TOP NEWS

KYTHERA, Amgen Vet Takes Helm At UNITY Biotechnology After $116M Funding

A local, Ventura County biotechnology executive, Keith Leonard, has taken the helm of UNITY Biotechnology, a heavily backed San Francisco biotech startup focused on curing diseases of aging, as a result of a big $116M funding round at the company. Leonard--most recently, CEO of KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals--also is a longtime Amgen veteran, where he spent 13 years. UNITY Biotechnology says it is developing therapeutics that increase healthspan by preventing, halting or reversing diseases of aging. The funding round came from ARCH Venture Partners, Baillie Gifford, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Partner Fund Management, and Venrock plus Bezos Expeditions (the investment vehicle of Jeff Bezos) and investors WuXi PharmaTech and Mayo Clinic Ventures. It's unclear if Leonard is moving to San Francisco as a result of the appointment; he still shows his primary residence in the Los Angeles area. He's also Executive CHairman at Sienna Biopharmaceuticals. More information »