California Biotech Insights

Biotech Market Update

Synthetic Design Lab $20M seed, Tempest lays of 80%, Halozyme sues Merck

April 29, 2025

Recent Funding: Genentech Vet Launches ADC Startup Synthetic Design Lab with $20M Seed Ex-Genentech leader Daniel Chen and Exelixis’ Ramesh Baliga are developing more potent, safer antibody-drug conjugates, backed by Playground Global and Godfrey Capital. Startup aims for first clinical trial next year, leveraging protein engineering and biophysics to target hard-to-hit cancers beyond HER2. Recent […]

Biotech Leader Spotlight

Harold Bernstein, CMO of Maze Therapeutics

April 24, 2025

Dr. Harold Bernstein is the President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer at Maze Therapeutics. Before joining Maze, Dr. Bernstein was Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Clinical Development at BioMarin. Prior to that, he served as Head of Translational Medicine and Vice President of Global Medicines Development and Medical Affairs at Vertex, and held roles of increasing responsibility at Merck and Co, including Head of Early Development for Cardiometabolic Diseases. He was Professor of Pediatrics and a senior investigator at the Cardiovascular Research Institute and the Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He also served as attending physician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Pediatric Cardiology, and at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in Pediatrics and Cardiovascular Genetics.

Biotech Market Update

Attovia and Glycomine Series C raises, BigHat and Lilly partnership, Trump FDA and NIH reductions

April 22, 2025

Recent Funding: Attovia Therapeutics (SF) Raises $90M Series C to Advance Biologics for Chronic Skin & Immune Conditions Attovia will use the funds to advance ATTO-1310 (anti-IL31 biologic) and ATTO-3712 (bispecific anti-IL13 x IL31) through clinical proof-of-concept for chronic pruritus and atopic dermatitis. The financing also supports expansion of its ATTOBODY-based multi-specific biologics pipeline for […]

Biotech Market Update

PacBio and Vincerx layoffs, BMS drug approved, FDA Phasing Out Animal Testing

April 15, 2025

Recent Layoffs: Pacific Biosciences (SF) Cuts Costs and Headcount Amid Tariffs and NIH Uncertainty PacBio will reduce annual operating expenses by $45–$50M and restructure its commercial org to weather funding uncertainty and global tariff pressures while aiming for positive cash flow by 2027. Despite a ~5% YoY revenue dip in Q1, the company saw record […]

Biotech Market Update

Neurona & RayThera raise $100M+, Allakos acquires Concentra, Trump Tariffs

April 8, 2025

Recent Funding: Neurona Therapeutics (SF) Raises $102M to Advance Regenerative Cell Therapy for Epilepsy The funding will support a pivotal Phase 3 trial for NRTX-1001, an allogeneic cell therapy for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, following positive Phase 1/2 results and FDA alignment. The round was led by major life science investors including Fidelity, The […]

Biotech Leader Spotlight

Jill Hopkins, CMO of Aura Biosciences

April 3, 2025

Jill Hopkins is the Chief Medical Officer and President of Research & Development at Aura Biosciences. Before joining Aura, Jill served as Senior Vice President, Global Head of Ophthalmology and Exploratory Development at Novartis, and Chief Executive Officer of Gyroscope Therapeutics, a Novartis company, where she was responsible for the global ophthalmic pipeline and portfolio of medicines, gene therapy, devices and digital solutions to impact eye disease and reduce visual impairment globally. Previously, Dr. Hopkins spent over a decade at Roche-Genentech in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as Global Head of Ophthalmology Personalized Health Care. Before Roche-Genentech, she spent over 20 years in clinical retinal research and academic practice at the University of Toronto, University of Southern California, and Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group. Jill brings over 30 years of cross-sector experience in ophthalmology, spanning clinical care, academia, education, industry, advocacy, and innovation. Dr. Hopkins received her M.D. from McMaster University and completed her Ophthalmology residency at the University of Toronto. She has completed fellowships in Retinal Disease from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London UK and in Visual Electrophysiology from the Universities of Toronto and Ottawa. Dr. Hopkins is board certified in Ophthalmology from the American Board of Ophthalmology and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada.