Podcasts about therapeutics

4. mars 2026 I denne episoden er Per Walday, CEO i Exact Therapeutics, tilbake i studio for en oppdatering om selskapet. Exact Therapeutics er et norsk biotekselskap som utvikler en ultralydbasert teknologi kalt Acoustic Cluster Therapy (ACT), som brukes til å levere kreftlegemidler mer presist inn i svulster. Samtalen dreier seg i stor grad om ENACT-studien – en pågående fase 2-klinisk studie i bukspyttkjertelkreft, en av de vanskeligste kreftformene å behandle. Per forteller om den positive sikkerhetsavlesningen fra studien i slutten av januar 2026, som utløste en forhåndsavtalt finansieringsmekanisme der investorene valgte å kjøpe seg ytterligere opp i selskapet. Hele 96 % benyttet seg av denne muligheten, og selskapet fikk inn 60 millioner kroner. Vi snakker også om veien videre for selskapet, og hvilke milepæler som kommer framover. Neste uke skal Jónas og Elisabeth ha en nyhetsoppdatering, der vi særlig snakker om de gode nyhetene fra Photocure og Cevira. Send oss gjerne spørsmål!

Welcome back to Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives!In this episode, cohosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, provide a comprehensive update on the rapidly evolving landscape of incretin-based therapies, focusing on newly published and top-line clinical trial data across oral GLP-1 receptor agonists and emerging triple agonists.Key Episode Timestamps00:00:01 Intro00:00:22 Orforglipron in the ACHIEVE-3 trial00:03:30 Side effects from orforglipron00:10:28 Retatrutide in the TRIUMPH-4 trial00:18:26 Topline data on Novo Nordisk's UBT25100:21:47 Price cuts on Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy in 202700:26:26 Outro

David Southwell, CEO of Volastra Therapeutics, shares his insights about leadership in biopharma and how Volastra is working to discover and develop oncology therapeutics targeting chromosomal instability, a vulnerability of cancers.

In the industry news section of this week's episode, we kick things off with Tamarind Bio's efforts to develop user-friendly artificial intelligence tools for science researchers. Then we examine the impact of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's reversal on its earlier refusal to review Moderna's mRNA vaccine for the flu, discuss Gilead's acquisition of Arcellx to expand its cancer therapy pipeline, and dive into Takeda's investment in Vir Biotech's prostate cancer candidate. Then on the research front, we get into the science behind new protein-like polymers engineered to target and degrade some of cancer's most challenging driver proteins. And we discuss a potential control switch for CAR T cells that could make these immunotherapies much safer. Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Fay Lin, PhD, Uduak Thomas and Alex Philippidis for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news. Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base: Tamarind Bio Secures $13.6M Series A to Make AI More Accessible for BiologyBy Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, February 24, 2026 StockWatch: FDA Reversal Boosts Moderna, But Not Other Vaccine CompaniesBy Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, February 21, 2026Gilead to Acquire Arcellx for $7.8B, Adding Anito-Cel to Cancer PipelineBy Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, February 23, 2026Astellas, Vir Biotechnology Launch Up-to-$1.7B Prostate Cancer CollaborationBy Alex Philippidis, GEN, February 26, 2026New Protein-Like Polymers Target, Degrade “Undruggable” Proteins Driving CancerGEN, February 11, 2026Drug-Controlled CAR T Cells May Enable Safer ImmunotherapyGEN, February 23, 2026Touching Base Podcast Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD Behind the Breakthroughs Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Data in Biotech, Ross Katz sits down with Kyle Smith and Jacob Mayer from Aprecia Pharmaceuticals to explore how 3D printing is transforming pharmaceutical manufacturing. They dive into the unique binder jetting process, in-cavity printing, and how real-time data and automation are enabling agile, scalable, and precise drug production. Discover how Aprecia's approach is changing the game for clinical trials and personalized medicine. What you'll learn in this episode: >> How Aprecia developed the world's first FDA-approved 3D printed drug >> Why binder jetting stands out among 3D printing methods in pharma >> How in-cavity 3D printing enables real-time tablet-level data collection >> The future of closed-loop control and digital twins in drug manufacturing >> Why 3D printing is key to agile, distributed, and personalized pharma production Meet our guests: Kyle Smith is President and COO of Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, leading strategic growth and innovation in GMP-regulated pharma manufacturing. With 12+ years at Aprecia, he brings deep expertise in engineering, operations, and technology transfer. Jacob Mayer is Director of Engineering Innovation at Aprecia Pharmaceuticals. With a decade of experience across automation, additive manufacturing, and life sciences, he leads the advancement of 3D printing technologies and integrated pharma systems. About the host Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation. Connect with our guests: Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancyConnect with Jacob Mayer on LinkedIn Connect with Kyle Smith on LinkedIn Connect with us: Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!Connect with Ross Katz on LinkedIn Sponsored by… This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.

Send a textIn this episode of the WTR Healthcare Happenings podcast, Tim Gerdeman, Vice Chair, Co-Founder, and CMO of Water Tower Research, and Robert Sassoon, WTR's Healthcare Research Analyst, speak with Rick Pierce, CEO of Decoy Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DCOY). The conversation explores Decoy's innovative business model for developing peptide‑conjugate antivirals designed to target multiple respiratory viruses. Pierce explains how Decoy is navigating the modern era of drug development with a cost‑effective, highly efficient strategy that positions the company as a disruptive force in biotech. Central to this approach is Decoy' proprietary peptide‑synthesis technology and rapid design‑build‑test cycle, powered by machine learning. He also underscores the importance of Decoy's strategic partnerships with the Gates Foundation, Google, and NVIDIA in advancing its platform and accelerating development.

