Quantro Therapeutics and the future of drug discovery: Insights from Dr Michael Bauer

At JP Morgan 2025, pharmaphorum editor-in-chief Jonah Comstock sat down with Dr Michael Bauer, CEO of Quantro Therapeutics, about his company’s novel approach to gene transcription factor control. Quantro Therapeutics has developed a technology that measures transcription dynamics in living cells, allowing for real-time detection of gene transcription changes in response to therapeutic interventions.

Bauer details how Quantro’s high throughput screening system can test hundreds of thousands of compounds, which is particularly useful for discovering drugs traditionally described as “undruggable”.

He discusses their lead programme targeting CMIC, a transcription factor involved in cancer, as well as the company’s strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies like Boehringer Ingelheim to leverage their platform for broader applications beyond oncology. He highlights their metabolic labelling technique, which quantifies RNA production and turnover, providing a detailed understanding of gene transcription dynamics.

This interview provides an in-depth look at Quantro Therapeutics' approach to gene transcription control and their efforts in drug discovery. Check it out for a glimpse of a cutting-edge biotech innovator.