Charlotte Schubert
Charlotte Schubert is a GeekWire contributing writer focused on biotech, healthcare, and life sciences; she is a Seattle native with a Ph.D. in developmental biology.
Cyrus Biotechnology signs protein-engineering deal with Selecta Biosciences worth up to $1.5 billion to develop IL-2/ImmTOR immune therapy
Seattle-based Cyrus Biotechnology struck a protein-engineering collaboration with Boston’s Selecta Biosciences to engineer IL-2 combined with Selecta’s ImmTOR, a deal that could pay Cyrus up to $1.5 billion if milestones are met. Cyrus will use its software and lab testing to enhance IL-2 stability and function, adding to its existing partnerships and commercial sales of Cyrus Bench.
Nordstrom to sell Viome’s $199 Health Intelligence microbiome test online and in select stores in 2022
Nordstrom will sell Viome Life Sciences’ Viome Health Intelligence microbiome test for $199 online and in select stores in 2022, with the kit requiring a stool sample. Viome sequences RNA to profile gut microbes and offers AI-driven diet/supplement recommendations plus a $149/month supplement service, though its clinical claims rely on non–peer-reviewed data and have drawn outside skepticism.
A-Alpha Bio raises $20M Series A led by Madrona to expand Seattle lab and scale protein-discovery platform
University of Washington spinout A-Alpha Bio raised $20 million in Series A funding led by Madrona Venture Group to expand downtown Seattle lab space and grow its machine-learning team for its protein-discovery platform. The company combines computational tools and yeast-based experiments to generate large protein-interaction datasets used to predict therapeutic protein candidates for diseases including COVID-19.
Study Finds Seattle Startup Tasso’s Tasso‑SST Self‑Collection Device Matches Venous COVID‑19 Antibody Results
A study led by Seattle researchers found the Tasso-SST self-administered upper-arm blood collection device produced antibody results nearly identical to venous draws and worked for a high proportion of users, even after simulated 48-hour shipping. The device, made by Seattle startup Tasso, could replace some clinic blood draws for COVID-19 antibody testing.
Former Tech Leaders Join Biotech: Isilon Founder Sujal Patel, Ex-Microsoft Terry Myerson and Others Lead AI-Driven Life Sciences Startups
Several former software and tech executives are moving into biotech and life sciences startups, bringing AI, machine learning, and tech-style business models to companies that analyze proteins, microbes, and medical records. Their tech backgrounds are reshaping product development and funding approaches at firms such as Nautilus Biotechnology, Truveta, insitro and Viome.
Just–Evotec Biologics opens 130,000 sq ft Redmond J.POD to manufacture COVID‑19 antibody therapeutics for U.S. Defense
Just–Evotec Biologics opened a 130,000 sq ft J.POD drug manufacturing facility in Redmond, Washington that uses continuous, autonomous bioprocessing to design, develop and produce antibody therapeutics more efficiently and at lower cost. The plant will manufacture antibodies for the U.S. Department of Defense to potentially treat COVID-19 and supports both small- and large-scale production for biotech customers globally.
Hillrom to complete $367M acquisition of Bardy Diagnostics after Delaware judge orders deal to proceed
Hillrom will proceed with its previously announced $367 million acquisition of Seattle startup Bardy Diagnostics after a Delaware judge ordered the deal to close following a dispute over sharp Medicare reimbursement cuts that briefly led Hillrom to try to withdraw.
Vera Whole Health raises $50M from Morgan Health; Dan Mendelson to join board
Seattle-based Vera Whole Health raised $50 million from Morgan Health, JP Morgan Chase’s healthcare arm, to expand its employer-focused coordinated primary care model after a July majority-stake private equity buyout. Morgan Health’s first investment in coordinated care will support Vera’s growth and create a partnership with Central Ohio Primary Care, with Dan Mendelson joining Vera’s board.
Big Sky Labs raises $1M to build PillPez dispenser that auto-reminds patients and alerts caregivers
Seattle-area startup Big Sky Labs raised $1 million in seed funding to develop PillPez, a home health hub that dispenses medications from pre-loaded pharmacy strips and provides escalating reminders and caregiver alerts. Founders with telehealth experience designed the device to improve medication adherence for people with chronic conditions, Alzheimer’s, or developmental disabilities.
Kno2 Raises $15M Series A Led by Providence Ventures to Improve Secure Healthcare Communication
Boise-based Kno2, which builds software to streamline secure healthcare data exchange and reduce faxing, raised $15 million in a Series A led by Providence Ventures and Health Enterprise Partners.
Shape Therapeutics raises $112M to advance RNA-editing platform and AAV gene-delivery for neurological and genetic diseases
Seattle preclinical biotech Shape Therapeutics raised $112 million to develop RNA-editing and gene therapy technologies, including improved AAV delivery vectors and an RNA editing platform. The company, led by CEO and co-founder Francois Vigneault and leveraging work from co-founder Prashant Mali, aims to target neurological and genetic diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer’s, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and Rett syndrome.
