Ying Zhou

Only 4 weeks to wait until the 2nd Covalent Drug Discovery & Development Summit returns to Boston (December 10-12)! With 100+ Directors, Heads, and Principal Scientists of Chemical Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Proteomics coming together, prepare to hear brand new data and industry insights spanning: 🔹 Covalent MS-based hit generation, proteomics and phenotypic screens with Nexo Therapeutics, Genentech and Covant Therapeutics 🔹 Optimizing omics platforms to systematically discover novel covalent chemistry with Bayer and Scorpion Therapeutics 🔹 Invigorating covalent targeting of histidine, lysine and tyrosine with Hyku Biosciences, Armida Labs, and Novartis 🔹 Pioneering reversible covalent inhibitors, PROTACs and molecular glues with Amgen, Harvard University and Pfizer 🔹 Improving safety profiles to bolster preclinical and clinical development with Biogen, Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.,and RS Oncology 🔹 Funding and investor perspectives fueling covalent platforms and pipelines with Novartis Venture Funds and Vida Ventures, LLC See the full program here: https://ter.li/0fk6pk With 50+ biopharma companies already signed up, make sure you and your team don't miss out! Register your place by this Friday, November 15 to access the final early bird savings - with additional group discounts of up to 20% applied automatically at checkout when booking with your team. Sign up here: https://ter.li/t4r5is #covalent #covalency #drugdiscovery #smallmolecule

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DOTA PEG https://lnkd.in/gj4QuzGX DOTA PEG linkers are an important class of molecules widely used in pharmaceutical research and development. These linkers are composed of a DOTA chelator and a polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain. The DOTA moiety is used to bind to metal ions such as copper, gallium or lutetium, while the PEG chain provides stability and solubility to the resulting conjugate. The use of it is particularly relevant in the development of targeted molecular imaging and therapy. By conjugating the DOTA PEG linker to a targeting molecule, such as an antibody or a small molecule ligand, it is possible to selectively deliver a therapeutic agent to specific cells or tissues in the body. Additionally, the DOTA chelator can be used to label the resulting conjugate with a radioactive isotope, allowing for non-invasive imaging of the target site. DOTA PEG linkers have also been employed in the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, neurological disorders and inflammatory diseases. These linkers can improve the pharmacokinetic properties of the resulting drug conjugate, such as increasing its half-life and reducing its immunogenicity.

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Labiotech.eu released a new article "Eight companies spearheading Philadelphia’s biotech industry," recognizing thriving biotechnology companies as leaders in the field. The following Penn spinouts made the list: BlueWhale Bio: After coming out of stealth mode in 2023, BlueWhale aims to develop a technology platform and product portfolio that have the potential to bring the benefits of cell therapy to more patients in a way that is quicker and requires lower costs. Carisma Therapeutics: A PCI Ventures portfolio company, Carisma harnesses the power of macrophages to create cellular therapies for patients with cancer and other serious disorders. iECURE, inc.: Founded by Jim Wilson, MD, PhD, iECURE develops gene-editing therapies with the goal of curing diseases with unmet needs. Passage Bio: Also founded by Wilson, Passage Bio aims to improve the lives of patients with neurodegenerative diseases by delivering genetic medicines that will permanently redefine the course of their conditions. Verismo Therapeutics: Verismo is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that aims to develop next-generation CAR T-cell therapies using its novel KIR-CAR platform Read about this companies and their recent achievements here: https://lnkd.in/eNkAFuKg

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Explore our latest publication, "Advancing Targeted Protein Degraders," by Dr. Jinling Chen, our Head of Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing at WuXi STA, as featured in Manufacturing Chemist. This article highlights our strategic approach to accelerating the development of complex molecules, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras. Through integrated CMC strategies, we've tackled significant synthetic and bioavailability challenges, and successfully delivered the clinical trial material for First-In-Human (FIH) dosing within 12 months. 🔗Click the link below to read the full article.

