The hottest Biotech Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Cuba, The West, And An 'Elusive' Vaccine

¡Do Not Panic! • 687 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Biotech
  1. Meningitis B was a major killer of babies and children until a vaccine breakthrough in 2015.
  2. Cuba had actually developed a vaccine against Meningitis B over 25 years earlier than the West.
  3. The ideological and capitalist motives delayed the use of Cuba's vaccine, leading to unnecessary deaths of children in the West.

LabGenius - the long slow road to faster drug discovery

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 535 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🔬 Science Biotech
  1. AI and machine learning are revolutionizing drug discovery by speeding up the identification of potential treatments, leading to big rewards for those in the industry.
  2. Building a successful biotech company requires patience, determination, and significant funding, often with a focus on research and development before revenue generation.
  3. Investors in biotech companies must be prepared for a long journey of constant failures and successes, akin to the process of drug discovery, with potential acquisitions being key outcomes.

PacBio Sells Short Read Tech To Illumina

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
đź’Ľ Business Biotech
  1. PacBio sold its short-read sequencing assets to Illumina for about $50M, which is far less than what it paid acquiring Omniome and Apton.
  2. PacBio’s short-read products never gained traction and Onso sales were minimal, and recent layoffs suggest the development teams are largely gone.
  3. The deal only buys PacBio roughly six months of additional runway, and Illumina is likely to hold the IP rather than immediately use it to build new platforms.

Sequencers From Singapore? No. But Interesting!

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. AITBioTech is selling a small DNA sequencer (ABSEQ) with iSeq/MiSeq-level specs, but it appears to be a rebranded DNBSeq device using the same luminescence-based chemistry.
  2. Their qPCR system also looks like an OEM product from Taiwanese manufacturers, indicating the company rebrands existing instruments rather than building wholly new hardware.
  3. Rebranding and OEM sourcing is common in the sequencing industry, and while OEMs could eventually offer customized, integrated instruments for clients, that kind of tailored integration probably isn’t imminent.
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Oxford Nanopore P2 Support Extended, Remembering the SmidgION

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. Oxford Nanopore faced major customer backlash after announcing the P2 Solo withdrawal, and they extended support to 2030 by about 1.5 years.
  2. The way the P2 issue was handled risks eroding customer trust, and the incoming CEO will likely need to address that damage.
  3. Patent digging turned up evidence suggesting the SmidgION — a previously missing nanopore product — may exist or be in development.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #31

Faster, Please! • 822 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. New obesity drugs are being developed that can help people lose a lot of weight quickly. These breakthroughs could make treatments more accessible and affordable for many people.
  2. Companies are working on exciting projects like reviving extinct species and creating new ways to explore the moon. These innovations could greatly impact conservation and space travel.
  3. There are serious challenges ahead, like rising dementia cases and declining birth rates, which could hurt the economy. Without action, these issues could have major effects on future generations.

Ten favorites from 2025

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 42 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
đź’Ľ Business Biotech
  1. Political choices and regulations shape big technological and infrastructural outcomes. Decisions about ownership, siting, and industrial policy often determine whether projects like power plants, aircraft firms, or urban housing succeed.
  2. Small regulatory and technical changes can unlock large health and market gains. Faster approval pathways, scalable biological technologies, and better competition metrics can bring treatments to more people and help regulators act effectively.
  3. Geography and collective action drive economic power and vulnerability. Who controls resources or how land is owned and reorganized affects trade, development, and security, and tools like land readjustment or desalination can reduce holdouts and dependencies.

10X @ JPM

ASeq Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
đź’° Finance Biotech
  1. 10X presented at JPM after releasing preliminary full‑year results, and Serge’s clear, confident presentation showed a strong command of the company’s technology and market which made the talk engaging.
  2. They emphasized potential clinical growth; if clinical revenue expands strongly it would be a positive development and could push the business toward a mostly clinical market like Illumina.
  3. Oncology was flagged as an important clinical area of focus.

Epstein Unfortunateness. HYP-FREE - A Hypothesis Free Testing Initiative

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. Build sample-to-answer DNA and protein sequencers for hypothesis-free diagnostics so clinics can detect known and novel pathogens or biomarkers without guessing, ideally at qPCR-like cost.
  2. Japan is well positioned to lead this effort because it has strong manufacturing and technical capabilities but currently lacks domestic DNA or protein sequencing platform companies, creating a strategic market opportunity.
  3. Use an SBIR-style, commercialization-first program to fund and spin out startups, prioritize simplified sample prep and advanced sequencing (long reads, protein), and engage investors early to scale devices for global clinical use.

