Monthly Vibe Bio Newsletter - October 2023 🎃
Every Cure for Every Community - Biotech Funding in Hibernation
Welcome to ’s Monthly Newsletter! Stay up-to-date with our latest company updates and insights into the ever-evolving biotech funding landscape.
The Fall season can mean so many different things to different people.
For students, teachers, and parents, school is in full swing. For business leaders, it’s crunch time, as they prepare for the end of year holidays. For many, it’s about the cooler weather, pumpkin-spice everything, and the excitement of the New England Fall foliage.
For many in our patient community, experiencing the joys of Fall can be uniquely challenging. Without proper support, this can feel daunting and scary.
With our vision to provide every cure for every community, these patients could be afforded the ability to live their lives to the fullest in all the seasons. As you know, patients and caregivers will be the ultimate beneficiaries from Vibe Bio’s building efforts.
Your role as an innovator is to connect with us. Share a problem you have. Ask us how we can help your biotech research continue and ultimately reach the patients.
Industry Updates and Resources
Business Insider: Top 52 Boston Venture Capital VCs
Biz Journals: Biotech layoffs 2023: In Q3, 19 Boston-area biotechs made cuts
At least 3,325 Boston-area biotech workers have been laid off in 2023, despite Massachusetts seeing one of the highest growth rates in the life sector workforce in the country. Many have already found new positions in R&D, increasing sector confidence.
Fierce Biotech: Having a flat or down fundraising round? It’s OK.
While funding for biotechs has slowed down, the stigma of having a lower valuation on an upcoming investment round stings a bit less in our current economic environment.
Clinical Trials Arena: An experimental drug, TSHA-120, targeting an ultrarare neurodegenerative condition called, Rett Syndrome, was suspended due to challenges related to the feasibility of the study designs to support a potential BLA [biologics license application] submission.
FDA grants Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to Oncoheroes’ dovitinib
“ODD may enable Oncoheroes to obtain partial tax credits for clinical trial expenditures. Dovitinib previously received Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) by the FDA, which may also provide substantial financial incentives to Oncoheroes with the related Priority Review Voucher program.”
Fierce Biotech launched their Fundraising Tracker '23 which tracks pharma/biotech acquisitions and fundraises with investors listed.
Alok Tayi, Vibe Bio’s CEO, on The Biotech Startups Podcast, with host, Jon Chee.
Recap of ’s Networking Event
What a fabulous whirlwind of intellect and inspiration!
The much-anticipated biotech networking event hosted by
and ramarketing unfolded on the lovely ocean-facing deck at the heart of Boston’s Seaport, transforming the arena into a powerhouse of collaboration - swarming with biotech professionals, savvy entrepreneurs, distinguished investors.Participants had the chance to mingle with a diverse blend of individuals, each bringing a unique perspective and a wealth of knowledge to the table.
Thank you to all of you who took part in this event! We hope you made connections that can grow into amazing opportunities.
To those who missed this riveting rendezvous, fret not! Stay tuned for more such events and keep the flame of scientific curiosity and biotech innovation alive.
Event Details: Cocktails & Conversations at the Crossroads of Biotech Funding & Innovation
Recap of Biotech Week Boston
This year, on the week of September 18, hundreds of companies came together, eager to discover new opportunities to collaborate and partner with other biotech or biotech-adjacent orgs.
This unique experience, spanning the entire drug development value chain, gives you access to the most innovative scientific minds and business leaders in Boston and around the world.
The week features keynote addresses, showcases of cutting-edge technologies, insightful panel discussions, and ample networking opportunities. Startups also get a platform to pitch, while professionals can benefit from specialized workshops.
Learn about Inflection Point Financing (IPF)
📈 Vibe Bio’s strategy supports biotechs through Inflection Point Financing (IPF).
👩🔬 Utilizing our extensive network of industry experts, Vibe Bio expeditiously assesses high-potential drug programs, unlocking capital through a deferred payment arrangement.
🧬 IPF enables biotech companies to dedicate more time on science and less time fundraising, marking a shift in the biotech fundraising paradigm and prevents potentially groundbreaking research from being abandoned.
💰 If you are seeking novel and rapid financing strategies to drive you towards your next inflection point, Vibe Bio would like to speak with you. Let’s explore opportunities together.
VibeCast Updates 🎙️
On VibeCast, our Industry Engagement Manager and show host Ray Dogum, interviews Vibe Bio community experts who come from diverse backgrounds and career paths. However, one commonality that all VibeCast guests have is a passion to improve society by encouraging research and educating others by sharing their own experiences.
Collectively we have the skills. We have the technology. We have the passion. We now need the community catalyst to bring it all together. That’s Vibe.
In addition to our YouTube channel, you can listen to episodes on:
We are always looking for interesting and knowledgeable people to interview on our show. If you know of a community member who would be a great guest, please let us know. You can suggest a guest by sending us an email, leaving a Substack comment below, or reaching out via social media.
Check out the latest episodes, 28-31 below
Likarda Founders on Hydrogel Delivery of Cell and Biologic Therapies | VibeCast Episode 28
In this episode, you will be able to:
Uncover the secret behind hydrogel technology, a marvel in protecting cells from immune attacks.
Explore the expanded applications of modern therapies that are promising answers to diseases like diabetes, osteoarthritis and even cancer.
Get a peek into the future plans and crucial turning points that hold the potential to transform the hydrogel delivery arena, including cold chain storage and shipping challenges.
