Ep207: Jason Coloma on Genetic Medicines for Kidney Diseases
Jason Coloma, CEO of Maze Therapeutics, discusses the company's focus on developing genetic medicines for kidney diseases, rooted in human genetics and aimed at tackling complex diseases. The conversation covers Maze's journey from initial funding challenges to pursuing innovative drug development strategies and navigating regulatory hurdles.
Summary
In this episode of The Long Run, Jason Coloma, CEO of Maze Therapeutics, shares his journey and the company's mission to develop small molecule drugs for kidney diseases, leveraging human genetic data. Maze Therapeutics was established during a time when venture capital financing was challenging, and despite facing setbacks, including an antitrust scrutiny from the federal government over a partnership with Sanofi, the company has positioned itself with two lead programs: targeting APOL1-mediated kidney disease and SLC6A19. Coloma emphasizes the importance of human genetics in drug discovery and the potential for disease-modifying therapeutics that could significantly impact patient lives.
Coloma reflects on his academic background, which began with a focus in basic sciences and was influenced by his immigrant family's resilience. His early career involved positions at Cytokinetics, Genentech, and Third Rock Ventures, where he gained valuable experience in the biotech industry and developed a passion for entrepreneurship in drug development. He narrates how partnerships and navigating regulatory landscapes have been crucial for advancing kidney disease research, particularly citing collaborations with organizations like Parasol and Nefcure.
Coloma also discusses the regulatory shifts within the FDA that have opened new avenues for kidney disease treatments, allowing drugs to be approved based on biomarkers rather than purely clinical outcomes. Looking forward, he is optimistic about Maze's prospects, heading toward critical trials and the potential to positively impact the lives of millions suffering from kidney diseases. Overall, Coloma’s reflections capture both the challenges and opportunities within the biotechnology landscape, emphasizing the importance of resilience and collaboration in driving innovation.
About this episode
Jason Coloma, CEO of South San Francisco-based Maze Therapeutics, on developing small molecule drugs based on human genetics for kidney diseases.
Key Insights
- Maze Therapeutics focuses on developing genetic medicines for kidney diseases using human genetic data.
- The company experienced significant challenges in financing and had to navigate antitrust scrutiny with a partnership with Sanofi.
- APOL1-mediated kidney disease disproportionately affects the Black community, leading to a need for targeted therapies.
- Coloma's journey into biotech was influenced by his immigrant family's resilience and his interest in science.
- The FDA has been more open to approving kidney disease drugs based on biomarkers rather than solely long-term clinical outcomes.
- The collaboration between industry players and academic institutions has been crucial for advancing kidney disease research.
- Investors previously shied away from kidney disease drug development due to uncertainty around regulatory pathways and long trial durations.
- Coloma's tenure at Third Rock Ventures served as a practical learning experience in entrepreneurship and company building.
- The goal of the APOL1-focused program is to develop a disease-modifying therapy that can delay or prevent the onset of dialysis.
- Maze Therapeutics initially had a broader pipeline but will focus on kidney diseases for greater impact.
- Coloma emphasizes the need for resilience in drug development, especially after experiencing setbacks in partnerships.
- The collaboration with advocacy groups and initiatives like the Kidney Health Initiative demonstrates a collective effort to improve kidney health outcomes.
Topics
Transcript
Welcome to the Long Run. This is a podcast for biotech adventurers. I'm your host, Luke Timmerman. Today's guest is Jason Coloma. Jason is the CEO of South San Francisco-based Maze Therapeutics. The company is developing small molecule drugs to halt or potentially reverse kidney diseases. The drug discovery work at Mays is grounded in human genetics. They look at large pools of data to see how variants of one kind or another can make people sick or protect them from falling ill. Mays went public in early 2025 after surviving several lean years of biotech financing. A key partnership unraveled after the federal government sought to block it on antitrust grounds. MAIS found a way to bounce back and…
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