California
Biotech Insights

Biotech Leader Spotlight

Dolca Thomas

Co-founder & CEO of Neolaia Bio

May 28, 2026

Dr. Dolca Thomas is a physician scientist, transplant nephrologist/ immunologist with more than 20 years of experience in academia, large pharmaceutical companies, and biotech across multiple diverse therapeutic areas. She is the CEO of Neolaia Bio, venture partner/senior advisor at Samsara Biocapital and is currently an independent board director for UCB, and Ventus Therapeutics. She is also a scientific advisor for First Tracks (previously AnaptysBio). Prior to Neolaia, she was a board director for Chinook (acquired by Novartis 3.2 billion in 2023) and held multiple roles in biotech companies including Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer at Equillium and the Chief Medical Officer of Principia Biopharma which was acquired by Sanofi September 2020 for 3.7 billion.

Biotech Market Update

cAMPfield launches with $180M, Edison Scientific and Genesis Molecular both partner with Incyte on AI drug development

May 26, 2026

Recent Funding: cAMPfield Therapeutics (SD) Launches with $180 Million Series A to Develop Licensed Inflammatory Disease Drugs cAMPfield Therapeutics has quietly secured $180 million in backing from a powerhouse group of investors including Novo Holdings, RA Capital, Frazier Life Sciences, and Venrock — following the increasingly popular model of building a company around drugs licensed […]

Biotech Market Update

Kyverna files FDA approval, BioAge Labs pivots to inflammation, Aardvark hits major setback

May 19, 2026

M&A, Deals, Partnerships: Quince Therapeutics (SF) Merges with Private Pulmonary Startup to Stay Alive on Nasdaq After its lead drug for a rare childhood neurological disease failed in a Phase 3 trial earlier this year, cash-strapped Quince Therapeutics is merging with private pulmonary startup Orphai Therapeutics in an all-stock deal that will keep the combined […]

Biotech Market Update

Artiva raises $300M, Perfuse acquired by Bayer

May 12, 2026

Recent Funding: Artiva Biotherapeutics (SD) Reports 71% Response Rate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial and Raises $300 Million Artiva’s off-the-shelf NK cell therapy AlloNK plus rituximab achieved a 71% ACR50 response (meaningful symptom improvement) in refractory rheumatoid arthritis patients at six months—dramatically outperforming the 11-19% response rate seen with current therapies in this difficult-to-treat population of […]

Biotech Market Update

Profluent partners with Lilly in $2.25B deal, Candid acquires UCB, Protagonist $475M payout

May 5, 2026

M&A, Deals, Partnerships: Protagonist Therapeutics (SF) Opts for $475 Million Payout Over U.S. Profit Split with Takeda Protagonist is cashing out its U.S. co-promotion rights for rusfertide — a drug for a rare blood disorder called polycythemia vera — taking $200 million now and another $275 million if the FDA approves the drug, expected later […]

Biotech Leader Spotlight

Leigh Hsu

Cofounder & CEO of Atticus Pharma

April 30, 2026

Leigh Hsu is a biotechnology executive with 25 years’ experience in the biopharma industry. Leigh is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Atticus Pharma, a therapeutics company developing drugs for immunodermatology and associated diseases utilizing their proprietary topical delivery system. Their two initial programs are for the treatment of cutaneous lupus lesions and androgenic alopecia. Previously he served as SVP of Business Development with CARsgen for seven years, and prior to that, he was with Lpath for six years as VP of Corporate Development & Strategy. Dr. Hsu received his PhD in molecular pathology from UC San Diego and an MBA from UC Irvine.

California Biotech Insights

California
Biotech Insights