Dennis X. Hu

Roche's recent decision to offload their Vacaville facility highlights the increasing importance of cell line productivity in biomanufacturing strategy. According to Dan Stanton of Bioprocess Insider, Roche is moving towards more high titer processes and products with lower volume demands. (You can read the article here https://lnkd.in/erRx597k) Agile manufacturing strategies are enabled by cell line productivity, which allows for the same amount of drug substance to be produced in smaller bioreactors. This, in turn, allows for smaller clean rooms and lower running costs. Just - Evotec Biologics' J.CHO High Expression System cell lines, grown in perfusion bioreactors, produce over 4 g/L of antibody each day, equivalent to around 30 g/L in fed-batch mode (https://lnkd.in/eexeJrQA). This level of productivity allows for commercial quantities of antibody to be manufactured in 1000L single-use bioreactors in our modular J.POD facilities. As a result, large-scale stainless-steel facilities are becoming redundant. The future of biomanufacturing lies in maximizing cell line productivity, and our J.CHO system is leading the way. #biomanufacturing #celllineproductivity #JCHO #JPod #agilemanufacturing 👨‍⚕️Philip Boehme

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#ICYMI: Last month we announced that we raised $132.5 million in an oversubscribed #SeriesC financing to advance our pipeline of potential therapies for fibrotic lung diseases and oncology. We are thankful for the support of our investors, board, #biotech community and the entire Endeavor BioMedicines team.     In this BioSpace article, get more details about what this financing means for the future of our pipeline and our goal to restore hope for patients with life-threatening diseases: https://bit.ly/4aVqAmo    #biotechnews #fundraising #venturecapital #oncology #lungdiseases

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No discussion today in the Illumina earning calls on GRAIL financials but they're in the Illumina press release: another giant loss: -$2B. No surprises there I guess but what I think is interesting is revenue: last 3 quarters are $30M, $27M, $29M. So the company burns $180M a quarter to generate $30M in sales and no growth. Super interested to hear the Q&A on their first earnings call next week...market cap is about $450M, about half the $1B or so they have in the bank...

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Single-cell technologies and their comparison...

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We are thrilled to announce that our mentor and volunteer applications are now live on our website! If you are interested in becoming a mentor or volunteer, please join us at our informational session on 10/1 to learn more about our programs and how to sign up for these opportunities. Please see the registration information below. #WorkforceDevelopment #MentorshipMatters #VolunteersInSTEM

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Using 'representation vectors' instead of prompt engineering to modulate #LLM responses enables tuneable behavior: https://lnkd.in/eUwSUvtg

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I couldn’t agree more. The merger of computational tools, high-throughput assays, and AI-driven molecular design is transforming how we think about drug development and beyond. I’m excited to see how data-driven decision-making will reshape biotech strategies, as companies leverage ML models for molecular design and functional protein generation. Advancements like language models could also unlock a new era of biological insights from the huge amount of unstructured data available. The applications of biotech are expanding beyond traditional drug discovery, with innovations in cell agriculture and biologically driven industries creating opportunities we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago. After my last 3 years in the industry, I've watched the trends develop (come and go and come back around again). I'm excited contribute to the growth in this space!

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A good listen with our own Kevin J. Knopp as guest in the pharmaphorum Podcast!

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“Driving Training Workflows with Tribal Knowledge - with Brenda (Friesenhahn) Kahl of Illumina” https://lnkd.in/d_MacVm Brenda (Friesenhahn) Kahl, Senior Director of Service and Support at Illumina, joins today's program to discuss training challenges in field service operations within the biotech industry. Illumina, a San Diego-based biotechnology company founded in 1998, develops and markets systems for genetic analysis. Their products serve the sequencing, genotyping, gene expression, and proteomics markets across more than 155 countries. During the episode, Brenda provides valuable insights into the technology infrastructure necessary for building effective solutions. She highlights strategies for improving efficiency and reducing costs using call center metrics and digital tools. These tools include tribal knowledge systems designed to accommodate new working styles, such as remote work. Brenda's expertise offers actionable advice for professionals aiming to optimize their field service operations. Her emphasis on leveraging technology to drive improvements is particularly relevant in today's rapidly evolving biotech landscape. #Biotechnology #GeneticAnalysis #FieldService #Efficiency #CostSavings #CallCenterMetrics #DigitalTools #RemoteWork #TrainingChallenges #TechnologyInfrastructure #Illumina #BiotechSolutions #ProfessionalDevelopment #TechInnovation #OperationalExcellence

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A couple of weeks ago Illumina filed a motion to dismiss the major "Kangas" suit against Illumina executives and directors. There's a lot in there - it's about 40 pages of defensive arguments - but the argument I find most cynical is that statements on the lives to be saved by GRAIL by Illumina executives and board members were simply "puffery". In a legal context "puffery" refers to exaggerated statements made by sellers to promote their products or services. For example, a restaurant advertising its dish as “the best pizza in the world” is engaging in puffery. Courts generally consider puffery be viewed as opinions that no reasonable person would rely upon as factual assertions. Here are examples of statements by Illumina executives that Illumina now claims were simple puffery: "statements that the merger would “save lives”" "statements that the merger would “dramatically accelerate getting this test into the hands of people whose lives it could save"" "statements that the merger would enable Illumina to bring Galleri to “patients across the world faster and consequently save lives” So, Illumina itself is now admitting that everything they said about GRAIL saving lies was just bullshit. That's their defense. No shame. 🤯🤯🤯

