California Biotech Insights

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 […]

Biotech Leader Spotlight

Arthur Suckow

Former Co-Founder and CEO, DTx Pharma

December 19, 2024

Dr. Arthur Suckow was the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer & Board Member at DTx Pharma up until their acquisition by Novartis in 2023. He has also previously worked for Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Regulus Therapeutics. He currently serves as an advisor for Palm Therapeutics, Actio Biosciences, Sinopia Therapeutics and Transcera. Dr. Suckow’s extensive experience in fatty acid pharmacology includes advancing small molecules targeting fatty acids and fatty-acid conjugated peptides into early clinical development. Dr. Suckow has received numerous awards including a Beckman Fellowship, NSF graduate research fellowship, a BIOCOM catalyst award, a CMTRF trailblazer award and many others. Dr. Suckow received his BS from the University of Delaware and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, San Diego.

Biotech Market Update

Angitia Series C, Belharra Layoffs, and Candid’s Collabs

December 16, 2024

Recent Funding Angitia Biopharmaceuticals (LA) Announces $120 Million Series C Financing Led by Bain Capital Life Sciences with participation from new and existing investors, supporting the development of treatments for serious musculoskeletal diseases. Advancing three biologics in the clinic, including AGA2118 and AGA2115 (bispecific antibodies for osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta) and AGA111 (spinal fusion). Dr. […]