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Interesting conversation with Morgan Amsler! #apiject

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15 High-Priority Hiring Roles (Director-Level) Director of Drug Discovery / Translational Research 1. A company creating livers by differentiating iPS cells (Kansai) 2. A company creating pancreases by differentiating iPS cells (Kansai) 3. A company creating hearts using iPS/organoids (Tokyo) 4. A company creating kidneys by differentiating iPS cells (Kansai) 5. A company creating cardiac sheets from iPS-derived cells (Kansai) 6. A company aiming to treat autoimmune diseases using CAR-T (Tokyo) 7. A company aiming to treat autoimmune diseases using T-reg (US) Director of CMC Process Development 8. A company creating pancreases by differentiating iPS cells (Kansai) 9. A company creating hearts using iPS/organoids (Tokyo) 10. A company creating kidneys by differentiating iPS cells (Kansai) 11. A company curing muscular dystrophy using AAV vectors for gene therapy (Kyushu) Head of QA 12. A company creating cardiac sheets from iPS-derived cells (Kansai) 13. A company creating retinas from iPS cells (Tokyo) Head of Business Development 14. A company creating organs such as pancreases and livers by differentiating iPS cells (Flexible location—ideal candidates include professionals from Takeda or Helios!) CEO 15. Multiple positions available. Regenerative medicine companies focusing on various modalities, especially iPS-based therapies. As you can see, many of the roles involve iPS-related research. If you or someone you know might be interested, please feel free to reach out directly. Referrals are greatly appreciated, and we can offer a referral fee in the range of 100,000–500,000 JPY, depending on the situation. #iPS #TranslationalResearch #Hiring #CGT

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👨‍🔬💬 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐥 & 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝟐𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 👩‍🔬💬 🦠 Cellipont Bioservices and Mongoose Bio Inc. have partnered for the technology transfer, process development, and cGMP manufacturing of Mongoose Bio’s autologous MGB-001 TCR-T cell therapy. MGB-001 targets highly immunogenic and widely expressed solid tumors, leveraging epigenetic T cell reprogramming and advanced antigen discovery powered by Generative AI. 🧬 Papillon Therapeutics received Rare Pediatric Disease designation from the FDA for PPL-002, an experimental gene therapy for Danon disease. PPL-002 is a gene-modified hematopoietic stem cell therapy designed to express functional Lamp-2 protein, addressing the underlying cause of Danon disease. Preclinical studies show promising improvements in affected tissues. Danon disease is a rare, life-threatening genetic disorder that primarily affects the heart and muscles, with severe complications in adolescence. 🦠 Nona Biosciences has entered a strategic collaboration with OverT Bio to develop next-generation cell therapies for solid tumors. The partnership will leverage Nona's fully human heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs) from its Harbour Mice® platform and innovative CAR-function screening platform, NonaCarFxTM. These HCAbs, with reduced immunogenicity and enhanced CAR design versatility, aim to improve the safety and efficacy of cell therapies. 🧬 Editas Medicine has entered a $238 million deal with Genevant Sciences to combine Genevant’s LNP technology with Editas’ CRISPR Cas12a gene editing system. The collaboration aims to develop in vivo gene editing therapies targeting two undisclosed conditions. Genevant will receive an upfront fee, milestone payments, and tiered royalties if the therapies reach the market. Editas is also progressing toward clinical trials for its lead therapy for sickle cell disease. 🦠 Immusoft’s Phase I trial of ISP-001, an engineered B-cell therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I), showed promising early results. The first patient experienced reduced urinary glycosaminoglycans, improved quality of life, and functional gains beyond enzyme replacement therapy. ISP-001 was well tolerated without preconditioning. Immusoft plans to explore higher doses and extend its platform to other diseases like MPS II, obesity, and diabetes. 🧬 Genespire raised €46.6 million in a Series B round to advance GENE202, an off-the-shelf pediatric gene therapy for Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA), into Phase I/II clinical trials. MMA is a severe genetic disorder with no current disease-modifying treatments. Genespire’s innovative Immune Shielded Lentiviral Vector platform, developed at SR-Tiget, enables lifelong therapy production from the patient’s liver. The financing will also expand Genespire's pipeline targeting other genetic diseases. 🛎 My aim is to be the messenger when it comes to your CGT news. Follow #mCGT to stay updated! #celltherapy #genetherapy #ATMP

