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Axial is centered around partnering with and investing in inventors and founders of early-stage life sciences companies. It explores innovative therapeutic approaches, such as immunotherapies beyond cancer, federated learning in healthcare, genetic tuning, and advancements in bioengineering tools. Axial highlights contributions from key figures in the industry and progress in addressing complex diseases.

Biotechnology Immunotherapy Machine Learning in Healthcare Genetic Engineering Proteomics Healthcare Innovation Drug Development Entrepreneurship in Life Sciences Federated Learning CRISPR Technology

The hottest Substack posts of Axial

And their main takeaways

Tectonic Therapeutic: Protein Engineering and Fc-relaxin for Hypertension

7 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Life Sciences Biotechnology Medical Research Drug Development
  1. Tectonic Therapeutic focuses on protein engineering to help treat hypertension. This means they are working on new medical treatments using proteins to effectively lower blood pressure.
  2. Axial invests in early-stage life sciences companies. They are particularly interested in supporting new ideas and inventions that can grow to make a big impact in healthcare.
  3. Support for inventors is a key part of Axial's mission. They aim to help those who are passionate about creating lasting solutions in the life sciences field.

Centessa Pharmaceuticals: Asset-Centric Business Model

7 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Startups Investing Pharmaceuticals Innovation Entrepreneurship
  1. Centessa Pharmaceuticals focuses on an asset-centric business model. This means they prioritize specific products and inventions for growth.
  2. Investing early in life sciences companies is key to their strategy. They like to support innovative ideas that are just starting out.
  3. Axial seeks to partner with passionate inventors. They are dedicated to helping those who want to create something lasting and impactful.

Synthetic integrin antibodies discovered by yeast display reveal αV subunit pairing preferences with β subunits

7 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology Medical Research Pharmacology Cell Biology
  1. New antibodies were created that can specifically block integrins, which are important for cell functions like attachment and signaling. This may lead to better treatments for diseases.
  2. Researchers found that different β subunits bind preferentially to the αV subunit in integrins. Understanding these pairings helps explain how integrins work in the body.
  3. The antibodies developed through this study can directly compete with small molecules that normally bind to integrins. This opens the door for more precise therapies in the future.

Real-Time Multistep Asymmetrical Disassembly of Nucleosomes and Chromatosomes Visualized by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy

7 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biology Genetics Research Methods Molecular Biology
  1. Researchers used a special microscope to watch how nucleosomes and chromatosomes come apart in real-time. This lets us see important details about how these DNA structures change.
  2. The study found that the disassembly process is not symmetrical; some parts come off before others. This shows a new way that DNA is accessed for various functions.
  3. Linker histone H1 plays a big role in how these structures disassemble. When H1 is present, it makes the process slower and changes the way the nucleosomes fall apart.

The role of Claudin-1 in fibrotic disease

14 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🔬 Science Health Biology Medicine Research Therapeutics
  1. Claudin-1 is a protein that plays a key role in fibrotic diseases. When it gets exposed outside its normal area in tissues, it can trigger harmful processes that lead to excessive scarring.
  2. Research shows that targeting Claudin-1 could be a promising way to treat fibrosis in different organs. Approaches like using specific antibodies have shown positive results in reducing fibrosis in animal studies.
  3. Future studies need to focus on understanding how Claudin-1 works in detail and testing these new treatments in humans. This could lead to better options for people suffering from fibrotic diseases.
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Single molecule imaging of the central dogma reveals myosin-2A gene expression is regulated by contextual translational buffering

22 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🔬 Science Molecular Biology Cell Biology
  1. Researchers created a special cell line to study how the MYH9 gene works, focusing on its role in myosin-2A production. This new approach allows them to see all stages of gene activity with high precision.
  2. The study found that changes in the cell cycle can affect how MYH9 is expressed, especially during cell division, helping to control when myosin-2A is made.
  3. They also discovered a 'buffering' system that adjusts protein production based on how much RNA is available, showing how cells adapt their response to different situations.

AbCellera: Going from Platform To Pipeline

29 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
💼 Business Startups Investing Innovation Life Sciences Entrepreneurship
  1. AbCellera focuses on supporting early-stage life sciences companies, often investing when ideas are still just concepts. They believe in nurturing innovation from the ground up.
  2. The company's approach emphasizes partnering with passionate inventors to help them turn their ideas into reality. They want to create lasting businesses that can make a difference.
  3. AbCellera is dedicated to building a strong ecosystem for biotech startups, showing a commitment to both science and entrepreneurship. They see value in guiding companies through their early phases.

Alumis: Race to a Best-In-Class TYK2 Inhibitor

22 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
💼 Business Investing Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Startups Innovation
  1. Investors are focused on early-stage life sciences companies with strong potential. They look for companies that are often just ideas at first.
  2. The goal is to support inventors who are passionate about creating lasting companies. There’s a strong emphasis on innovation and dedication.
  3. The race is on to develop a leading TYK2 inhibitor, highlighting competition in the biopharmaceutical field. This specific drug target is gaining interest for its potential benefits.

