Mark Fortner
@markfortner.bsky.social
CEO @ https://aspen.bio, bioinformatics, cheminformatics, cancer research, AI in Drug Discovery, Research Project & Portfolio Management, FAIR data, semantic web, web components, java, groovy, genomics, proteomics, DEL, TPDs, Pancreatic Cancer
Pinned
The 2025 Biotech "State of Play" is here. 🔬
We’re seeing massive shifts:
AI-Driven Improvements in productivity, timelines, and success rates.
M&A deal values up 31%.
$350B in rev. at risk by 2029.
Ready for recalibration?
drive.google.com/file/d/1E1y6...
#LifeSciences #Biotech #Innovation
We’re seeing massive shifts:
AI-Driven Improvements in productivity, timelines, and success rates.
M&A deal values up 31%.
$350B in rev. at risk by 2029.
Ready for recalibration?
drive.google.com/file/d/1E1y6...
#LifeSciences #Biotech #Innovation
Kids with brain #cancer were already in a life and death struggle. Then came Trump
Kids with brain cancer were already in a life and death struggle. Then came Trump
The US president vowed to ‘end childhood cancer’. But his administration is dismantling the search for a cure and sending families scrambling for treatment
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Kids with brain #cancer were already in a life and death struggle. Then came Trump
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Chemist determine the structure of fuzzy coat that surrounds tau proteins | #Alzheimers #proteomics #genesky
Chemists determine structure of fuzzy coat that surrounds Tau proteins
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the clumping of proteins called Tau, which form tangled fibrils in the brain. The more severe the clumping, the more advanced the disease is.
phys.org
January 15, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Chemist determine the structure of fuzzy coat that surrounds tau proteins | #Alzheimers #proteomics #genesky
Reposted by Mark Fortner
How’s biopharma feeling heading into 2026? We asked everyone at Endpoints at #JPM26 — and the answers land somewhere between breakthrough and cautious optimism.
Follow the latest from San Francisco in our live blog: endpoints.news/jpm26-day-3-...
Follow the latest from San Francisco in our live blog: endpoints.news/jpm26-day-3-...
January 14, 2026 at 9:42 PM
How’s biopharma feeling heading into 2026? We asked everyone at Endpoints at #JPM26 — and the answers land somewhere between breakthrough and cautious optimism.
Follow the latest from San Francisco in our live blog: endpoints.news/jpm26-day-3-...
Follow the latest from San Francisco in our live blog: endpoints.news/jpm26-day-3-...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Not good to see the rise in p-tau181, a marker of brain inflammation tied to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, in a prospective cohort (mean age 56 years) with #LongCovid and neurological symptoms
www.thelancet.com/journals/ebi...
www.thelancet.com/journals/ebi...
January 15, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Not good to see the rise in p-tau181, a marker of brain inflammation tied to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, in a prospective cohort (mean age 56 years) with #LongCovid and neurological symptoms
www.thelancet.com/journals/ebi...
www.thelancet.com/journals/ebi...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
STAT"s @matthewherper.bsky.social gives a run down on how #JPM26 has been thus far.
Check out all our coverage of the event here: www.statnews.com/topic/jpm/
Check out all our coverage of the event here: www.statnews.com/topic/jpm/
January 14, 2026 at 7:49 PM
STAT"s @matthewherper.bsky.social gives a run down on how #JPM26 has been thus far.
Check out all our coverage of the event here: www.statnews.com/topic/jpm/
Check out all our coverage of the event here: www.statnews.com/topic/jpm/
Reposted by Mark Fortner
I wonder how many could have predicted this finding - AI tools boost individual scientists but could limit research topics
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪
January 14, 2026 at 8:24 PM
I wonder how many could have predicted this finding - AI tools boost individual scientists but could limit research topics
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Aurora Therapeutics has emerged from stealth with $16 million in funding from Menlo Ventures to expand the potential of gene editing to treat rare diseases. Its initial program focuses on phenylketonuria, a genetic metabolic disorder. cen.acs.org/business/sta... #chemsky 🧪
Aurora Therapeutics launches to develop CRISPR therapies for rare diseases
The start-up was born from a collaboration between Jennifer Doudna and Fyodor Urnov
cen.acs.org
January 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Aurora Therapeutics has emerged from stealth with $16 million in funding from Menlo Ventures to expand the potential of gene editing to treat rare diseases. Its initial program focuses on phenylketonuria, a genetic metabolic disorder. cen.acs.org/business/sta... #chemsky 🧪
Scientists finally uncover why statins cause muscle pain
Scientists finally uncover why statins cause muscle pain
A new discovery may explain why so many people abandon cholesterol-lowering statins because of muscle pain and weakness. Researchers found that certain statins can latch onto a key muscle protein and ...
