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🗓 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟳 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 Todays read is "𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗡𝗙𝗫 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝘄𝗼𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀", a platform poised to tackle a major gap in cancer treatment. TwoStep raised a $6.5M seed last year. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀: 1️⃣ I love learning about how VCs decide where to invest. It’s cool to see which factors they prioritize and why. 2️⃣ Solid tumors (90% of all cancers) are notoriously difficult to treat. Unlike liquid tumors (e.g., leukemia), which are easier to target and drug, solid tumors are like Fort Knox. Finding a reliable “entry point” is hard and usually results in collateral damage. 🤔 𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗧𝘄𝗼𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗱𝗼? They developed a “smart peptide” that latches onto integrins—proteins on the surface of solid tumors that act like zip codes. This peptide delivers medicine directly to the tumor while sparing healthy cells. It's like a precision airstrike instead of the carpet-bombing approach of chemo or radiation. TwoStep checked the usual boxes—strong team (including a Nobel laureate), big market, scalable platform. But digging deeper, there were a couple unique things that stood out, especially in the biotech and oncology space. ✨ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺-𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻-𝗮-𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺” 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 TwoStep created a platform, i.e., a delivery vehicle that can be used for LOTS of different drugs. Most biotech startups focus on developing a single drug or a specific therapy. It presents an opportunity to "supercharge" existing cancer treatments. ✨ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄” 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 Integrin targeting isn’t a completely new idea, but it’s taken years for the tech and research to catch up. TwoStep is leveraging the latest advances in precision medicine, integrin biology, and peptide engineering to bring something truly novel to market. 💬 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲: “𝘈 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 – 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭.” 🔥 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲: Platforms like TwoStep could shift cancer treatment away from one-off solutions to a more modular, scalable approach. 📖 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸.👇🏼 ✨ 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: This completes my 7-day challenge to post daily on LinkedIn! 🎉 It’s been an incredible week diving into venture capital, health tech, and startups. I get excited over cool science, so this seemed like the perfect article to end with! 😊 Thank you to everyone who’s read, commented, or shared thoughts along the way! I read a lot anyway, but stopping to explain 𝘸𝘩𝘺 I find something interesting? Way harder than I expected. 🚀 What do you think? Did you enjoy these posts? Should I keep going? 😊

Pioneering Cancer Detection: OneCell Diagnostics Inc. Raises $16M in Series A Funding! OneCell Diagnostics Inc. Diagnostics, a cutting-edge cancer diagnostics startup, has raised $16 million in its Series A funding round led by Celesta Capital, with participation from Tenacity Ventures, Cedars-Sinai, Eragon Ventures, and Singularity Ventures. This funding accelerates OneCell’s mission to bring next-generation cancer diagnostics to global markets. About OneCell Diagnostics : Founded in 2021 by Mohan Uttarwar, OneCell Diagnostics Inc. leverages advanced technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS), bioinformatics, AI/ML, and data analytics to create multi-omics biomarkers for precision cancer diagnosis. # Flagship Product: OncoIndx Alfa # A next-gen liquid biopsy test that detects circulating tumor cells. # Enables precision diagnosis and treatment, supporting: # Treatment response monitoring. # Disease progression analysis. # Recurrence detection and more. Strategic Partnerships : # OneCell has established robust collaborations with renowned institutions, including: # All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi. # Tata Memorial Centre. # Academic partnerships with Harvard Medical School and Stanford University. To date, its innovative cell biopsy technology has been tested on 10,000 patients in India, advancing the field of oncology diagnostics. Where the Funds Will Go ? The $16M funding will be used to: # Expand into the US market with OncoIndx Alfa. # Enhance research and development to advance cancer diagnostics further. # Scale operations and strengthen global partnerships. Words from the Leaders : Mohan Uttarwar, CEO and Co-founder: “We see a future where everyone has access to high-quality, life-saving cancer testing. This funding is a powerful validation of our vision and commitment to transforming oncology diagnostics.” Why It Matters ? Cancer diagnostics is a critical component of global healthcare, with a pressing need for early detection and precision treatment tools. OneCell Diagnostics Inc.’s innovative solutions aim to bridge the gap, providing accessible, effective testing to improve patient outcomes worldwide. Congratulations to OneCell Diagnostics Inc.! With its groundbreaking technologies and expanding global footprint, OneCell is poised to redefine cancer diagnostics. Aspirants Space (https://lnkd.in/gYkc-Ni8) celebrates this milestone and is here to help OneCell connect with top talent to power its journey forward. #AspirantsNews #OneCellDiagnostics #FundingNews #CancerDiagnostics #LiquidBiopsy #SeriesAFunding

