Lumen Bioscience

my team is hiring! looking for a curious and driven recent grad or early career scientist 🧫🧪 https://lnkd.in/gVGPZ2Wb

Biotech's downturn isn't just a cyclical correction; it's a structural shift. For 25 years, the industry masked declining R&D productivity (down to 1.2% IRR by 2022) by raising prices instead of expanding markets. That playbook is broken. But two independent forces are already reshaping the industry's trajectory: Growth is moving away from U.S.-centric blockbuster economics toward global markets → Growth is moving away from reactive treatment toward large-scale preventive medicine The opportunity is massive. The global middle class is exploding—billions of people now have income to afford second-generation therapies if we can manufacture at scale and price for volume. And consumers increasingly want prevention, not just treatment. A healthy sector grows by launching innovative products, selling more units, and steadily lowering prices to unlock larger markets. Just like the rise of cloud computing and mobile were obvious to certain tech entrepreneurs amid the dot-com bubble burst, the seeds of the next wave of innovation are quietly germinating right now. Insights from our CEO Brian Finrow Finrow and Kevin Klowden of the Milken Institute in BioCentury. https://lnkd.in/gGsh4c24

How the U.S. Can Win the Next Era of Biotech China’s surge in biopharma has raised alarms across the industry, but the truth is more strategic than alarming. China excels when technologies become standardized and scalable — and much of today’s drug development now fits that mold. As Brian Finrow of Lumen Bioscience puts it, “America can indeed beat China in biotech — not by playing catch-up but by leaping forward.” His article reframes the U.S.–China debate by showing why so many drug modalities have effectively become commodities, why target herding and “me-too” drugs are a natural product of that shift, and why the U.S. shouldn’t try to compete on cost or scale. Instead, the path forward lies in pioneering new therapeutic modalities, modernizing regulation, and doubling down on the kind of ingenuity that has historically kept America ahead. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ex8ti2dG 📩 For more clinical trial insights, subscribe to the Clinical Leader e-newsletter: https://lnkd.in/etadaKdf?

For decades oral biologics were commercially impossible due to the high manufacturing cost and low scalability of conventional biomanufacturing (sterile fermentation). That is no longer true. Lumen Bio’s patented spirulina-based biomanufacturing platform cracked the code on cost-effective oral biologic production. Even better: other profound developmental efficiencies are achieved through complete vertical integration — from cell-line engineering to GMP production to final capsule delivery, we control every step under one roof. Here's how we do it. First we bioengineer a proprietary spirulina strain to produce therapeutic proteins at levels higher than any food. GMP cultivation (from ICH-compliant cell banks) uses only basic inputs like water and light. Downstream processing means simply spray-drying the biomass into stable powder for oral delivery and packing into tablets or capsules. Simple, scalable, and shelf-stable at room temperature. The result? A commercially viable pathway for oral biologics — one that shortens development timelines, reduces costs and risks, and accelerates time-to-market.  We're not just making better drugs — we're making drug-making better. Learn more at lumen.bio/pipeline and this recent paper on drug development economics by our CEO (no paywall; doi:10.1093/milmed/usaf152) 

The antibiotic resistance crisis isn't just a science problem - it's an economics problem. When FDA-approved antibiotics can't keep companies profitable, we need a new approach. Our CEO Brian Finrow argues in PharmaTimes that preventive antimicrobials offer the solution. By stopping infections before they start, prevention creates better market economics while improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Just like vaccines transformed infectious disease, preventive antimicrobials can revitalize anti-infective development and stay ahead of resistance. Read Brian's full analysis in PharmaTimes. https://lnkd.in/gAnQJ8n4

Think the U.S. can't speed up drug development without compromising safety? Think again. Our CEO Brian Finrow and Sandeep Patel tackle the biggest myths holding back American biotech innovation in their latest STAT News article. From the false belief that "slow equals safe" to the outdated idea that all trials need hospital visits, these misconceptions are costing lives and letting competitors surge ahead. The reality? Australia approves low-risk trials in weeks, not years. COVID proved remote trials work better. And while China's biotech firms now dominate a third of Big Pharma acquisitions, it's not because they're better scientists - they just move faster. The U.S. has world-class research capabilities trapped behind regulatory inefficiencies. Just like NASA's bold decisions cut space launch costs by 10x, smart regulatory reforms could unleash American biotech innovation without sacrificing patient safety. Time to bust these myths and reclaim our competitive edge. Read the full analysis in STAT News.    https://lnkd.in/g8Sc6m-d 

We’re thrilled to welcome David Saunders, MD, MPH, to Lumen’s clinical development team. David joins us after a distinguished career as a Colonel and clinical trialist in the U.S. Army, where he led critical research advancing treatments for infectious diseases and global health challenges. David’s expertise in designing and executing clinical trials in diverse and challenging environments will be invaluable as we advance our late-stage clinical programs. His experience translating scientific innovation into real-world medical solutions aligns perfectly with Lumen’s mission to make biologics more accessible and affordable. Building on the recent success of LMN-201 in the Phase 2 segment of the RePreve Clinical Trial and preparing for commercialization, David’s leadership will strengthen our ability to bring spirulina-based oral biologics to patients who need them most. This addition reflects our commitment to assembling world-class talent as we work to transform how biologics are developed, manufactured, and delivered. We’re excited to have David on board as we continue this journey. Read our full press release for details about this exciting milestone and other leadership updates. https://lnkd.in/gtEfCpk4

We’re proud to announce the promotion of Kole Krieger Senior Vice President, recognizing his outstanding leadership and strategic impact at Lumen. Since joining our team, Kole has played a pivotal role in strengthening external partnerships and driving operational excellence across the company. As SVP, he will continue to lead critical initiatives that support our transition from clinical development to commercial readiness. His leadership will be especially important as we prepare for the launch of LMN-201 and advance our broader pipeline of oral biologics. Kole’s promotion highlights not only his personal achievements but also our commitment to developing and celebrating talent from within. As we accelerate toward bringing spirulina-based treatments to patients worldwide, leaders like Kole will be essential to achieving our mission. We’re excited for Kole’s continued leadership as we transform how biologics are made and delivered. Read our full press release for details about this milestone. https://lnkd.in/gtEfCpk4

We’re excited to announce the promotion of Nhi Khuong, PhD to Executive Vice President (EVP), recognizing her exceptional scientific leadership and strategic vision. Dr. Khuong has been instrumental in advancing our spirulina-based biologics platform, bringing deep expertise in biotechnology development and a proven track record of translating innovative science into practical applications. Her leadership has been particularly valuable as we’ve navigated the complexities of bringing a novel platform technology through clinical development and FDA approval.     As EVP, Nhi will play an expanded role in shaping our scientific strategy and overseeing key initiatives as we move toward commercial readiness. Her promotion comes at a pivotal time as we prepare for the market launch of LMN-201 and continue advancing our pipeline of oral biologics targeting highly prevalent diseases.    This promotion reflects our commitment to recognizing scientific excellence and leadership from within our organization. As we scale operations and expand impact, visionary leaders like Nhi at the executive level are crucial to our success.    Read our full press release for details about this exciting milestone. https://lnkd.in/gtEfCpk4

We’re excited to share another important leadership update following our successful Series C financing.     Jeff Raikes is joining our board as an independent board director. He brings a wealth of experience from his leadership roles at Microsoft, Gates Foundation, and a board member for Costco Wholesale where he helped scale products and organizations to global impact.    Jeff’s expertise will be invaluable, as he’s familiar with scaling products to serve a global customer base. No one does better than Costco.    Read our full press release for more on this milestone.  https://lnkd.in/gtEfCpk4