Guest Bios:
Dr. Lisa Stehno-Bittel began her career in health care as a physical therapist. With more than 25 years of research experience in the fields of cell biology and diabetes, she has more than 80 publications in scientific journals and received more than $9 million in grant funding for her research. She is a co-inventor on 9 US patents (issued and pending) and multiple international patents. She has been an invited speaker at scientific and business conferences across the globe. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, and completed a pharmacology fellowship at the Mayo School of Medicine. Global Medical Discovery identified Lisa’s work in immunosuppression of autoimmune-induced type 1 diabetes as a Key Scientific Discovery. Lisa has received numerous awards, including the Outstanding Faculty Research Award from the University of Kansas Medical Center and the Jim Baxendale Commercialization Award. She is Fellow with the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. Ingram’s Magazine named her one of “50 Kansans You Should Know” and Lisa was awarded the Women in Medicine and Science Sirridge award for female role models. Faculty Row designated Lisa a Super Professor, and is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
Dr. Karthik Ramachandran is Chief Business Officer & Co-Founder of Likarda, a biotech focused on developing superior cell delivery technologies to enable cell therapies to treat some of the world’s most devastating diseases. Karthik Ramachandran, a Colorado native, pursued his passion for engineering, medicine and business at the University of Kansas at Lawrence receiving a PhD in bioengineering in 2012 with a focus in tissue engineering. He is an inventor of several patented technologies and has authored a number of peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Ramachandran pursued his entrepreneurial interests, and together with his graduate mentor, Dr. Lisa Stehno-Bittel, founded Likarda in Kansas City in 2012. As recognition for growing a successful small business, he has received several awards including being a “Top Young Entrepreneur to Watch” by Under30CEO, named to the prestigious “20 in their Twenties” list in Ingram’s Magazine, among other awards that showcase Likarda’s achievements. Dr. Ramachandran has be a part of advisory groups and non-profit boards and supports many of the local biotech and animal health-related programs and companies.
Faron Pharmaceuticals Executives on Cell Therapy Technologies | VibeCast Episode 29
Guest Bios:
Dr. Marie-Louise Fjällskog has over 30 years of experience in clinical oncology, translational research, and drug development. She joined Faron from Sensei Biotherapeutics (SNSE), a Nasdaq listed immuno-oncology company. As Chief Medical Officer at Sensei, she was responsible for leading clinical and development strategy and operations. She also played a key role in Sensei’s successful $152 million IPO, which closed in February 2021.
Previously, she served as Vice President, Clinical Development at Merus (MRUS) and Infinity Pharmaceuticals (INFI) where she led development of multiple small molecule and immuno-oncology clinical programs. She was formerly Global Clinical Program Leader at the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research where she led global development of oncology treatments targeting CDK4/6, BCL-2, PD-1, CSF-1 and CD73.
Dr. Fjällskog holds both a Ph.D and an M.D. from Uppsala University, Sweden where she currently serves as an Associate Professor of Oncology Dr. Fjällskog also serves on the Board of Biovica, a Swedish biotech company focused on predicting the efficacy of cancer therapies via novel blood-based diagnostics and Lytix Biopharma, a clinical stage biotech developing novel cancer immunotherapies based on pioneering research in host defense peptides.
Dr. Markku Jalkanen has more than 30 years of experience within biomedical research, biotech development and the biopharmaceutical industry. He was a founding member of the Company and is its CEO. In addition to his role as CEO, he is an advisor for the only active Finnish life sciences fund, Inveni Capital. Between 1996 and 2002, Dr. Jalkanen was the founding CEO and President of BioTie Therapies Corporation, which become the first publicly traded Finnish biotech company in Helsinki to become listed on the US NASDAQ. Dr. Jalkanen has published more than 130 peer reviewed scientific publications in various highly ranked international journals.
Richard Austin on Tubulin Targeting & Advances in Brain Cancer Treatment | VibeCast Episode 30
Richard Austin, PhD, MBA is an engaged member of the community. As an angel investor with Desert Angels, Richard has evaluated numerous life science technologies, gaining a unique perspective on the innovation process from concept to market commercialization. As a valued member of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, he actively drives growth and success in the region's biotech sector, leveraging his extensive experience and entrepreneurial spirit.
Being an entrepreneur means waking up every day with a sense of purpose and the power to make a difference. It's the joy of being the controller of your own future. - Richard Austin
When the opportunity came to leave his career in Big Pharma and establish Reglagene, Richard didn't hesitate. The challenge of brain cancer, with its high unmet need and elusive cure, beckoned. His ambition? To design a therapy that could penetrate the brain effectively and help those affected by this deadly disease. The journey to achieve this is far from simple, but the potential impact fuels Richard's perseverance.
Funding the Future: Biotechs Dance with Venture Debt Featuring Derek Brunelle | VibeCast Episode 31
Derek R. Brunelle has nearly two decades of experience supporting the capital needs of innovative technology and life science companies and has originated, structured, and managed over $700 million in debt capital commitments. Prior to founding Synthase Capital Partners, Derek was an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan and Managing Director at Silicon Valley Bank. Derek is a graduate of the University of Vermont and lives in San Diego, California with his wife and three children.
Venture debt is like a lower cost of capital insurance policy, providing extra liquidity to ensure companies don't run out of capital ahead of key value inflection points. - Derek Brunelle
Here's what you can expect from our discussion:
Gain insights into Derek Brunelle's journey in the finance and banking sector (including J.P. Morgan and Silicon Valley Bank), and learn valuable strategies to apply to your own fundraising efforts. 🎓Understand the role of venture debt as a lower cost of capital insurance policy for life science companies, providing a cushion of financial security. 💼
Navigate the challenges and uncover the opportunities in fundraising for biotech and life science startups, and develop strategies to secure the funding your startup needs. 🚀
Community Feedback
We encourage you to explore our Discord server and learn more about our mission to accelerate the development of new treatments and cures through inflection point financing. You can also follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates from our community.
Tell us what else you’d like to see in future editions of the newsletter. We’d love to hear from you!
Sincerely,
The Vibe Bio Community Team
#EveryCureforEveryCommunity