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Gene therapies offer life-changing potential for patients with genetic diseases, but producing them can be complex. Streamline your viral vector manufacturing with customized solutions that boost efficiency and speed up delivery to patients. From tailored raw materials to scalable production, we help you enhance yields and get therapies to market faster. Check out the below folks !! #avantorsetsscienceinmotion #pharma #genetheraphy #viralvectors

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https://lnkd.in/e6H5ChJe #autologouscelltherapies #CART #drugaffordability #drugaccess #precisionmedicine across the globe, great progress is being made in decentralized cell therapy strategies, while drastically reducing costs.

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Cypris Therapeutics, Inc., a drug discovery company, secures over $500K in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Ichor Life Sciences, Inc., a Syracuse-based contract #research organization. In addition to having access to Ichor’s equipment and knowledge of drug discovery and #development, Cypris will be incubated at Ichor’s facilities. The money will be used by the business to grow both its operations and growth initiatives. Cypris Therapeutics, led by CEO Kyle Parella, uses patented technology to synthesise and repeatedly produce complicated small molecule moieties that were previously unachievable for scientists. Read more - https://lnkd.in/g4G_pqXe To share your startup story write us on - contact@startuprise.io #CyprisTherapeutics #technology #incubated #fundraising #funding #news #startup

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ViroCell Biologics, a leading CDMO specializing in GMP viral vector manufacturing, successfully closed an oversubscribed convertible note offering to support its growth. New investor First Light Asset Management LLC led the funding round, joined by existing investors Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A. and Dorset Opportunity Fund LP. The proceeds will fuel ViroCell's growth, meeting the rising demand for its viral vector design and manufacturing expertise. The company provides pre-clinical and clinical viral vector services, supporting the development of innovative cell and gene therapies. With regulatory approval from the UK's MHRA, ViroCell's services are in high demand, resulting in a substantial Master Services Agreement with a prominent US cancer center. CEO John W. Hadden II expressed gratitude to investors, especially First Light Asset Management LLC, for their confidence in the company's market position and growth potential. Matt Arens, CEO and Founder of First Light Asset Management LLC, emphasized the team's dedication to supporting ViroCell's ambitious growth journey. This investment will enhance the CDMO's services for cutting-edge CGT research organizations globally. ViroCell Biologics aims to be the preferred partner for entities developing CGT therapies, leveraging its expertise to streamline the clinical development process. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dSkMGaQn Farzin Farzaneh, PhD John W. Hadden II Todd Davis

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Join us for a SUMS Seminar Series at Stanford University Mass Spectrometry on July 11. We’re excited to co-host with Agilent Technologies and feature guest speakers Chris M. Crittenden, PhD, and Meenakshi Goel, MS from Genentech. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to delve into the world of separation science! Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q02FK13G0 #MOBILion #MassSpec #ProteinCharacterization #HRIMAdvancements #TeamMassSpec #bioanalytical #MassSpectrometry #SeparationSciences #SLIM #biopharma #biotherapeutics #Glycans #Isomerome #HRIM #molecules #peptides #oligos #antibodies #proteomics #metabolomics #Science #Research #MS #Bioinformatics #lipidomics #LCMS #HPLC