www.sciencedaily.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Scientists finally uncover why statins cause muscle pain
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Really cool article about @sholtodavid.bsky.social's successful work finding fraudulent data in cancer research
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/...
January 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Really cool article about @sholtodavid.bsky.social's successful work finding fraudulent data in cancer research
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
She raised $1 billion for Iovance. Now Maria Fardis has a new startup, a focus on COPD and $200 million - San Francisco Business Times share.google/JWcSvFrA8CeU...
She raised more than $1 billion for Iovance. Now, Maria Fardis has a new startup and a $200 million investment - San Francisco Business Times
Former Gilead, Iovance leader's new drug company emerges with $200M
share.google
January 13, 2026 at 5:52 PM
She raised $1 billion for Iovance. Now Maria Fardis has a new startup, a focus on COPD and $200 million - San Francisco Business Times share.google/JWcSvFrA8CeU...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
More people are surviving cancer than ever before, as the 5-year survival rate across cancer reached 70%, according to the American Cancer Society’s new report. www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/w...
More people are surviving cancer than ever before, according to new report
More people are surviving cancer than ever before, as the 5-year survival rate across cancer reached 70%, according to the American Cancer Society’s new report.
www.statnews.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:42 PM
More people are surviving cancer than ever before, as the 5-year survival rate across cancer reached 70%, according to the American Cancer Society’s new report. www.statnews.com/2026/01/13/w...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Layoffs are coming for Sonoma's Seattle and South SF offices affecting "all levels and functions", a Sonoma spokesperson told Endpoints News.
endpoints.news/treg-biotech...
endpoints.news/treg-biotech...
Treg biotech Sonoma sheds staff after getting new CEO
Sonoma Biotherapeutics cuts workforce across offices under new CEO Stephen Dilly, aiming to extend R&D through 2027. Company's lead asset SBT-77-7101 continues clinical testing.
endpoints.news
January 13, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Layoffs are coming for Sonoma's Seattle and South SF offices affecting "all levels and functions", a Sonoma spokesperson told Endpoints News.
endpoints.news/treg-biotech...
endpoints.news/treg-biotech...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
AI drug discovery startup Converge Bio raised $25 million in a Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with additional backing from executives at Meta, OpenAI, and Wiz.
Converge Bio raises $25M, backed by Bessemer and execs from Meta, OpenAI, Wiz | TechCrunch
AI drug discovery startup Converge Bio raised $25 million in a Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with additional backing from executives at Meta, OpenAI, and Wiz.
techcrunch.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:35 AM
AI drug discovery startup Converge Bio raised $25 million in a Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with additional backing from executives at Meta, OpenAI, and Wiz.
An interesting article from @egonw.social.edu.nl.ap.brid.gy that takes a look under the hood at the WikiPathways Cited In feature. | @wikipathways.fosstodon.org.ap.brid.gy #genesky #bioinformatics
Where does the WikiPathways Cited In information come from?
I have been wanting to blog about this since this summer, but with everything going on, I never really got around to it. What is this Cited In feature of WikiPathways and where does that information c...
chem-bla-ics.linkedchemistry.info
January 12, 2026 at 7:25 PM
An interesting article from @egonw.social.edu.nl.ap.brid.gy that takes a look under the hood at the WikiPathways Cited In feature. | @wikipathways.fosstodon.org.ap.brid.gy #genesky #bioinformatics
Reposted by Mark Fortner
#GI26 @ascocancer.bsky.social ushering in a Bronze Age of KRAS targeted therapy…next question is What Drug Class to Best Pair It With (that scientifically makes sense)? (!)
