Pushing the boundaries of biotechnology

UCSC alumni and founders of Unnatural Products, Cameron Pye and Joshua Schwochert, are at the forefront of cutting edge biotechnology

Cameron Pye
Cameron Pye (Ph.D. ’17, chemistry & biochemistry)

Joshua Schwochert (Ph.D. ’17, chemistry & biochemistry)

Imagine a world where medicines can cross barriers they previously couldn’t—allowing treatments to reach "undruggable" parts of the human body. That’s the world being shaped by Unnatural Products (UNP), a Santa Cruz-based biotech company founded by UC Santa Cruz alumni Cameron Pye (Ph.D. ’17, chemistry & biochemistry) and Joshua Schwochert (Ph.D. ’17, chemistry & biochemistry).

At its core, UNP focuses on developing drugs that use a unique type of molecule called a macrocycle, which can cross biological barriers like the gut and cell membranes. This innovation could transform treatments for diseases previously out of reach for traditional drugs. 

“We’re in the business of sneaking larger-than-usual molecules across biological barriers,” Pye explains.

Schwochert adds, “Traditional approaches have failed in this space. Our work involves understanding why nature designed certain molecular features and then remixing those lessons to create synthetic molecules tailored to address human diseases.”

UNP’s potential impact on medicine is immense. Their technology opens up treatment possibilities for diseases in areas like oncology, cardiometabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions. A partnership with Merck, for instance, targets cancers that are both prevalent and underserved. 

“Almost every project we’re working on addresses a high unmet medical need,” Pye says.

Rooted in Santa Cruz, inspired by UCSC

The seeds for this groundbreaking work were planted at UC Santa Cruz in Professor Scott Lokey’s lab, where both founders pursued their doctoral research. Their collaboration began with a shared passion for combining wet lab techniques and computational chemistry.

“The university’s first-class facilities, including a chemical screening facility, and the ability to work across labs gave us a broad perspective,” says Schwochert. “We love UCSC’s community—brilliant people focused on impactful work, without the glitz and glam of prestige-driven institutions.”

UNP maintains strong ties with UCSC, hiring over a dozen Banana Slug alums (thus far) and collaborating with faculty.

“Santa Cruz isn’t a traditional biotech hub, but it’s an untapped goldmine,” Pye says. “Being here lets us filter for passionate team members who align with our values.”

Their commitment to UC Santa Cruz extends beyond collaboration and hiring alumni—it also includes direct financial support. Unnatural Products recently made a significant gift to Scott Lokey’s lab to help advance the lab’s groundbreaking work. In addition, Pye shares his expertise in industry and entrepreneurship as an advisory council member for the university’s Innovation & Business Engagement Hub.

From Ph.D. research to national recognition

UNP’s work recently captured national attention, earning a profile in the prestigious journal Nature. For a company that has largely operated under the radar, the recognition was both affirming and eye-opening. 

“We’ve been heads-down operators, so being featured in Nature was validating,” says Pye. “It also signaled that we’ve reached a turning point—using our technologies to develop first-in-class therapies for high-need areas.”

Schwochert agrees, noting how the article’s layperson-friendly tone broadened their reach. “It was great to receive feedback from people outside the biotech world. It reinforced how our work could resonate beyond industry experts.”

Building a legacy

As pioneers in the Santa Cruz biotech scene, Pye and Schwochert hope their story inspires others. 

“We want to show people it’s possible to build a world-class therapeutics company here [in Santa Cruz],” Pye says. 

Schwochert echoes this, emphasizing UNP’s broader mission: “It’s about creating a community where innovation thrives, companies grow, and ideas that seemed impossible come to life.”

With their innovative approach and unwavering commitment to improving human health, Unnatural Products is proving that big ideas can flourish in unexpected places.