Weekly Dose of Optimism

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 226 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. Meta is working on AI that can improve itself, which could lead to superintelligent systems. This tech aims to help people achieve their goals rather than just keeping them glued to social media.
  2. A Dutch startup has launched the first grid-connected iron-air battery, offering a more efficient way to store clean energy for extended periods. This could reduce reliance on rare materials used in traditional batteries.
  3. A new AI-designed gene editor is making it easier to edit the human genome precisely. This technology could lead to major advances in medicine and biotechnology, changing how we approach health and agriculture.

New Year JPM Thoughts

ASeq Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business Biotech
  1. Illumina’s clinical business is strengthening while overall revenue is flat-to-down, and the company will likely report modest results without launching new sequencing instruments.
  2. Oxford Nanopore probably won’t surprise before the new CEO starts in March, since recent gains looked driven by financial restructuring and price increases rather than clear instrument growth.
  3. PacBio has made technical progress and landed some population sequencing wins, but recent quarterly declines and doubts about reaching profitability by 2027 make acquisition rumors understandable yet unlikely.

Oxford Nanopore Full Year/Layoffs

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business Biotech
  1. The full-year trading update largely matched the first-half results and showed no major surprises.
  2. Revenue grew about 12% from H1 to H2, but some of that appears seasonal or tied to one-off pricing and financing, so underlying growth is likely around that level.
  3. Cash on hand is down to ÂŁ302 million, which at the current burn rate gives roughly a three-year runway.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #154

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 167 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. The U.S. has launched an AI Action Plan focusing on innovation and building infrastructure to lead in artificial intelligence. This plan aims for faster and more flexible policies to keep up with rapid tech advancements.
  2. Google DeepMind's AI model called Aeneas helps historians understand ancient texts better by predicting missing information and suggesting dates. This tool can reshape how we connect with and interpret our historical past.
  3. A new male birth control pill, YCT-529, shows promise in blocking sperm production safely. This could provide men with more contraceptive options, balancing the responsibilities in family planning.

DynaPore

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. DynaPore has a new sensor concept that embeds conformation effect transistor (CET) channel proteins in insulating membranes; when a target molecule binds the channel opens and instantly changes the electrical current, producing a measurable signal on a portable device.
  2. The CET platform can be customized with specific binding modules like antibodies to detect a wide variety of biomarkers or pathogens, drawing inspiration from how natural smell systems work.
  3. The company is a Max Planck Institute spinout that filed a patent with a May 2024 priority date and appears to be actively hiring.

ONT P2 Solo To Be Discontinued

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. The P2 Solo, a two-flowcell device that relied on customer-supplied compute, has been discontinued while the integrated-compute P2i remains, which has upset many users.
  2. Supporting many different external compute setups over USB-C was hard and risky, and moving people to the pricier integrated P2i likely reduced support complexity and the chance of lost runs.
  3. A practical alternative would have been a P2 Solo 2 with internal buffering storage and an Ethernet option so runs aren’t lost on flaky USB-C connections and labs can still stream to their own servers.

BGI’s Mei Yonghong: decoupling won’t end, but neither should openness

Pekingnology • 33 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. Open international exchange is essential for scientific progress; without openness research becomes isolated and stalls.
  2. U.S.-led decoupling has revealed deep dependence on Western tools, equipment, and data, creating chokepoints that make a long-term structural clash likely.
  3. China should remain open while trying to move beyond a follower role, acting as a contributor of knowledge, a transferor of technology to other countries, and an organiser of major international science projects.

Element's Progress At JPM

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business Biotech
  1. Revenue grew to $85M in 2025, roughly 40% higher than the prior year. Despite that growth, the company likely still runs large losses and burns over $100M a year.
  2. The install base expanded to 450 systems (up 60%) and consumable shipments doubled, signaling stronger customer adoption. About 35% of new shipments are multi‑omics Aviti24s, so customers are taking the multi‑omics option.
  3. The product roadmap includes an IVD‑certified Aviti, a higher‑throughput benchtop instrument targeting $100 genomes, and multiomic workflows for FFPE and fresh frozen samples. These product moves could broaden the company’s addressable markets from diagnostics to high‑throughput genomics.

