Cadence Bioworks Inc.

01/13/2026

After iterative AI-guided, human scientist-validated optimization, we achieved a ~10-fold increase in secretion of MYO-GLP....our semaglutide-like biosimilar, from post-mitotic muscle cells.
By refining signal peptide design, LNP formulation, and cell-culture conditions, we demonstrated that mature muscle can function as a durable, programmable bioreactor for high-value biologics.
Importantly, as of early 2026, generic semaglutide products are now eligible for authorization in Canada following the expiry of both patent and regulatory exclusivity. Market entry will be determined by Health Canada review timelines, not IP barriers.
This creates a timely opportunity to rethink how biologics are made...and how affordable they can be.

10/04/2025

Clearly, I’m not the best at self-promotion on the “socials” (as my kids call them..yes, I’m that cool). But I know people wonder what I actually do with my time these days.

The truth is: I am fortunate to keep pursuing curiosity-driven projects that also happen to be revenue-generating.

While abroad exploring investment opportunities for Cadence Bioworks Inc. (yes, we’re still very much pushing things forward), I recently wrapped up the bioinformatics side of a client’s mitochondrial DNA sequencing project.

We generated 30 complete mitochondrial genomes from a clinical cohort using Q20+ accuracy, single-molecule nanopore sequencing, with many reads spanning the entire 16,569 bp genome. Nanopore isn’t the perfect fit for every sequencing project, but it’s uniquely suited for amplicons, targeted/programmable genomic locations, sub-genomes such as mtDNA, and QC/QA applications. (I’ll admit—I still miss the Flongle and being able to run RNA native on standard flow cells.)

What continues to amaze me is just how much data can now be pulled from virtually any biological sample. With enrichment strategies now yielding 80–90% pure mtDNA reads, this has become a highly economical and rapid alternative to traditional mitochondrial sequencing services.

And a bonus: unlike many providers, we don’t sell or share your data.

I don't want or need to advertise so this is the end of my sales pitch...but PM me if you need anything sequenced...we always have extra real estate on our flow cells.

02/28/2025

I am thrilled to announce that has officially begun work on our very first “programmable therapeutic.”
Is launching a life sciences startup in today’s political and investment climate…in Calgary, Alberta, of all places—ambitious? Absolutely. But if my journey from academia to the startup world has taught me anything, it’s that meaningful innovation often blooms in unexpected places.
This venture is especially close to my heart because it’s rooted in my academic research on skeletal muscle and the release of health-promoting proteins . Combine that with my lifelong love of and our near-future ability to harness our own biology for health and longevity, and you’ll see why this feels like a dream come to life.
Our vision at Cadence BioWorks? “Be Your Own Pharmacy.”
We’re leveraging the innate biomanufacturing capacity of skeletal muscle to produce and secrete engineered therapeutics directly into the bloodstream. By tapping into well-established platforms within muscle tissue, we believe that high-impact therapies can be made more accessible and affordable to patients worldwide. Stay tuned for updates as we continue pushing the boundaries of therapeutics. Here’s to taking bold steps, forging new paths in healthcare, and showing that “crazy ideas” really can lead to transformative breakthroughs!
A special note of gratitude to Dr. Jumai Abioye and her company PanAccess Innovations, whose expertise in mRNA therapeutic development is vital to our mission and bridges a crucial knowledge gap for biomanufacturing in .
Finally, I want to thank my amazing fiancé, JoAnna Goldberg. She is my rock and intellectual-nerd twin, always supporting my wild ideas, providing honest feedback, and guiding me through life’s unexpected twists over the past few months. Her unwavering support has kept me moving forward.
A friends and family raise may be on the horizon, so if you’re curious, interested in collaborating, or just want to cheer us on—feel free to reach out or drop a comment below!

01/31/2025

With the upcoming tariffs, if you’re currently outsourcing DNA sequencing projects to the U.S., consider partnering with a Canadian provider like Cadence. We offer competitive pricing and turnaround times to ensure continuity during this disruption. Hopefully we will win you over with our enthusiasm, commitment to quality, speed, and service !

12/20/2024

Unboxing day with the new Oxford Nanopore Technologies Mk1D—so much sequencing power packed into a tiny, portable device! Initially, I'll be using it for internal QC/QA on therapeutic mRNA and AAV vectors, PCR amplicons and plasmids. However, with 50 Gb of capacity per flow cell, I’m open to collaborating on DNA/RNA (with methylation) projects at cost-recovery rates. Let’s put this powerhouse to work!

11/02/2024

Having collaborated with Tom Benson, I can now proudly say I’m just a step away from Shatner himself. Science fiction has long inspired budding scientists and entrepreneurs to bring futuristic tech to life. Star Trek, Iain M. Banks, and Frank Herbert have all woven threads into the fabric of my scientific journey, ultimately influencing the creation of Cadence Bioworks.

https://longevity.technology/news/william-shatner-joins-oversight-committee-for-130-year-lifespan-trials/amp/?

