Glioblastoma remains one of the most pressing clinical needs in medicine. Its prognosis is dismal and current standard of care involves maximal safe surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. News drugs are on the way though: many groups across the world are trying to solve the challenge. It is indeed a difficult challenge because (1) the blood brain barrier limits PK/PD, (2) new studies confirm glioblastoma stem cells confer resistance, (3) clinical trials are usually done in recurrent patients, and (4) no monotherapy strategy will probably eradicate it completely. It is a especially dear field to me because as some of you may know I used to operate them as a former neurosurgeon and I’ve seen first-hand how aggressive they are.
All big unsolved clinical needs may be a good investment opportunity. Here’s a conceptual map with some of the leading-edge alternatives and targets that are being moved forward.
You can find all my quick notes at #quick_notes_LP

The higher the clinical need and the prevalence, the higher the effort from scientists around the world in trying to solve a problem. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the highest unsolved clinical needs today. It is a devastating disease with an unfavorable outcome and is projected to become the second deadliest cancer by 2030. Currently the overall 5-year survival rate is less than 10% despite all efforts. But new therapies are being pushed forward every month, the rhythm of innovation here is extraordinary.
All big unsolved clinical needs may be a good investment opportunity. Here’s a conceptual map (by no means complete) with some of the leading-edge alternatives and targets that are being moved forward. A map just to navigate the landscape and avoid getting lost amid all the different categories and approaches.
You can find all my quick notes at #quick_notes_LP

Some advice for scientists willing to become entrepreneurs, here are six things you should think carefully before embarking on your journey… (OPENING THREAD: some slides I used in a lecture @EU_Commission last month)

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Here’s a map of some of the most promising research fields in oncology today, plus a video —below— with some advice for scientists willing to become entrepreneurs (from a debate on the future of oncology and how to make it happen)

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One of the most important things every investor looks for in a startup is a good problem to solve… Unanswered questions always signal what’s next. Here’s a map of some of the most pressing questions in the oncology field today.

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RNAs are very active players in cell biology… they carry instructions for making proteins, turn genes on and off, aid chemical reactions, slice and dice other RNAs, and build proteins. Here’s a simple map to understand how can we use them as drugs

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A different view on phase II – III #COVID_19 vaccines, organized on a spectrum ranging from less innovative technology (older, slower, less uncertain development) to more leading edge approaches (faster, riskier)

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You already have a lead candidate for a first specific indication, here’s a simplified conceptual map on how VCs think to choose the most interesting new indications (pipeline strategy).

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Every crisis brings risks and opportunities to the table… here’s a mind map on how SARS-CoV-2 can impact the activities and value chain of the life sciences VC industry

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Most rare diseases still lack approved treatments despite major advances in the knowledge of their molecular basis. Here’s a map of the different therapeutic modalities plus an update on some of the most interesting new developments in each field.

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The vaccine effort for #COVID19 is unprecedented in scale & speed. To get it right and fast we need new tools and strategies including DNA/RNA vaccines, virus-like particles, T-cell inducing peptides & viral vectors… here’s a map of the leading edge

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These protein-slaying drugs can be used to go after targets that drug developers have long considered ‘undruggable’ and may become the next blockbuster therapies… The gold rush is on! here are some areas of research.

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A strategic map to fight rare diseases (resulting from a defective gene)… in medicine there are no outliers, no circumstances rare enough to be ignored; every disease, no matter how rare, needs our attention.

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Hundreds of trials are underway with some major therapeutic breakthroughs… Will their use become ubiquitous? Or will its adoption be slow? Here’s a map of the things that matter when discussing CMC issues to develop an advanced therapy.

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