Really excited to announce our investment in Xgenera! Xgenera are revolutionising cancer diagnosis with their multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test, miONCO, which can identify 12 of the most prevalent and life-threatening cancers at early stages, often before symptoms manifest. Our decision to invest was significantly influenced by Xgenera's exceptional leadership team. Co-founders Dr Andy Shapanis and Professor Paul Skipp bring over 25 years of internationally recognised research experience in oncology and cancer biology. Their dedication to advancing early cancer detection aligns perfectly with our mission to support deep-tech ventures addressing global challenges. We are excited to support Xgenera in their journey to transform cancer diagnostics and improve patient outcomes worldwide. Empirical Ventures, Ascension, QantX Madeleine Nichols, PhD, Johnathan Matlock, Curran Kalha, Ph.D., Trang K. Nguyen, Alexander Fink, Keith Lipman

In vitro diagnostics for early cancer detection has often been a graveyard for investors. Investors are attracted by the undoubtedly huge market potential. If a company can develop a diagnostic test that is implemented as a population level screening tool, this is the definition of a venture scale opportunity. However, multiple factors are at play that make the journey far from easy. You need a highly sensitive and specific test that allows you to minimise false positives and false negatives. This is because the burden of over diagnosis and over treatment against a change in overall mortality rates is a finely tuned balancing act. You'd also want to ensure that the screening tool was applicable to multi-cancer detection, going further than just a rule-out test, by predicting the origin site of a particular cancer. As a pre-seed/seed investor what we are often looking for is deep scientific domain expertise, coupled with credibility to achieve a proof-of-concept data point and/or prototypes. Our latest investment at Empirical Ventures into Xgenera and the dynamic duo Dr Andy Shapanis and Prof Paul Skipp might just be the right starting point for approaching this opportunity. Their multi cancer early detection test (MCED) called miONCO was developed from analysing relative expression profiles of microRNAs in 20,000 patient samples. Xgenera’s two step test would detect cancer using a computational algorithm to identify microRNA profiles extracted from patient blood samples, and can predict the site of origin of the cancer. As a screening test this could improve patient lives significantly. I believe Xgenera has the right technology, at the right time, based around recent advances in computational speed and power, post-COVID knowledge moats related to qPCR scale-up and novel biomarkers such as microRNAs to capitalise on this potential. Read more about it below. I can't wait to join the board to support the team as they navigate the 0 to 1 phase of this journey. CAPITAL AT RISK. FOR PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS ONLY. https://lnkd.in/dNpuSERg

If you want to implement a scalable multi-cancer early detection test, what does that test need to look like and why hasn't this panacea of cancer intervention already happened? Our latest investment into Xgenera who have raised £3.5m from Empirical Ventures, Ascension and lead investor QantX might just have the answer. With a £2.5m grant from NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research), CEO Dr Andy Shapanis and CSO Prof Paul Skipp are the next entrepreneurial scientists we are backing at EV. Xgenera have a very promising multi cancer early detection test (MCED) called miONCO that was developed from analysing relative expression profiles of 50 microRNAs in 20,000 patient samples. Xgenera’s two step test would detect cancer using a computational algorithm to identify microRNA profiles extracted from patient blood samples, and then predict the site of origin of the cancer. As a screening test this could improve patient lives significantly. Xgenera's miONCO test satisfies the high level requirements for an MCED - it can diagnose multiple cancers (12) and based on miRNA markers it can detect signals earlier in the cancer stages compared to next-generation sequencing based approaches. The test will be developed into a qPCR format in partnership with YouSeq and can be administered via blood draws. CAPITAL AT RISK. FOR PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS ONLY. https://lnkd.in/dnWqFxYH Thank you to EV team members: Madeleine Nichols, PhD, Dr Ben Miles, Ph.D., Johnathan Matlock, Curran Kalha, Ph.D., Trang K. Nguyen, Alexander Fink and Keith Lipman Thank you to Jane Theaker who made the introduction to Dr Andy Shapanis. Thank you to our IP partner Abel + Imray and Tom Turner.

