The Bio Report

Hub-and-spoke business models—the use of a central core of business functions with pipeline assets spun out into subsidiary companies—have gained traction for the benefits they can provide in terms of capital efficiency, diversification of risks, and improved access to capital. Eyexora is applying that business model to accelerate the development of therapies for ophthalmic indications. We spoke to Theresa Heah, CEO of Eyexora, about why the hub-and-spoke model is well-suited for the development of ophthalmic therapies, its initial assets in-licensed from the Singapore Eye Research Institute, and how it identifies early-stage candidates with high potential.

OpenFold, an open-source, collaborative initiative founded in 2022 to address the challenges of protein structure prediction and design using artificial intelligence, emerged as a response to the restricted commercial access to DeepMind’s AlphaFold platform. Leveraging public datasets and using a pre-competitive consortium model, OpenFold seeks to democratize cutting-edge protein engineering tools for both industry and academia. We spoke to ​Brian Weitzner, director of computational and structural biology at Outpace Bio and co-founder of OpenFold, about the creation of the collaborative effort, how its open licensing model ensures broad accessibility, and how it stacks up against AlphaFold.

Transcription factors control the genetic programs that maintain cellular balance, but while they have been seen as compelling targets for aging-related disease, they have long been considered “undruggable.” Junevity’s RESET platform leverages large-scale human omics data and AI models to pinpoint key transcriptional drivers of disease and to design siRNA therapies that restore healthy gene expression.​ We spoke to John Hoekman, co-founder and CEO of Junevity, about the role of transcription factors in healthy biology and aging-related disease, the company’s AI-driven platform for identifying dysregulated transcription factors, and its lead programs targeting type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Ovarian cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers affecting women, and it is expected to claim nearly 13,000 lives in the United States in 2025. Despite progress in survival rates, nearly 80 percent of patients are still diagnosed at advanced stages, when the disease has already spread and is difficult to treat. Imunon’s experimental DNA-mediated immunotherapy is designed to deliver interleukin-12 directly into the tumor. A phase 2 study demonstrated that the experimental therapy, when combined with the standard of care, provided a 13-month survival benefit compared to women receiving only the standard of care. We spoke to Stacy Lindborg, CEO of Imunon, about the company’s DNA-mediated immunotherapy, how it avoids the systemic toxicities that undermined earlier IL-12 approaches, and how it could change the treatment landscape for the disease.

China’s emergence as a biotech superpower may have appeared to happen suddenly, but it reflected a long-term vision and policies over many years that enabled its success. As biotechnology transforms not only medicine but also industries such as food, fuel, and materials, the competition between China and the United States to shape the future bioeconomy is intensifying. We spoke to Drew Endy, associate professor of bioengineering and senior fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, about China’s all-of-nation strategy, how the United States has misallocated research dollars, and why a cultural embrace of biotechnology will be critical for the success of either country.

In this enlightening discussion, Hani Goodarzi, a core investigator at the ARC Institute, shares insights on the Virtual Cell Atlas, a groundbreaking initiative that aggregates single-cell data. Joining him are Gilad Almogy, CEO of Ultima Genomics, who highlights their cost-effective sequencing technology, and Serge Saxonov, CEO of 10x Genomics, explaining how scalable sequencing enables extensive data generation. Together, they explore how this innovative platform aims to revolutionize drug discovery, offering models that predict cellular responses and enhance understanding of disease mechanisms.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a condition that affects preterm infants, especially those born with underdeveloped lungs who require prolonged oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation to help them breathe after birth. It is characterized by damage and abnormal development of the lung tissue and airways, often resulting from life-saving interventions necessary for babies born very prematurely. Airway Therapeutics is developing a new class of biologics for respiratory and inflammatory diseases, starting with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We spoke to Marc Salzberg, CEO of Airway Therapeutics, about the company’s experimental therapy zelpultide alfa, why it’s a pipeline-in-a-product, and its development path forward.

MASH, a chronic and progressive form of fatty liver disease that until recently was known as NASH, affects millions of people in the United States, and its incidence continues to rise. In fact, MASH is now among the leading causes of liver transplantation in the United States. 89bio is developing an experimental therapy to target multiple disease mechanisms of the condition. We spoke to Rohan Palekar, CEO of 89bio, about what’s driving the prevalence of MASH, the limits of existing medicines, and how its experimental therapy targets both liver fibrosis and the underlying metabolic dysfunctions of the disease. Since recording this interview, Roche announced it would acquire 89bio for $14.50 a share and a contingent value right of $6 per share for up to a total of $3.5 billion.  

The average kidney transplant recipient experiences kidney failure within 10 to 12 years after a transplant, putting them on a cycle that ends with kidney failure and a need for a new transplant. This cycle adds to strains on transplant recipients, payers, providers, and the healthcare system and taxes the limited supply of organs for transplantation. Eledon Pharmaceuticals is seeking to extend the functional life of transplanted organs while reducing the side effects of current immunosuppressive treatments with its experimental, first-in-class immunosuppressive therapy, Tegoprubart. We spoke to Steve Perrin, president and chief scientific officer of Eledon Pharmaceuticals, about the need for innovative approaches to immunosuppression in organ transplantation, how its experimental therapy works, and why it may also have benefits in autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases as well.

Antimicrobial resistance is projected to kill up to 10 million people a year by 2050. One particular area of concern is drug-resistant gonorrhea, where existing therapies are being exhausted. Taxis Pharmaceuticals is developing therapies to combat evolving superbugs by targeting their cellular infrastructure and disrupting the mechanisms that fuel antimicrobial resistance. We spoke to Greg Mario, president and CEO of Taxis, about the public health threat posed by drug-resistant gonorrhea, the approaches it’s taking to develop new antimicrobial treatments, and the need for new funding models to bring new therapies to market.