Autobahn Labs collaborates with CSHL to advance science from the lab to clinic

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Jun 7 2021

Autobahn Labs, an early-stage drug discovery incubator, today announced a new strategic venture collaboration with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). Together with Autobahn Labs, CSHL will identify promising research programs with therapeutic potential and partner to form promising new drug discovery companies.

We're delighted to partner with CSHL, expanding our reach and collaborations with top faculty working on truly compelling science with strong therapeutic potential. Cold Spring Harbor is a close-knit and collegial campus that also has cultivated one of the premier scientific meeting programs in the world."

Thomas Novak, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Autobahn Labs

"Autobahn has the ability to get involved early and put their resources into CSHL's drug discovery programs and generate a pipeline of highly investable spin-out companies," said Andrew Whiteley, CSHL Vice President, Business Development and Technology Transfer. "This collaboration will enable us to more quickly advance our basic biology expertise from the lab to the clinic."

Under terms of the agreements with CSHL, Autobahn Labs will invest up to $5M in funding and biopharmaceutical services into specific programs yet to be identified. Since its launch in June 2020, Autobahn Labs has announced partnerships with four leading institutions and has started two new drug discovery programs.

Backed by Samsara BioCapital, Evotec SE, and KCK Ltd, Autobahn Labs invests earlier than traditional venture financing models, providing intellectual, financial and physical capital to efficiently and effectively advance new scientific discoveries from novel concept to preclinical drug candidate. Institutions benefit from Autobahn's strategy and operational support, as well as the industry-leading drug discovery capabilities of Evotec, a global leader in drug discovery and development. Pre-agreement on many of the economic and intellectual property terms that govern the relationship further facilitates the negotiation and creation of jointly-owned new companies.