Jonny Finlay
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jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
Jonny Finlay
@jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
270 followers 350 following 40 posts
Biotech obsessed at Ottimo Pharma, Centessa, Alys, RxBiologics etc.
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jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
September 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by Jonny Finlay
donmoyn.bsky.social
Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back.
"The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."
My resignation letter from CDC. Dear Dr. Houry, I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested. This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough. While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people. This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles. The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people. It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC. The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense. Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC. Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc. I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again. I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season. Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.” We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us. Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources. At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him. To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information. The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer. I believe in nutrition and exercise. I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability. Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun. The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed. For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics. I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision. Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically. Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution. If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.
August 28, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Reposted by Jonny Finlay
synbio1.bsky.social
You can't let those macroeconomic headwinds tell you how to live your life
August 15, 2025 at 9:03 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
Strongly recommended
June 27, 2025 at 10:32 AM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
May 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Jonny Finlay
dereklowe.bsky.social
So has anyone put a really, truly, AI-from-scratch antibody into the clinic yet? Press releases aside, the answer is “absolutely not”.
AI Antibodies? Really?
www.science.org
February 13, 2025 at 7:25 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
endpts.com/with-first-d...
With first drug now in the clinic, Alys eyes megaround for rest of pipeline
Alys Pharmaceuticals is on the hunt for a large financing to carry forward its pipeline — an amalgamation of six Medicxi startups — following the clearance of its first clinical trial this week.
endpts.com
February 5, 2025 at 8:39 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
Twittler deleted off phone. Feels good TBH.
January 28, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Reposted by Jonny Finlay
thetiredscientist.bsky.social
January 25, 2025 at 7:45 AM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
Would just like to also stress that I think diversity initiatives themselves are also inherently good for robustness and social harmony.
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social Jonny Finlay @jonnyfinlay.bsky.social · Jan 23
A superb example of why this kind of ‘purge’ is asinine. What pharma company would NOT like to be able to maximise their understanding of how different genotypes/ethnicities respond to their drug?
matthewherper.bsky.social Matthew Herper @matthewherper.bsky.social · Jan 23
FDA purges material on clinical trial diversity from its site, showing stakes of Trump DEI ban

From me and @lizzylawrence.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/01/23/f...
January 23, 2025 at 10:43 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
A superb example of why this kind of ‘purge’ is asinine. What pharma company would NOT like to be able to maximise their understanding of how different genotypes/ethnicities respond to their drug?
January 23, 2025 at 10:41 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
@wendystitch.bsky.social
a man is waving at the camera while standing on a boat in the ocean and saying `` good morning '' .
ALT: a man is waving at the camera while standing on a boat in the ocean and saying `` good morning '' .
media.tenor.com
January 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
January 19, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Jonny Finlay
jeromehardaway.bsky.social
It’s also weird cause why are a bunch of nerds talking about masculine energy? This is software you’re building, not storming Normandy.
January 12, 2025 at 8:10 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
To all who celebrate
December 25, 2024 at 10:10 PM
Reposted by Jonny Finlay
benthefidler.bsky.social
New: A $140M round for Ottimo Pharma, led by former Seagen CEO David Epstein, is the latest example of a surge of investments in a drug class many now believe have the potential to supplant standard-of-care cancer immunotherapies. #biosky

www.biopharmadive.com/news/ottimo-...
Ottimo raises $140M to compete in chase for new type of cancer drug
Led by former Seagen CEO David Epstein, the startup claims it has a drug that could stand out from other PD1- and VEGF-blocking cancer treatments.
www.biopharmadive.com
December 19, 2024 at 3:17 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
An inspiring and exciting day for all of us at OttimoPharma.com Time to accelerate! www.ft.com/content/42c6...
Ottimo raises $140mn in pursuit of ‘$100bn market’ for new cancer drugs
Boss David Epstein hopes to replicate his success at Seagen after $43bn sale last year
www.ft.com
December 19, 2024 at 9:16 AM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
Several very interesting points www.ft.com/content/a757...
What makes the US truly exceptional
Are American pathologies the necessary price of economic dynamism?
www.ft.com
December 4, 2024 at 11:27 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
If you would like to read more about how this affects antibodies, and their preclinical/clinical development, a review of ours here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
December 3, 2024 at 10:15 AM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
Amazing that this even needs to be said. The specificity of antibody binding can be wrecked by the inclusion of a couple more hydrophobic or charged residues in the CDRs. Sticking big greasy fluorophores on proteins inherently changes their chemistry…..
dereklowe.bsky.social Derek Lowe @dereklowe.bsky.social · Dec 2
Fluorescently labeled proteins are essential to research. But we should never forget how messed-up their behavior can be. An example from condensates:
Fluorescent Tags Are Basically Never Silent
www.science.org
December 3, 2024 at 9:42 AM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
Strongly recommended.
firedrawnear.bsky.social Fire Draw Near @firedrawnear.bsky.social · Nov 25
Episode LVIII is a spotlight on the Appalachian region of the USA based around an interview with the one and only Andy the Doorbum and focusing on the relief work that he is currently carrying out there. campsite.bio/firedrawnear
November 25, 2024 at 6:59 PM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
Glorious
tonytholland.bsky.social Tony Holland @tonytholland.bsky.social · Nov 24
Some top class slagging here 🤣
leastactionhero.bsky.social Microplastics Sommelier @leastactionhero.bsky.social · Nov 22
nobody does more brutal fashion reviews than the irish
November 24, 2024 at 10:02 AM
jonnyfinlay.bsky.social
The idea of human life moving to Mars is asinine. Preposterous. Childish. Nonsense.
November 23, 2024 at 10:57 PM
Reposted by Jonny Finlay
duncanrobertson.bsky.social
Reading, as one does, the Wikipedia page on kakistocracy ('government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens') and you realise it's not a new phenomenon. This from 150 years ago.
November 20, 2024 at 9:41 AM