Welcome back to Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives!In this episode, hosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, provide a detailed update on evolving incretin-based therapies, with a primary focus on a significant formulation change for tirzepatide.Key Episode Timestamps00:00:01 Intro00:00:11 Zepbound in the KwikPen00:01:25 Vials versus pens00:02:55 Environmental benefits00:03:53 Pen needles sold separately00:06:30 LillyDirect availability00:07:20 Europe approves 7.2 mg injectable semaglutide00:09:08 Reusable pen concerns00:10:55 Outro

Welcome back to Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives!In this episode, cohosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, explore advances in implantable diabetes technologies, focusing on a novel implantable insulin pump from Portal Diabetes that has received FDA Breakthrough Device designation.Key Timestamps00:00:01 Intro00:00:14 Implantable insulin pumps00:01:06 What is breakthrough status?00:03:00 How the pump works00:03:41 What makes it different from MiniMed?00:07:36 How does it administer insulin?00:09:47 The Twiist pump with EverSense00:13:30 Outro

Send a textDr. Karsten Eastman, Ph.D. is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sethera Therapeutics ( https://setheratx.com/ ), a company focused revolutionizing peptide-based drug development with a cutting-edge enzymatic cross-linking technology, and their platform enables the synthesis of highly stable, polymacrocyclic peptides designed to engage multiple targets simultaneously, offering unparalleled precision in therapeutic design.Trained as a chemist at the University of Utah, where he earned his PhD in 2023, Dr. Eastman has built his career at the intersection of peptide synthesis, protein engineering, and radical enzymology. His work focuses on understanding how enzymes choreograph complex molecular transformations — and then harnessing those principles to build programmable, drug-like molecules.In collaboration with researchers at the University of Utah, Dr. Eastman and his team recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences a breakthrough discovery involving PapB, a radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzyme capable of installing precise, durable thioether “staples” into peptides in a single enzymatic step. This work opens vast new chemical space for macrocyclic peptide therapeutics and offers a powerful new approach to targeting diseases long considered “undruggable.”At Sethera Therapeutics, Dr. Eastman is translating this enzymatic platform into next-generation peptide medicines that aim to combine the selectivity of biologics with the drug-like properties of small molecules.#PeptideTherapeutics #DrugDiscovery #Biotechnology #Enzymology#RadicalSAM #PapB #SetheraTherapeutics #UndruggableDiseases#MacrocyclicPeptides #Bioengineering #Therapeutics #Innovation #ScienceBreakthrough #PeptideDrugs #EnzymeTechnologySupport the show

This episode is a must-listen for COOs, Agile Coaches, and Business Leaders who want to bridge the gap between "technical agility" and "business agility."When startups grow, they often bring in "responsible adults" who implement traditional playbooks in Finance, HR, and Legal. While well-intentioned, these silos often create a "factory mindset" that undermines the very agility that made the company successful.In this episode, Dave West is joined by Tyson Bertmaring, VP Partnership Success at Dyno Therapeutics and Yuval Yeret, Professional Scrum Trainer, to discuss how Dyno Therapeutics is taking a different path. By applying the Agile Product Operating Model (APOM) to General & Administrative (G&A) functions, Dyno is treating its organizational capabilities as a product to be engineered, not a hierarchy to be managed.What you'll learn:The Stewardship Mindset: Moving from local optimization (like chasing $10k in interest income) to systemic value (ensuring vendor reliability).The "Two Jobs" Challenge: Balancing "running the business" with "building a better system."G&A as a Service: Identifying essential services—like talent acquisition and contracting—and developing them into exceptional "internal products."More!Subscribe to the Professional Scrum Unlocked Substack for more insights on this episode and others!

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, Tyler is joined by Marc Damelin, Chief Scientific Officer at Alphina Therapeutics. Marc shares his journey from physics undergraduate to Biotech leader, and how a love of problem‑solving gradually drew him from yeast genetics into human disease and ultimately into drug development. After a decade in big pharma working on antibody–drug conjugates, he steps into Biotech leadership, first at Mersana and now at Alphina, where he's pioneering a new class of ADCs built around NAMPT inhibition. Along the way, Marc reflects on choosing industry without having a clear plan, understanding what makes a role the right fit, and why being truly data‑driven is one of the most important habits a scientist can develop. An open, forward‑looking conversation about evidence, judgment and the momentum that comes from backing the right ideas at the right time.

When Terry Pirovolakis learned his son had an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease, SPG50, he refused to accept “no options.” What started as a desperate search for hope became Elpida Therapeutics, a nonprofit driving gene therapy innovation for multiple rare diseases. In this episode, Terry shares the remarkable journey from diagnosis to clinical trials, the power of partnerships, and why urgency matters when every day counts.Show NotesFrom Mystery to Medicine: The Science Behind a Mother's Search | PodcastTaking a Customized and Collaborative Approach to Therapeutic Development | PodcastRare Disease Research for Drug Development | Charles RiverRare Disease | Charles RiverDiscovery | Charles RiverBeyond The Diagnosis

Dive into the trends and topics that have taken over both conventional and holistic spaces in 2026. There seems to be a lot of new options for the "magic pill" solution- to weight loss, anti-aging, and soooo much more! When something seems too good to be true, it is smart to take a closer look before deciding if it's right for you. Jenni and Kendra help explain the science behind these new therapeutics and the "natural" spin that is making people jump on the bandwagon.Send a text Want to work with a Preventative Health Practitioner and get started on your journey to health ? Visit us here: TYHBN.com--Interested in learning more about becoming a PHP? Find out more: InstituteOfPreventativeHealth.com

This episode features Selwyn M. Vickers, MD, FACS, a pancreatic cancer surgeon and president and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. During the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Oncology Lecture at Clinical Congress 2025, Dr. Vickers discussed a transformative era in cancer care, where scientific breakthroughs are reshaping cancer therapeutics and redefining the role of surgeons. Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #HouseofSurgery

Welcome back to Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives!In this episode, cohosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, explore major updates in the evolving GLP-1 receptor agonist landscape, with a particular focus on oral semaglutide formulations, branding changes, and regulatory concerns surrounding compounded alternatives.Key Episode Timestamps00:00:01 Intro00:00:25 Oral Wegovy and oral Ozempic00:03:04 Why Rybelsus didn't work00:05:33 The importance of administration00:06:56 Compounding drugs - the Hims and Hers drama00:07:56 The danger of unregulated compound drugs00:11:50 Outro

