Forbion’s Post

At Leaps by Bayer, we support our portfolio companies beyond funding, by helping them tell stories of innovation that could redefine what’s possible in medicine. 🎥 In our latest portfolio spotlight, we feature eGenesis, Inc., a biotech company engineering pig organs 🐖 to be compatible with humans, a breakthrough that could provide a sustainable organ supply, ending a life long wait and global organ shortage. Their first successful kidney xenotransplant marks a turning point for science and for millions of patients hopelessly waiting on a transplant. 🔗 Learn more: https://egenesisbio.com/ #Biotech #Innovation #FutureOfMedicine

Your Weekly Dose of Inspiration: Persistence in Medicine, The 17-Year Path from an Idea to the World’s Best-Selling Drug In the mid-1980s, scientists John McCafferty, Andrew Griffiths, Sir Greg Winter, and David Chiswell at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge had a radical idea: 👉 What if harmless viruses—bacteriophages—could “display” antibody fragments on their surface, allowing us to search billions of variants to find the perfect binder for a disease target? For years, they faced skepticism, technical hurdles, and the slow grind of building the tools to prove it could work. 🔬 🧪 Then, in 1990, they published their landmark Nature paper describing phage display antibody technology. ⚡ That discovery sparked a revolution in drug discovery. ⚡ Twelve years later, it led to the first fully human antibody developed with this method—adalimumab (Humira)—approved by the FDA in 2002. What began as a speculative lab experiment became the foundation for dozens of life-changing biologics and the best-selling therapeutic in history. 🔦 From concept to clinic: 17 years. From curiosity to cure: a generation of persistence. #Biotech #Inspiration #Innovation #Leadership #DrugDiscovery #Persistence

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Did you know that 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗧𝗣𝗗) is 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆? This innovative approach uses the cell’s 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 to selectively remove 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲-𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘀, opening treatment possibilities for nearly 𝟭𝟲% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 #𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗺𝗲 once deemed “undruggable.” TPD is 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗲𝘀 for #𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿,#𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀, and more by harnessing breakthroughs in #𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 and #𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀. These advances are redefining 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. How do you envision using emerging #proteomics and #TPD technologies to revolutionize disease treatment in your research or studies? For deeper insights, explore: 🌐 Clinical Leader, “𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 #𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 #𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 #𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁” https://lnkd.in/eG5agZnE Key review on drug discovery and development: 🌐 Qin et al., “𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻,” 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 #𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮) https://lnkd.in/eT2tvV2h Additional references: Nature Reviews on TPD advances (2024), Pharmaceutics 2025 PROTAC clinical updates. Authored by Sourabh Mundra, Ph.D., Lead Analyst, Pharma R&D, and Mathini Ilancheran, Research Manager, R&D/IT, Beroe Inc. #OnThisDayInScience #Proteomics #TargetedProteinDegradation #PrecisionMedicine #DrugDiscovery #Bioinformatics #omicslink

The NIH just announced an $87M investment in organoid research, a bold step toward advancing human-relevant science. 💰🧬 This initiative has the potential to transform how we model disease and develop new medicines, accelerating innovation for patients everywhere. 🌍💊 #NAMs #Organoids #Innovation #DrugDiscovery #ThermoFisherScientific Read more in Fierce Biotech: https://lnkd.in/eHSus4NX

The NIH just announced an $87M investment in organoid research, a bold step toward advancing human-relevant science. 💰🧬 This initiative has the potential to transform how we model disease and develop new medicines, accelerating innovation for patients everywhere. 🌍💊 #NAMs #Organoids #Innovation #DrugDiscovery #ThermoFisherScientific Read more in Fierce Biotech: https://lnkd.in/e3YZvAJK

In Drug Target Review, Aaron Risinger of Molecular Devices shares how organoid technologies are becoming a cornerstone of human-relevant drug discovery, offering more predictive models for therapeutic testing: https://hubs.la/Q03PBwpm0. Aaron notes that while organoids hold tremendous promise, their complexity—frequent feeding, close monitoring, and biological variability—makes reproducibility a challenge. He highlights how automation, AI-driven analytics, and large-batch manufacturing can overcome these hurdles, helping researchers generate more consistent, human-relevant data. For scientists at the intersection of cell biology, high-content screening, and precision medicine, it’s a compelling look at both the potential and the practical realities of organoid workflows. #Organoids #DrugDiscovery #PrecisionMedicine #LabAutomation #BioTech #LifeScience #DanaherNews

𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐢𝐭 𝐔𝐒𝐃 𝟐𝟏𝟑.𝟓𝟑 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟑𝟒 The global biobanking market size is calculated at USD 87.75 billion in 2024, grows to USD 95.91 billion in 2025, and is projected to reach around USD 213.53 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period 2025 to 2034. The market is growing due to increasing demand for personalized medicine and rising research in genomics and regenerative medicine. Additionally, the growing need for high-quality biospecimens to support drug discovery and clinical trials is fueling market expansion. 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞: https://lnkd.in/d_M_RAiR

The NIH just announced an $87M investment in organoid research, a bold step toward advancing human-relevant science. 💰🧬 This initiative has the potential to transform how we model disease and develop new medicines, accelerating innovation for patients everywhere. 🌍💊 #NAMs #Organoids #Innovation #DrugDiscovery #ThermoFisherScientific Read more in Fierce Biotech: https://lnkd.in/dzNcsM45

The NIH just announced an $87M investment in organoid research, a bold step toward advancing human-relevant science. 💰🧬 This initiative has the potential to transform how we model disease and develop new medicines, accelerating innovation for patients everywhere. 🌍💊 #NAMs #Organoids #Innovation #DrugDiscovery #ThermoFisherScientific Read more in Fierce Biotech: https://lnkd.in/ekVxxzJQ

The next frontier in medicine is found in the microbiome. And Australia’s leading the way. At the AusBiotech International Conference this morning, the Microbiome Revolution panel examined why. BiomeBank’s Co-Founder and Head of Medical Affairs, Dr Emily Tucker, spoke alongside BiomeBank’s Director Stephanie Morris (Artesian), with Professor Trent Munro (Microba Life Sciences), Nicolas Pichon (Cytiva) and Dr Jason Ryan (SACCO SYSTEM). Ten years after the microbiome “gold rush,” the sector is maturing. Optimism now comes with the benefit of grounded experience: understanding fundamental biology, pursuing robust clinical development and advancing regulatory reform.  The global market for microbiome therapeutics is on track to exceed US$1 billion by 2030. Key takeaways: - Two paths are emerging: complex consortia for microbiome resets and precision-engineered strains for targeted therapies.  - Next-gen LBPs are inevitable. As Dr Emily Tucker noted, “Next-generation microbiome therapies are on the horizon… we’re seeing LBPs in a range of diseases progressing through early clinical trials. The next step is scalable, standardised solutions.”  - Collaboration matters: developers, manufacturers and regulators are defining standards for quality, efficacy and potency.  - AI is transforming metagenomics, helping us understand and produce these therapies faster.  - Australia is positioned to lead the way with its strong research, growing manufacturing and a collaborative ecosystem. As Trent Munro reminded us, drug discovery is usually reductionist, but the microbiome challenges us to think differently. The complexity is enormous, but so is the potential. Microbiome therapies are just getting started. Thanks to the panelists and to AusBiotech for spotlighting this exciting frontier. #Microbiome #Biotech #AusBiotech2025 #Therapeutics #Innovation #AustraliaBiotech #LiveBiotherapeutics #FMT #DrugDevelopment #RegulatoryScience