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Larry Lasky is a Partner and scientific co-founder at The Column Group, a leading venture capital firm focused on life sciences. He is also a distinguished scientist with a significant background at Genentech.
Larry Lasky invests in early-stage life science companies, with a primary focus on novel drug discovery, therapeutics, and biotechnology ventures.
Larry Lasky works as a Partner at The Column Group, a prominent venture capital firm located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Larry Lasky is a distinguished Partner at The Column Group, a premier venture capital firm renowned for its deep commitment to the life sciences industry. As a scientific co-founder of The Column Group, Dr. Lasky plays a pivotal role in the firm's strategy of creating and building transformative drug discovery and development companies. His work is central to identifying and nurturing early-stage biotech ventures poised to revolutionize medicine.
At The Column Group, Larry Lasky's investment focus is sharply honed on novel therapeutics and cutting-edge biotechnology. He leverages his profound scientific expertise to evaluate potential investments, guiding companies from concept to clinical development. The firm's unique approach often involves active company formation, where Dr. Lasky contributes significantly to shaping the scientific direction and operational strategy of portfolio companies. This hands-on involvement ensures that promising scientific breakthroughs are translated into viable, impactful pharmaceutical solutions.
Dr. Lasky's illustrious career prior to co-founding The Column Group provides the bedrock for his current success in venture capital. He spent 22 years at Genentech, Inc., a pioneering biotechnology company, where he held positions as a Senior Scientist and Staff Scientist. During his tenure at Genentech, Dr. Lasky was instrumental in several groundbreaking scientific discoveries. His notable achievements include the cloning of the TNF receptor, the IL-1 receptor, CD4, CD20, and the first human adhesion molecule, ELAM-1. These contributions significantly advanced the understanding of immunology and laid the groundwork for numerous therapeutic developments.
Larry Lasky earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin and completed his postdoctoral research at the prestigious Salk Institute. This robust academic and research background, combined with his extensive industry experience at Genentech, positions him as a uniquely qualified investor in the complex and rapidly evolving life sciences landscape. His ability to bridge the gap between fundamental scientific research and commercial drug development is invaluable to The Column Group and its portfolio companies. Through his leadership and scientific acumen, Larry Lasky continues to drive innovation, supporting the next generation of biotech companies that aim to address unmet medical needs globally.
Larry Lasky is a venture capital investor serving as a Partner at The Column Group, a firm based in San Francisco, California. In this capacity, he specializes in biotechnology investments, specifically targeting disease-focused drug discovery and development companies that demonstrate significant market leadership potential. Working alongside prominent industry figures such as David Goeddel, Lasky leverages his deep scientific, operational, and financial expertise to identify promising therapeutic platforms. In May 2018, he joined the board of directors at Accent Therapeutics following the company's $40 million Series A financing round to develop RNA-modifying protein cancer therapies. This critical investment was led by The Column Group, featuring additional participation from other notable institutional investors including Atlas Venture and EcoR1 Capital. Lasky maintains a dedicated focus on advancing early-stage biotechnology ventures that pioneer novel treatments for complex medical conditions.