Dr. Howard Federoff, Scientific Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer, and Executive Vice President of Corporate Medicine and Science at Kenai Therapeutics, is developing a cell therapy for Parkinson's disease that involves transplanting IPSCs into the brain to replace lost dopamine neurons.  The goal is not to cure the underlying cause of the disease, but to restore motor function and reverse the disease's progression. Initial clinical focus was on patients with moderate to moderate-severe idiopathic Parkinson's, showing efficacy and safety, leading to expanding the study to include earlier-stage and familial forms of the disease. Howard explains, "Kenai was formed about three and a half years ago, and the intention is to develop a cellular product, which means that what is manufactured will be eligible in the right patient groups who have a diagnosis of Parkinson's to be placed into the brain. And consequent to its placement, the cells will then form new circuits, dopamine circuits that are lost owing to the disease diagnosis that will have occurred years earlier." "The induced pluripotent stem cell approach is one we favor for several reasons. The nature of what then becomes the IPSC, as we like to call it, starts with a normal human volunteer whose medical history is very detailed and does not contain any familial personal history of neurodegeneration. That cell then undergoes a process called reprogramming. And in our case, it's done with a slightly different approach than many others. And the reprogramming effectively creates a cell that is pluripotent, meaning it can become any cell of the body. That's when it is designated as an induced pluripotent stem cell."  #KenaiTherapeutics #ParkinsonsDisease #CellTherapy #StemCells #Neuroscience #MedicalInnovation #ClinicalTrials #RegenerativeMedicine #Biotechnology #BioTech #AdvancedBiologics #NeurologicalDisorders #Neurology #DrugDevelopment KenaiTx.com Listen to the podcast here  

Dr. Howard Federoff, Scientific Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer, and Executive Vice President of Corporate Medicine and Science at Kenai Therapeutics, is developing a cell therapy for Parkinson's disease that involves transplanting IPSCs into the brain to replace lost dopamine neurons.  The goal is not to cure the underlying cause of the disease, but to restore motor function and reverse the disease's progression. Initial clinical focus was on patients with moderate to moderate-severe idiopathic Parkinson's, showing efficacy and safety, leading to expanding the study to include earlier-stage and familial forms of the disease. Howard explains, "Kenai was formed about three and a half years ago, and the intention is to develop a cellular product, which means that what is manufactured will be eligible in the right patient groups who have a diagnosis of Parkinson's to be placed into the brain. And consequent to its placement, the cells will then form new circuits, dopamine circuits that are lost owing to the disease diagnosis that will have occurred years earlier." "The induced pluripotent stem cell approach is one we favor for several reasons. The nature of what then becomes the IPSC, as we like to call it, starts with a normal human volunteer whose medical history is very detailed and does not contain any familial personal history of neurodegeneration. That cell then undergoes a process called reprogramming. And in our case, it's done with a slightly different approach than many others. And the reprogramming effectively creates a cell that is pluripotent, meaning it can become any cell of the body. That's when it is designated as an induced pluripotent stem cell."  #KenaiTherapeutics #ParkinsonsDisease #CellTherapy #StemCells #Neuroscience #MedicalInnovation #ClinicalTrials #RegenerativeMedicine #Biotechnology #BioTech #AdvancedBiologics #NeurologicalDisorders #Neurology #DrugDevelopment KenaiTx.com Download the transcript here  

In today's episode, our discussion features Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, FASCO. Dr Bardia is a professor in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, the director of Translational Research Integration, and a member of Signal Transduction and Therapeutics at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, California.In our exclusive interview, Dr Bardia discussed key findings from the phase 3 lidERA Breast Cancer study (NCT04961996) showing the invasive disease–free survival superiority of giredestrant (GDC-9545) over standard endocrine therapy in patients with estrogen receptor–positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer. Our discussion also covered the ongoing phase 3 INAVO123 trial (NCT06790693), which is investigating inavolisib (Itovebi) plus CDK4/6 inhibitors and letrozole in patients with endocrine-sensitive, PIK3CA-mutated breast cancer. Dr Bardia also emphasized the importance of testing for ESR1 and PIK3CA mutations in order to better personalize treatment.

During last year's PEGS Europe, industry experts gathered on a panel to discuss the future of biologic therapeutics. The panel kicked off with a presentation on 50 years of monoclonals, from hybridomas to next-gen antibody therapeutics, followed by a conversation featuring Paul Carter, Ph.D., Genentech Fellow of Antibody Engineering, G. Jonah Rainey, Ph.D., associate vice president of Eli Lilly and Company, and Janine Schuurman, Ph.D., biotech consultant at Lust for Life Science B.V. Moderated by Daniel Chen, M.D., Ph.D., founder and CEO of Synthetic Design Lab, the discussion centered around whether half-life extended peptides will eventually replace multispecific antibodies. Links from this episode:  PEGS Europe  PEGS Synthetic Design Lab Genentech Eli Lilly and CompanyLust for Life Science B.V. 

Neurizon Therapeutics LTD. (OTCQB: NUZTF) is an Australian clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, with their lead program aimed at ALS. Michael Thurn, CEO and Managing Director of Neurizon, joins us to discuss their mission to address neurodegenerative diseases through its lead ALS therapy  View Podcast Transcript

From Romania to Roche to cutting-edge Biotech, Roxana Dreghici has carved out a remarkable career in drug development - and she's done it with grit, clarity and the courage to leap into the unknown. Now VP of Musculoskeletal at Edgewise Therapeutics, Roxana shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey: from her early days coordinating clinical trials in Texas, to building a name for herself in global pharma, and ultimately returning to her passion for muscular dystrophies. In this episode of Careers in Discovery, we talk ambition, adaptability, and the importance of knowing what you want - even before you know how to get it.

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message.In episode 121 of Cell & Gene: The Podcast, Host Erin Harris talks to Scribe Therapeutics' CEO and Co-Founder Benjamin Oakes about building next‑generation CRISPR and epigenetic editing tools to move genetic medicine beyond rare disease into common cardiometabolic indications. Oakes shares Scribe's engineered CasX platform and epigenetic silencers, preclinical data from its various programs, and why exquisite specificity and low-dose LNP delivery are essential to treating patients safely. They also explore Scribe's partnerships with Sanofi and Lilly, the company's cardiometabolic-first strategy co-developed with Dr. Jennifer Doudna, and Oakes' conviction that genetic medicines can fundamentally reshape healthspan and the future of preventive cardiovascular care.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple | Spotify | YouTube Visit my website: Cell & Gene Connect with me on LinkedIn

In today's episode, the discussion features Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, FASCO. Dr Bardia is a professor in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, the director of Translational Research Integration, and a member of Signal Transduction and Therapeutics at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, California.In the exclusive interview, Dr Bardia discussed the rationale and design of the phase 3 ELEGANT study (NCT06492616), which is evaluating elacestrant (Orserdu) compared with standard endocrine therapy in patients with estrogen receptor–positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer at high risk of disease recurrence.

