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Kezar co-founder Christopher Kirk, Ph.D. began his work on the unique function of the immunoproteasome at Proteolix in 2005, while working on the compound that would become the successful multiple myeloma drug KYPROLIS™ (carfilzomib). As VP of Research at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, which acquired Proteolix in 2009, Christopher led the efforts to develop the first selective inhibitors of the immunoproteasome and designed multiple studies demonstrating their profound immunomodulatory effects. In parallel with this work, Christopher and Kezar co-founder Jack Taunton, Ph.D. collaborated on several research projects involving protein secretion. This collaboration inspired a belief in the strong synergies between protein degradation and protein secretion, two fertile areas for drug discovery with platform potential. In 2014, Christopher and Kezar co-founder John Fowler began developing the business plan for Kezar, acting on a longstanding desire to work together and build a world-class company. In 2015, John and Christopher raised $23M and negotiated a worldwide, exclusive license agreement with Amgen for the Onyx immunoproteasome inhibitor patent estate. Now underway, John and Christopher are excited to leverage their complementary skill sets to build Kezar into a leader in small molecule drug development.
Korro Bio is an RNA editing company focused on the discovery and development of a new class of precision genetic medicines for both rare and common diseases. The company`s proprietary and modular platform, OPERA™ (Oligonucleotide promoted editing of RNA), builds on a deep understanding of ADAR biology, and combines data-driven design, oligo discovery and chemistry with clinically validated delivery vehicles, to achieve highly selective RNA editing. This unique technology enables the development of RNA editing therapeutics that deliver the functional benefits of gene therapy with a reversible, transient, titratable and specific treatment regimen, offering the potential to propel genetic medicine beyond rare genetic diseases into larger patient populations with common diseases. Korro is based in Cambridge, Mass.
Cancer Genetic Consultants is a Leawood, KS-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
Life Biosciences was co-founded in 2017 by David Sinclair, PhD, a professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and Tristan Edwards, who developed its innovative structure as Chapter Two in his life, after a highly successful career as a global institutional investor, working across all asset classes. The company`s novel Daughter company business model creates the robust research ecosystem required to forge industry leadership through two investment strategies. The first is to establish new companies, thereby extending the research of visionary scientists around the world. Secondly, Life Biosciences invests in other groundbreaking firms, providing them with the resources to maximize their potential. In addition to Lua, there are six Daughter companies working independently and together within the Life Biosciences research environment. The company provides Daughter companies with the resources required to maximize human potential, including Lua`s AI-driven data and communications platform, experienced management, drug development experience, and a 25,000 square foot, state-of-the-art vivarium, robotics and drug screening facility in Cambridge, Mass, augmented by laboratories and offices on four continents. Co-founded in 2017 by David Sinclair, PhD, AO, and Tristan Edwards, Life Biosciences is the first and largest biotech company addressing the eight pathways of age-related decline (ARD) in totality. It has established Daughter companies around the world, led by a Dream Team of respected scientists, to independently and collaboratively attack these pathways through pioneering research and product development. The company provides Daughter companies with resources to maximize human potential, including Lua`s AI-driven data and communications platform, drug development experience, and a 25,000 square foot, state-of-the-art vivarium, robotics and drug screening facility. Life Biosciences seeks to increase healthspans for everyone, including companion animals, by addressing the systemic breakdown of the body, rather than as a series of isolated symptoms and conditions.
TScan is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cell therapies (TCR-T) for the treatment of patients with cancer. The company’s lead liquid tumor TCR-T therapy candidates, TSC-100 and TSC-101, are in development for the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies to eliminate residual leukemia and prevent relapse after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The company is also developing multiplexed TCR-T therapy candidates for the treatment of various solid tumors.