Profiles
A Fork in the Road: How a Medical Expert Moved Toward a 'Transformative' Breakthrough in Liver Treatment
Treatment for acute liver injury often reaches critical decision points. Dr. Norman L. Sussman, Chief Medical Officer of Durect Corp., shares his journey from South Africa to the United States, from academia to industry, and discusses the progress of the company's candidate drug, larsucosterol, in a Phase 2b clinical trial, which has the potential to become the first approved treatment for severe alcohol-associated hepatitis.
How One of the World's Most Prolific Inventors Is Leading an Ambitious Plan to Conquer All Diseases
As one of the world's most prolific inventors, Stephen Quake leads a lab at Stanford University and serves as the head of science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Inspired by his wife's prenatal testing experience, he developed non-invasive prenatal testing, saving countless lives. Now, he oversees CZI's scientific strategy, focusing on cellular mysteries and disease prevention through research institutes, funding, and open-source software, with the goal of ending all diseases by 2099.
Chasing the 'Holy Grail' Gene in Cancer Research: Omega Therapeutics' mRNA Epigenetic Approach
Omega Therapeutics' CEO, Mahesh Karande, states that MYC gene overexpression is present in most human cancers and is the 'holy grail target' in oncology. The company's OTX-2002 is a first-in-class mRNA epigenetic controller designed to downregulate MYC expression and is currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials.
Bacteria-Enabled Technology: Cross-Domain Potential from Wound Healing to Cancer Therapy
Evelina Vågesjö, co-founder and CEO of Ilya Pharma, is dedicated to expanding bacteria-enabled technology from wound treatment to cancer supportive care. The company's lead candidate drug, ILP100-Topical, has entered a pivotal Phase II study, while also developing ILP100-Oral for the treatment of colitis in cancer patients following checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
A Bold Vision for Preventing Diabetes: The Entrepreneurial Journey of a Refugee's Daughter
Sana Alajmovic, co-founder and CEO of Sigrid Therapeutics, went from being a refugee of the Bosnian War to a medical technology entrepreneur, now tackling diabetes prevention with SiPore21.
Plant-based gel stops bleeding in seconds, may open new path for drug delivery
Cresilon founder Joe Landolina, from his teenage chemistry experiments in a vineyard laboratory, discovered a gel material derived from algae that can instantly adhere to human tissue. The technology has been used in the veterinary product Vetigel and is seeking FDA approval for human use. The company recently signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the Department of Defense to explore treatment for battlefield traumatic brain injury, while completing a $25 million funding round to expand production.
Chasing the Potential of a TIME Cover: Why a Retired CEO Returned to the Biotech Frontier
After retiring at 40, Rami Elghandour rethought his life due to the pandemic, joining CAR-T cell therapy company Arcellx as Chairman and CEO in 2021, leading the company through its IPO, and dedicating himself to developing cancer therapies with the potential to "change the world."
Strand Therapeutics Co-founder: From Early mRNA Believer to Pioneer of 'Programmable' Drugs
Tasuku Kitada, co-founder, president, and head of R&D at Strand Therapeutics, is a long-time believer in mRNA technology. The company is developing 'programmable' mRNA drugs through synthetic biology, aiming to achieve single-dose, precise treatment in areas such as oncology. Kitada's upbringing has shaped his high tolerance for change and risk, which he regards as a key trait for entrepreneurs.
From Resurrecting Woolly Mammoths to Accelerating Drug Development: Colossal Biosciences Spins Out Startup Form Bio
Colossal Biosciences is dedicated to resurrecting extinct species such as the woolly mammoth. Its spun-out startup, Form Bio, commercializes an internally developed bioinformatics platform designed to simplify CRISPR gene editing, data sharing, and experimental workflows, thereby accelerating drug development and biomanufacturing. The platform has secured $30 million in Series A funding and collaborates with institutions like Harvard University.