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Imagine a molecule capable of delivering deadly toxins directly to pathogens or cancer cells. With antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), it’s possible. Ashley Harp dives into the basics of ADCs, their function, and the technologies used to manufacture them in her latest Insights blog. Learn more: https://hubs.la/Q02xXZxM0 #LifeSciences #ADC #AntibodyDrugConjugates #CRBInsights

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𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘇𝘆𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰 𝗕𝗶𝗱 San Diego-based Halozyme, Inc. has withdrawn its offer to acquire Evotec after the latter declined to engage in discussions. Read more: https://buff.ly/3BHX07f #Biopharma #Halozyme #Evotec #MergersAndAcquisitions

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🔍 Join Gyros Protein Technologies for an informative webinar providing insights into the pivotal role of #PeptideSynthesis in modern #DrugDevelopment. 💡 Learn about designing robust syntheses to enhance the SAR process and the interdisciplinary information crucial for successful SAR design. 🔗 Learn more + register here: https://buff.ly/4be8NWD Featured speaker: Will Blackwell #DrugDiscovery #DrugCandidate #Peptides #MedicinalChemistry #TherapeuticPeptidePurification #SolidPhasePeptideSynthesis

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Predict protein synthesizability and activity with the Tierra Flywheel. Learn how to develop functional proteins in less time and at lower costs from our CEO Michael Nemzek, who will be in San Diego for #BIO2024. Please reach out on the partnering link below. https://lnkd.in/gHWNqxv6 #pharma #proteins #therapeutics #artificialintelligence #largelanguagemodels

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The next Peer Learning and Networking webinar focuses on keys to writing a stronger commercialization plan. Get advice from #Biotech innovators like you by watching the pre-recorded videos and tuning into the live Q&A on June 13. https://lnkd.in/ggFxuEY3

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Are you attending the Sept. 25th San Francisco #AdvancedTherapiesXchange? Drawing on his 30+ years of experience leading immune cell operations, Kevin King, Senior Director of #CellandGeneTherapy Strategy and Growth at BioIVT, will be leading the 11:25am session “From Donor to Development: Minimizing Risks in the Cell Starting Materials Supply Chain” discussing strategies to de-risk the utilization of cellular starting and raw materials in the manufacture of #AdvancedTherapies: https://hubs.ly/Q02Qbz6B0 In the absence of industry-wide standardization of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps), production and manufacturing processes are not equivalent among suppliers. This can create significant efficiency, quality and regulatory obstacles as therapeutic platforms transition from preclinical to clinical application. Kevin will also be joined by Lisa Kretzschmar, Senior Scientific Advisor for CGT at BioIVT, and Adam Ross, Technical Sales Specialist for CGT at BioIVT, for 1:1 meeting requests to discuss: - Why you need a partner that can take you from RUO to GMP - The value of having a geographically expansive, secure supply chain - The importance of donor diversity and its impact on your success - How BioIVT can support your CGT development, from discovery to clinical development Make sure to connect with our expert team if you’d like to schedule a meeting! Learn more about our CGT solutions: https://hubs.ly/Q02QbVwK0 #CellTherapy #GeneTherapy #ATMPs #hubXchange

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Over the weekend I was thinking (as one does 🤪) about Illumina moats. A clear sign that they're less effective than they've been historically is the traction that Element Biosciences has in the benchtop space, and MGI's success in overcoming Illumina's long held IP moat. I've heard that concern aboutthis problem drove Illumina's focus on vertically integrating via the GRAIL acquisition; I think it's fair to say that didn't work both because of regulators and it wasn't a real thing. So what's a monopoly to do? Obviously try and catch next the week wave - in my opinion that's proteomics sequencing - but that's going to take a lot of time and investment and technology risk. What can be done right now to shore up the moat as it's at immediate risk? One idea would be to license its core SBS technology to other life science companies. Some of the pros and cons: PROS: - Lets OtherCo's do the vertical integration. A great example of this is what Thermo Fisher Scientific has done with Genexus - built a clinical grade sample to answer system around Ion Torrent technology. Illumina has nothing like this because it doesn't have the extraordinary breadth of IVD experience and technologies that Thermo brought to the table. Why not license SBS to companies with these capabilities such as Danaher Corporation, QIAGEN and Roche? - Flexible high margin business model. Sure at one end of the licensing spectrum is royalties with 100% margin but low revenue, but there also the option of selling consumables. The seed for that model can be seen in the new MiSeq: all the complexity/IP is in the consumable (CMOS, fluidics, etc), very little in the instrument. Perfect for partnerships - you guys build the razors and we'll build the razorblades. - Licensing creates amazing moats as it turns potential large-company competitors into customers. It's a win-win for those customers: they get access to a constantly improving low risk NGS technology while being able to focus on their true value added, which is in non-NGS things. - I'm guessing this wouldn't be a problem for regulators - they would see it as a good thing as Illumina is sharing it's IP with others which feels anti-monopolist. CONS: - Potential for cannibalizing Illumina sales with licensee sales. This requires careful choice of licensees and limiting their field of use e.g. licensing SBS to Qiagen to only build a clinical sample to answer. And maybe picking winners here would be an anti-trust issue? Dunno. - Leakage of IP to licensees - Other? Struggling a little for a business analogy there. Kind of like Arm: a true platform with a great moat and scalable business model; customers for sure build vertically integrated solutions around their IP. Any other pro/con suggestions or business analogies?

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