Get these analyses to your inbox — https://axialobservations.substack.com/ This is a newsletter for rough-around-the-edges ideas. More well thought out work can be found at — https://axial.substack.com/ I figured that there is a diversity across desire for frequency of emails.
Axial invests and partners in early-stage life sciences companies. If you or someone you know has a great idea or company in life sciences, Axial would be excited to get to know you and possibly invest in your vision and company — info@axialsprawl.com
A set of ideas and observations from a week’s worth of work analyzing businesses and technologies.
How foundations can drive new business models and better medicines
Can venture philanthropy and foundations become a major source of capital for drug development? AskBio was initially funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation. Spark by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Vertex by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (via the Aurora acquisition).
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) was one of the pioneers that has compelled other foundations to follow suit. Beyond the return the CFF saw — investing $150M and getting over $3B back. About 2–3 decades ago, drug companies were not willing to pursue cystic fibrosis due to the small patient population and scientific risk. To incentive work in the field, the CFF invested $150M in Aurora then Vertex to fund R&D work that ultimately led to two approved medicines for cystic fibrosis — Kalyeco and Orkambi.
