From medicinal research to the creation of new devices, the world relies on a vast and ever-improving biotech industry to not just keep us well but make us healthier for the future. Medical professionals, data scientists, engineers and several other highly-skilled workers all collaborate on new solutions to increase the quality of life on Earth, making the biotech industry one of the most innovative workforces currently in existence.
Due to the close proximity to Silicon Valley and its boundless tech resources, many of the top biotech companies call San Francisco home. These 15 are utilizing best-in-class thinking and revolutionary developments to come up with the biotech solutions that will impact society for years to come.
Biotech Companies in San Francisco To Know
- Benchling
- Tempus
- GRAIL
- Audentes Therapeutics
- Helix
- Calico
- iRhythm Technologies
- Vir Biotechnology
Founded: 2012
What they do: Benchling is a SaaS-based platform built specifically for life sciences R&D. The Benchling platform is the most widely-used life sciences platform in the world. It’s used to accelerate, measure and accurately forecast R&D- from discovery through bioprocessing- all in one single location. The Benchling R7D platform is used by major industry organizations, like Pfizer, Gilead, Regeneron and Zymergen.
Founded: 2016
What they do: GRAIL develops blood testing technology that helps to catch cancer in earlier stages. The company builds intelligent models that help to identify clinically actionable information from vast amounts of tumor genome data. This data is then used to help screen patients for potential cancer concerns while it’s still in the early stages.
Founded: 2010
What they do: InVitae believes that people should have better knowledge of their genetic health and offers tests that assist in family planning, diagnosing unexplained symptoms, and screening for predisposed conditions. Developed using advanced technology and trusted by top doctors and experts, InVitae provides affordable methods for testing and counseling services to ensure that genetic health can be thoroughly understood by all users.
Founded: 2013
What they do: Calico is a biotech company tackling questions and solutions surrounding the human aging process. The company uses academic research and cutting-edge medical technology to find answers to long-term questions about the basic biology of aging and how to counteract diseases associated with the aging process.
Founded: 2015
What they do: Helix is a genomics company working at the intersection of biotech, genomics and clinical research. The company’s end-to-end platform enables health systems and life sciences companies to advance their genetic research by helping to target the optimal patients for clinical drug trials and then granting professionals access to real-world epidemiological data for further drug development.
Founded: 2015
What they do: Tempus is a biotech company using AI and machine learning to drive their precision medicine modeling. The company hosts the world’s largest library of clinical and molecular data, and uses this data to help physicians make real-time decisions regarding personalized patient care, to facilitate discovery and to speed up the development of therapeutic options. Tempus is currently using its massive dataset to power future solutions for cancer research.
Founded: 2012
What they do: Astellas Gene Therapies is an Astellas Center of Excellence developing genetic medicines with the potential to deliver transformative value for patients. Based on an innovative scientific approach and industry leading internal manufacturing capability and expertise, we are currently exploring three gene therapy modalities: gene replacement, exon skipping gene therapy, and vectorized RNA knockdown and will also advance additional Astellas gene therapy programs toward clinical investigation.
Founded: 2013
What they do: Aizon is an AI software provider that transforms manufacturing operations with the use of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and other smart factory technologies focused on optimizing production within highly regulated industries. The Aizon AI platform seamlessly integrates unlimited sources of structured and unstructured data to deliver actionable insights across all manufacturing sites. Aizon offers an intuitive way to gain meaningful operational intelligence by enabling real-time visibility and predictive insights in a GxP compliant manner with end-to-end data integrity.
Founded: 1993
What they do: FibroGen’s research and development teams seek to identify and develop medicinal solutions to conditions like anemia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pancreatic cancer and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. These solutions aim to leverage the body’s natural pathways to aid in the production and strengthening of red blood cells and connective tissue, crucial to increasing the survival rate of these diseases.
Founded: 1979
What they do: Gladstone Institutes launched its Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology in 2018 to help researchers decode biomedical knowledge that traditional tools and data collection methods often miss. Relying on the collaboration of data scientists, technology creators and biologists, the goal of Gladstone Institute is to push groundbreaking science forward and hasten the rate at which new tools become available for the medical community at large.
Founded: 2006
What they do: iRhythm Technologies manufactures Zio, an ambulatory cardiac monitoring device that gives patients an understanding of their heart’s rhythm while providing 14 days of uninterrupted monitoring. Zio is capable of diagnosing the root of irregular heart rhythms with a 90% success rate, providing patients with more comfort throughout day-to-day activities.
Founded: 2013
What they do: MBC Biolabs is an incubator that brings the top minds in biotechnology together to create companies that have widespread impacts on life-sciences. On-site facilities furnished with top technology allow for quick experimentation and development, bringing together the industry’s rising experts to develop collaborative solutions.
Founded: 2012
What they do: Nurix Therapeutics has developed two complimentary platforms to either inhibit or harness ligases, essential enzymes to the regulation of protein in humans. Because mutated proteins existing at the center of nearly every human disease, Nurix utilizes DNA-encoded libraries and screening capabilities, differentiating itself from other companies developing therapies that target protein degradation.
Founded: 2011
What they do: TeselaGen Biotechnology uses an artificial intelligence platform to bring speed to the development of therapeutics, high value chemicals and agricultural products. Featuring tools for designing, building, testing and evolving experimental data, the TeselaGen platform allows for easy collaboration and analysis of DNA libraries in a secure, scalable and predictable environment.
Founded: 2016
What they do: Vir Biotechnology combines immunologic insights with cutting-edge technologies to better treat and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Turning its attention to diseases that have proven evasive to treatment, like HIV, hepatitis B, influenza A and tuberculosis, Vir Biotechnology uses several dedicated platforms to identify imitations in the immune system and combat specific pathogens. The team consistently collaborates with leading foundations and other biotech companies to advance innovative tech and create widespread access to solutions.
