Isaac Stoner’s Post

Treatment approaches that deplete or suppress healthy immune cells put patients at risk. Octagon Therapeutics is developing immunomodulatory therapies that reset immune homeostasis while sparing protective immunity! https://lnkd.in/evYVUryA

The Vaxess Technologies journey wouldn't have been possible without the corresponding launch of the "incubator". In 2011, this concept was still new. Most companies were working out of their apartments, coffee shops, or local libraries until they could afford their own spaces (we don't really have garages in Boston, so that option was off the table). It took pioneers like Gordon Jones launching the Harvard Innovation Labs, Johannes Fruehauf and Peter Parker launching LabCentral, and Jodi Goldstein launching the Harvard University Lifelab to create a new paradigm for supporting early stage startups in Boston. We take this concept for granted today, but these innovators made it possible. Ironically, I honestly can't mention a single startup over the last few years that didn't start in an incubator. Not only did we build Vaxess Technologies in these unique spaces, but we learned from amazing peers like WHOOP, Philo, RallyPoint, Lyndra Therapeutics, Affinivax Inc., Akouos and so many others. It has been amazing to watch their journeys. We were also introduced to so many mentors, advisors, and rock star entrepreneurs that both inspired us, and helped us along the way. Thanks to the pioneers that built this amazing ecosystem for early stage companies like ours.

Evox transition and new career phase I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to step down as CEO of Evox Therapeutics and have now passed the CEO baton to Per Lundin, our CBO and Evox co-founder. I will remain involved with Evox in an advisory role and will myself transition to the next phase of my career spending more time on Boards and developing other new transformational platforms. Stay tuned for more on that front!   I have led work on 5 transformative drug platforms so far in my career – all 5 have resulted in clinically validated platforms with multiple approved drugs – RNAi (VP Research @ Alnylam), mRNA (Founding CSO @ Moderna), Nanobody VHH Abs (CSO @ Ablynx), and 2 others (checkpoint inhibitors antibodies including PD1/PDL1 at Biogen in 2000; anti-CD3 tolerizing mAb at Tolerx to treat T1DM in 2010) which were ahead of the curve and that others ultimately developed. These platforms all take time, patience and constant learning/readjustments based on data. We have now gotten the Evox exosome platform working very well and have found the sweet spot for the technology - improving delivery of genetic medicines. I have no doubt that Evox will likewise succeed as it enters its next phase. Lastly and most importantly, a heartfelt thank you to all the people at Evox who I have worked with over the past 6½ years. Our business is about bringing transformational drugs to patients, but it is also very much a people business. It takes people with great dedication and skill in both the lab and in the office to bring these medicines forwards. Thank you for all your past and future efforts.