Xtalks Life Science Podcast

In this episode, Ayesha speaks with Ebrahim S. Delpassand, MD, Founder and CEO of RadioMedix, a company developing innovative radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. With a focus on both PET imaging and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals labeled with alpha and beta emitters, RadioMedix is helping to shape the future of precision oncology. Dr. Delpassand brings a wealth of expertise as a board-certified nuclear medicine physician and a seasoned healthcare entrepreneur. He previously served as Deputy Chair and Chief of Clinical Nuclear Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center and is the Founder and Chairman of Excel Diagnostics & Nuclear Oncology Center. In addition to leading RadioMedix, he holds adjunct professorships in Radiation Oncology at the University of Texas and in Nuclear Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. As a principal investigator and sponsor of five active INDs, Dr. Delpassand is a leader in clinical nuclear medicine research and translational drug development. He also co-founded Infinity Care and Infinity Infusion Care, successfully guiding the latter to acquisition by Curative Healthcare in 2002. Tune into the episode to hear Dr. Delpassand discuss the expanding role of radiopharmaceuticals in oncology, the challenges of developing theranostic agents and how his clinical and entrepreneurial background has shaped his vision for advancing nuclear medicine. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha speaks with Norman Putzki, MD, Senior Vice President and Global Development Head of Neuroscience and Gene Therapy at Novartis, about the complexities and real-world challenges of bringing new therapies to patients with neurological diseases. Dr. Putzki discusses the challenges and opportunities in developing treatments for complex brain disorders, and how gene therapy is being applied in neurological disease. Dr. Putzki transitioned from an academic career in clinical neurology, with a focus on diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), to the pharmaceutical industry in 2010. Since then, he has taken on leadership roles in both medical and development functions, first at Biogen and later at Novartis, where he currently leads global development efforts in neuroscience and gene therapy. During his tenure at Novartis, he has been leading teams around the globe to various new indications, approvals and launches within the neuroscience portfolio. Dr. Putzki received his PhD from Essen University in Germany and completed residency training in Internal Medicine and Neurology in Essen, University College London (Institute of Neurology Queen's Square) and University of Berne (Switzerland). Dr. Putzki is an author/co-author of more than 50 peer reviewed publications and has authored 4 books. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Tune into the episode to learn more about the current landscape of drug development in neuroscience and neurological diseases — from research and strategy to execution on a global scale. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha speaks with Sumita Bhatta, MD, Vice President and Global Development Therapeutic Head of Rare Disease at Amgen. In the conversation, Dr. Bhatta shares insights on how large pharmaceutical companies like Amgen are approaching innovation and patient-centricity in the rare disease space. She also discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in developing therapies for small patient populations and how cross-functional collaboration drives progress in this complex field. Dr. Bhatta is a board-certified medical oncologist with over a decade of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry serving multiple roles in research and development. Dr. Bhatta received her undergraduate degree from UCLA and received both an MA in Applied Physiology and MD from the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, IL. She completed her internal medicine residency, hematology/oncology fellowship and a clinical pharmacology/pharmacogenomics fellowship at the University of Chicago. Tune in to hear how Dr. Bhatta and her team are advancing innovation in rare disease drug development — and why big pharma's role in this space matters more than ever. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Paul Romness, MHP, chair and CEO of OS Therapies, a company developing novel immunotherapies for cancers like osteosarcoma and other solid tumors. Paul shares insights into OS Therapies' lead program, the scientific rationale behind the company's innovative immunotherapy approach and how the company is addressing unmet needs in osteosarcoma. Paul has over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, having served in various functions within major companies like Johnson & Johnson, Amgen and Boehringer Ingelheim. He has been directly involved in the launch of nine major products in the industry covering indications from oncology to surgery, HIV, COPD and diabetes. Throughout his professional career and within his community, Paul has focused on and advocated for unmet medical need and getting treatments to patients. Paul has a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in finance from American University and a Masters of Health Policy (MHP) from George Washington University Medical Center. Tune in to learn how OS Therapies is advancing immunotherapies for osteosarcoma and other solid tumors through innovative, precision-driven approaches. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Dr. Shaharyar Khan, co-founder and chief scientific officer at Rivus Pharmaceuticals. Rivus is developing a new class of investigational medicines called controlled metabolic accelerators (CMAs) for cardiometabolic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, heart failure and MASH by targeting obesity. Dr. Khan is an expert in the field of mitochondrial biology and the development of mitochondrial therapeutics. He has more than two decades of experience managing multidisciplinary teams of mitochondrial biologists, computational and medicinal chemists and clinicians. Prior to his role at Rivus, Dr. Khan co-founded Gencia Biotech, where he also served as chief scientific officer and pioneered multiple drug discovery programs, including large and small molecules aimed at harnessing the unique role of mitochondria in the maintenance of cellular health. Dr. Khan has a BA in philosophy and a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Virginia. Tune in to hear about the novel mitochondrial approach to targeting cardiometabolic diseases that Dr. Khan is leading at Rivus Pharmaceuticals. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Marc Hedrick, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Plus Therapeutics, a company focused on developing a novel class of targeted radiotherapeutics. Prior to heading Plus Therapeutics, Dr. Hedrick served in a number of executive leadership roles including president, CEO and director at Cytori Therapeutics, and president and CEO of StemSource.  Dr. Hedrick is a trained general, vascular and plastic surgeon. He is a former Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  Dr. Hedrick also served as co-director of the Laboratory of Regenerative Bioengineering and Repair at UCLA. Dr. Hedrick obtained his MD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas and MBA from The Anderson School at UCLA in 2005. Tune in to hear about recent advancements and innovations in the field of radiotherapeutics, featuring some of the work Dr. Hedrick is spearheading at Plus Therapeutics. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Carlos Martin, MBA, chief commercial operations and revenue officer at Rocket Pharmaceuticals, a company developing gene therapy cures for rare diseases through innovative science and platforms. Carlos joined Rocket in April 2021 and established the company's early commercial strategy and infrastructure as Chief Commercial Officer. Prior to joining Rocket, Carlos was the US Commercial Head of Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA), a Novartis Oncology Company. His responsibilities included leading commercial strategy and new product launches as well as transforming their go-to-market model. Carlos brings in-depth background and experience globally and locally in commercial strategy and operations across a wide range of modalities and disease areas, including oncology, cardiovascular, metabolism and complex therapeutics. Carlos has a bachelor's degree in economics from ESADE & the Polytechnic University of Barcelona, Spain and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. Tune in to hear from Carlos about the challenges and opportunities in the commercialization of gene therapies for rare diseases. