Welcome to Partnology’s Biotech Leader Spotlight Series, where we highlight the remarkable accomplishments and visionary leadership of biotech industry pioneers. This series is about showcasing the groundbreaking strides made by exceptional leaders who have transformed scientific possibilities into tangible realities. Through insightful interviews, we invite you to join us in following the inspiring journeys of these executives who continue to shape the landscape of the biotech industry. This week we are recognizing:
Brooks Leitner, Cofounder of EpiTET Therapeutics
Brooks Leitner Co-founded EpiTET Therapeutics in 2023. He has also been a Venture Fellow at Canaan, BrightEdge, and Foresite Capital. Prior to that Brooks enrolled in Yale’s MD/PhD Program in 2018, and completed his PhD in Cellular & Molecular Physiology in 2022 in the lab of Dr. Rachel J. Perry, investigating the intersection of metabolic fitness and cancer and sepsis. Prior to Yale, he attended the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD for a Postbaccalaureate position in the Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity branch of the NIDDK. There, he studied human brown adipose tissue anatomy and function, and its role in human energy metabolism in the labs of Drs. Kong Chen and Aaron Cypess. Brooks earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, with Honors in 2015 from the University of Maryland, College Park. There, he earned undergraduate researcher of the year in 2015 for his work on the effects of exercise on brain function in Dr. J. Carson Smith’s lab.
You have an impressive academic background – walk me through your time in academia and what made you want to study medicine?
I started out at the University of Maryland studying kinesiology, particularly interested in exercise physiology. My rationale was understanding the adaptability of the human body—how extreme athletes perform versus how physical inactivity can lead to chronic diseases. During my first year, I joined a lab that introduced me to biomedical research, studying the effects of exercise on brain function using fMRI. We had participants exercise on a bike and then scanned their brains to observe changes in brain function.
I enjoyed research but was unsure whether I wanted to pursue research or medicine. To explore my interests, I applied to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and began working at the Clinical Center. I initially got the position by volunteering as a healthy participant and presenting my resume to the PI of the Clinical Metabolic Research Unit. I ended up working there for three years, where I met my first MD-PhD physician-scientist. This career path fascinated me because it combined cutting-edge research with direct applications to human health and disease treatment. This led me to Yale for an MD-PhD program, focusing on metabolism due to Yale’s expertise in the area.
At Yale, I completed half of the medical school curriculum, then started my PhD in May 2020, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The pandemic made me question many things, especially the real-world impact of my research. I observed that academic research was often far ahead of medical practice. This realization made me wonder how to bridge the gap between bench research and bedside application, understanding that commercialization, investment, and development are crucial for creating treatments that impact patients’ lives.
This insight led me to explore biotech from the venture capital side through fellowships, and most recently, I co-founded EpiTET Therapeutics. We’re building EpiTET to combine research with the potential to improve human health and lives effectively.
You jumped into Venture Capital after academia – tell me about that transition and your experience as a Venture Fellow at Canaan, Foresite Capital, and BrightEdge.
My first introduction to venture capital was a course at Yale’s Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking called “Investing in Innovation.” This experience led me to apply for the Canaan Fellowship. At Canaan, I was surprised by how seriously the science was taken to guide investments. It wasn’t just about money; it was about whether the science could genuinely improve patients’ lives.
Foresite Ventures and BrightEdge also emphasized the importance of scientific validity. Canaan is more traditional, focusing on therapeutics. Foresite has a mix of diagnostics and AI-based investments, like Xaira Therapeutics, which uses AI throughout the drug development process. BrightEdge, as an impact investment fund affiliated with the American Cancer Society, focuses on technologies with significant unmet needs in cancer care, balancing social impact with financial returns. Across these experiences, the common theme was investing in good science to help patients, with each having its own unique approach to investment decisions.
You co-founded EpiTET Therapeutics in 2023 – tell me about the inception, the mission, and what you’re working on currently.
EpiTET Therapeutics began as I explored my next steps after deciding not to pursue clinical training post-MD-PhD. I identified epigenetics and inflammation as two significant future areas with unmet needs. Our academic founder, Dr. Yingqun Huang, and I combined our interests to focus on these areas. We met while preparing for the Health of Women Summit at Yale, and our collaboration led to the incorporation of EpiTET Therapeutics.
We target an epigenetic regulator to reduce inflammation, initially focusing on endometriosis, where inflammation is a major, unmet driver of the disease. Dr. Hugh Taylor, a leading expert in endometriosis, joined our Scientific Advisory Board, lending significant clinical expertise. We believe our molecule could impact many conditions driven by inflammation and are currently working on developing and funding this venture.
What do you see as the most promising technologies in biotech over the next 5-10 years?
AI is undoubtedly a significant area, particularly for patient selection in precision medicine. We’re exploring AI to identify patient features most likely to predict treatment success for endometriosis in collaboration with a large data science company.
Another promising technology is molecular glues and targeted protein degradation more generally. These small molecules can get into cells easily, use low doses due to recycling, and offer cell-specific selectivity. They allow for targeting previously “undruggable” proteins, making them a significant advancement over larger molecules like PROTACs.
With the experience and insights you have gained, what advice would you give to young people aspiring to work in Venture Capital or be a founder of a biotech company?
My advice is to get involved. Participation in programs like the Nucleate Activator Program, pitch competitions, and hackathons can provide valuable experience and exposure. These opportunities allow you to engage with venture capitalists, refine your pitch, understand regulatory complexities, and find advisors. Taking small steps to get involved in the community can be more beneficial than just reading about it.