PacBio @ JPM

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
đź’° Finance Biotech
  1. Revenue grew only modestly (about 4%), totaling roughly $154M in 2024.
  2. They are burning around $110M a year and have about $280M in cash, giving just over two years of runway.
  3. Becoming profitable by 2027 looks unlikely without further cost cuts, and that target was not addressed in the presentation.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #150

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 149 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. AlphaGenome is a new AI tool that helps scientists understand how our genes work. It can analyze DNA to predict how changes in our genes affect health and diseases.
  2. New York is planning to build a major nuclear power plant, which would be the first in over 15 years. This new facility aims to provide clean energy and improve energy security.
  3. A study shows that a single dose of psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, can help reduce depression for years. This opens up possibilities for new, effective treatments for mental health.

Daisy Genomics

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. They rebranded from Armonica to Daisy Genomics and recently raised about $2.5M.
  2. That amount is modest for single-molecule sensing work, but in the current funding climate any raise is a positive sign.
  3. Patents and company direction indicate a shift away from tortuous nanopore approaches toward nano-channel sequencing devices.

Making Oxford Nanopore Profitable?

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
đź’Ľ Business Biotech
  1. A new CEO is expected to make the company profitable by 2027.
  2. Recent financials show losses haven’t meaningfully decreased and 2025 appears worse, so progress toward profitability is limited.
  3. Headcount has been rising, which suggests costs aren’t being cut and makes the profitability goal harder to achieve.

Hub-and-Spoke Biotechs: Nimbus Therapeutics

The Century of Biology • 354 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
đź’Ľ Business Biotech
  1. Nimbus Therapeutics uses a unique hub-and-spoke model to develop drugs. This lets them separate the main company from individual drug projects, so they can sell successful drugs while keeping the main business intact.
  2. The company focuses on computational drug discovery to make the process faster and cheaper. By using advanced technology, they can predict which drugs might succeed before doing expensive experiments.
  3. Nimbus has successfully sold several drug assets, demonstrating the effectiveness of their model. They show that a biotech can grow and make money while being flexible and innovative.

Ultima Genomics, limited growth?

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business Biotech
  1. They said their installed base doubled in 2025. Since the UG100 launched in 2024, this could mean they shipped roughly the same number of instruments in 2024 and 2025.
  2. Half of the installed base is for research use and half is for clinical use, showing an even split in customer types. Their installations span North America, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.
  3. The company did not disclose total unit counts, so it’s unclear whether placements are actually accelerating or plateauing. That lack of detail raises questions about their growth momentum and the size of their contracted revenue backlog.

DNAe Early Access Update

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. Sam Reed from DNAe publicly commented on earlier coverage, and the coverage was updated to reflect those comments.
  2. DNAe's news posts include posters that show an instrument different from the one on the official website, suggesting either a new model or inconsistent imagery.
  3. The full update is behind a paywall, so readers must subscribe or sign in to read the paid content.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #146

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 97 implied HN points • 30 May 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. A startup called Orchid helps parents select embryos with lower disease risks using genetic testing. This raises both hope for healthier babies and ethical questions about how much we should design our kids.
  2. Doctors successfully transplanted a gene-edited pig kidney into a man, helping him avoid dialysis. This could change the future of organ transplants, as pig organs might be a solution to the shortage of human donors.
  3. Radiant, a nuclear startup, raised $165 million to develop a small reactor that can power remote areas and possibly aid in future Mars colonization. This shows growth in clean energy innovations.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #147

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 92 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Biotech
  1. Exercise helps cancer patients live longer after treatment, showing that staying active is super important for health.
  2. New cancer treatments like cilta-cel are showing promise, with some patients achieving long-term remission after just one treatment.
  3. Neuralink is making waves with its brain-computer interface tech, aiming to improve healthcare for conditions like blindness and paralysis.

Illumina @ JPM - Sustainable Growth

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
đź’° Finance Biotech
  1. Illumina has shifted its business mix so roughly 60% of revenue now comes from clinical customers.
  2. That clinical pivot is already helping drive a return to revenue growth, with the company reporting growth in Q4.
  3. Even if research sales continue to decline, the scale of clinical growth should be enough to bring overall revenue back into growth based on straightforward calculations.