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Marshall Fordyce, MD, founder and CEO of Vera Therapeutics, a company focused on developing treatments for autoimmune diseases. Dr. Fordyce founded Vera in 2016 as an entrepreneur in residence at Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, took the company public in 2021 and has advanced its lead molecule through a successful Phase II trial in IgA nephropathy. The company is on track to read out its Phase III results next quarter. Along the way, Dr. Fordyce has built a world class team of drug developers and raised over $1 billion in capital. Dr. Fordyce previously worked in clinical development leadership roles at Gilead Sciences in the 2010s, driving innovation in treatments for HIV and hepatitis. Dr. Fordyce received his BA from Harvard University and MD from Harvard Medical School, trained in Internal Medicine and served as Chief Resident at NYU Bellevue. Dr. Fordyce currently serves on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. Tune in to hear Dr. Fordyce discuss new innovations in therapies for autoimmune diseases like IgA nephropathy and the work he is leading at Vera Therapeutics. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Shalabh Gupta, MD, founder, chairman and CEO of Unicycive Therapeutics, a company focused on addressing unmet medical needs in renal diseases. Kidney diseases are a major global health concern. In the US, chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than one in seven individuals, and one in three adults with diabetes may have the condition. Before founding Unicycive Therapeutics in 2016, Dr. Gupta served in various roles, including founder and CEO of Biocycive, a commercial strategy role at Genentech and as an equity researcher at UBS Investment Bank and Rodman & Renshaw (currently HC Wainwright). Dr. Gupta is also the founder and CEO of Globavir, which licensed diagnostic technology from Stanford University and then partnered with global commercial diagnostic companies. Dr. Gupta also serves as an advisor to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Innovation Center, a role he has held since 2020. Before his roles in business and finance, Dr. Gupta was an attending physician at NYU Medical Center and a clinical faculty member at the NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Gupta received his MPA in Health Care Finance and Management from NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and his MD from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, India. Tune in to discover how Unicycive Therapeutics is tackling the most pressing unmet needs in renal diseases and driving innovation in kidney health. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

Join us as we celebrate a major milestone — the 200th episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast! From groundbreaking biotech innovations to exclusive interviews with life science industry innovators and leaders, we've covered it all. Thank you for tuning in each week! We look forward to continuing to bring the latest and greatest across the pharma, biotech and medical industries! In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Arun Swaminathan, PhD, CEO of Coya Therapeutics, a company developing regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies targeting neurodegenerative, autoimmune and metabolic diseases. The company is developing a pipeline of therapies designed to enhance the function of dysregulated Tregs in various diseases, including ALS and Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Swaminathan has over 20 years of healthcare business executive experience. He began his career in clinical development, taking on commercial roles of increasing responsibility at Bristol Myers Squibb and Covance. Prior to joining Coya, Dr. Swaminathan served as chief business officer (CBO) at Actinium Pharmaceuticals and Alteogen, leading multi-billion-dollar deals. He also co-founded Lynkogen, a pre-clinical stage biotech, and served as its CEO. Dr. Swaminathan has a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Pittsburgh.   Tune into the episode to hear more about Coya Therapeutics' innovative immunotherapeutic approach from Dr. Swaminathan.   For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera spoke with Ann Beliën, PhD, founder and CEO of Rejuvenate Biomed, a biotech company leveraging AI-driven platforms to develop therapies for age-related diseases and promote healthy aging. Rejuvenate Biomed is aiming to transform the treatment landscape for diseases such as sarcopenia, neuromuscular, metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Beliën founded Rejuvenate Biomed in 2017 and under her leadership, it transitioned from a discovery start-up to a clinical-stage biotech company. Dr. Beliën has more than two decades of experience in drug development that has included international assignments in the US, the Netherlands and Belgium in various therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurology, immunology and infectious diseases. Prior to founding Rejuvenate Biomed, Dr. Beliën served as a due diligence representative for R&D at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) where she was also a member of the management board of Janssen Prevention Center for five years. Dr. Beliën holds a PhD from the University of Irchel in Zürich, Switzerland and a master's degree from the Free University of Brussels (VUB), Belgium. To hear more about how Rejuvenate Biomed is pioneering therapies for age-related diseases and working to promote healthy aging. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Anthea Cherednichenko, MPH, MBA, Vice President, Hematology Franchise Head, Takeda, who discussed driving innovation in rare diseases through collaborations focused on better serving patients and their communities. Anthea has more than a decade of global experience serving the rare disease community, particularly those with blood and bleeding disorders, at Takeda. She is a global healthcare leader with over 20 years of industry experience across the US, Europe and Asia. As Vice President and Franchise Head for Hematology in the US Business Unit at Takeda, Anthea steers a diverse portfolio and team to inspire positive patient outcomes through innovation with a focus on rare diseases, health equity and health care innovation. Tune in to the episode to hear about driving innovations in rare diseases, including the vital role of external and internal collaborations to address significant unmet needs and empower patients throughout their healthcare journeys. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Lee Honigberg, PhD, VP of Research & Development, ALZpath, a provider of diagnostic tools for Alzheimer's disease.    This includes a blood-based biomarker assay, called the ALZpathDx assay, which measures pTau217 in the blood. Prior to joining ALZpath, Dr. Honigberg was most recently Senior Director and Distinguished Scientist in Translational Medicine at Genentech, where he was leading a group responsible for biomarker development for programs in neuroscience, ophthalmology, cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Before Genentech, Dr. Honigberg was at Pharmacyclics where he led the preclinical development of ibrutinib, the first approved BTK inhibitor, establishing a new standard of treatment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Dr. Honigberg's contributions were recognized by the 2019 ACS Heroes in Chemistry award. Dr. Honigberg received a PhD in Neuroscience from the University California San Francisco (UCSF). Tune into to the episode to learn about the latest innovations in Alzheimer's diagnostics. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera speaks with Oded Kraft, Co-Founder, CEO and President of GrayMatters Health, a company transforming mental health care through evidence-based digital brain biomarker technology. Oded shares insights into GrayMatters Health's mission to improve patient outcomes for mental health disorders like PTSD by leveraging their proprietary EEG-fMRI-Pattern (EFP) biomarker. He discusses how this novel technology integrates functional MRI and EEG data to address critical gaps in mental health treatment, offering a personalized approach for patients. With over 20 years of leadership experience at companies like GE Healthcare, Medingo-Roche and Kornit Digital, Oded also reflects on his journey in healthcare innovation, the challenges of scaling cutting-edge technologies and his vision for the future of mental health treatment. Tune in to learn how GrayMatters Health is shaping the future of PTSD treatment and making mental health care more effective worldwide. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Mario Marcondes, MD, PhD, VP Head of Clinical Development at Nektar Therapeutics, a company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies for autoimmune disorders and cancer. Dr. Marcondes is a licensed and trained physician, specializing in oncology and immune oncology. He has more than 15 years of research and teaching experience in Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)/Cellular Therapies and more than 10 years of industry experience. He was the Program Lead for early-stage assets at Nektar and manages clinical trial programs from Phase I through to Phase III. Dr. Marcondes is a member of multiple professional clinical and translational research organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Society of Hematology (ASH), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). Listen to the episode to hear about the current research landscape in autoimmune disorders, including the work Dr. Marcondes is leading at Nektar Therapeutics. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Sarah Averill Lott, MPH, CPH, Research Lead at Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and Diane Stephenson, PhD, Executive Director at the Critical Path for Parkinson (CPP) at the Critical Path Institute. DiMe is a global non-profit and a professional home for digital medicine that aims to drive the broad adoption of digital approaches to advance medicine and public health. DiMe convened a working group to identify barriers to greater utilization of digital measures in Alzheimer's research and subsequently developed resources to help researchers and clinicians more quickly adopt digital measures in this area. Sarah Averill Lott is a program lead at DiMe where she supports programs and resources that promote the safe, effective and equitable use of digital health technologies to advance clinical research and improve outcomes for patients. She has degrees in neuroscience and public health. Diane Stephenson is a neuroscientist by training with 35 years combined experience in academic neuroscience and drug discovery. Dr Stephenson joined Critical Path Institute in 2011 and presently leads the Neurology programs centered around Critical Path for Parkinson's (CPP) and Critical Path for Alzheimer's Disease (CPAD), with the goal of accelerating drug development tools for neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Stephenson received her PhD in Medical Neurobiology from Indiana University. Tune into the episode to hear about the adoption of digital measures in Alzheimer's research and care, including the collaboration between DiMe and the Critical Path Institute. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Amit Etkin, Founder, President and CEO of Alto Neuroscience, a company developing precision treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions. Alto Neuroscience is focused on designing candidates that target core brain processes in patient populations not adequately treated by currently available medications. Alto is currently pursuing candidates in major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar depression and schizophrenia. Mental health disorders are a leading cause of disability globally. In the US alone, 1 in 5 people are living with a mental health disorder, with an estimated $280 billion spent on mental health services in the country in 2020. Despite significant need, the current standard of care consists of treatments that are ineffective for many patients. Dr. Amit Etkin founded Alto in 2019 and is the president, CEO and serves as chair of the company's board of directors. Prior to founding Alto, Dr. Etkin was a tenured professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, where he held multiple leading roles. His research contributions during his tenure at Stanford led to Dr. Etkin being awarded the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Pioneer Award, the most competitive and prestigious NIH grant, and the first in history to be awarded in clinical psychiatry. He also received an Entrepreneur of the Year (EY) award. Tune into the episode to hear from Dr. Etkin about innovations in treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders at Alto Neuroscience. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera spoke with Dr. Robert Den, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Alpha Tau Medical, a company developing cancer treatment with its highly potent alpha radiation technology. Dr. Den shared his journey to becoming CMO at Alpha Tau Medical and discussed the company's mission to bring innovative cancer therapies to patients worldwide. Learn how Alpha Tau's technology differs from traditional radiation therapies, the types of cancers it has shown promise in treating and the impact this novel, investigational approach could have on patient care. With his expertise in radiation oncology and his role as an Associate Professor and Clinical Practitioner at Jefferson University, Dr. Den also provided insights into the challenges in the field and shared his vision for the future of cancer treatment. Don't miss this episode to hear about Alpha Tau Medical's recent advancements and Dr. Den's advice for aspiring leaders in the biotech and medical industries. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Judy Chou, PhD, CEO, President and Board member of AltruBio, a company developing first-in-class immunomodulators to target diseases of the immune system. AltruBio's pipeline includes compounds being investigated for indications such as ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis and acute graft vs. host disease. Prior to joining AltruBio, Dr. Chou headed the global Biotech organization at Bayer Pharmaceuticals overseeing the development, manufacturing and distribution of Bayer's biotechnology pipeline, product portfolio & more than 2,000 employees. Before Bayer, Dr. Chou held various leadership roles at biopharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer/Medivation, Tanvex Biopharma, Genentech, Pfizer (Wyeth) and AbbVie (Abbott). Dr. Chou has extensive experience in biologics development with multiple filings of BLAs, NDAs and INDs of novel products. She is well recognized by the biomedical industry for her leadership and received the Most Influential Women in Business Award in 2018 by San Francisco Business Times. Currently, Dr. Chou also serves as the Board of Directors of Akero Therapeutics, the California Institute of Regenerative Medicines (CIRM); and the Advisory Board members of UC Berkeley Engineering School and Silicon Valley Women in Engineering. Before joining the industry, Dr. Chou was a research faculty member at Harvard University Medical School. Dr. Chou obtained her PhD from Yale University and completed her post-doctoral training at Max-Planck Institute in Germany. Tune into the episode to learn about AltruBio's innovative solutions targeting diseases of inflammation. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Jonathan Rigby, MBA, CEO of Sernova, a Canadian biotech company developing innovative cell therapy-based approaches for the management of type 1 diabetes. The company's lead innovation is an implantable bio-hybrid organ pouch, which is currently in an ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial. An estimated 537 million people are currently living with diabetes globally and this number is projected to reach 643 million by 2030, making it a pressing health issue in need of new, effective solutions. Jonathan has held leaderships positions at several biopharmaceutical companies over his career. Prior to heading Sernova as its CEO, Jonathan served as President and CEO of Revolo Biotherapeutics where he took the company through multiple financings and two Phase II clinical trials. He also served as Chairman and Chief Business Officer of BIOS Acquisition Corporation, with an oversold IPO. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of cancer therapy company Oncolytics Biotech Inc. and IM Therapeutics, which is developing therapies for type 1 diabetes. Tune into the episode to learn about Sernovo's innovative cell-based approaches for the development of type 1 diabetes treatments. