By Gabe Musso, Chief Scientific Officer at BioSymetrics (a Renovaro company)

Oncology: competitive, but with a clear path for differentiated programs

Oncology remains a vibrant and well-capitalized field, but with that strength comes increased selectivity. As a recent Nature Biotechnology article aptly put it, investors are putting more money into fewer biotechs. This reality is reshaping how early-stage programs gain traction. For pre-Phase 1 assets, the demand for robust, translational data has never been higher.

Rather than seeing this as saturation, we see it as a call to sharpen our approach. The interest in Oncology is still strong, but focused. Partners are looking for platforms that can stand out, especially those that can bring biomarker-driven strategies or novel mechanisms to the clinic with confidence. Our conversations at BIO underscored that differentiated science still gets attention – it just needs to be paired with a clear clinical and commercial path.

Neurology: a surprising star of 2025

One of the biggest shifts from past years was the level of excitement around Neurology. In 2024, there was some trepidation around CNS biology. 2025 has completely flipped the tables.

Pharmaceutical teams and investors alike were eager to dive deep into CNS biology, explore novel pathways, and discuss emerging neurology targets. This was especially true in pain, with a strong and growing appetite for non-opioid, mechanistically distinct approaches. Our KCC2 program – focused on restoring chloride homeostasis to rebalance neuronal excitability – sparked some of the most dynamic conversations we had all week.

An unexpected avenue: companion-animal health

An exciting and unexpected theme that surfaced in our discussions was the growing interest in companion-animal health. It’s a largely untapped space where innovative mechanisms, like our KCC2 program, can play a major role. Our program drew fresh interest from groups looking to bring cutting-edge neuroscience into veterinary indications – proof that novel biology can find value beyond traditional development pathways.

Missed us in Boston? Let’s talk!

If we didn’t have the chance to connect at BIO 2025, we’d still love to continue the conversation. Whether you’re focused on precision Oncology or forward-thinking Neurology strategies – or you’re exploring innovation in companion-animal health – we’re actively seeking partners who share our commitment to translating science into meaningful impact.

Let’s keep the momentum going. Reach out to our team to learn more about our programs and where we’re headed next.

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