E52: Charting the Course of Biotech with Laura Deming, GP of Longevity Fund, and Will Eden of Sylvan Consulting

This week on Turpentine VC, we’re releasing a conversation between Erik Torenberg, Laura Deming of The Longevity Fund and Will Eden of Sylvan Consulting (prior to that, with Thiel capital) focused on the past, present and future of biotech.

Recorded in 2019, they discuss platform companies and the evolving biotech investment landscape, examining segments like therapeutics, cell and gene therapies. Will and Laura share insights on the historical waves of biotech, the FDA's role, and the intersections of biotech and tech investment strategies. They address challenges in evaluating biotech startups, the growth in longevity research since 2011, and the potential for extending life spans through various scientific advancements.

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LINKS:

The Longevity Fund: https://www.longevity.vc/

Sylvan Consulting: https://www.sylvanconsulting.bio/

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FOLLOW:

Laura Deming

Website: https://www.ldeming.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-deming-b255362a/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurademing

Will Eden

Website: https://becomingeden.com/start-here/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamaeden/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/williamaeden

Erik Torenberg

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriktorenberg/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:17) Breaking down biotech investments

(04:31) The rise of digital health

(06:12) Innovations in nanotechnology

(07:02) Understanding platform companies and The Longevity Fund’s focus

(10:43) Historical Context of Biotech Investing

(11:55) Evolution of biotech investing over past decades

(14:56) New modalities in biotech

(18:42) Challenges in biotech startups

(21:47) Sponsors: WorkOS | Squad

(32:00) Impact of public market sentiment

(39:00) The Martin Shkreli effect

(42:23) The rising costs of drug development

(43:40) FDA's evolving role in drug approval

(44:44) Innovations in clinical trials

(46:44) Comparing FDA and venture capital

(48:06) The role of VCs in creating biotech companies

(57:15) The future of patents and pharma

(01:03:16) Deterministic vs. indeterministic worldviews in biotech

(01:14:49) Current state and future prospects of longevity research

(01:21:54) Wrap