guide. Our ability to navigate growth is highly dependent on building a team that’s ready to take on increasing complexity.

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC.

August 15, 2019 | LifeSciVC

The Creation Of Biotech Startups: Evolution Not Revolution

By Bruce Booth, DPhil, Partner

The startup paradigm for the creation and funding of new biotech companies has evolved enormously over the past two decades. Recently there’s been a pair of articles from Tech VCs about applying alternative models of company creation (here, here) to the world of biotech, so thought it was worth reflecting on the prevailing venture formation landscape and offering up some counterpoints.

August 7, 2019 | From the Trenches

Goldilocks And GMP

New therapeutic platforms, like those based on cell and gene therapy, provide potential to address diseases in new ways and hold tremendous promise for alleviating human suffering. Despite this, progress often reaches a critical juncture when attempts are made to scale manufacturing from research to late-stage clinical trials and commercialization.

This blog was written by Aoife Brennan, CEO of Synlogic Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC.