Dan Nomura, distinguished professor at UC Berkeley and advisory partner at a16z Bio+Health, discusses his work in chemical biology and drug discovery. He shares his experience starting companies, collaborating with pharmaceutical companies, and the challenges of developing therapeutics. The podcast also explores the definition of chemical biology, the future of chemoproteomics, and the benefits of academic-pharma collaborations.
Chemical probes and proteomics enable the discovery of small molecule ligands and novel binding pockets, expanding the possibilities of drug discovery beyond traditional approaches.
Transitioning scientific discoveries from an academic lab to a startup company requires establishing proof of concept, developing a small molecule-based approach, raising money, building a team, and maintaining a ruthless focus on developing discoveries into viable drugs.
Deep dives
Chemical Biology and Chemoproteomics for Drug Discovery
Chemical biology and chemoproteomics have become major drivers in drug discovery. Chemical probes and proteomics allow the identification of potential ligandable sites across the human proteome, including undruggable targets. This enables the discovery of small molecule ligands and novel binding pockets, expanding the possibilities of drug discovery beyond traditional approaches. The field of chemoproteomics is constantly evolving, with advancements in covalent chemoproteomics and reversible small molecule ligand-protein interactions. However, there is still a need for breakthroughs in technology to unlock the full potential of chemoproteomics, particularly in targeting amino acids outside of cysteines and lysines. Additionally, the rational design and development of therapeutic modalities is crucial to convert chemical binders into functional molecules.
Transitioning from Academic Lab to Startup Company
Transitioning scientific discoveries from an academic lab to a startup company can be challenging. Establishing proof of concept and developing a fully small molecule-based approach are crucial steps. Academic scientists considering starting a company should focus on building a cool platform, understanding the targets it can be useful for, and having a mature chemical or biological matter. Seed funding can provide breathing room for exploring innovative platform technologies. Raising money and building a team, pipeline, and platform technologies are all essential aspects of starting a company. The current biotech climate requires a lean and fiscally diligent approach, making it necessary to overcome obstacles and maintain a ruthless focus on developing discoveries into viable drugs.
Successful Academic-Pharma Collaborations for Drug Discovery
Collaborations between academic labs and bio-pharmas can accelerate drug discovery and provide valuable learning experiences. Establishing collaborations with maximum flexibility allows for pivoting scientific directions as needed. Academic scientists can benefit from industry expertise, resources, and the ability to pursue blue sky ideas. Working with industry scientists provides training opportunities for graduate students and postdocs, leveraging collective brain power. Successful collaborations can lead to the expansion of research scope and the development of fruitful partnerships. Combining academic innovation with industry capabilities contributes to breakthroughs in targeted protein degradation, E3 ligase recruiters, and drug discovery applications.
Dan Nomura is a distinguished professor at UC Berkeley and an Investigator at the Innovative Genomics Institute, specializing in Chemical Biology and Molecular Therapeutics. He serves as the Director of the Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute and founded Frontier Medicines and Vicinitas Therapeutics. He’s also a16z Bio+Health’s newest advisory partner.
In this episode, Dan joins general partner Jorge Conde and investment partner Becky Pferdehirt to discuss how he got started working in chemical biology and chemoproteomics and his experience founding companies, along with leading lab and pharma collaborations.
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