#39 - Lawsuits, lab launches & deleting your DNA data
The coffee break biotech roundup, by SomX
Hello, you lovely litigious lot,
This week: 23andMe unravels as customers scramble to delete their data, AbbVie accuses Genmab of dealing in trade secrets, a new type of cancer drug hits the clinic, pharma execs might be jumping ship, and Eli Lilly is adding another Gateway Lab pin to the map!
Until we reconvene,
Dodo
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Discover 🔍
🗑️ Delete your DNA from 23andMe right now (The Washington Post): Genetic testing pioneer 23andMe is filing for bankruptcy and selling its assets, prompting a privacy "consumer alert" from California's Attorney General. Founder Anne Wojcicki has also resigned as CEO. The company, which has provided ancestry and health insights since 2006, has faced mounting troubles, burning through cash since going public in 2021 and plummeting in value from $6B to $50M.
Our take: Well, that's a test result nobody wanted! 23andMe's spectacular nosedive puts customers' genetic data in a rather precarious position. With hackers already having their way with millions of customers’ data last year, the question is now, who exactly will be inheriting your genetic blueprint? The company that once promised to democratise genomics is now a case study about the dangers of entrusting your most personal data to commercial entities.
🤫 AbbVie lawsuit alleges that partner Genmab "misappropriated” trade secrets (BioSpace): AbbVie has slapped long-time partner Genmab with a lawsuit, accusing ProfoundBio (which it acquired in May 2024) of pinching proprietary techniques for antibody-drug conjugates. Specifically, rinatabart sesutecan, a promising a type of monoclonal antibody that can target ovarian cancer. Genmab vigorously refutes the allegations, but AbbVie’s not budging; several ex-employees and ProfoundBio’s founder are named in the suit, filed in Washington state.
Our take: AbbVie's latest litigious lunge (this being the third in a series, including BeiGene and Adcentrx) spotlights biotech’s thorny underbelly: trade secrets, often overlooked but fiercely protected know-how. Given AbbVie’s new hobby in pursuing IP vulnerabilities, the sector would do well to tighten its M&A contracts. After all, innovation's great – unless your cutting-edge tech walks out the door in someone else’s lab coat
💊 First-ever RIPTAC enters clinic: all you need to know about this new cancer approach (Labiotech): Biotech’s first RIPTAC (Regulated Induced Proximity Targeted Chimera), invented by Halda Therapeutics, has just stepped into clinical trials. The oral drug, dubbed HLD-0915, cleverly connects proteins highly expressed by tumour cells with those vital for their survival – triggering targeted cell death. Early data hints it might overcome tricky resistance mechanisms, especially in prostate cancers unresponsive to standard treatments.
Our take: RIPTACs are something of a cheeky younger cousin to PROTACs. They’re also bifunctional, but have an added flair for directly eliminating stubborn tumour cells rather than degrading proteins. Halda’s first-in-human study will test whether the concept truly sidesteps resistance mechanisms plaguing other therapies. If RIPTACs pan out, we might soon have an elegant oral alternative to complex injectables – a win-win for convenience and patient care.
✈️ How to get ready for the talent migration between pharma and biotech (Life Science Leader): Big Pharma is heading towards a hefty $200bn patent expiry hangover by 2030, echoing the painful early-2010s reshuffle – think layoffs, belt-tightening, and biotech shopping sprees. With over 60% of large pharmas planning more acquisitions in the next two years and VC funds increasingly selective, expect a talent tidal wave migrating from pharma's corporate juggernauts into agile but cash-conscious biotech startups.
Our take: Pharma execs are expected to parachute into biotech's fast-and-furious world, trading bureaucracy for nimble decision-making in a world where "move fast, break things" is more than just a catchy slogan. Those willing to adapt will have to be comfortable with failure – with half of biotech startups fizzling within four years – but the rewards are great. And who knows, a shot of commercial discipline might just be the boost biotech needs!
And finally…
🇨🇳 Eli Lilly expands innovation reach with another global Gateway Lab, this time in China (Fierce Biotech): Lilly's newest innovation incubator in Beijing joins their growing global network – including a planned UK location and hubs in San Francisco, Boston, and soon San Diego. These flexible partnership spaces have already hosted 20+ biotechs developing over 50 therapies. The move builds on Lilly's century-long presence in China where they currently employ 3,200+ staff, and recently invested $200 million to expand manufacturing for Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Our take: This expansion works as both clever talent scout and diplomatic handshake rolled into one. By offering swanky lab space and pharma expertise, Lilly gets to peek at China's biotech before anyone else. The Gateway Lab model favours proximity over ownership – letting biotechs lead on the science, while Lilly lends structure and scale. It seems in today’s economy, it’s not just the drug that matters – it’s where you pitch your tent.
Tune in 🎧
☄️ Biotech Risks and Asteroid Anxiety
In this episode: genetic safety in the age of advanced biotech, asteroid threats, and a short history of divisive characters who rattled the cage of science’s oldest club.
🍄 Kevin McKernan, molecular biologist and founder of Medicinal Genomics
From sequencing psychedelics to questioning vaccine safety, Kevin McKernan dives into genomics, controversial data, and the push to decentralise academic publishing.
🐾 Nvidia's 'Superbowl of AI' event, and a Silicon Valley dog longevity start up
The Times unpacks the AI event of the year; if, how and why some tech giants might be bleeding cash; and how dogs could lead the way in anti-ageing.
Apply ✍️
🔎 Associate Director of Analytical R&D – Biochem, MSD: Good at solving protein puzzles? Lead a team tackling complex biologics with HPLC, CE, and mass spec, and drive analytical strategy and method transfers in a high-impact GMP setting.
🧬 Director, Gene Editing Analytics and Strategy, Legend Biotech: Fancy decoding CRISPR outcomes? Shape the analytical strategy behind gene-edited cell therapies – guiding assay development, regulatory submissions, and QC readiness from bench to IND.
🎓 Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Bioengineering, Imperial College London: Can you turn science into syllabus? Join a world-class department driving biomedical breakthroughs, mentoring tomorrow’s innovators, and advancing research from AI to biomechatronics.
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🥐 02.04 | Bio Breakfast (Bits in Bio x ScienceMachine x future.bio) | London, UK: Connect with fellow TechBio enthusiasts, founders, scientists, and bio-engineers to kickstart your day with delicious pastries, fresh coffee, and inspiring chats.
💬 07.04 | SomX Healthtech Talks @ Google | London, UK: SomX Healthtech Talks is back for 2025 – kicking off on 7 April with a brand new conversation in healthtech and biotech.
🇸🇪 09–10.04 | Tumour Models Summit Nordics | Stockholm, Sweden: For the first time, the Tumour Models Summit Nordics unites pharma, biotech, and research leaders across the thriving Nordic biotech ecosystem.
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