January 11, 2026 at 11:53 PM
#GI26 @ascocancer.bsky.social ushering in a Bronze Age of KRAS targeted therapy…next question is What Drug Class to Best Pair It With (that scientifically makes sense)? (!)
Reposted by Mark Fortner
In run-up to #JPM26, IPOs, whale-sized fundings and a debate on animal testing - San Francisco Business Times www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco...
IPOs, whale-sized fundings and an animal testing debate ahead of biotech's big JPM conference - San Francisco Business Times
Several Bay Area biotech companies announced big funding rounds totaling hundreds of millions of dollars just before the industry's biggest annual dealmaking event in San Francisco, with money flowing...
www.bizjournals.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:03 PM
In run-up to #JPM26, IPOs, whale-sized fundings and a debate on animal testing - San Francisco Business Times www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Biopharma's kick-off to the year is finally upon us: Today is day 1 of #JPM26 and our team will be updating you live throughout the day with any developments
endpoints.news/jpm26-day-1-...
endpoints.news/jpm26-day-1-...
#JPM26 live blog day 1: IPOs, China and cautious optimism
Manas AI, founded by Siddhartha Mukherjee and Reid Hoffman, partners with Schrödinger for three drug programs. JPM Healthcare Conference begins with Novo Nordisk CEO speaking.
endpoints.news
January 12, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Biopharma's kick-off to the year is finally upon us: Today is day 1 of #JPM26 and our team will be updating you live throughout the day with any developments
endpoints.news/jpm26-day-1-...
endpoints.news/jpm26-day-1-...
🚀 Announcing the Official @opentargets.org MCP!
We've partnered with @anthropic.com to give AI seamless access to high-quality genetic and target-discovery data. Open for the entire community to accelerate therapeutic development.
Read more at blog.opentargets.org/official-ope...
We've partnered with @anthropic.com to give AI seamless access to high-quality genetic and target-discovery data. Open for the entire community to accelerate therapeutic development.
Read more at blog.opentargets.org/official-ope...
January 12, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
"AlphaFold3 fails to model receptor-ligand complexes for understudied targets" www.nature.com/articles/s4...
January 12, 2026 at 3:15 PM
"AlphaFold3 fails to model receptor-ligand complexes for understudied targets" www.nature.com/articles/s4...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
This reflects only the appropriation levels.
The damage done to processes and personnel within the science agencies is considerable.
The damage done to processes and personnel within the science agencies is considerable.
“Science is doing OK,” [AAAS spokesperson says] “Things are not bad at all, given our expectations.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
Congress Is Reversing Trump’s Steep Budget Cuts to Science
www.nytimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:01 AM
This reflects only the appropriation levels.
The damage done to processes and personnel within the science agencies is considerable.
The damage done to processes and personnel within the science agencies is considerable.
Researchers have unveiled DrugCLIP, a new AI-driven screening program they say could speed up drug discovery. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...
#chemsky 🧪
#chemsky 🧪
AI screening method to speed up drug discovery
Virtual screen of 10,000 proteins and 500 million compounds takes just a day, delivers 2 million small-molecule hits
cen.acs.org
January 11, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Aurora Therapeutics, cofounded by Nobel Prize–winning scientist Jennifer Doudna, plans to use gene editing and a new FDA regulatory pathway to commercialize treatments for rare diseases. www.wired.com/story/crispr...
Crispr Pioneer Launches Startup to Make Tailored Gene-Editing Treatments
Aurora Therapeutics, cofounded by Nobel Prize–winning scientist Jennifer Doudna, plans to use gene editing and a new FDA regulatory pathway to commercialize treatments for rare diseases.
www.wired.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Aurora Therapeutics, cofounded by Nobel Prize–winning scientist Jennifer Doudna, plans to use gene editing and a new FDA regulatory pathway to commercialize treatments for rare diseases. www.wired.com/story/crispr...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Me casting resurrection magic to get up for work this morning
January 11, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Me casting resurrection magic to get up for work this morning