OneCell Diagnostics Inc. raises $16 Mn in Series A round: Cancer diagnostics startup OneCell Diagnostics has raised $16 million in its Series A round led by Celesta Capital. Tenacity Ventures, Cedars Sinai, Eragon, and Singularity Ventures have also participated in the round. The proceeds will be used to expand to the US market for OncoIndx Alfa, a next-generation liquid biopsy test that detects circulating tumor cells, OneCell said in a press release. Founded in 2021, OneCell’s technology uses next-generation sequencing, strong bioinformatics, AI/ML, and data analytics to create multi-omics biomarkers. “We see a future where everyone has access to high-quality, life-saving cancer testing and this funding is a powerful validation of our vision,” said Mohan Uttarwar, CEO and co-founder at OneCell Diagnostics. OncoIndx Alfa offers rich biomarkers that advance precision diagnosis and treatment of cancer, including use cases such as treatment response monitoring, disease progression, recurrence, and more. According to its website, OneCell partners with All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi, and Tata Memorial Centre. It also has strategic academic and industry partners including Harvard Medical School and Stanford University, among others. The company has already introduced a series of products and tested its cell biopsy technology in nearly 10,000 patients to date in India.   #OneCellDiagnostics #CancerDiagnostics #LiquidBiopsy

🚨 Breaking Ground in Targeted Cancer Therapies: CrossBridge Bio Raises $10M! 🚨 🧬 Pioneering the Future of Cancer Treatment Houston-based biotechnology leader CrossBridge Bio has secured $10M in funding to accelerate its groundbreaking work on dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)—a revolutionary approach to treating challenging cancers. Key Investors Backing the Vision ✨ TMC Venture Fund (Lead Investor) ✨ CE Ventures (CEIIF) ✨ Portal Innovations, LLC ✨ Alexandria Venture Investments ✨ Linden Lake Labs, Inc. ✨ Pre-seed investors 💡 What’s the focus of this funding? 1️⃣ Advancing the Lead Program: Development of CBB-120, a potential TROP-2 ADC for treating solid tumors, including TROP-2-positive breast cancers. 2️⃣ Pipeline Expansion: Accelerating the growth of innovative ADC programs targeting solid tumors. 3️⃣ Proprietary Linker Technology: Enhancing safety and efficacy profiles to combat tumor heterogeneity and resistance. Led by Visionary CEO Michael Torres, CrossBridge Bio is leveraging cutting-edge research to create stable ADC therapeutics with dual payloads, transforming how cancer is treated and improving therapeutic outcomes. As part of this milestone, William McKeon (President & CEO, Texas Medical Center) and Damir Illich, Ph.D. (Manager, Life Sciences, CE-Ventures) will join the board of directors, driving strategic growth with their deep expertise in healthcare and life sciences. 🌟 What makes this exciting? This funding not only propels CrossBridge Bio’s innovative pipeline but also underscores the rising global focus on precision medicine in oncology. 📢 Your Call to Action 💬 How do you see dual-payload ADCs shaping the future of cancer treatment? 🔄 Share this to spread awareness of groundbreaking developments in cancer research. 👥 Follow for more updates on cutting-edge biotech breakthroughs. 📆 News Month: November, 2024 🔗 Source: FinSMEs

