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One quarter through the "century of biology," we're great at building startups deemed successful by the vanity metrics of success, but terrible at building commercially successful businesses. Why does the storytelling and perception of synthetic biology companies often deviate from the realities of the underlying businesses? https://lnkd.in/e_FGGRY6

A peek behind our paywall! Fresh off a licensing deal for NDA-ready lirafugratinib, there are subtle hints Relay Therapeutics $RLAY isn't done monetizing its R&D engine. Maybe the hints aren't so subtle if investors look at 2025 guidance.

Americans are rightly pissed off at the broken American healthcare system. Earlier this year, we compiled the first-ever database of global blockbuster drug products. Although Americans represent 4% of the world population, they generate 60% of global blockbuster sales.

Arrowhead Pharma recently submitted its first-ever BLA. The asset, plozasiran, is an siRNA molecule that inhibits ApoC3 expression in liver cells to reduce triglycerides. The RNAi therapeutic has earned FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation and is expected to earn approval in a rare metabolic disorder in 1H 2025. Approvals in broader indications could follow.

In 2024, Novartis' Pluvicto will become the first blockbuster radiopharmaceutical. The field has grown so quickly it's impacted global supply chains for radiomolecules. Seriously. But how do they work? Solt DB Database Builder Luca Stenger drops some knowledge in this illustration.

Today, over 94% of all cotton, soybean, and corn grown in the United States harbors improved genetic traits. That's up from 61%, 54%, and 25% respectively in 2000. The impressive adoption curve was powered by the emergence of stacked traits, which combine insecticide and herbicide benefits into one seed. Read more and view interactive data visualizations: https://lnkd.in/et4Mk4T3

If you paid **ANY** U.S. income taxes from 2014 to 2023, then you had a higher tax rate than Pfizer. In fact, the U.S. government gave Pfizer tax breaks of $17 billion in that decade. The world's formerly-largest drug developer generated earnings before income taxes (EBIT) of $138 billion in that span. It spent $124 billion on dividends and share buybacks vs. $89.5 billion on R&D expenses.

Relay Therapeutics $RLAY is developing more selective drug candidates to challenge established therapies. FGFR2 inhibitor candidate lirafugratinib helped 82% of patients with a rare bile duct cancer achieve an objective response, defined as tumor reduction of at least 30% from baseline. That's nearly double the best ORR from the competitive landscape (Lytgobi 42%). Learn more business context 🤓 : https://lnkd.in/einUnp4t Sign up for our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eBTyM6Ku Credit Luca Stenger

If the U.S. government remains serious about supporting the bioeconomy, then it might emerge as a significant funder for living tech. Next-generation contract research organization (CRO) Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. is quietly building momentum among biopharma 💊, agriculture 🌱, and government 🏛️ (BAG) customers. Will these industries provide a foundation to build upon during the company’s turnaround? ➡️ In Q1 2021, this group combined for 33% of Cell Engineering revenue. ➡️ In Q4 2021, that slipped to a low of 15%. ➡️ By Q2 2024, that jumped to 70% thanks to a surge in government contracts. It takes time to establish relationships with government entities, but that groundwork is now paying off for Ginkgo. BAG customers haven't accounted for less than 40% of the segment’s revenue since the second quarter of 2022. Selling services to biopharma customers seems rock solid. Agriculture is established, but perhaps recent investments in agricultural biologics lack durability -- it's important to watch because the bioprocesses are relatively easy to scale. The government's recent surge in funding is a wild card as well, but geopolitical factors may make federal investments durable for the long haul. Interactive data visualization: https://lnkd.in/eCvArwCr Stay up to date on the business of biotech with our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eBTyM6Ku

Nucleate BioHacks are regional hackathons focused on AI and computation applied to pressing challenges in life sciences, cultivating an interdisciplinary global community of scientists, engineers, healthcare professionals, and industry experts. Nucleate Pittsburgh is excited to introduce it’s regional BioHack competition, where you’ll have the chance to compete for great prizes and work alongside leaders in tech and life sciences to solve real problems posed by our biotech and healthcare industry partners. You’ll get to apply innovative approaches like AI, robotics, and machine learning to make a real impact. Details: 🔸Who: Trainees (undergrads, grad students, post-docs, and biotech enthusiasts) from all backgrounds 🔸What: Tackle real-world challenges from biotech and healthcare partners, while exploring Pittsburgh’s growing life sciences community 🔸When: Friday, October 25 – Sunday, October 27, 2024 🔸Where: Bakery Square’s “AI Avenue” 🔸Why: To bring together Pittsburgh’s brightest minds and leaders in life sciences, creating opportunities for growth and collaboration in our biotech ecosystem 📅 Registration deadline: September 30 – spots are filling up quickly! 🔗 Register here: Nucleate Pittsburgh BioHack: Trainee Registration https://lu.ma/dbxu6jh9 🌐 For more info: www.nucleatepgh.xyz Follow Nucleate Pittsburgh for updates on October 1 with details on prizes, mentors, judges, problem statements, and the full weekend schedule. Special thanks to BioHack 2024 Partners: Bakery Square, UPMC Enterprises, Walnut Capital, Emerald Cloud Lab, Solt DB, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Harbour Insurance, LLC, Ansys, Innovation Works, Big Idea Center! Interested in becoming an event partner? Visit here: https://lnkd.in/eqk7tUUe Stay up to date with upcoming Nucleate Biohacks by subscribing to our newsletter: newsletter.nucleate.org