The musician-turned-biotech-founder waiting to fundraise
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc tried to fund research for a better COVID-19 solution, but found that writing a check in biotech is not that simple. He is now bootstrapping a cancer drug platform targeting pancreatic cancer.
Why it matters
This story showcases the difficulties faced by individuals outside the biotech industry who want to drive innovation and make a real-world impact.
Key Points
- 1Aloe Blacc, a Grammy-nominated musician, tried to fund COVID-19 research after getting infected despite being vaccinated
- 2He quickly learned that philanthropy doesn't move science through clinical trials or get a license on university IP
- 3Blacc is now bootstrapping a cancer drug platform targeting pancreatic cancer
- 4Regulators require a commercialization plan in the biotech industry
Details
Aloe Blacc, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, tried to fund research for a better COVID-19 solution after getting infected despite being vaccinated and boosted. However, he found that writing a check in the biotech industry is not that straightforward. Regulators require a commercialization plan, and philanthropy alone doesn't move science through clinical trials or get a license on university intellectual property. Now, Blacc is bootstrapping a cancer drug platform targeting pancreatic cancer, a disease with limited treatment options. The article highlights the challenges faced by non-scientists trying to make an impact in the biotech industry, where the path from research to commercialization is highly regulated and complex.
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