Dr. Marc Hedrick, President and CEO of Plus Therapeutics Inc.,  has expanded their focus from glioblastoma to leptomeningeal metastasis, a central nervous system cancer that is a growing challenge due to increased survival rates from primary cancers. Their highly sensitive, advanced diagnostic test, CNSide, can detect cancer cells in cerebrospinal fluid, addressing the shortcomings of imaging and outdated standard-of-care practices. Using AI and advanced data analytics, their lead drug candidate is uniquely suited for treating CNS cancers because its safety at high doses enables the precise delivery of radiation. Marc explains, "Since we last talked and we discussed primarily the use of radiotherapeutics for the treatment of glioblastoma. We've expanded that pretty significantly into a disease called leptomeningeal metastasis. And I think we may have touched on that briefly, at least conceptually, a few years ago. But now it's really real. We've just completed a phase one trial, and we're expanding that with the goal of getting the drug approved, perhaps sooner than with glioblastoma, by focusing on leptomeningeal cancer, for which there's nothing approved. And maybe it would be a good idea to back up and explain a little bit about what that is, because there's an epidemic of it that's not commonly understood."   "So the central nervous system is a protected organ in the body. Now, I mean the brain and the spinal cord. And it's that way for a reason to keep bad things out. Things like infections, tumors, or certain chemical toxins. And that includes drugs. Only about 2% of all drugs get into the central nervous system, which is a problem from a therapeutic perspective. But there's an epidemic in terms of metastases to the brain and spinal cord. Let's call those the CNS collectively. And that's because many common tumors like breast cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and melanoma are better controlled locally with drugs that don't have to worry about getting into the central nervous system. They just need to get into those specific organs and tissues and then exert control over the tumor where it occurred."    $PSTV #LM #CNS #Cancer #LeptomeningealMetastases #CNSide #BrainCancer #Oncology #Radiotherapeutics #MedicalInnovation #CancerResearch #Biotechnology #PatientCare #ClinicalTrials #HealthcareInnovation #CancerTreatment #Neuroscience #MedTech plustherapeutics.com Listen to the podcast here

Dr. Marc Hedrick, President and CEO of Plus Therapeutics Inc.,  has expanded their focus from glioblastoma to leptomeningeal metastasis, a central nervous system cancer that is a growing challenge due to increased survival rates from primary cancers. Their highly sensitive, advanced diagnostic test, CNSide, can detect cancer cells in cerebrospinal fluid, addressing the shortcomings of imaging and outdated standard-of-care practices. Using AI and advanced data analytics, their lead drug candidate is uniquely suited for treating CNS cancers because its safety at high doses enables the precise delivery of radiation. Marc explains, "Since we last talked and we discussed primarily the use of radiotherapeutics for the treatment of glioblastoma. We've expanded that pretty significantly into a disease called leptomeningeal metastasis. And I think we may have touched on that briefly, at least conceptually, a few years ago. But now it's really real. We've just completed a phase one trial, and we're expanding that with the goal of getting the drug approved, perhaps sooner than with glioblastoma, by focusing on leptomeningeal cancer, for which there's nothing approved. And maybe it would be a good idea to back up and explain a little bit about what that is, because there's an epidemic of it that's not commonly understood."   "So the central nervous system is a protected organ in the body. Now, I mean the brain and the spinal cord. And it's that way for a reason to keep bad things out. Things like infections, tumors, or certain chemical toxins. And that includes drugs. Only about 2% of all drugs get into the central nervous system, which is a problem from a therapeutic perspective. But there's an epidemic in terms of metastases to the brain and spinal cord. Let's call those the CNS collectively. And that's because many common tumors like breast cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and melanoma are better controlled locally with drugs that don't have to worry about getting into the central nervous system. They just need to get into those specific organs and tissues and then exert control over the tumor where it occurred."    $PSTV #LM #CNS #Cancer #LeptomeningealMetastases #CNSide #BrainCancer #Oncology #Radiotherapeutics #MedicalInnovation #CancerResearch #Biotechnology #PatientCare #ClinicalTrials #HealthcareInnovation #CancerTreatment #Neuroscience #MedTech plustherapeutics.com Download the transcript here

What if the failure rate in clinical trials isn't about picking the wrong drug candidates—but about testing them in the wrong models?When you move cells from a 2D culture plate into a bioreactor, you're not simply scaling volume. You're fundamentally changing the biological context. Cell density shifts. Mass transfer dynamics evolve. Mechanical cues emerge. The cells sense these changes and respond—often in ways that derail strategies built on oversimplified assumptions.Most preclinical research still relies on flat plastic surfaces and animal models that miss critical aspects of human biology. The result? Therapeutics fail late in development because the models couldn't predict how human tissues would actually respond.In this episode, David Brühlmann speaks with Catarina Brito, Principal Investigator at ITQB NOVA and Head of the Advanced Cell Models Laboratory at iBET and ITQB NOVA in Portugal. Catarina's career-defining insight came early: studying glycan-protein interactions in murine versus human cells revealed that species differences weren't just nuances—they were fundamental gaps that could mislead entire research programs.Catarina and her team have developed neural, liver, and tumor models that capture the multicellular complexity and microenvironmental cues that 2D cultures cannot replicate. Her work creates preclinical models sophisticated enough to predict human responses while remaining scalable for drug development workflows.Highlights of the episode:Limitations of traditional 2D cell cultures and animal models in capturing realistic tissue behavior and therapeutic responses (06:27)Catarina Brito's personal scientific journey: from discovering model limitations to pioneering 3D culture systems in neural and liver tissues (04:19)How advanced 3D models recreate cell-to-cell interactions, tissue-specific microenvironments, diffusion gradients, and multicellular complexity (10:35)Regulatory movements toward reducing animal models, and the challenge of validating advanced alternatives for systemic biology studies (09:10)Key differences in designing bioreactors for various cell types, with practical examples from liver and neural models (15:16)The impact of scalable, robust 3D models on accelerating drug development and improving selection of candidate therapies (17:22)Key Takeaway:Bioprocess development starts when you choose the model that validates your therapeutic approach. If that model can't capture the biology that matters, every downstream optimization is built on a flawed foundation.In Part 2, Catarina reveals how 3D tumor microenvironments expose drug resistance mechanisms invisible in 2D cultures, and her vision for AI-powered digital twins enabling personalized medicine.Subscribe & Review:If this conversation changed how you think about preclinical model selection, leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help other biotech scientists discover these insights.For more CMC development insights, visit smartbiotechscientist.com.Connect with Catarina Brito:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/catarina-brito-ibetAdvanced Cell Models Lab – iBET: www.ibet.pt/laboratories/advanced-cell-models-labNext step:Need fast CMC guidance? → Get rapid CMC decision support hereSupport the show

