hC Bioscience, Inc

Is an innovator and pioneer of protein editing using gene and context agnostic engineered tRNA

Our First in Class approach for protein editing advances beyond genome editing to direct modification of the proteome.

About hC Bioscience

hC Bioscience is an innovator and pioneer of protein editing using context agnostic engineered tRNA. Our First in Class approach for protein editing advances beyond genome editing to direct modification of the proteome.

Science & Technology

Transfer RNA (tRNA) is the essential, often overlooked, molecule that provides the critical translation of genetic code into the proteins that are the building blocks of life. We are creating engineered tRNAs with the power to overcome disease-causing issues in the genetic code as proteins are made.

Focus

Team culture

We are building a diverse inclusive team of dedicated professionals.  Together our success will be born out of belief in our purpose, genuine love of what we are doing, and the integrity and excellence of our daily contributions.

“If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.”

Our Leadership Team

Leslie J. Williams

Co-Founder, President, CEO​

Leslie J Williams, a 25-year biopharmaceutical industry veteran, is an experienced biotech CEO and board of directors’ member with demonstrated expertise in building companies, raising funds, and negotiating strategic collaborations.

David H. Altreuter​

CTO

Dave Altreuter, PhD is CTO at hC Bioscience.  Since 2001 Dave has specialized in the design, translation, and development of novel drug products wherein innovative delivery has a central or critically-enabling role.

Gautam Goel

Chief Data Science Officer

Gautam is a leader in translational computational biology and a seasoned professional with an impactful 20-year track record in biotech, academia and tech industry.

Christine Foster

Chief Business Officer

Christine Foster is a seasoned business leader with more than 30 years of experience in large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. 

Jose Lora

Chief Scientific Officer

Jose M. Lora is a seasoned biopharmaceutical leader who brings 20+ years’ experience in Research and Development across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas.

Jose Iglesias

Chief Medical Officer

Jose M. Lora is a seasoned biopharmaceutical leader who brings 20+ years’ experience in Research and Development across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas.

Our Board of Directors

Steven Gillis

Chairman of Board | ARCH

Steven Gillis has been a managing director at ARCH Venture Partners since 2005. Dr. Gillis was a Founder and Director of Corixa Corporation and served as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

Seth Lieblich

8VC

Seth focuses on the Bio-IT space. He joined 8VC from Amgen’s Business Development technology group, and received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from the California Institute of Technology.

Sacha Mann

Takeda Ventures

Sacha Mann is a Senior Partner at Takeda Ventures. She has a decade of experience in venture investing and complimentary skills in company creation, management as biotech CEO, business development, and R&D.

Brad Margus

Independent Board Director

Brad Margus is a co-founder of Cerevance, a company advancing treatments for brain diseases where he was CEO from inception in 2016 until moving into the Board Chair role in 2023.

Benjamin Chen

Panacea Venture

Benjamin has been a partner at Panacea Venture since 2018, he is a scientist, entrepreneur, investor and merchant banker. 

Seiji Miyahara​

Taiho Ventures

Dr. Miyahara is a Senior Investment Director at Taiho Ventures with over 18 years of experience in the life sciences industry.

Leslie Williams

Co-Founder, President & CEO

Leslie J Williams, a 25-year biopharmaceutical industry veteran, is an experienced biotech CEO and board of directors’ member with demonstrated expertise in building companies, raising funds, and negotiating strategic collaborations.

Scientific Advisory Board

Craig Mello

PhD

Craig is Chairman of the Science Advisory Board and the Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS).

John DiPersio

MD, PhD

Dr. John F. DiPersio is Chief of the Division of Oncology, Deputy Director of the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and the Virginia E. and Samuel J. Golman Professor of Medicine.

Page Bouchard

DVM

 Biotechnology Consultant

Page Bouchard is an independent biotechnology consultant with a focus on preclinical R&D and regulatory drug development.

Oladapo Yeku

MD, PhD

Dr. Oladapo Yeku is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Clinical Assistant in Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

John Bell
PhD Dr. John Bell received his PhD from McMaster University in 1982. The three years that followed, he trained as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa and then at the Medical Research Council in London, England.
 Jeffrey M. Bockman

PhD

EVP, Head of Oncology Practice

Jeff leads the Oncology and Virology Practices at Cello Health BioConsulting, formerly Defined Health. 

John Lueck

PhD

John Lueck is Assistant Professor in Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and is a member of The Center for RNA Biology the University of Rochester Medical Center

Christopher Ahern

PhD

Christopher Ahern is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and the Iowa Neuroscience Institute.

Martin Maier

PhD

Dr. Maier joined Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in 2006 where he currently serves as Senior Vice President, heading the Oncology group.

Tao Pan

PhD

Tao Pan is a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago.  Throughout his career he has made many contributions to RNA biology, RNA biochemistry, and RNA technology.

Career Opportunities

Full Time
Senior Scientist, Conjugation Chemistry

Partners & Collaborations

If you are interested in partnering with us, reach out here at info@hcbioscience.com

News

MAR 27, 2023

HC Bioscience Names Christine Foster, D. Phil., as Chief Business Officer

hC Bioscience, Inc., a pioneer in the development of tRNA-based therapeutics, appointed Christine Foster, DPhil, as Chief Business Officer to lead the Company’s global business development and strategic partnering activities. She brings extensive experience in identifying, structuring, and executing partnerships and M&A transactions, including within the field of gene editing.

Jan 17, 2023

HC Bioscience And 4SR Biosciences Join Forces To Expand Platform Development Of TRNA-Based Therapies​

hC Bioscience, a pioneer in the development of tRNA-based therapeutics, has acquired 4SR Biosciences to combine technologies, IP, and know-how to advance the development of first-in-class tRNA-based therapeutics. Their technologies will be used to discover and optimize tRNAs capable of overcoming genetic errors to treat genetic disease and cancer. 

NOV 4, 2022

hC Bioscience Announces Extension of Series A to $40 Million

 

hC Bioscience, Inc., a company developing first-in-class tRNA-based therapeutics targeting protein dysfunction in genetically defined diseases, today announced an extension of $16 million to its Series A funding round, bringing the total raised to $40 million. Taiho Ventures and Panacea Venture joined existing investors, ARCH Venture Partners, Takeda Ventures and 8VC.

 

 

3d render biological cell virus

NOV 4, 2022

Mt. Everest almost got in the way of a tRNA biotech, but hC Bioscience climbs to Series A extension

A Takeda and ARCH-backed startup looking to prove out the next potential RNA goldmine in drug R&D has secured more capital en route to a 2024 clinical entry, CEO Leslie Williams tells Endpoints News.

SEP 13, 2022

hC Bioscience Appoints Brad Margus to its Board of Directors

hC Bioscience, Inc., a company developing first-
in-class tRNA-based therapeutics targeting protein dysfunction in genetically defined diseases, today announced the appointment of industry veteran Brad Margus to its board of directors.

“We are excited to welcome Brad to the company during this pivotal time of growth,”
said Leslie Williams, co-founder, director and chief executive officer of hC Bioscience.

Publications

FEB 10, 2021

Therapeutic promise of engineered nonsense suppressor tRNAs

Nonsense mutations change an amino acid codon to a premature termination codon (PTC) generally through a single-nucleotide substitution…

FEB 18, 2019

Engineered transfer RNAs for suppression of premature termination codons

The appearance of the premature translation termination codons (PTCs)…