Rapid proteome-wide prediction of lipid-interacting proteins through ligand-guided structural genomics

7 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biology Genomics Machine Learning Proteomics Bioinformatics
  1. Researchers developed a new tool called SLiPP that helps quickly find proteins that interact with lipids. This is important because lipids play key roles in cell functions and diseases.
  2. SLiPP uses machine learning to distinguish between protein pockets likely to bind lipids and those that won't. This makes it easier to identify potential targets for drug discovery.
  3. The tool has been successfully tested on different organisms, showing it can accurately predict lipid-binding proteins. This helps scientists explore new areas in lipid biology and disease research.

AnaptysBio: An Immunology Pipeline-In-A-Pill

22 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
💼 Business Investment Health Life Sciences Startups Innovation
  1. AnaptysBio is focused on developing innovative immunology treatments that can be taken as a pill, making them easier to use.
  2. The company collaborates with early-stage life sciences firms, showing a commitment to supporting new ideas and innovations in the field.
  3. They aim to help dedicated inventors create lasting solutions in healthcare, which could potentially improve patient outcomes.

Functional protein mining with conformal guarantees

14 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🔬 Science Bioinformatics Molecular Biology Machine Learning Genomics Proteomics
  1. A new method is developed for predicting protein functions using something called conformal prediction. This makes the predictions more reliable and provides a clear way to understand risks when selecting proteins.
  2. The approach helps in annotating genes and predicting enzyme functions more accurately without needing new training models. This is great for speeding up research in life sciences.
  3. It also offers a smart way to reduce the number of proteins needing full analysis, making the process quicker and cheaper while still keeping good accuracy.

Transannular C–H functionalization of cycloalkane carboxylic acids

14 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🔬 Science Chemistry Biology Research Innovation
  1. New methods to make cyclic compounds called carbocycles are being developed. These methods are more efficient than traditional ones.
  2. Two new types of ligands help improve the ability to manipulate these compounds, making the process more controlled. This is especially important for challenging structures.
  3. The research shows that creating complex molecules can be done in fewer steps than before, which saves time and resources in drug development.

Birth of protein folds and functions in the virome

14 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🔬 Science Virology Genetics Molecular Biology Bioinformatics
  1. A lot of viral proteins have unique structures, showing there's still much to discover in the viral world. More than half of these proteins are structurally different from anything we've seen before.
  2. Some viral proteins are surprisingly similar to human proteins, which allows viruses to trick our cells. This understanding could lead to new ways to combat viral infections.
  3. Using advanced techniques to study protein structures is really powerful. It can reveal function and relationships that traditional methods might miss, helping us understand viruses better.

Unbiased mapping of cereblon neosubstrate landscape by high-throughput proteomics

14 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biochemistry Proteomics Drug Discovery Molecular Biology Cancer Research
  1. A new method helps find powerful compounds that can target hard-to-reach proteins for drug development. These compounds are called molecular glue degraders, and they can help break down unwanted proteins in the body.
  2. The study found many new targets for these compounds, including some that haven't been studied much before. This expands the potential for developing new treatments for diseases like cancer.
  3. The researchers created a process that combines different scientific techniques, making it easier to design and improve these drugs. This means we might see more precise and effective medicines in the future.

In vivo photoreceptor base editing ameliorates rhodopsin-E150K autosomal-recessive retinitis pigmentosa in mice

14 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🔬 Science Gene Therapy CRISPR Molecular Biology
  1. Researchers are using CRISPR technology to fix a genetic mutation that causes a type of blindness in mice. This mutation is in the rhodopsin gene, which is important for vision.
  2. Timing is really important for the treatment to be effective. Treating mice earlier resulted in better preservation of their eyesight compared to treating them later.
  3. Despite progress, there are challenges in translating this therapy for humans. The mutation is rare, making it tough to conduct clinical trials, and the therapy needs further development for success.

DNA foundation modeling

7 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🔬 Science Genetics Biotechnology Synthetic Biology Drug Discovery
  1. DNA foundation models are helping scientists analyze and understand the complex patterns in genetic data. They can lead to important discoveries in medicine and biology.
  2. Building these models is tough because DNA sequences are long and complicated. Special techniques are needed to process them efficiently and recognize important details.
  3. While these models have great potential, they need to be tested carefully to avoid mistakes. We also need to think about the ethical implications of using them in research and medicine.

The Notebook of Leonardo da Vinci, The Codex Arundel

14 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Renaissance Science Technology History
  1. The Codex Arundel is a collection of Leonardo da Vinci's writings and drawings, showing his wide-ranging interests in math, engineering, and nature. It's written in a special left-handed mirror script, which makes it unique.
  2. Leonardo's work in the codex emphasizes observation and experimentation. He wrote about scientific principles through careful study of the natural world and practical experiments.
  3. The codex is important for understanding both art and science, showing how Leonardo blended these fields. It inspires modern thinkers by highlighting the value of connecting different areas of knowledge.