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message. The Business of Biotech was back in San Francisco for the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (January 12 - 15) and this week we sit down with Marc Salzberg, M.D., CEO, CMO, and Board Chair at Airway Therapeutics, a company developing a recombinant version of human surfactant protein D for several respiratory, inflammatory, and infectious diseases including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is currently in Phase 2b/3 trials. Brian talks about why he selected BPD as a lead clinical indication (a disease primarily affecting preterm infants), what he learned through founding and selling a CRO, how a private biotech funds a pivotal trial across continents, and offers an industry outlook for 2026.   Access this and hundreds of episodes of the Business of Biotech videocast under the Business of Biotech tab at lifescienceleader.com. Subscribe to our monthly Business of Biotech newsletter. Get in touch with guest and topic suggestions: ben.comer@lifescienceleader.comFind Ben Comer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencomer/

How do you go from a 60% pay cut to becoming a VP of Sales in one of the most competitive industries in the world?In this episode, Dave Hazard (Vice President of Sales at Nuo Therapeutics, Inc) breaks down the "unfiltered" reality of medical sales. Whether you are trying to break into the industry, ace the notorious Stryker Gallup interview, or understand the billion-dollar shift in wound care technology, this conversation is your masterclass. Dave reveals why relationships are your only "currency," the science behind the disruptive Aurix PRP platform, and the "white-knuckle" reality of scaling a medical startup from zero to 250+ distributors.In this video, you will learn:• How to survive the "Mule Year" as an Associate Rep.• Tactical tips to pass the Stryker Gallup Interview.• The "loophole" in the $12B skin substitute market.• Why Vitamin C is the missing link in chronic wound healing.• 1099 vs. W2: How to spot a medical sales scam.TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Introduction: Meet Dave Hazard2:15 - Taking a 60% Pay Cut: "Why I started at Arthrex"5:30 - How to Ace the Stryker Gallup Interview (Pro Tips)8:45 - The Power of Relationships in Med Device Sales11:20 - Transitioning from Corporate to a Startup15:45 - The $12B Wound Care Market & Medicare Loopholes19:10 - The Science of Aurix: How PRP + Vitamin C Heal Wounds23:00 - 1099 Sales: What to look for (and what to avoid)26:45 - High-Performance Habits & Discipline32:15 - Advice for my 25-Year-Old Self RESOURCES MENTIONED:MiMedx Platform: https://www.mimedx.com/ Connect with Dave Hazard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-hazard-b625615/

In this episode of Wellness at the Speed of Light, Dr. Stefano Sinicropi speaks with Dr. Abilash Haridas about burnout, wellbeing, and redefining success at the highest levels of medicine. Dr. Haridas is a double board-certified pediatric and cerebrovascular neurosurgeon, CEO of Astra Neurosurgical Institute, and President of the Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics. With thousands of complex brain and spine surgeries behind him, his professional achievements are extraordinary. In this conversation, however, the focus shifts from credentials to the personal cost of sustained performance and the overlooked realities of physician wellbeing. The episode explores what years of caring for elderly patients taught Dr. Haridas about longevity and quality of life, why burnout should be understood as a system-wide issue rather than an individual failure, and how success can quietly outpace health. He reflects on the emotional weight carried by neurosurgeons, the pressure to remain relentless, and the moment he realized that professional accomplishment without presence and fulfillment was not sustainable. Listeners will hear a thoughtful discussion on balance, legacy, and what it means to live well while continuing to lead, operate, and innovate. This episode is especially relevant for healthcare professionals, leaders, and high-achievers navigating burnout, purpose, and long-term wellbeing. It offers perspective on choosing happiness, redefining success, and staying human in demanding careers.

Goldman Sachs surging to fresh records as earnings top estimates, while some Mag7 stocks continue to struggle against the broader market. So will the big bank keep bumping, or can the big tech trouble make a turnaround? Plus the weight loss drug wars are heating up, with focus turning to the GLP-1 pill. The latest data from one pharma company, and what the CEO sees in store for the company as competition continues to climb.Fast Money Disclaimer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The biotech industry stands on the verge of a radical transformation thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). But even the most sophisticated algorithms are only as smart as the data feeding them.David Brühlmann sits down with Troy Lionberger, Chief Business Officer at A-Alpha Bio, whose team has quietly shattered the data ceiling by measuring and curating more than 1.8 billion protein interactions. Troy Lionberger brings an insider's perspective from the frontlines of machine learning-powered drug discovery. From partnering with leading biotechs to redesigning classic antibodies for previously “impossible” targets, Troy's work pushes the edges of what's tractable in biologic therapeutics.What you'll hear in this episode:Limitations of public data sources like the Protein Data Bank and their impact on current protein engineering approaches (03:11)Why combining energetic (ΔG) and structural data matters for building predictive protein engineering models (05:43)A-Alpha Bio's approach to generating 1.8 billion protein interaction measurements for machine learning—what this enables today and what's possible next (06:30)Examples of how A-Alpha Bio's platform solves challenging therapeutic problems, such as optimizing molecules for 800+ HIV variants and engineering dual-specific antibodies (07:36)The ongoing debate: What capabilities should biotech companies keep in-house, and what works best outsourced to service providers? (09:59)The potential of synthetic epitopes as vital tools for training models beyond the Protein Data Bank—introducing the Synthetic Epitope Atlas (12:09)Key takeaways for scientists: the importance of diligence amidst rapidly evolving AI claims, and advice for accelerating R&D with the right data (14:57)Wondering how to move protein therapeutics from “interesting” to “impactful” without waiting for years of crystal structures? Listen in to learn how you can harness next-gen machine learning tools and custom datasets for your development projects.Connect with Troy Lionberger:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/troylionbergerA-Alpha Bio website: www.aalphabio.comNext step:Need fast CMC guidance? → Get rapid CMC decision support hereSupport the show

