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Abalone Bio

We discover antibody drugs others can't

Abalone Bio developed a technology to find antibody drugs that activate and modulate cell surface receptors, the “antennae” on cells that help convert chemical signals into cellular responses, like growth. Antibodies are a growing class of drugs that have tremendous safety and efficacy advantages over small molecules; 7 of the top 10 selling drugs are antibodies, earning an average of $7B in revenue. However, antibodies- especially ones that activate and modulate cell surface receptors- are hard to find. Abalone Bio expands the playing field for antibody therapeutics and enables us to previously access treatments for untreated diseases. We have already discovered a novel antibody that activates a non-opioid receptor that produces analgesia. We are developing this antibody into a treatment for neuropathic pain – a medical condition that currently is treated with drugs like addictive opiates. The same molecule is also a potential treatment for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, all 1B+ markets.
Abalone Bio
Founded:2018
Team Size:12
Location:Emeryville, CA

Active Founders

Richard Yu, Founder

Rich has been in or around biotech startups since 2008, when co-founded GPB, an algae biofuel startup. He was also Scientific and Operations Director at MBC Biolabs, the leading biotech incubator in SF, and Principal at Mission Bay Capital, a life science VC fund. Prior, he was an investigator at The Molecular Sciences Institute studying how cells process information. PhD (2000) Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale BA (1993) Biophysics and Computer Science (AI and Graphics), UC Berkeley
Richard Yu
Richard Yu
Abalone Bio

Former Founders

Gustavo Pesce

Gustavo Pesce
Gustavo Pesce
Abalone Bio