Thrilled to share that @TwoStepTx has officially launched! With the closing of our seed round, we’ll be advancing our pipeline of targeted therapies for solid tumors. Many thanks to our incredible co-founders and investors for their support. @CarolynBertozzi @CochranLab

If you've lost a loved one to cancer and seen TwoStep Therapeutics science in action, you'd see why backing this team is a no-brainer. Excited to share the bigger vision behind why we led this seed round: nfx.com/post/why-nfx-investe…

Our co-founder and CEO @CaitlynBioE spoke with @ky_lahucik about our work developing a novel tumor-targeting platform for solid tumors - and how this approach opens up new possibilities for cancer treatment. Read more in @endpts News👇 endpts.com/new-cancer-biotec…

We are thrilled to announce our latest investment in @TwoStepTx! Read more about why we invested 👇 2048.vc/blog/our-investment-… 💡 Enabling targeted delivery to virtually any solid tumor using a unique and modular polyspecific integrin-binding peptide. 👩‍💻 The Founder: @CaitlynBioE 📌 Location: San Francisco, CA 💰 Investment Stage: Seed You can also read more in this article (shoutout to @ky_lahucik for the writeup!) endpts.com/new-cancer-biotec…

congrats @CaitlynBioE and @TwoStepTx on the launch! endpts.com/new-cancer-biotec…

My dad died from colon cancer in 2020, NFX bio principal Gita Bassman Reinitz lots two parents to cancer, so many people we know are effected by this horrible disease.. businesswire.com/news/home/2…

1/ We’re excited to announce our official launch and the closing of a $6.5M seed round to advance our pipeline of targeted therapies for solid tumors. Learn more 👉 businesswire.com/news/home/2…

We are hiring at multiple levels to join our team jstarklab.com @MITdeptofBE @kochinstitute Apply below! Postdoc: tinyurl.com/3nufr3rp Lab Coordinator: tinyurl.com/3rhjvdf3 Tech: tinyurl.com/wud3hp6k Please repost! #immunoengineering #synbio #glycotime #newPI

The ADC space is blowing up: • >$125B in partnerships and M&A since 2019, including Pfizer's $43B acquisition of $SGEN and a record $5.5B upfront deal ($MRK / Daiichi) this year • Hundreds of assets across thousands of trials • 8 approvals in the last 5 years (13 total) I pulled together 42 representative companies and charted the clinical assets of each, segmented by target and payload Exhibit 1: ADC Competitive Landscape Some takeaways: An ADC is essentially 3 modular components: an antibody, a payload (typically chemo) and a linker that connects the two. The idea is to combine the selective targeting of mAbs with the toxic lethality of chemo, such that only the tumor is impacted, rather than healthy cells. Many approved mAbs are used in combination with chemo anyways, which negates the benefit of selective targeting. By minimizing off-target impact, ADCs can maximize the therapeutic window (increased efficacy at a lower dose, translating to a better side effect profile). Exhibit 2: Evolution Towards ADCs (source: Cowen) Key to the approach is selecting the right target. Ideally, the tumor should have a high level of antigen expression and healthy cells should have none. In reality, tumors are too heterogeneous, so companies settle for validated targets that are known to be more prevalent in tumors. Some ADCs exhibit a 'bystander effect' whereby the payload diffuses into adjacent cells that may not express the target antigen - an advantageous design in heterogeneous tumors. Exhibit 3: ADC Target Antigens by Indication (source: Capital One) The first ADC approved was Mylotarg in 2000 (later pulled from the market in 2010 and relaunched in 2017), although meaningful traction really started with later 2nd gen ADCs (such as Kadcyla and Adcetris) as the tech of each component improved. Since then, clinical and commercial wins have continued to rack up, including via ADC / IO combos (i.e. Padcev / Keytruda in bladder cancer at ESMO 2023). Some recent financial stats: • >$7B in sales in 2022 (~33% YoY growth) • Aggregate sales expected to exceed ~$20B by 2026 ($6B via Enhertu) • >$125B in partnerships, licensing and M&A deals since 2019 A lot of the differentiation between ADC players comes down to manufacturing prowess. Development is a multi-step technical process with a complex supply chain (components produced in separate locations). We're seeing this theme with other emerging modalities as well. Looking ahead, there's potential for ADCs to move beyond oncology (i.e. Adcetris in sclerosis), as well as novel structural add-ons (bispecifics, RACs, PDCs, SMDC, DACs, etc.). Technological improvements will be key to watch - each successive generation has improved on efficacy / safety, and with the massive $ investment from several pharma companies, we can expect this to only increase. It's likely that new brands, rather than biosimilars, are what cannibalize current ADC drug sales. If you found this interesting, follow @andrewpannu for more biotech analyses & commentary!

Probably the best ADC review I came across, so much valuable information + great figures on targets, linkers and payloads! tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.…

The Stark Lab @MITdeptofBE and @kochinstitute opens January 2024! We are recruiting curious and motivated scientists at all levels. Learn more about our work and how to join our team: jstarklab.com 🧬 Please share widely! #immunoengineering #synbio #glycotime #newPI

#JI_TopRead from @CaitlynBioE @CochranLab @CarolynBertozzi @StanfordHealth | #TLR9 agonist, PIP-CpG, enhances the CD8 #Tcell response to spontaneous tumors | #ReadTheJI #immunology #AuthorChoice #FreetoRead #TumorImmunology 👉 ow.ly/FTbV50P6FNv

👉 From database to clinical trial: 23andMe identifies CD200R1 based on opposing effects in immune disease and cancer bit.ly/3Njfhtw

Excited to share my first paper from my PhD research in Chris Garcia's lab! We determined structures of the IL-21 receptor complex and engineered IL-21 variants that enhanced vaccine responses in tonsil organoids with reduced autoantibody induction. (1/9) cell.com/cell-reports/fullte…

In the physiologically relevant MMTV-PyMT GEMM model, @CaitlynBioE @BarfiIdit @CarolynBertozzi demonstrated that systemic delivery of a tumor integrin-targeted TLR9 agonist (PIP-CpG) led to sustained elimination [...] bit.ly/3Cu9QTC