Antibody therapeutics have transformed modern medicine, but for many scientists, developing new candidates still feels like searching for a needle in a haystack—a slow, expensive, and unpredictable process. Structural biology and high-throughput data generation are now collapsing that haystack, offering unprecedented visibility into the molecular handshake that drives life: protein-protein interactions.In this episode, David Brühlmann sits down with Troy Lionberger, Chief Business Officer at A-Alpha Bio, for an in-depth discussion on protein-protein interactions and how advances in data generation and machine learning are transforming antibody discovery and drug development.Troy Lionberger shares his journey into biotechnology, challenges long-held beliefs about antibody development, and explains how Alphabio's high-throughput affinity measurements are shortening timelines and improving outcomes for therapeutic development.In this episode, you'll learn about:The historical and current challenges in characterizing these interactions at scale (06:22)How new technologies—especially high-throughput platforms—are changing the needle-in-the-haystack approach (08:40)A comparison of traditional in vivo and in vitro antibody discovery methods, along with their strengths and limitations (09:06)The evolving role of AI and machine learning in antibody discovery and lead optimization (12:11)Real-world examples of how A-Alpha Bio's approach is compressing years of work into months without sacrificing quality (13:58)The science behind A-Alpha Bio's AlphaSeq technology and how it leverages yeast display and genomics for large-scale affinity measurements (20:43)The practical affinity range the technology can measure, covering most therapeutic applications (23:25)Whether you're a scientist navigating CMC or a biotech professional curious about next-generation workflows, this episode offers practical insights into both traditional and emerging methodologies in the field.Connect with Troy Lionberger:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/troylionbergerA-Alpha Bio website: www.aalphabio.comNext step:Need fast CMC guidance? → Get rapid CMC decision support hereOne bad CDMO decision can cost you two years and your Series A. If you're navigating tech transfer, CDMO selection, or IND prep, let's talk before it gets expensive. Two slots open this month.Support the show

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/NCPD/CPE/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/MZC865. CME/MOC/NCPD/CPE/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until December 30, 2026.Revealing New Sequences in CLL: Collaborative Care Planning With Real-World Evidence and Modern Therapeutics In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and CLL Society. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by an educational grant from Lilly.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/NCPD/CPE/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/MZC865. CME/MOC/NCPD/CPE/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until December 30, 2026.Revealing New Sequences in CLL: Collaborative Care Planning With Real-World Evidence and Modern Therapeutics In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and CLL Society. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by an educational grant from Lilly.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/NCPD/CPE/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/MZC865. CME/MOC/NCPD/CPE/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until December 30, 2026.Revealing New Sequences in CLL: Collaborative Care Planning With Real-World Evidence and Modern Therapeutics In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and CLL Society. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by an educational grant from Lilly.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

This content has been developed for healthcare professionals only. Patients who seek health information should consult with their physician or relevant patient advocacy groups.For the full presentation, downloadable Practice Aids, slides, and complete CME/MOC/NCPD/CPE/AAPA/IPCE information, and to apply for credit, please visit us at PeerView.com/MZC865. CME/MOC/NCPD/CPE/AAPA/IPCE credit will be available until December 30, 2026.Revealing New Sequences in CLL: Collaborative Care Planning With Real-World Evidence and Modern Therapeutics In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, and CLL Society. PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.SupportThis activity is supported by an educational grant from Lilly.Disclosure information is available at the beginning of the video presentation.

Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world.The industry continues to navigate a dynamic landscape marked by significant scientific advancements, regulatory changes, and strategic shifts. Eli Lilly's acquisition of Ventyx Biosciences for $1.2 billion underscores Lilly's commitment to expanding its portfolio in inflammation-related therapeutics, particularly following promising readouts in Parkinson's and cardiovascular conditions. This acquisition exemplifies big pharma's strategy to bolster pipelines with promising biotechs, reflecting an industry-wide focus on innovation-driven growth. Concurrently, Lilly has partnered with InduPro in a potential $950 million deal to develop next-generation cancer treatments, highlighting the ongoing trend of leveraging innovative biotech approaches to address complex oncological challenges.In regulatory news, the FDA issued an untitled letter to Esperion Therapeutics concerning misleading claims in a commercial for its cholesterol-lowering drug, Nexlizet. This action highlights the FDA's continued vigilance over direct-to-consumer advertising practices, ensuring that pharmaceutical promotions remain accurate and evidence-based. Meanwhile, the FDA has also eased regulations on AI-enabled consumer wearables, allowing more devices to enter the market under the wellness category without full regulatory review. This shift may accelerate the adoption of digital health technologies, fostering innovation and potentially enhancing patient care through more personalized and accessible health monitoring solutions.Clinical trial and study findings continue to shape therapeutic strategies across various domains. Gilead Sciences reported that while HIV can develop resistance to its antiviral drug lenacapavir, this adaptation compromises the virus's replication capabilities. This finding underscores the ongoing challenges in antiviral therapy development and the need for continued research into resistance mechanisms. In obesity management, Viking Therapeutics is ramping up commercialization efforts to compete with major players like Amgen and Eli Lilly, while Novo Nordisk is engaging in public discourse to address weight stigma, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of obesity.The biosimilar sector is at a pivotal juncture as it confronts what some term a 'biosimilar void.' With key patents set to expire and evolving global policies, stakeholders are urged to reassess strategies to maintain momentum in this cost-reduction avenue for biologic therapies. This period presents opportunities for innovation in biosimilar development and commercialization strategies.In organizational updates, AstraZeneca appointed Rick Suarez as head of its U.S. biopharma unit, leading a $50 billion investment surge aimed at strengthening its foothold in the American market. Such strategic leadership appointments are crucial as companies navigate competitive landscapes and pursue ambitious growth targets.The industry's response to COVID-19 continues to evolve, with Inflarx adjusting its business strategy by reducing its workforce by 30% and reallocating resources from COVID-related projects to focus on its promising candidate for inflammatory conditions. This strategic pivot reflects broader industry trends where companies re-evaluate their portfolios post-pandemic to align with core strengths and emerging opportunities.Furthermore, partnerships remain integral to advancing therapeutic innovations. Lexeo Therapeutics has teamed up with Johnson & Johnson's Abiomed unit to explore heart pump technology as a delivery system for cardiac gene therapies. Such collaborations are instrumental in driving forward cutting-edge treatment modalities that could significantly impact patient outcomes in cardiology.The pharmaceutical and biotech sectors are witnessing significant financiSupport the show

