California Biotech Insights

Biotech Leader Spotlight

Elaine Chien, CMO of Antiva Biosciences

January 29, 2025

Elaine Chien, MD, FACOG is a board-certified and licensed OB/GYN physician who brings more than 25 years of clinical and biopharmaceutical industry experience to her current role as Chief Medical Officer at Antiva Biosciences. Prior to joining Antiva, from 2019 to 2023 she held roles of increasing responsibility at Mirum Pharmaceuticals, ultimately serving as Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Safety with responsibility for overall strategic and executional oversight of all development programs for the company’s clinical-stage asset as well as global medical safety and pharmacovigilance for all of Mirum’s commercial and clinical stage assets. Over Elaine’s career, she has been a key contributor to several US and EU drug approvals, in women’s health and other indications. At Mirum, she was the medical safety lead on multiple sNDAs, an MAA and a Type II Variation for Livmarli® for the treatment of Alagille Syndrome (ALGS) and Primary Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC). Prior to Mirum, Elaine was the global clinical development lead for the Myfembree® pivotal Phase 3 endometriosis program at Myovant Sciences, and the medical safety lead at Clovis Oncology on the NDA and MAA for Rubraca® for BRCA-positive ovarian cancer. Elaine holds an MD from Northwestern University, completed her OB/GYN residency at the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California medical center, and has been a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2005.

Biotech Market Update

$1.64B Molecular Glue Deal, Aurion, Maze, Aardvark file for IPO, Allakos layoffs

January 28, 2025

M&A, Deals, Partnerships: Neomorph (SD) Signs $1.64B Molecular Glue Deal with AbbVie Neomorph inked its third major collaboration in a year, partnering with AbbVie on molecular glues for cancer and immunology, following similar pacts with Novo Nordisk and Biogen. The deal includes an undisclosed upfront payment and up to $1.64 billion in milestones, showcasing the […]

Biotech Leader Spotlight

Alyssa Levin, CFO/CBO of Nkarta

January 22, 2025

Alyssa Levin joined Nkarta as Chief Financial and Business Officer in 2023. Prior to Nkarta, she was Chief Financial Officer at ViaCyte, a biotechnology company developing stem cell therapy for diabetes, where she aided the company’s successful merger with Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2022. Previously, she was Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Operations at Tentarix Biotherapeutics and Chief Financial Officer at Bird Rock Bio. Her experience also includes financial roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Siegfried Group where she advised clients on IPO and M&A processes. She began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is currently on the Board of Advisors and Grants Committee of Life Science Cares, San Diego. She also serves as an Advisor to the Termeer Foundation. Alyssa received a BA in Psychology and Economics from University of British Columbia, and a Masters in Professional Accounting from the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan. She obtained her Chartered Professional Accountant (Canada) designation in 2011.

Biotech Market Update

Highlights from JPM 2025

January 21, 2025

Recent Funding: Light Horse Therapeutics (SD) Launches with $62M Series A and Novartis Partnership Raised $62M in Series A funding from Bristol Myers Squibb, AbbVie, Mubadala Capital, and Taiho Ventures to advance its precision genetic editing platform for small molecule drug discovery. Announced a $25M upfront collaboration with Novartis, with potential milestones reaching $1 billion, […]

Biotech Market Update

Tenvie raises $200M, Kardigan raises $300M, Maze files IPO

January 14, 2025

Recent Funding: Tenvie Therapeutics (SF) Secures $200M to Advance Small Molecule Therapies for Neurological Diseases Tenvie Therapeutics launches with $200 million in funding from ARCH Venture Partners, F-Prime Capital, and Mubadala Capital to accelerate its pipeline of small molecules for neurological, cardiometabolic, and ophthalmic diseases. Developing brain-penetrant and peripherally restricted small molecules targeting key disease […]

Biotech Market Update

Aditum $428M fund, Ikena and Inmagene merger, Velia shutting down operations

January 7, 2025

Recent Funding: Aditum Bio, led by former Novartis executives Joe Jimenez and Mark Fishman, has closed its third venture fund at $428M, surpassing its $400M target. The fund aims to form 10 asset-focused companies in areas like autoimmune diseases, neuroscience, and cardiometabolic disorders. Previous successes include Celexor Bio and Versanis, acquired by Eli Lilly and […]