Author: Veta Obazenu

After a bullish 2021, characterized by a flow of M&A deals and IPOs, this year company valuations were in correction, financing was at a premium and deals slowed- all of which were most evident for early-stage companies. Still, in 2022, biotech continued to forge ahead as the leading driver of innovation and growth in biopharma. Venture capital made moves on indicative signals while fundamentals remained strong for big pharma to fuel (mostly moderate) M&A transactions and strategic partnerships critical to achieving biotech growth milestones. As we close out the year, we reflect on an industry that still performed with significant…

Currently, even with more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, the disease is still the second-leading cause of cancer-related death among women in developed countries (only lung cancer affects more women). More than 300,000 women are diagnosed in the US and 40,000 patients die from breast cancer each year, mostly due to under-screening. Black women have the highest death rate from breast cancer attributed to the fact that 1 in 5 with breast cancer have triple-negative breast cancer – more than any other racial/ethnic group. White and Asian/Pacific Islander women are more likely to be diagnosed with localized breast…

“THE FUSION OF ART AND SCIENCE OPENS DOORS TO POSSIBILITIES BEYOND OUR IMAGINATION”- Yoko Shimizu As artists visualize abstract concepts and scientists conceptualize what is visible, both disciplines seek to elucidate the experience of matter as it coexists in our world and beyond. For our well-being, where nature becomes disrupted, medicine has the great fortune to study science and practice it as an art in the hopes to enhance life or cure disease. Arguably, it is the extension of this consummate art that generates breakthroughs in the mind, body and soul to back to restorative states or perhaps, even new…

Lung cancer leads in mortality ahead of all other cancer deaths in both developed and undeveloped countries and is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer after breast cancer. While the disease is showing nominal decline due to successful public health measures (like cessation programs) and people abstaining from smoke and tobacco products, lung and bronchial cancer is relentless with 5-year survival rates at only 20% taking an estimated 135,000 lives in the US this year. The challenge with lung cancer lies within diagnosis, response to treatment and detection of disease progression. While most instances of lung cancer are found in smokers,…

At the start of the new year, industry professionals travel far and wide to make their appearance at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Fransisco. The week isn’t worthwhile if attendees haven’t planned to have their agenda full with seats at first hand industry announcements, informative symposiums and networking receptions. The days begin early as presenting companies are on deck by 7:30am and a succession of panels segmented by power luncheons carry the momentum of conference fanfare. The evenings open up to a host of fun, strategic possibilities in the realm of networking receptions. With so many events on…

This year marks a new decade and the 38th annual JP Morgan Healthcare conference at the Westin St. Francis. The San Francisco based investment firm, Hambrecht & Quist began hosting the conference in 1983 to 20 companies and roughly 200 attendees. Chase acquired the firm in 2000, and now, in 2020, has been hosting this “invite only” event for 20 years. How is that for a numerical alliteration? Jan 12th-16th over 9000 attendees and nearly 500 private and public companies are expected to descent upon San Francisco’s Union Square to have a front seat to CEO big announcements, gain industry…

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women. Over a lifetime, approximately 1 in 8 women develop breast cancer. When treated early, survival rates at five years are 100%. However, for more advanced states, survival rates decline significantly. Over 3 million women live with a current or previous diagnosis of breast cancer. Any treatment that improves survival rates would impact not only those surviving women but also their families. With a mission to help more women survive metastatic breast cancer, Dr. Stacy Blain and Lisa Marie Casey co-founded Concarlo Holdings LLC. Located at the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator in…