🚨 Congrats to Outpace Bio for their Series B raise of $144 million led by RA Capital Management. This funding  helps advance a groundbreaking new treatment for ovarian cancer, which continues to be a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. ARTIS Ventures funded Marc Lajoie and Scott Boyken at their inception and continues to support this financing as their innovative approach combines CAR-T cell therapy with advanced protein design, aiming to solve age-old problems in solid tumor treatment by programming cell therapies to access, survive, expand, and functionally persist in the tumor’s hostile environment. The lead program, OPB-101, is set to enter clinical trials by 2025, offering new hope for patients with limited treatment options. This breakthrough is crucial, as previous treatments have struggled to effectively target and eliminate cancer cells in these solid tumors. They have used this groundbreaking technology to initially target advanced platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers. With an estimated 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed annually in the United States and approximately 300,000 cases worldwide, Outpace's approach could have a profound impact, potentially saving thousands of lives globally and transforming the landscape of cancer treatment. Takes a village to build but glad to have the amazing Jake Simson from RA leading this round and joining the board. Thanks to Bahija Jallal, Ph.D. for her incredible ability to help as the independent and navigate. And congratulations to the team and outstanding cohort supporting Outpace’s continued success, including Stan Riddell Eric Soller Aaron Foster Charity Scripture MS, PharmD, BCOP and the rest of their amazing team (I've gotten to know many of you and you are all amazing even if I haven't named you all here). Cc: Matt Hershenson Benjamin Kim Ramtin N. Alaa Halawa Amy Liu Shahram Seyedin-Noor Gaurav Shah Pallavur Sivakumar Nate Chang Black Opal Ventures Alex Davidov William Canestaro, PhD Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Surveyor Capital and many others https://lnkd.in/gURtWaBh

T cell supercharging for solid tumors - CRISPR meets Cell therapy A new biotech OverT Bio is coming out of stealth with $16 million from The round was co-led by ARTIS Ventures and Wing VC, with participation from Fusion Fund, OMX Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, Gaingels, Civilization Ventures, Hawktail, and Cancer Research Institute (CRI). Here are 5 things investors should know about it. 1. Addressing the Solid Tumor Challenge: The holy grail of cell therapy has been conquering solid tumors. Unlike blood cancers, these tumors present a tougher target due to their complex microenvironment. OverT's focus is significant because current success stories are rare. There are currently 1,111 trials in Phase 1, 511 in phase 2 and 12 in Phase 3 for solid tumors according to ClinicalTrials.gov. Only one cell therapy has been approved for a solid tumor cancer: Iovance’s tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte-based therapy #Amtagvi, which won FDA approval in February for advanced melanoma. 2. Supercharging T Cells with CRISPR Screens: This is where OverT's technology gets exciting. CRISPR screening allows them to identify genes that, when overexpressed, enhance T cell function against tumors. Think of it as giving T cells superpowers! This approach holds promise for creating more potent CAR-T therapies. 3. Not the Only Player in the Arena: Competition is fierce in the CAR-T space. While OverT's approach is promising, it's important to be aware of other players using similar CRISPR activation screens Sidi Chen team and Alex Marson team. 4. Diversifying the Arsenal: Gamma Delta T Cells: OverT is exploring using gamma delta T cells in their therapy. These unique immune cells are activation-independent, potentially offering an advantage over traditional T cells. This adds another layer of potential differentiation for OverT. Gamma delta T cells make up only a small percentage of circulating T cells (around 5%), but they offer some advantages like the ability to recognize tumor-associated antigens without prior MHC presentation. 5. Aggressive Timeline for Clinical Trials: OverT aiming for a mid-2025 clinical trial candidate is ambitious but demonstrates their commitment to rapid development. However, it's crucial to remember that the road from preclinical studies to market is long and fraught with risk. What do you think about this new approach to cell therapy? Spencer Knight Cookie Yu, PhD Nimisha Gupta, Ph.D. Share this news with your investor buddies. They’ll thank you later. 🗣️ #biotech #investment #investor #vc #drug #discovery #healthcare #market #business #crispr #celltherapy _________________________________________________________________________________ Biotech investor or innovator? We assist investors unlock potential by assisting with due diligence and companies refine strategies for success and get bigger exposure to investors. Send me a DM and let´s connect Follow me, hit the 🔔 Adrian Rubstein

The advent of cancer-fighting nanobots marks a pivotal moment in medical innovation. These tiny, yet powerful, machines are engineered to target cancer cells with unparalleled precision, minimizing damage to healthy tissue and reducing side effects common in traditional treatments like chemotherapy. This breakthrough not only revolutionizes cancer therapy but also opens doors for treating other diseases with similar precision. How do you envision this technology transforming healthcare? Share your thoughts! Don't miss watch this interesting video https://lnkd.in/gi-NNvMN Praying 🙏 God to make this a reality very soon which will help countless lives.