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha had a conversation with Lewis Bender, MBA, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Intensity Therapeutics, a biotech company developing first-in-class immune-based intratumorally injected cancer therapies. Intensity's lead product candidate, INT230-6, is currently in human clinical studies for the treatment of refractory solid tumors, including metastatic soft tissue sarcoma and breast cancer. Lewis Bender has almost three decades (28 years) of biopharmaceutical leadership experience and has helped take innovative new products from discovery through to product approval. Lewis has held various leadership roles at biopharmaceutical companies including Interleukin Genetics and Emisphere Technologies. During his career, Lewis has partnered with several major pharmaceutical and biotech companies, with success raising capital from institutional investors through multiple types of transactions. Tune into the episode, to hear more about the work Lewis is heading at Intensity Therapeutics to bring innovative, targeted intratumoral cancer therapies to patients. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with John Yu, MD, CEO of Kairos Pharma, a company advancing therapies to overcome challenges in cancer drug resistance and immune suppression. Kairos is developing therapeutics that reverse cancer drug resistance in cancers such as prostate and lung cancer. The company's lead candidate, ENV105, is an antibody targeting CD105, which is implicated in cancer cell resistance to various treatments. By inhibiting CD105, ENV105 seeks to restore the effectiveness of standard therapies across multiple cancer types. Dr. Yu is also Professor and Clinical Chief of Neurosurgery, Director of the Brain Tumor Center at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He has developed numerous immunotherapies and nanotechnologies from his National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded laboratory. This includes eight new investigational drugs with the US Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Yu has also led numerous clinical trials. Dr. Yu served in leadership roles at several biotechs, including ImmunoCellular Therapeutics and most recently served as CEO and Chairman of AcTcell and Director of Enviro Therapeutics. Dr. Yu has an MD from Harvard Medical School and MIT, and completed an Immunology Fellowship at the Institut Pasteur, Paris. Tune into the episode, to hear more about the work Dr. Yu is leading at Kairos Pharma to address cancer drug resistance. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Thomas Heineman, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer at Oncolytics Biotech, a company developing an oncolytic virus cancer therapeutic that is currently in clinical trials for indications including metastatic breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. Oncolytics is developing a first-in-class, nonpathogenic oncolytic virus administered intravenously that activates, recruits and trains immune cells to identify and destroy cancer cells. Simultaneously, it remodels the tumor microenvironment, improving immune cell infiltration and access. Prior to joining Oncolytics, Dr. Heineman held leadership roles at Denovo Biopharma, Genocea Biosciences and Halozyme Therapeutics. Dr. Heineman's experience extends to big pharma and academia, as he previously worked as Senior Director, Global Clinical Research and Development at GlaxoSmithKline and as an Associate Professor at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Dr. Heineman has co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. To hear more about the work Dr. Heineman is leading at Oncolytics Biotech in the development of oncolytic virus therapy, tune into the episode. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with AnnMarie Hipsley, DPT, PhD, CEO and founder of Ace Vision Group, an ophthalmic laser device company that is bringing touchless eye laser therapy to patients with age-related vision loss. Dr. Hipsley is a vision scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, author and speaker on ocular biomechanics and the biomechanical rejuvenation of the aging eye. She invented an innovative touchless laser system and a laser microporation system for the treatment of presbyopia. Presbyopia is an age-related condition in which the eye gradually loses its ability to focus on close objects due to natural aging of the lens inside the eye. It typically begins to affect individuals around the age of 40 and continues to progress until around age 65. Dr. Hipsley is passionate about educating the health care space on the global burden of uncorrected presbyopia, particularly the socioeconomic and quality of life implications of the condition. Over the past 25 years, she has trained more than 100 ophthalmic surgeons worldwide in using near-infrared lasers for tissue microporation. Tune into the episode to hear more about Dr. Hipsley and Ace Vision Group's innovative solutions for presbyopia. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Click Therapeutics, a company focused on developing software as prescription medical treatments for people with unmet medical needs. Click Therapeutics is specifically developing Digital Therapeutics, which involve the delivery of prescription treatments to patient's smartphones. These are being developed for indications in psychiatry, neurology, oncology, immunology and cardiometabolic diseases. In collaboration with Otsuka, Click Therapeutics most recently developed the first prescription digital therapeutic authorized by the FDA for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder symptoms. Dr. Lakhan, is an inventive entrepreneurial physician-scientist who is board-certified in neurology and pain medicine with over 20 years of industry experience. As Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Click Therapeutics and a Board Director at SpineThera, he spearheads AI-enabled clinical development and drug-delivery platforms. Tune in to the episode to hear more the cutting-edge new field of digital therapeutics and how they are shaping the industry. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Brent Lucas, CEO of Envoy Medical. Envoy Medical is a medical device company focused on providing cutting-edge technologies across the hearing loss spectrum. According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 13 percent of people in the US 12 years of age and older have hearing loss in both ears, underscoring the importance of developing solutions to help this population. Brent Lucas has been the CEO of Envoy Medical Corporation for the last seven years. Brent is a lawyer by training and as a Medical Devices Executive, he has extensive experience leading across enterprise functions. He has over 15 years of experience in active implantables in the hearing health industry. Brent has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of St. Thomas and JD from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Tune into the episode to hear more about the innovative hearing solutions Envoy Medical currently offers and some of the ones under development. Also hear more about hearing health, including guidance on how to protect hearing, where the industry may be headed in the next few years, as well as the Hearing Device Coverage Clarification Act and where it currently stands. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Robert Perkins, MD, Vice President, US Medical Affairs/Renal and Cardiovascular at Bayer who spoke about recent advancements in the heart failure (HF) treatment landscape. This includes new Phase III trial data for Kerendia (finerenone) in patients with heart failure that was presented recently at this year's European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2024. At Bayer, Dr. Perkins leads a team of medical directors and field team members working to advance the care of patients with kidney disease and heart failure. Dr. Perkins has also led the development and implementation of innovative digital educational outreach campaigns for primary care physicians. Prior to joining Bayer, Dr. Perkins held leadership roles with Novartis and AstraZeneca. He obtained an MD at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, a Masters of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Harvard University. Tune into the episode to hear more about the latest trial data for finerenone in heart failure and the landscape of heart failure research. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera spoke with Morgan Hanger, Executive Director of the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI). CTTI is a public-private partnership dedicated to improving the quality and efficiency of clinical trials, aiming to transform the industry by 2030. Hanger shares her career journey, from her roles at PatientsLikeMe and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, to leading CTTI. She explains how her patient-centered focus has shaped CTTI's approach to its Transforming Trials 2030 initiative. Hanger addresses the major challenges in clinical trials today, including regulatory complexities and the need for better data transparency. She explains how CTTI is tackling these issues through collaboration and innovative trial designs, like decentralized and adaptive trials, which aim to improve efficiency and inclusivity. Hanger encourages new clinical trial professionals to embrace innovation and stay patient-focused. She hopes her work at CTTI will influence the development of a clinical trial system that is more efficient, inclusive and better aligned with patient needs. Tune in to learn how CTTI is leading efforts to reshape clinical trials. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera spoke with Dr. Sam Lee, Co-Chief Executive Officer and President of Cocrystal Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech company focusing on antiviral drug development with a unique structure-based drug discovery platform. With over 25 years of experience in anti-infective drug discovery, Dr. Lee brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion on the urgent need for innovative antiviral therapies. The conversation begins with Dr. Lee sharing insights on the mission of Cocrystal Pharma, which leverages Nobel Prize-winning expertise in the development of antiviral drugs. Vera and Dr. Lee then discuss the recent emergence of a new strain of Avian flu, examining the potential risks and the current state of flu vaccines in providing protection against both seasonal and pandemic strains. Dr. Lee delves into the challenges of pandemic preparedness and explains how broad-spectrum antivirals could offer a valuable tool in combating influenza outbreaks. He provides an overview of Cocrystal Pharma's approach, particularly their focus on targeting viral replication proteins, which sets their platform apart from traditional antiviral discovery methods. The discussion also covers the limitations of current antiviral treatments and highlights the unmet medical needs in influenza care. As the conversation wraps up, Dr. Lee discusses his excitement for the future of antiviral drug development. Tune in to gain an understanding of the evolving landscape of antiviral research and the cutting-edge innovations that could redefine treatment options for viral infections. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera spoke with Tim Culp, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development at Interius BioTherapeutics, a Philadelphia-based biotech company. Their lead program focuses on an intravenous CAR therapy for B cell lymphomas. Additionally, the company is advancing a second program aimed at treating autoimmune diseases. Dr. Culp joined Interius following a distinguished 14-year career with Merck Research Laboratories where he supported vaccine and oncolytic virus program development as a Senior Principal Scientist. His experience includes leadership of both early and late-stage development teams responsible for all Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) deliverables needed for clinical programs. Dr. Culp completed a PhD from the Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine for his research on human papillomaviruses. He then completed post-doctoral studies at Penn State developing chimeric papillomavirus vaccines. Dr. Culp holds a BS in Biology/Secondary Education from Christian Heritage College and had a 15-year high school teaching career prior to his graduate studies. Tune into the episode to learn more about the promise of in vivo CAR T therapy and novel advancements in the field. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with James E. Brown, DVM, co-founder, President and CEO of DURECT. DURECT is pioneering a therapeutic strategy by leveraging the potential of epigenetic modulation to alter the trajectory of severe and life-threatening conditions like acute organ injury and cancer. The company is specifically focused on the development of an epigenetic modulator, larsucosterol (DUR-928) for the treatment of alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH). The therapeutic has shown promising results in human studies, including a Phase IIb trial in AH patients. Dr. Brown co-founded DURECT in February 1998 and has served as President, CEO and a Director since June 1998. Dr. Brown has worked in various leadership positions, including as Vice President of Biopharmaceutical and Implant Research and Development at ALZA Corporation from 1995 to 1998 and various leadership roles at Syntex Corporation, now Roche. Dr. Brown holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of California, Davis, where he also conducted postgraduate work in pharmacology and toxicology. Tune into the episode to learn more about the promise of next generation epigenic modulators, including DURECT's innovative epigenetic therapeutic approach. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Vera spoke with Carsten Rudolph, PhD, CEO of Ethris. Ethris was founded by Dr. Rudolph and Professor Christian Plank with the goal of establishing messenger RNA (mRNA) as a novel drug modality for lung diseases such as asthma and rare pulmonary conditions like primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Ethris leverages its proprietary SNIM® RNA platform and lipidoid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology for versatile, multi-route therapeutic applications. As mRNA therapies gain global traction, Dr. Rudolph sees opportunities for Ethris to make an impact. Tune into the episode to explore the promise of nasal delivery of mRNA therapeutics as an innovative approach to treating lung diseases like asthma and beyond. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Kirk Brown, PhD, Vice President of Research at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Alnylam is focused on developing RNAi medicines to transform the way diseases like cardiovascular and neurological diseases are treated. Dr. Brown's preclinical work combining stable siRNA designs with alternative conjugation strategies has enabled potent, long-lasting silencing across the CNS following a single intrathecal administration.  In addition to driving RNAi platform innovations, Dr. Brown leads a team of CNS target biologists at Alnylam and serves as the research lead for ALN-APP, the first clinical CNS RNAi program. In this episode, Dr. Brown discusses the promise and evolving landscape of RNAi therapeutics across various therapeutic areas and Alnylam's approach to developing innovative RNAi medicines. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Jennifer Gudeman, Pharm D, Senior Vice President, Medical and Clinical Affairs, Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, a biopharmaceutical company working on innovative solutions to the development of medications that disrupt treatment paradigms and address unmet needs. The company is currently focused on developing treatments for narcolepsy, a complex chronic neurological sleep disorder. Dr. Gudeman joined Avadel in 2020. This was a critical time for the company as the team had submitted an NDA for a treatment that had the potential to improve the standard of care in narcolepsy. Dr. Gudeman helped continue the clinical development of Lumryz (sodium oxybate) through to its approval, which was approved last May and is the first and only FDA approved once-at-bedtime oxybate for individuals living with narcolepsy. Narcolepsy affects the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and sudden episodes of falling asleep during the day, which can be uncontrollable and occur at inappropriate times. Tune into the episode to learn more about the unmet needs in narcolepsy, the clinical development and approval of Lumryz and where the science is heading in the sleep disorder space. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Steffen-Sebastian Bolz, MD, PhD, a scientist, physician and entrepreneur. He is a Co-Founder of Aphaia Pharma AG and Founder and Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at Qanatpharma AG. Dr. Bolz holds a full professorship at the University of Toronto, is a Principal Investigator at the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and Director of the Toronto Centre for Microvascular Medicine. Aphaia Pharma is developing innovative, non-hormonal treatments for metabolic conditions like diabetes and obesity. The company is focused on restoring a normal metabolic food response through natural and safe treatment alternatives that can be applied to broad populations and enable long-term use. To learn more about Aphaia's innovative approach to treating metabolic conditions like obesity by turning to the body's natural physiology, tune into the episode with Dr. Bolz. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Alessio Travaglia, PhD, neuroscientist and Director Neuroscience at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) and Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Washington University. Results from a head-to-head study led by the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium, with data analysis led by Dr. Schindler, have shown that some commercial diagnostic blood tests are accurate enough for clinical use and could replace cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests and PET scans in the near future for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. This would save patients the cost and pain associated with these traditional diagnostic approaches. The findings were presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Philadelphia recently. The findings could improve clinical diagnosis and speed future drug development by helping researchers select optimal clinical trial participants. Tune into the episode to hear from Dr. Schindler and Dr. Travaglia about the promise of the blood tests for Alzheimer's diagnosis. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Matthew Martinez, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and nationally recognized expert in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). He serves as director of Atlantic Health System Sports Cardiology and the director of the Chanin T. Mast Center for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Dr. Martinez is the Chair of ACC online “LEARNHCM” platform, which educates clinicians about HCM patient care. Dr. Martinez also serves as a cardiology consultant for elite and professional athletes including acting as the League cardiologist for Major League Soccer, team cardiologist for the New York Jets and cardiac consultant for the NFL and NHL. The American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines recently published a new clinical guideline for the evaluation and management of people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which Dr. Martinez co-authored. The guidelines now recommend CAMZYOS (mavacamten), the first and only FDA approved cardiac myosin inhibitor, as a Class 1 Level B-R therapy for the treatment of adults with obstructive HCM who have persistent symptoms after first-line therapy. Tune into the episode to hear Dr. Martinez's expert insights on the significance of the updated guidelines, the firsthand and real-world application of CAMZYOS in clinical practice and HCM care for everyday individuals to high level athletes. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Lawreen Asuncion, a patient advocate who works to raise awareness for the rare disease Usher syndrome. Lawreen has worked professionally in the biotech and life science markets for over 25 years. She provides input and perspectives for rare genetic disease programs and clinical trials sponsored by biotech and pharma companies. Lawreen is a dedicated patient advocate for Usher syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes both hearing and vision loss in most individuals, and also balance for some. As someone living with Usher syndrome type 2c, Lawreen brings a deeply personal perspective to her advocacy work, sharing her experiences and challenges to raise awareness and educate others about the condition. Her advocacy extends to supporting research initiatives and promoting accessibility and inclusion for individuals with sensory impairments. Tune into the episode to hear Lawreen's perspectives as both a life sciences professional and rare disease patient advocate. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Moreno Perugini, President of Active & Medical Nutrition, US & President of Global Pharmaceutical Therapies at Nestlé Health Science US. As President of Global Pharmaceutical Therapies, Moreno and his team actively shape the healthcare system through innovative approaches and a strong commitment to delivering pharmaceutical products with a human-centered focus. Throughout his career spanning over two decades, he has held leadership positions at pharmaceutical companies like AbbVie and Novartis. Notably, he has been instrumental in bringing multiple pharmaceutical technologies to market, across different therapeutic areas guided by his unwavering commitment to prioritizing patients and expanding access to treatment. Moreno holds a master's degree in Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics from Universität Pompeu Fabra – IDEC and an MBA from Bocconi. Last year, Nestlé Health Science won FDA approval for Vowst (Ser-109) for the prevention of recurrent C. difficile infections. Moreno discusses the significance of the approval given the difficulty of treating the recurrent infections, which are usually acquired during hospital stays. Tune into the episode to hear more about the work Moreno is leading at Nestlé Health Science, which includes both nutrition- and pharmaceutical-based treatments for GI conditions and gut health. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Jerry McLaughlin, chief executive officer and board member of Life Biosciences, a company advancing innovative cellular rejuvenation platforms to reverse diseases of aging. Life Biosciences is developing a gene therapy for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), two types of optic neuropathies with significant unmet needs. The company is developing innovative therapies for these indications that are based on innovative partial epigenetic reprogramming and chaperone-mediated autophagy technologies. Jerry McLaughlin has over 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and has been involved in the discovery, clinical development and global commercialization of more than a dozen FDA-approved drugs with multiple successful exits. Jerry began his career at Merck and was extensively involved in multiple blockbuster product launches. Most recently, Jerry was President and CEO for Neos Therapeutics, Inc., a commercial stage pharmaceutical company. He holds a BA in economics from Dickinson College and an MBA from the Villanova School of Business. Tune into the episode to learn more about the work Jerry is leading at Life Biosciences to better understand and target the biology of aging through innovative therapeutics for aging-related diseases with critical unmet medical needs. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Karen S. Ho, PhD, Vice President, Translational Medicine at Clene Nanomedicine, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases to restore and protect neuronal health and function. Clene Nanomedicine is developing nanotherapeutics that target cellular energy impairments common to neurodegenerative and many other diseases. Specifically, the company's lead asset is based on leveraging the catalytic therapeutic activities of gold when engineered as clean-surfaced faceted nanocrystals. At Clene Nanomedicine, Dr. Ho directs the translation of preclinical successes of Clene's lead drug assets into high clinical value with applicability to multiple disease areas. Dr. Ho has a PhD in Developmental Biology from Stanford and completed her postdoctoral training as a National Sleep Foundation Pickwick Scholar and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Neuroscience. Dr. Ho serves on several rare disease group Scientific Advisory Boards and holds a concurrent position as adjunct faculty at the University of Utah School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics. Tune into the episode to learn about Clene Nanomedicines' innovative gold nanocrystal technology and how Dr. Ho is leading its development in diseases like ALS and Multiple Sclerosis. Also hear about Dr. Ho's journey in the biopharmaceutical industry, including a touching personal story. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Marci English, Vice President and Head of BioPharma Development at Astellas Pharma about a groundbreaking new treatment that addresses the underlying mechanisms of menopause symptoms. In May 2023, Astellas received FDA approval for fezolinetant (commercial name Veozah) for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause. The therapy is the first nonhormonal neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist approved to treat vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, which include hot flashes and night sweats. Tune into the episode to learn about the latest on fezolinetant one year after its approval, including its reception from healthcare providers and patients. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Lawrence Blatt, PhD, MBA, Chairman and CEO of Aligos Therapeutics, a company developing targeted therapies for liver diseases like MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) and viral diseases to address important unmet medical needs. Prior to co-founding Aligos Therapeutics, Dr. Blatt served as the Global Head of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson from 2014 to 2018. He also co-founded several biotech companies, including Alios BioPharma, which was acquired by Janssen in November 2014. Dr. Blatt previously served on the board of directors of companies including ReViral Ltd. and Alveo Technologies, Inc., which he co-founded in 2014, and Meissa Vaccines, Inc. Dr. Blatt received an MBA from California State University, Northridge, and a PhD in Public Health Administration from the University of La Verne. In March, Aligos announced the dosing of its first patient in its Phase IIa trial for a novel thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonist (ALG-055009) designed to address the root fibrosis of MASH. The drug is in the same class as Rezdiffra, which was approved this year as the first treatment for MASH. Aligos also shared positive data at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress last month in Milan, Italy for one of its candidate therapeutics for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Tune into the episode to learn more about the work Dr. Blatt is leading at Aligos Therapeutics in chronic liver disease and viral diseases. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Alessio Travaglia, PhD, Director Neuroscience at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) who also manages FNIH's new Accelerating Medicines Partnership in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AMP ALS) program, and Nadia Sethi, DDS, an ALS patient advocate who formerly served as Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Dr. Travaglia has 15 years of experience in basic and translational neuroscience in academia, non-profit, management consulting and venture philanthropy. Dr. Sethi is a patient advocate with strong leadership skills, experienced in patient outreach and representing advocacy organizations. She was a caregiver to her late husband who had ALS. Last month, the FNIH launched a new AMP ALS research program designed to accelerate the discovery and development of treatment and diagnostics for ALS. The goals of the initiative include the faster identification of biomarkers and clinical outcome assessments that will may aid in earlier diagnosis and help accelerate drug development. ALS is a neurologic disease with severely limited treatment options, none of which halt or reverse the progression of the fatal condition. To learn more about the FNIH's new AMP ALS program, including the continuing importance of patient advocacy and inclusion of the patient and caregiver voice in ALS research, tune into the discussion with Dr. Travaglia and Dr. Sethi. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Joshua Cohen and Justin Klee, co-CEOs and co-founders of Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, a company developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Josh and Justin co-founded Amylyx Pharmaceuticals in 2013. Josh co-invented the oral, fixed-dose combination AMX0035 (known commercially as Albrioza in Canada and Relyvrio in the US), which is being explored for the potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. With a background in biomedical engineering, Josh is passionate about improving outcomes where there is a significant unmet need by pursuing research into novel drug candidates for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Justin previously conducted research in neural systems in the Moore lab at Brown University and in neurophysiology and Alzheimer's disease under Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, founding member of Amylyx' Scientific Advisory Board, at Harvard Medical School to explore new approaches to treating relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative diseases. In 2020, Josh and Justin were named to Business Insider's 30 Under 40 in Healthcare list and PM360's ELITE in the Drug Researchers and Developers category among the many other awards they have won throughout their careers thus far. Josh and Justin have overseen the growth of Amylyx from its start as a concept dreamed up in a dorm room at Brown University to a global, commercial stage and publicly traded pharmaceutical company hundreds of employees and headquarters in the US, Canada and the Netherlands to support Amylyx's global operations. Josh and Justin led the global regulatory approvals of AMX0035 for the treatment of ALS in Canada and the US. In April, Amylyx decided to remove the drug from the US and Canadian markets based on data from a confirmatory trial. Tune into the episode to learn more about Amylyx's plans for AMX0035, which include investigations in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Wolfram syndrome. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Howard McLeod, PharmD, Director of the Center for Precision Medicine and Functional Genomics, Professor of Pharmacy and Medicine at Utah Tech University and Precision Medicine Advisor at the Geriatric Oncology Consortium; and Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, Chief Strategy and Science Officer at DoseMe, which is the world's first and largest Bayesian dosing platform designed for clinical practice.Precision dosing, also known as personalized dosing, aims to tailor drug dosages to the individual characteristics of each patient to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes while minimizing adverse effects. It leverages various patient-specific factors, including genetics, age, weight, organ function and even lifestyle, to determine the most appropriate dosage for each individual. Dr. McLeod is an internationally recognized expert in precision medicine, who has made novel contributions at the discovery, translation, implementation and policy levels. Dr. McLeod received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and completed his Post-Doctoral Training at St Jude Children's Research Hospital and the University of Glasgow. Dr. Roy is passionate about leveraging technology to amplify the impact of the pharmacist. Her career spans pediatric clinical pharmacy, clinical research and pharmacogenomics with leadership roles at University of Chicago Medical Center and PipelineRx. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and completed a Pediatric Specialty Pharmacotherapy Residency at Texas Children's Hospital.Tune into the episode to learn more about the current landscape of precision dosing, including the latest technologies and tools designed to help optimize drug dosages.For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/  Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Brian Atwood, Chairman and CEO of CERo Therapeutics, a company pioneering a new generation of autologous T-cell-based therapies for both hematologic and solid tumor cancers. Prior to joining CERo, Brian Atwood served as Chairman of the board of directors of Phoenix Biotech Acquisition Corp., which merged with CERo Therapeutics to form CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. Mr. Atwood has founded and co-founded several biotechnology and healthcare-focused companies throughout his career, including Cell Design Labs Inc. where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer until 2018 when it was acquired by Gilead Sciences. He has also served as chairman on the board of directors of numerous biotech companies, including Immune Design Corp. (which was acquired by Merck in 2019), Veracyte and Five Prime Therapeutics among others. Mr. Atwood holds a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, a MS in Ecology from the University of California, Davis and an MBA from Harvard Business School.Tune into the episode to learn about CERo's next-gen T-cell technology and its lead therapeutic candidate, a CER T cell product that contains a phagocyte receptor component. Hear about how it is being employed for AML, a blood cancer that remains among the most challenging cancers to treat. