Encode Ideas: Plainspoken Biotech and Medtech Interviews

An interview with Jeb Besser, Managing Member at Manchester Management, a $100M AUM hedge fund that makes concentrated investments in micro/small cap health care and technology companies. In February 2022, Jeb also stepped into the CEO role at Modular Medical, a development-stage insulin pump company, where Manchester is the largest shareholder.  During the interview, Jeb outlines his enthusiasm for Modular and why the timing was right for him to assume the CEO role.  He also discusses two other of Manchester's favorite health care holdings in Fennec Pharmaceuticals and Alpha Cognition. Companies discussed during the podcast; Modular Medical Inc. (Nasdaq: MODD) Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: FENC, TSX: FRX) Alpha Cognition Inc (OTC: ACOGF, TSX-V: ACOG) Tandem Diabetes Care Inc. (Nasdaq: TNDM) Insulet Corporation (Nasdaq: PODD) Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) Biogen Inc (Nasdaq: BIIB) Cassava Sciences Inc (Nasdaq: SAVA)   James (Jeb) Besser, who is an executive of Modular Medical, Inc. (“Modular”) appeared on this episode of the podcast. Listeners are urged to review Modular's SEC filings and cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Modular undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. Disclaimer: This podcast does not contain financial advice and is for entertainment purposes only.  Comments made in the podcast should not be considered an inducement to buy or sell any securities. 

In January 2022, Social Capital made a C$43.4 million strategic investment in Perimeter Medical Imaging AI (TSX-V: PINK, US: PYNKF) to advance Perimeter's ultra-high-resolution, real-time, imaging technology.  In this podcast, we have a conversation with Grant Hesser, Portfolio Manager at Social Capital, and Jeremy Sobotta, CEO of Perimeter Medical, to better understand the attributes of Perimeter's real-time imaging technology, the ongoing commercial rollout of their FDA-cleared S-Series OCT, and development progress of their AI-enabled B-Series OCT for breast conservation surgery. We also dive into the motivation for Social Capital's substantial investment in Perimeter and how their capital will help accelerate Perimeter's commercial plans as well as the company's development plans for breast cancer and beyond.   Disclaimer: This podcast does not contain financial advice and is for entertainment purposes only.  Comments made in the podcast should not be considered an inducement to buy or sell any securities.    

An interview with Gil Aharon of Rosalind Advisors, where we discuss his perspective on the macro biotech market.  Having run a dedicated life science fund for >10 years, Gil puts today's difficult biotech market into historical context and offers his opinion on why investors should be optimistic for the future. During the interview, we also discuss two of Gil's favorite smaller health care names, Verona Pharma and Delcath Systems.  Companies discussed during the podcast; Verona Pharma plc (Nasdaq: VRNA) Delcath Systems, Inc (Nasdaq: DCTH)  Immunogen Inc (Nasdaq: IMGN)   Gil Aharon, who is a director of Delcath Systems, Inc. (“Delcath”) appeared on this episode of the podcast. Listeners are urged to review Delcath's SEC filings and cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Delcath undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws.

An interview with Brian Finn of Findell Capital, where we discuss his perspective on small-cap investing.  During the interview, we discuss two of Brian's favorite health care names, Liquidia and ProQR, as well as his previous success with MiMedx.  To learn more about Findell Capital please visit their website https://findell.us/ Companies discussed during the podcast; Liquidia Corporation (Nasdaq: LQDA) ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq: PRQR) MiMedx Group Inc (Nasdaq: MDXG) United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR) MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) Editas Medicine Inc (Nasdaq: EDIT)

An interview with George Haywood, a well-known investor, where we discuss his perspective on biotech investing.  During the interview, we cover some of George's previous biotech successes, including AVI Biopharma / Sarepta, Martek & Amarin, and his current favorite biotech names, Synaptogenix & Petros.   Companies discussed during the podcast; Synaptogenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPX) Petros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTPI) Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRPT) Cassava Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SAVA) Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) Amarin Corporation plc (Nasdaq: AMRN)

An interview with Gerard Michel, CEO of Delcath Systems, where Gerard reflects back on his time with Vericel, the decision to become CEO of Delcath, the initial NDA submission for the HEPZATO™ KIT, and the preliminary data release from the Phase 3 FOCUS study.  Gerard also addresses the future for Delcath, including the impending full Phase 3 FOCUS results, future clinical indications to be pursued with the HEPZATO™ KIT, and commercial dynamics in the interventional oncology space.   Companies discussed during the podcast: Delcath Systems, Inc (Nasdaq: DCTH) Vericel Corporation (Nasdaq: VCEL) Immunocore Ltd (Nasdaq: IMCR) Bright Minds Biosciences (OTCQB: BMBIF, CSE: DRUG)    Gerard Michel, CEO of Delcath Systems, Inc. (“Delcath”) appeared on this episode of the podcast. Listeners are urged to review Delcath's SEC filings and cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Delcath undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws.

An interview with Gideon Shapiro, Co-Founder & VP of Discovery at Bright Minds Biosciences, where we discuss recent and upcoming events in psychedelic drug development.  We cover Bright Minds pipeline of 5HT2 agonists, the importance of FDA's approval of Spravato, and Compass's impending Ph2b psilocybin data, among other topics relevant in the psychedelic space.        Companies discussed during the podcast: Bright Minds Biosciences Inc. (CSE: DRUG/OTCQB: BMBIF) Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) Cybin Inc. (NYSE: CYBN) Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: XENE) Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)