Cofounders Jeremy Wohlwend and Gabriele Corso join the a16z podcast to discuss the launch of Boltz, a public benefit company building AI infrastructure for molecular biology. The conversation explains how breakthroughs following AlphaFold moved the field beyond protein structure prediction into modeling biomolecular interactions and binding strength, why open-source Boltz models saw rapid adoption across pharma and biotech, and how that work is now being productized. They outline the launch of Boltz Lab, a platform that brings protein and small-molecule design agents into scientist workflows, Boltz's decision to operate as an infrastructure company rather than a therapeutics company, and how AI could reduce early drug discovery bottlenecks by improving molecular design and speeding iteration between computation and the lab. Resources: Follow Gabriele on X: https://twitter.com/GabriCorso Follow Jeremy on X: https://twitter.com/jeremyWohlwend Follow Jorge X: https://twitter.com/jorgecondebio Follow Zak on X: https://twitter.com/zakdoric   Stay Updated:If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!Find a16z on X:https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zListen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg](https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Tien Lee, Founder and CEO of Aardvark Therapeutics, draws a clear distinction between appetite and hunger and the implications for treating metabolic conditions and managing weight. The Aardvark lead drug candidate, an oral bitter taste receptor agonist designed to activate the gut-brain connection to turn off hunger, is showing effectiveness in treating Prader-Willi Syndrome and general obesity.  There are also signs that this drug could be effective for those using GLP-1s to avoid nausea and prevent rebound weight gain experienced after discontinuing GLP-1 drugs. Tien explains, "That difference between hunger and appetite is the central thesis for our entire company, and your brain actually regulates how much you should eat. And it's driven by both appetite and hunger. So appetites like the carrot, and hunger is like the stick. Appetite is what you feel when you really enjoy a certain food, like ice cream or cake. And the appeal and the deliciousness of that food is a reward that your brain chases. Hunger is the feeling that you get when you have fasted for a prolonged period of time, and it really bothers you, and you feel real discomfort from not eating. And then at that point, food quality matters less, and you just want to escape that negative sensation. And we believe a lot of the current drugs are good at reducing appetite, but they don't so much address hunger like what our approach is pursuing."  "In obesity, there's probably a combination of both appetite and hunger at play. And they're both important. In fact, your body has both appetite and hunger that are regulated. And when we eat food, our gut releases a number of gut hormones that help tamp down and give us satiety for both appetite and hunger. However, there are certain conditions where hunger is the predominant issue. And with the disease that is our lead indication is a condition called Prader-Willi syndrome. It's a rare genetic disorder that affects about one out of 15,000 live births. And patients with this condition have this unabated, unrelenting hunger that they feel that really starts to manifest when they're about four or seven years old. And then characteristically, patients will even feel compelled to eat garbage to the point of stomach rupture if unregulated with their food access. So it's a very debilitating condition with a lot of suffering for the patients and their families."   "There are actually quite a number of new revelations in the scientific literature, and there's a greater appreciation of gut-brain signaling. So there are actually as many neurons in your gut as there are in your spinal cord, almost as many neurons as in the cat brain. And there's a greater appreciation of a two-way communication between your brain and the gut. So the vagus nerve is the largest nerve in your body, and there's actually a two-way communication between the gut and the brain. About 80% to 90% of the signal is actually from the gut to the brain. And even the drugs that people know currently, the Ozempic and the Zepbound drugs, are working through this gut path hormone. But naturally, a lot of the signals actually come from the gut to the brain through this vagus nerve conduction." #AardvarkTherapeutics #Hunger #Appetite #PraderWilliSyndrome #PWS #Hyperphagia #RareDiseases #BiotechInnovation #ObesityTreatment #GutBrainAxis #TasteReceptors #ClinicalTrials #Therapeutics #MetabolicHealth #PharmaceuticalInnovation  aardvarktherapeutics.com Download the transcript here

Dr. Tien Lee, Founder and CEO of Aardvark Therapeutics, draws a clear distinction between appetite and hunger and the implications for treating metabolic conditions and managing weight. The Aardvark lead drug candidate, an oral bitter taste receptor agonist designed to activate the gut-brain connection to turn off hunger, is showing effectiveness in treating Prader-Willi Syndrome and general obesity.  There are also signs that this drug could be effective for those using GLP-1s to avoid nausea and prevent rebound weight gain experienced after discontinuing GLP-1 drugs. Tien explains, "That difference between hunger and appetite is the central thesis for our entire company, and your brain actually regulates how much you should eat. And it's driven by both appetite and hunger. So appetites like the carrot, and hunger is like the stick. Appetite is what you feel when you really enjoy a certain food, like ice cream or cake. And the appeal and the deliciousness of that food is a reward that your brain chases. Hunger is the feeling that you get when you have fasted for a prolonged period of time, and it really bothers you, and you feel real discomfort from not eating. And then at that point, food quality matters less, and you just want to escape that negative sensation. And we believe a lot of the current drugs are good at reducing appetite, but they don't so much address hunger like what our approach is pursuing."  "In obesity, there's probably a combination of both appetite and hunger at play. And they're both important. In fact, your body has both appetite and hunger that are regulated. And when we eat food, our gut releases a number of gut hormones that help tamp down and give us satiety for both appetite and hunger. However, there are certain conditions where hunger is the predominant issue. And with the disease that is our lead indication is a condition called Prader-Willi syndrome. It's a rare genetic disorder that affects about one out of 15,000 live births. And patients with this condition have this unabated, unrelenting hunger that they feel that really starts to manifest when they're about four or seven years old. And then characteristically, patients will even feel compelled to eat garbage to the point of stomach rupture if unregulated with their food access. So it's a very debilitating condition with a lot of suffering for the patients and their families."   "There are actually quite a number of new revelations in the scientific literature, and there's a greater appreciation of gut-brain signaling. So there are actually as many neurons in your gut as there are in your spinal cord, almost as many neurons as in the cat brain. And there's a greater appreciation of a two-way communication between your brain and the gut. So the vagus nerve is the largest nerve in your body, and there's actually a two-way communication between the gut and the brain. About 80% to 90% of the signal is actually from the gut to the brain. And even the drugs that people know currently, the Ozempic and the Zepbound drugs, are working through this gut path hormone. But naturally, a lot of the signals actually come from the gut to the brain through this vagus nerve conduction." #AardvarkTherapeutics #Hunger #Appetite #PraderWilliSyndrome #PWS #Hyperphagia #RareDiseases #BiotechInnovation #ObesityTreatment #GutBrainAxis #TasteReceptors #ClinicalTrials #Therapeutics #MetabolicHealth #PharmaceuticalInnovation  aardvarktherapeutics.com Listen to the podcast here