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/  Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Sam Lee, PhD, Co-Chief Executive Officer and President of Cocrystal Pharma, a company developing novel antiviral therapeutics against COVID-19 and other coronaviruses, influenza viruses and noroviruses.Cocrystal Pharma leverages a unique structure-based drug discovery platform, complemented by Nobel Prize-winning expertise, to develop leading-edge antiviral drugs that are both first-in-class and best-in-class. Their antivirals specifically target the viral replication process and are designed for safety, broad-spectrum effectiveness, resistance management and ease of administration.Dr. Lee brings over 25 years of experience in anti-infective drug discovery research to his role. Before joining Cocrystal, he spent eight years overseeing anti-infective drug discovery initiatives at Icos Corporation. During his tenure at Icos, Dr. Lee integrated protein crystallography and structural screening technologies into the company's research programs and was instrumental in the development of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) delta inhibitors, leading to an FDA-approved product. Dr. Lee earned his PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame and completed his postdoctoral training in viral biochemistry at Stanford University. While at Stanford, he also established Viral Assays in Cupertino, CA, where he served as CEO.Tune in to the episode to learn about Cocrystal Pharma's structure-based drug discovery approach to developing next-gen antiviral treatments. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/  Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with John Finn, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Tome Biosciences, a company developing programmable gene insertion (PGI) technology.PGI is a cutting-edge gene editing technology that allows for the insertion of large sequences of DNA with site-specific precision. PGI is a revolutionary approach for the development of potentially curative cell and integrative gene therapies. The technology underlies Tome's investigational candidate therapeutics for autoimmune diseases and the rare metabolic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) among other conditions.Dr. Finn has over 20 years of experience in the gene therapy space with a focus on genome editing and delivery technologies. He was most recently Vice President of Discovery Research at Codiak Biosciences, where he led the development of a new class of therapeutics based on engineered exosomes. Prior to Codiak, Dr. Finn was Executive Director of Platform Biology and Liver Discovery at Intellia Therapeutics, where he was responsible for the development of viral and non-viral delivery systems and demonstrated the first in vivo systemic administration of CRISPR-based therapeutics. He has served as an American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Committee Member for multiple committees. Dr. Finn trained with Pieter Cullis and Ian MacLachlan and received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of British Columbia.Tune in to the episode to learn about Tome Biosciences' innovative gene editing technology and lead therapeutic assets. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/  Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Jeremy Levin, D. Phil, MB BChir, CEO and Chairman of Ovid Therapeutics Inc., and Meg Alexander, Chief Strategy Officer at Ovid.Ovid Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of medicines for epilepsies and seizure-related neurological disorders.Prior to founding Ovid, Dr. Levin was president and CEO of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and a member of the executive committee at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) Company where he was the architect, lead and implementer of the String of Pearls Strategy, which transformed BMS and facilitated the initiation and massive growth of the immuno-oncology revolution in the biopharmaceutical industry. Dr. Levin also serves on the board and executive committee of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) as the immediate past chairman. Dr. Levin was voted as one of the 25 most influential biotechnology leaders by Fierce Biotech, one of the top three biotechnology CEOs by The Healthcare Technology Report and one of the PharmaVoice100 CEOs in 2020 and 2021. He was selected by Endpoints in 2021 as one of the 60 living pioneers of the industry, and has received several awards throughout his career. Dr. Levin has practiced medicine at university hospitals in England, South Africa and Switzerland. Meg Alexander serves as Ovid's chief strategy officer, a role in which she oversees and supports the company's corporate strategy and planning, performance measurement and risk mitigation. She also oversees the company's corporate affairs function with a focus on engaging Ovid's stakeholders across patient and caregiver communities, policymakers, press and investors.Ms. Alexander has worked in the biopharmaceutical industry for two decades and has played a key role in launching more than 25 new medicines for many conditions including rare epilepsies, ALS, HIV, multiple sclerosis, Batten's disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. She has advised and led campaigns for large healthcare organizations, including Pfizer, Novartis, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Nestle and Coca-Cola among many others. Prior to Ovid, she founded and led the Reputation & Risk Management Group, a consultancy within Syneos Health, one of the world's largest clinical research organizations. Ms. Alexander was named a “Disruptor” and a “Rising Star” in her industry by PM360 and the Healthcare Business Women's Association, respectively.This year, OVID is expecting several CNS data readouts, including one for its lead product candidate soticlestat, which is currently in Phase III trials for the treatment of refractory seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, a rare epilepsy with high unmet need.Tune in to the episode to learn more about Ovid Therapeutics' developmental pipeline featuring treatments for epilepsies and seizures associated with rare brain conditions.  For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/  Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine Health Policy and Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University; and Kelly Moore, MD, MPH, President and CEO at Immunize.org and Associate Professor of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University.Dr. Schaffner and Dr. Moore discussed the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) recommendation of a trivalent influenza vaccine strain selection, as opposed to a typical quadrivalent vaccine, with the 2024/2025 influenza season reflecting the removal of the B/Yamagata strain. A renowned infectious disease expert, having appeared on numerous media outlets including CNN particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Schaffner's primary interest has been the prevention of infectious diseases domestically and globally in both pediatric and adult populations. After residency training and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Schaffner served in the US Public Health Service as an epidemic intelligence service officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. After that tour of duty, Dr. Schaffner joined the faculty at Vanderbilt, establishing a long collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Health. Dr. Schaffner has been a member of numerous expert advisory committees that established national vaccine policy. Dr. Schaffner is also the current medical director and past president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and has served on the executive board for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Prominent infectious disease expert Dr. Moore served for 14 years as the director of the Tennessee Immunization Program and later founded her own consulting company, The Vaccine Advisor, to advise public health and industry before her current role as president and CEO of immunize.org, a leading nonprofit organization focused on national and global vaccine policy and immunization program implementation. Dr. Moore has served in a variety of immunization policy advisory roles with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2016, including as chair of its Immunization Practices Advisory Committee. Dr. Moore is a graduate of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine and the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed her public health leadership training as an epidemic intelligence service and preventive me