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According to a recent announcement from the University at Buffalo, Merck & Co., Inc. has acquired the biotechnology startup Abceutics Inc., for US$208 million. The deal includes milestone payments based on the developmental achievements of the pipeline as outlined in their contract. Industry insiders have noted that we may see increased M&As among biotech firms in the future, seeking to capitalize on complementary strengths and consolidate resources for mutual benefit. "Historical data indicates that about one-third of global innovative drug revenues come from products developed through in-house R&D, with the remaining two-thirds arising from acquisitions and collaborations (including licensing)," Jin Wang, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, told our reporter in an exclusive interview. "For the top 20 multinational pharmaceutical companies, an average of 55% of their products in clinical stages originate from in-house R&D, while 45% result from external innovation. However, some firms rely much more heavily on external sources, with dependencies rangling from 60% to 70%." Read: https://lnkd.in/gZir2Ya5

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Get ready to join Olivier Leoillot, President and CEO of Repligen, along with other industry leaders for an insightful panel discussion titled "BioProcess Insider’s State of the Industry Discussion." This session will take place on September 25 at 10:35 AM during BPI Boston. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the industry's most pressing topics! Topics: -The turnaround in the funding environment and how that is affecting the supply sector -Major M&A over the past few months in the outsourced and supplier space -The widening modality focus of the industry and how vendors and CDMOs are responding -Macroeconomic factors (BIOSECURE and China, specifically) Join the discussion! https://lnkd.in/gbUtxrBq your calendar today! #BPIconf #bioprocessing #genetherapy #processdevelopment #repligen #bioprocessingmanfacturing #intensification #advancedtherapuetics #monoclonalantibodies #vaccines #antibodies #vaccines

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Biotech weekly news roundup! All of the weeks biggest topics in one place: Illumina enters into $750M agreement with JP Morgan to fund Grail Divestment! https://lnkd.in/gFwA-2Dp Ultragenyx gets the green light to seek FDA approval of Gene Therapy! https://lnkd.in/gTTwKezi Follow / connect with me to keep up to date with all the latest developments in the space! #biotech #bioinformatics #news

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📢 Agilent Technologies Acquires Sigsense Technologies to Enhance AI-Enabled Lab Operations 📢 Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has acquired Sigsense Technologies, a San Francisco-based startup that leverages AI and power monitoring to optimize lab operations. Financial terms were not disclosed. Key Points: -Integration with CrossLab Connect: Sigsense’s technology is now available through Agilent’s CrossLab Connect suite, which includes digital applications for inventory management, service management, asset monitoring, smart alerts, and asset lifecycle analytics. -Operational Efficiency: Sigsense’s AI algorithms track instrument utilization and status across all scientific assets, providing lab managers with insights to optimize performance. -Focus on Productivity: This acquisition aims to reduce downtime and increase productivity, especially for commercial labs with large instrument fleets and intense testing schedules. Armin Jehle, VP of Agilent CrossLab Services Division, stated, “We are excited to welcome the Sigsense team to Agilent. They are an innovator in leveraging artificial intelligence for lab operations. By working closely as one team, we will extend their AI technology further, enabling more customers to gain insights that contribute to reduced downtime and increased productivity.” With this acquisition, Sigsense employees, IP, and assets join the Agilent CrossLab Group, promising a future of enhanced lab performance and efficiency. For more details, visit Agilent's website and learn how CrossLab Connect can transform your lab operations. #Agilent #Sigsense #Acquisition #AI #LabOperations #CrossLabConnect #Innovation #LifeSciences #Technology #LabEfficiency

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Newly appointed CEO of Invizyne, Michael Heltzen states: "Invizyne’s platform represents the first biomanufacturing technology that I have come across that overcomes the issues of other cell-based synthetic biology approaches. By using cell-free enzyme systems to produce biochemicals, we believe Invizyne can also significantly create new useful drugs and chemicals that can be commercially produced at competitive prices. I believe that Invizyne can become a leading biomanufacturing company by becoming the leading developer of cell-free enzymatic pathway solutions.” Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/dVVAJuYq #biomanufacturing #nextgenbiomanufacturing #cellfree #enzymes #biochemistry #biochemicals #synbio #syntheticbiology #synbiobeta #biosynthesis #simplepath

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