Peter Bak, PhD
Partner, Managing Director
Peter Bak, PhD has more than twelve years of experience with a broad range of research approaches—cellular, molecular and biochemical—and fields—from immunology and infection through oncology.
At Back Bay Life Science Advisors, Dr. Bak leads a diverse portfolio of projects with a focus on liquidity planning and positioning, strategic franchise building, M&A and licensing strategy, and buy-side diligence. He regularly works with companies of all scales, from startup to global life science brands.
Dr. Bak’s research career in immuno-oncology began at Dartmouth Medical School (PhD, Microbiology and Immunology), where his research uncovered novel pathways of immunosuppression in ovarian cancer. His research continued at MIT, as an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow at the Koch Institute of Integrative Cancer Research.
At MIT, Dr. Bak focused on the development of immunotherapies for prostate cancer and led interdisciplinary projects with researchers from the departments of Biological and Chemical Engineering.
Dr. Bak moderates Back Bay’s podcast, The Life Science Report, and has published peer-reviewed articles on cancer vaccinology, the molecular mechanisms of myeloid-cell-mediated immune-suppression, costimulatory requirements for intertumoral T-cell activation, and immune editing within the tumor environment. In addition, Dr. Bak has authored several articles on the life sciences for Back Bay Life Science Advisors, including white papers on the promise of neoantigen-based cancer immunotherapy, and the promise of the microbiome and immuno-oncology. His industry insights include:
Articles
Roaring 20s Redux: The Next Decade of Gene Therapy Innovation
The NASH Dash: Analysis Of The Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Drug Pipeline & Market
The ABC's of Oncology: Looking Beyond Alpha-Beta Cells for Cell Therapies
A Gutsy Combination: The Microbiome and Immuno-oncology
Investment and Development Landscape of Autologous and Allogenic Cell Therapies
Investment and Partnering Landscape for Psychedelics
Guest Columns
STAT: Microbiome Drug Development: A Rapidly Evolving Field
STAT: Investment in Antimicrobials Was Up in 2020, But Much Work Remains
STAT: What’s Holding Pharm Back From the Next Antibiotic Breakthrough?
Cell & Gene: Shining Light on the Commercial Potential of Optogenetic Therapies
Cell & Gene: The ABCs of Oncology: Looking Beyond Alpha-Beta Cells for Cell Therapies
Cell & Gene: Immunotherapy For Glioblastoma: A Path Forward
Nature BioPharma Dealmakers: From Drug Target Inhibition to Degradation: a TACtical Strategy
NASH Reawakens
Canadian Venture Capital-Funded Biotech Companies to Watch in 2023
Visit Back Bay’s events and podcast pages for conversations with Dr. Bak on antibiotic development, cell & gene therapy development and market access.
Dr. Bak holds a degree in Biology, magna cum laude, from The College of the Holy Cross.