Transforming biomanufacturing using software with Martin Permin

52 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Data Analytics AI Synthetic Biology
  1. Software and data analytics are being used to transform biomanufacturing, making it easier to control the complex variables involved in producing biological products.
  2. Invert, founded by Martin Permin, integrates with bioreactors and databases to help biomanufacturers manage and optimize their data using AI and analytics.
  3. Invert's platform streamlines bioprocessing by providing tools to plan experiments, monitor processes, analyze results, model scale-up, and collaborate with partners.

Groq's inference strategy

7 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Hardware Semiconductors Innovation Computing
  1. Groq is designing chips that speed up AI by using a special kind of memory called SRAM, which is faster but also more expensive. This helps them run complex AI models more efficiently.
  2. Their choice of using separate cards for each chip instead of smaller, cheaper chips means they might face higher costs and power use. This choice could limit how easily they can grow their technology.
  3. Other companies like Microsoft are trying different approaches that might be cheaper and easier to scale. Groq needs to find a balance between speed and practicality to succeed in the competitive AI market.

Knowde

37 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
💼 Business Startup E-commerce Supply Chain Innovation Marketplace
  1. Axial partners with great founders and inventors in early-stage life sciences companies
  2. Knowde aims to modernize the global chemical industry through its B2B marketplace
  3. Knowde's platform streamlines chemical procurement for buyers and provides digital storefronts for suppliers

An N terminomics toolbox combining 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde probes and click chemistry for profiling protease specificity

37 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🔬 Science Chemistry Biology Research Proteins Methods
  1. The paper introduces an expanded toolbox of reagents for profiling protease substrates and specificity using chemoproteomic methods.
  2. The work demonstrated high N-terminal selectivity with little intrinsic sequence bias beyond a requirement for a backbone amide at position 2.
  3. The 2PCA toolkit enables a broad range of applications in protease biology research by providing selective N-terminal labeling reagents that are easy to implement.

Engineering Antibodies to Avoid Escape Mutants

22 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🔬 Science Antibodies Viral Infections Engineering Immune System
  1. Combining antibodies directed at different viral targets helps neutralize infections like hepatitis B virus and RSV more effectively.
  2. Serial passage of virally infected cells during preclinical development helps ensure the continued efficacy of antibody combinations.
  3. Engineering antibodies through genetic manipulation can enhance effector functions and improve target specificity, increasing their efficacy in fighting infections.

Protein stability promotes evolvability

22 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🔬 Science
  1. Extra stability in proteins can help them evolve new or improved functions by tolerating beneficial but destabilizing mutations.
  2. Computational simulations and lab experiments on P450 enzymes demonstrate that protein stability enhances evolvability by allowing proteins to accept a wider range of mutations while still retaining function.
  3. Understanding the relationship between protein stability and evolvability can guide protein engineering strategies and reveal insights into natural molecular evolution.

Tune Therapeutics

37 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Drug Development
  1. Axial partners with inventors and invests in early-stage life sciences companies.
  2. Tune Therapeutics focuses on genetic tuning for controlling gene expression without DNA alteration.
  3. Genetic tuning by Tune Therapeutics may enable treating complex diseases more precisely.

Profiles in Biotech (8/30/23)

29 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
🔬 Science Biotech Cancer Treatment
  1. Axial partners with founders of early-stage life sciences companies
  2. Synthekine develops engineered cytokine therapeutics for cancer treatment
  3. Model organism Botryllus schlosseri offers insights into neurodegeneration pathways

Digest 5/29/23

29 implied HN points • 29 May 23
💼 Business Startups Investing Biotech Healthcare
  1. Axial invests in early-stage life sciences companies with great ideas
  2. Matchpoint Therapeutics focuses on developing new covalent inhibitors for immunology
  3. Founder Stories feature individuals like Özlem Türeci, highlighting the importance of balancing naivety and questioning in entrepreneurship

Axial Discovery - Voice in healthcare

37 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare Voice technology Doctors Virtual assistants
  1. Voice technology in healthcare can help patients remember conversations with doctors, save physicians' time, and reduce billing errors.
  2. Companies like Abridge and Suki are developing voice products to translate patient-doctor conversations into actionable information.
  3. Voice products in healthcare could lead to virtual assistants in exam rooms, improve treatment plans, and enhance patient information.

Axial Discovery - Kidney disease

29 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Genomics Proteomics Drug Development
  1. Over 30 million people in the US are affected by kidney disease, leading to high healthcare costs and lowered quality of life.
  2. New tools like genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are transforming drug development for kidney diseases.
  3. Companies like Goldfinch Bio and Chinook Therapeutics are developing medicines for rare kidney diseases with defined clinical milestones.

Axial Discovery - Machine learning and DNA-encoded libraries

29 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🔬 Science Machine Learning
  1. DNA-encoded libraries (DEL) use unique DNA barcodes to screen chemical compounds efficiently.
  2. Machine learning helps map out structure-activity relationships in DELs for virtual screening.
  3. Challenges in DELs include improving chemical diversity, developing better filters for virtual screening, and expanding screening criteria for more accurate models.