BioCentury This Week Ep. 269 - Trends in VC Funds, Obesity Start-ups and More
12 snips
Dec 17, 2024 Venture capital in biotech is hitting a ceiling, leading to smaller fund sizes amidst economic challenges. The podcast explores the surge of obesity start-ups focusing on innovative treatments that prioritize muscle preservation and tolerability. It also highlights insights from Aoife Brennan of Climb Bio and discusses the significance of strategic planning for biotech leaders navigating tough market conditions. Additionally, a new book by Tim Harris offers a retrospective on 50 years of biotechnology, enriching the discussion with historical perspectives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
VC Fund Trends
- Some venture capital firms are choosing smaller funds due to the challenging exit environment.
- This suggests a potential shift away from the "bigger is better" mentality in biotech venture fundraising.
Shifting Investment Focus
- The sustained downturn might push VCs towards product-focused investments over broader scientific ones.
- This could mean prioritizing de-risked molecules and repurposing strategies.
Obesity Startup Differentiation
- Obesity startups seek differentiation by focusing on muscle sparing, deeper weight loss, and increased tolerability.
- These companies are exploring new targets and molecules, including incretins, to achieve these goals.