Star Trek star boldly joins Biotech Explorers longevity project to extend human lifespan and explore the final frontier of aging.

10/27/2024

3D printing muscle cells has the potential to revolutionize fields like tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and even personalized therapeutics. Excited that this technology exists now and that I get to play in this sandbox.

10/25/2024

Evan’s story and the work of Blaine Penny through MitoCanada are incredibly inspiring. It’s a powerful reminder of how personal challenges can fuel meaningful progress and innovation, especially in areas like mitochondrial research. The support of MitoCanada at my previous company Discovery DNA, made a difference in advancing non-invasive testing and supporting those affected by mitochondrial disease. It’s touching how these initiatives continue to influence young scholars and drive further developments in the field. All the best to the Penny's during this difficult time and may Evan's memory be a blessing.

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Evan Penny, the beloved son of Blaine and Sarah Penny, brother of Julia Penny, and a guiding light for our entire MitoCanada family. Evan’s journey with mitochondrial disease began suddenly when he was just four years old, following a routine appendectomy that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. His diagnosis brought with it immense challenges, but it also became a powerful catalyst for change.

Evan’s story is the heart and inspiration behind the founding of MitoCanada. Through their experience, Blaine and Sarah recognized the critical need for support, awareness, and research for mitochondrial disease. Their unwavering dedication has helped connect countless patients, families, researchers, and clinicians to fight for a cure.

Despite the difficulties Evan faced, his life was filled with love, joy, and resilience. He had a gift for finding happiness in the small moments – whether listening to his favourite music, enjoying rolling with his parents on a run or bike ride, or watching beloved movies like Frozen and Wreck-It Ralph. His infectious smile and the twinkle in his eye brought light to everyone who knew him.

Evan taught us all what it means to live fully in the present and to find joy in even the toughest circumstances. His legacy will forever be part of MitoCanada, continuing to inspire our mission to support and advance research for Canadians living with mitochondrial disease.

We extend our deepest condolences to Blaine, Sarah, Julia, and the entire Penny and Hurd families during this incredibly difficult time. We are forever grateful to Evan and his family for their role in creating a strong MitoCommunity, and we will honour his spirit through every aspect of our work.

Evan, your light will continue to shine through us all and you will always be in our hearts.

With heartfelt sympathy,
The MitoCanada Family

10/22/2024

Excited to be in the lab early again...and also YAY snow !

10/11/2024

Sometimes you need to take a break to reconnect with the wonder and excitement that pulled so many of us into the sciences in the first place

10/09/2024

It is hard to describe without hyperbole, the earth shattering utility of tools like alphafold. In many ways it was one of the first breakout successes of the current ML/Generative AI boom. Going forward there will be few aspects of medicine, agriculture and biotechnology in general that will not be affected by this invention. Obviously we at Cadence are big fans of alphafold and look forward to using it to optimize our biosimililar and biologics pipelines for mRNA/LNP delivery. The future is here, and this is just the beginning

BREAKING NEWS
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with one half to David Baker “for computational protein design” and the other half jointly to Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper “for protein structure prediction.”

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 is about proteins, life’s ingenious chemical tools. David Baker has succeeded with the almost impossible feat of building entirely new kinds of proteins. Demis Hassabis and John Jumper have developed an AI model to solve a 50-year-old problem: predicting proteins’ complex structures. These discoveries hold enormous potential.

The diversity of life testifies to proteins’ amazing capacity as chemical tools. They control and drive all the chemical reactions that together are the basis of life. Proteins also function as hormones, signal substances, antibodies and the building blocks of different tissues.

Proteins generally consist of 20 different amino acids, which can be described as life’s building blocks. In 2003, David Baker succeeded in using these blocks to design a new protein that was unlike any other protein. Since then, his research group has produced one imaginative protein creation after another, including proteins that can be used as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials and tiny sensors.

The second discovery concerns the prediction of protein structures. In proteins, amino acids are linked together in long strings that fold up to make a three-dimensional structure, which is decisive for the protein’s function. Since the 1970s, researchers had tried to predict protein structures from amino acid sequences, but this was notoriously difficult. However, four years ago, there was a stunning breakthrough.

In 2020, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper presented an AI model called AlphaFold2. With its help, they have been able to predict the structure of virtually all the 200 million proteins that researchers have identified. Since their breakthrough, AlphaFold2 has been used by more than two million people from 190 countries. Among a myriad of scientific applications, researchers can now better understand antibiotic resistance and create images of enzymes that can decompose plastic.

Life could not exist without proteins. That we can now predict protein structures and design our own proteins confers the greatest benefit to humankind.

Learn more
Press release: https://bit.ly/3zAiZMq
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