OUR APPROACH
At NGM Bio, you’ll hear us talk about our R&D approach … a lot.
That’s because it is the very core of our company. We are a fiercely science-driven culture, and why and how we arrive at drug candidates is just as important to us as what those candidates are.
Why
Uncompromising conviction to follow the science
We ask four key questions before embarking on a potential discovery program:
Is the target a fundamental driver of the disease?
Is this a serious disease that impacts human health globally?
Can our understanding of the underlying biology and approach to drug discovery contribute unique insights and therapeutic opportunities?
Would the intervention have the potential to profoundly transform treatment and address a large unmet medical need?
Only ‘whiteboard concepts’ that meet these criteria move forward as NGM Bio discovery programs.
How
Operating at the Nexus of Disciplines
We employ a variety of experimental approaches in our efforts to uncover novel, proprietary insights about biological processes, including high-content analyses, functional genomics and unbiased, in vivo-based discovery methods. Linking the empirical pursuit of novel biology with our protein and antibody engineering expertise enables us to find the optimal modality to enhance each product candidate’s therapeutic potential.
Our Process
Seamless Integration of Biology and Biologics
We pair a research approach that generates novel biological insights with our expertise in protein and antibody engineering to transform those insights into breakthrough biologics product candidates. This seamless internal process seeks to address the challenges of drug discovery for diseases that involve complex, integrated biological pathways. Aimed at quickly identifying a lead candidate, our differentiated approach enables rapid advancement to and evaluation of proof-of-concept in humans.
Identify target genes or pathways of interest
Evaluate the potential target’s impact on the manifestation and progression of human disease and demonstrate the effects of modulating biological activity using in vivo models designed to mimic the disease of interest.
Generate lead candidates that powerfully impact pathway biology
- Identify novel interaction partners, expression patterns and signaling activities, helping to elucidate biological mechanisms and inform selection of a lead candidate
- Probe the mechanism of action, signaling pathways and relationship between the protein structure and function to help inform decisions regarding therapeutic modality and drug design
- Leverage our expertise in protein and antibody engineering to translate biological signals into differentiated product candidates. An arsenal of therapeutic protein and antibody engineering capabilities
- Bispecific antibodies
- Bifunctional antibody fusions
- Engineered antibody fragments, including VHH, scFv, Fab and tandem fusions
- Recombinant proteins designed to improve the intrinsic biophysical and/or biological properties of the native protein
Convert research perspectives into clinical promise
Design early clinical trials to provide proof of biological activity, in addition to assessing safety and tolerability, to determine whether the activity we have observed in animal models can be translated into human subjects
Output
Broad pipeline spanning diverse diseases
With a focus squarely on hypothesis-generating research at the bench, complemented by hypothesis-testing research in the clinic, we have broad interests that cut across conventional disciplines and therapeutic areas.
The novel therapeutics we are developing, several of which are already in the clinic, are based on our scientific understanding of key biological pathways underlying cardio-metabolic, liver, oncologic and ophthalmic diseases. We also have early research underway in other therapeutic areas and diseases.
NGM Values
NGM's R&D engine is focused on productivity and guided by a set of core scientific values. These values serve as a framework for our differentiated approach to drug discovery and development and have enabled the generation of a robust portfolio of product candidates.
Fearlessly open-minded
We bold explore new and merging scientific territory and remain open to changing course based on empirical observation and scientific instincts. We quickly mobilize to execute on revised strategies.
Uncompromising standards
Our reboots and sustainable in-house R&D engine enables us to rapidly advance programs. With every program, we hold ourselves to a rigorous science-based decision-making process, ensuring we maintain scientific integrity in everything that we do.
Workplace democracy
Hierarchy is overrated. Motivated by a strong central purpose and shared commitment to patients, every team member at NGM plays a vital role in furthering our aspirations and has equal opportunity to impact our progress. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential for the success of our employees and our company.
Collaborative synergy
We share a common drive to pursue great science in our hunt for important new medicines. We don't believe in siloed disciplines. Because we work better when we work together, we seamlessly integrate cross-functional expertise for each program.
Focused on transformative impact
We are not content to merely treat disease symptoms or make incremental improvements to existing therapies. Rather, we aspire to fundamentally transform the treatment of disease by tapping into powerful human biology.
"At NGM, individual accomplishments are recognized, and an individual can make a really big impact. I think we also have a culture that promotes risk-taking. There are probably many places where, if you fail, you may be penalized. So, you just play it safe, do things incremental. Whereas here, if you do something bold and fail, you're still rewarded. You're rewarded for doing good science."
Dan
Biology