LatchBio Now Provides Lots of Data

LatchBio • 82 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🔬 Science Biotech
  1. LatchBio has created a massive cell atlas with 30 million samples covering 150 diseases and 200 tissues. This helps researchers access diverse biological data easily.
  2. They partnered with Pythia Biosciences and Miraomics to enhance data curation and improve how this information is delivered to users.
  3. The introduction of a new Python framework helps scientists curate data more efficiently, making it easier to handle complex biological information.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #145

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 84 implied HN points • 23 May 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. OpenAI is teaming up with Jony Ive's design company to create AI-powered consumer devices. This partnership is generating excitement about upcoming innovative products.
  2. Google is heavily investing in AI, launching new tools that enhance their search and other services. They are a major player in the tech landscape, and their resources support widespread adoption of AI.
  3. Recent research suggests that creatine might provide benefits for people with Alzheimer's, showing it could improve cognitive function and brain energy levels. This is promising news for further studies in neurodegenerative diseases.

Illumina: The Measurement Monopoly

The Century of Biology • 535 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. DNA sequencing technology has rapidly advanced, transforming biology into an information science.
  2. Illumina emerged as a dominant force in genomics by inventing a new measurement technology and establishing enduring differential returns over time.
  3. Illumina's strategic business properties like cornered resources, switching costs, network economies, scale economies, and branding have enabled its market dominance and recurring revenue from consumables.

Viking Therapeutics has an $8 billion market cap with 27 full time employees. This is their story.

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 373 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
đź’Ľ Business Biotech
  1. Success in biotech often involves licensing and developing existing molecules, rather than creating completely new ones.
  2. To thrive in biotech, it's crucial to strategically select candidates and navigate clinical trials efficiently with the available resources.
  3. Viking Therapeutics' success was built on wisely choosing profitable indications, selecting the right molecules, and executing their development program effectively.

DNAe Early Access

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. DNAe has launched an early-access program for a sample-to-answer platform they describe as NGS-capable, but the public early version likely uses targeted primer-extension detection rather than full sequencing.
  2. The system uses vacutainer-style cartridges with magnetic‑bead extraction and an ion-based yes/no readout, making it behave more like a high‑plex PCR/FilmArray-style device for rapid sepsis and AMR testing.
  3. The company has been developing this technology for over two decades with alpha instruments and a hospital trial since 2023, and it operates with complex funding (grants and corporate backing) alongside large intercompany debt implying total spend/raise well over $500M.

Linaxin! Yet Another Nanopore Company

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. Linaxin is a Chinese company working on solid‑state nanopore sequencing and was newly identified as another player in the nanopore space.
  2. There are very few active solid‑state nanopore companies — some earlier startups like Genvida and RH Genetech appear inactive, leaving only a small handful of contenders.
  3. Public info about Linaxin is limited, but patent filings assigned to Suzhou Lina Core Biotechnology Co Ltd and Nantong University Technology Transfer Center show nanopore‑related inventions, suggesting active IP work.

History of Pigments: Tyrian Purple

Green Graphic Design • 78 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
đź’ľ History Biotech
  1. Tyrian Purple, a pigment from snails, was highly valued in history for its rarity and difficulty to extract.
  2. The process of extracting Tyrian Purple involved crushing snails, soaking them, and boiling for over a week.
  3. Companies are now developing sustainable, animal-free alternatives to traditional Tyrian Purple extraction methods.

Summer 2025 Update

Kesav’s Lab • 16 implied HN points • 01 Sep 25
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. Being in different environments like coffee shops or co-working spaces boosts my productivity. I find that I work better when I mix things up a bit.
  2. Attending events helps create chances for collaboration and opportunities. When I put myself out there, good things tend to happen.
  3. Austin has a great vibe for work-life balance. It's a relaxed place, while NYC feels fast-paced and intense, which can push me to be more productive.

Edge 442: If You Thought DeepMind's AlphaFold was Impressive, Wait Until You Learn About AlphaProteo

TheSequence • 77 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
đź•ą Technology Biotech
  1. DeepMind has developed a new AI model called AlphaProteo, which focuses on designing proteins that can interact with specific targets. This is important for advancing drug development.
  2. Proteins are crucial for many biological processes and their interactions can be manipulated for various applications, such as treating diseases or improving diagnostics.
  3. With AlphaProteo, scientists can create protein binders that may help block harmful interactions in the body, leading to better therapies and health outcomes.