Sana Biotechnology to build 163,000 sq ft Fremont biomanufacturing facility to produce T cell therapies, stem cells and viral DNA
Sana Biotechnology will build a 163,000 sq. ft. biomanufacturing facility in Fremont, California to produce T cell therapies, human stem cells, and viral DNA, expanding its operations beyond Seattle after a $587 million IPO. The three-year-old gene-editing and cell therapy company plans to use the site for late-stage clinical and early commercial manufacturing and is hiring across Seattle, San Francisco, and Boston.
Modulus Therapeutics, spun out of the Allen Institute for AI, raises $3.5M to engineer enhanced NK cell therapies
Modulus Therapeutics, a Seattle cell-therapy startup spun out of the Allen Institute for AI, raised $3.5 million in seed funding to use lab research and machine learning to engineer enhanced natural killer (NK) cells for anti-tumor therapies. Founders Max Darnell and Bryce Daines aim to develop a discovery platform to generate NK cell product candidates for larger cellular therapy companies.
ProfoundBio, led by former Seagen executives, raises $55M Series A to advance ADCs and T‑cell engager programs
ProfoundBio, a biotech headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, and Suzhou, China, raised $55 million in a Series A to advance preclinical anti-cancer programs focused on antibody-drug conjugates and a T‑cell engager. The company is led by former Seagen executives and plans multiple IND submissions in 2022 and beyond.
Truveta raises $95M from 17 partner systems, gains access to >15% of U.S. patient records across 40 states
Seattle health-data startup Truveta raised $95 million in Series A funding from its 17 partner healthcare systems and added three new partners, giving it access to records covering more than 15% of U.S. patient care across 40 states. CEO Terry Myerson says the pooled data and insurance claims will let researchers and life sciences companies link treatments to outcomes to improve patient care and safety research.
Viome Life Sciences splits into Viome Consumer Services and Viome Health Sciences to separate products from diagnostics and therapeutics
Viome, now Viome Life Sciences, has split into two divisions: Viome Consumer Services for individualized diet and supplement products, and Viome Health Sciences to develop diagnostics, predictive biomarkers and therapeutics for chronic disease and cancer. The Bellevue startup, led by CEO Naveen Jain and backed by investors including Marc Benioff, has over 200,000 customers and expects $100 million in revenue next year.
Icosavax files for IPO after raising $150M and advancing nanoparticle COVID-19 and RSV vaccines
Seattle-based Icosavax, a 2017 spinout from the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design, has filed for an IPO after raising over $150 million and advancing nanoparticle-based COVID-19 and RSV vaccine candidates into early clinical trials with support from a $10 million Gates Foundation grant.
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice buys majority stake in Vera Whole Health, valuing Seattle startup at $400 million
Private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice acquired a majority stake in Seattle-based primary care startup Vera Whole Health in a deal valuing the company at $400 million; Vera uses a per-member, per-month employer-paid model and operates centers in ten states. The partnership adds to CD&R's healthcare portfolio and follows Vera's $76 million in prior funding and reported employer healthcare cost reductions of 10–25%.
Providence spinout Tegria acquires Seattle AI health startup KenSci; founders depart, Sudarshan Chitre named CEO
Tegria, a Providence spinout, has acquired Seattle-based healthcare AI startup KenSci, which uses machine learning to predict patient risk and reduce costs; terms were not disclosed and KenSci’s founders will depart while about 50 staff will be retained. KenSci has raised $30 million to date and Sudarshan Chitre becomes CEO following the acquisition.
Lightspeed Microscopy raises $4M Series A from Dynamk Capital to commercialize 3D pathology imaging platform
Lightspeed Microscopy, a Seattle startup spun out of the University of Washington, raised $4 million in a Series A led by Dynamk Capital to commercialize an end-to-end 3D pathology microscopy platform that optically clears and rapidly scans intact samples, then uses cloud-based AI to produce 3D images for pharma and clinical use.
University of Washington-backed Seattle neighborhood delivery hub launches near Space Needle, testing electric-assist trikes and parcel lockers with Coaster Cycles, BrightDrop and AxleHire
Seattle launched its first neighborhood delivery hub near the Space Needle as a University of Washington Urban Freight Lab pilot to test last-mile logistics using electric-assist cargo trikes, parcel lockers and partnerships with companies like Coaster Cycles, BrightDrop and AxleHire. The hub aims to cut costs and emissions in the final leg of deliveries while serving as a community gathering spot.
Nautilus Biotechnology (NAUT) goes public via SPAC, raises $345 million to commercialize proteome analysis
Nautilus Biotechnology, co-founded by Sujal Patel and Parag Mallick, is going public on Nasdaq as NAUT through a SPAC merger that raised $345 million to advance a new proteome analysis platform aimed at accelerating biomedical research and drug development. Institutional backers include Bezos Expeditions, Vulcan Capital and Madrona Venture Group, and the deal closes on the 25th anniversary of Patel’s arrival in Seattle.
MicrobiomX raises $1M pre-seed to commercialize stool collection, processing and capsule-encapsulation device
Seattle startup MicrobiomX raised $1 million in a pre-seed round to develop a device that collects, processes and extrudes stool into capsules for clinical fecal microbiota transplantation and offers microbiome analysis services. The company, launched in 2020 from UW and Seattle Children’s Hospital research after a $50,000 CoMotion grant, aims to simplify messy current stool-processing methods used for FMT and autologous FMT.
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