In this video we cover Rheumatic Fever; What is it? Rheumatic Fever Pathophysiology, the signs and symptoms of rheumatic fever as well as the diagnosis of rheumatic fever (including the Jones criteria and a rheumatic fever mnemonic!). We then look at the treatment. PDFs available here: https://rhesusmedicine.com/pages/rheumatologyConsider subscribing (if you found any of the info useful!): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRks8wB6vgz0E7buP0L_5RQ?sub_confirmation=1Buy Us A Coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rhesusmedicineVideo Timestamps:0:00 What is Rheumatic Fever? 0:30 Rheumatic Fever Pathophysiology1:53 Rheumatic Fever Symptoms / Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatic Fever3:46 Jones Criteria - Rheumatic Fever Criteria Mnemonic6:25 Rheumatic Fever Diagnosis7:15 Rheumatic Fever Treatment / Rheumatic Fever Prophylaxis LINK TO SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.instagram.com/rhesusmedicine/ReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2025) Acute rheumatic fever: clinical guidance. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/hcp/clinical-guidance/acute-rheumatic-fever.htmlCarapetis, J.R., Beaton, A., Cunningham, M.W., Guilherme, L., Karthikeyan, G., Mayosi, B.M., Sable, C., Steer, A., Wilson, N. and Wyber, R. (2016) ‘Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease', Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2, 15084.MSD Manual Professional Editors (2024) Rheumatic fever. MSD Manual Professional Edition. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/miscellaneous-bacterial-infections-in-infants-and-children/rheumatic-feverNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (no date) Rheumatic fever. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.ukStatPearls Authors (2025) Acute rheumatic fever. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594238/Therapeutic Guidelines Limited (2022) ‘Therapeutics for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease', Australian Prescriber, 45(4), pp. 118–123. Available at: https://australianprescriber.tg.org.au/articles/therapeutics-for-rheumatic-fever-and-rheumatic-heart-disease.htmlDisclaimer: Please remember this video and all content from Rhesus Medicine is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a guide to diagnose or to treat any form of condition. The content is not to be used to guide clinical practice and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.

This roundtable on the role of AI in the biotech sector features Frank Yocca, Senior VP and Chief Scientific Officer at BioXcel Therapeutics, Joanne Taylor, Senior VP for Research at Gain Therapeutics, and Martin Brenner, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer at iBio. The conversation covers the historical adoption of AI in biotech, its current use in drug discovery, and future possibilities.  AI is not a new phenomenon in biotech and has evolved from data processing to sophisticated models that can screen vast amounts of data. There is a critical need for high-quality, structured data to train effective AI models, and these experts caution about the hype surrounding AI-generated discoveries and emphasize the need for real-world biological and human testing. Frank explains, "We are all about AI right from the get-go. We sort of inherited that from the parent company, BioXcel, which is now BioXcel, LLC. The company started by deploying data science on big biomedical and other datasets. Much of the data was unstructured and required significant curation, which at first was largely manual. Later, we began deploying more natural language processing and knowledge graphs to predict whether drugs that initially failed but were safe could be repurposed for other indications. More recently, the latest evolution has really been to use large language models and more agentic workflows to generate hypotheses and insights."   Joanne explains, "So Gain has had for many years, I think 10 years also, a virtual drug discovery platform where we've been able to screen millions of compounds virtually to discover allosteric binding molecules. But about three or so years ago, we made the change from screening millions of compounds to screening, now we're up to the capability of screening trillions of compounds." "We can screen in days, whereas it would take you months and maybe a year to do high-throughput screening. But in terms of having introduced AI into this system, it means that we can do things better because obviously, if you can screen trillions of compounds, you're screening more of the possibilities, you are going to be making better drugs. At least that's the hypothesis than if you are screening fewer compounds. So it's the fact that this is a fast tool set that makes you able to do things that you wouldn't have been otherwise able to do, but it doesn't necessarily make the process itself that much faster because you are doing much more." Martin elaborates, "So we had the good fortune to start from scratch. We're a very small company. We have made from the get-go the decision that our scientists would be bilingual. They're not only data and AI scientists, but they're also biologists. That makes it a lot easier to translate between the two disciplines. We literally started, or Rubrik Therapeutics started, on the hypothesis that would be a model of structure prediction for proteins. So the company was clearly ahead of its time, and we started by making molecules that set up better than existing ones. And that's, I think, a very low hurdle that a lot of people are doing right now. And you hear sometimes this overreaching argument, we make AI drugs. First of all, tomorrow medicines take 10,000 steps, and enabling three of them is not making an AI drug, but making better molecules. This was the first important step." #BioXcel #GainTherapeutics #iBio #AI #ClinicalAI #ArtificialIntelligence #Biotechnology #DrugDiscovery #PersonalizedMedicine #HealthcareInnovation #BiopharmaAI #ClinicalTrials #RareDisease #Neuroscience #PrecisionMedicine #HealthTech #BiotechLeadership #AIinHealthcare #DrugDevelopment #MedicalInnovation bioxceltherapeutics.com  gaintherapeutics.com  ibioinc.com Download the transcript here    

This roundtable on the role of AI in the biotech sector features Frank Yocca, Senior VP and Chief Scientific Officer at BioXcel Therapeutics, Joanne Taylor, Senior VP for Research at Gain Therapeutics, and Martin Brenner, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer at iBio. The conversation covers the historical adoption of AI in biotech, its current use in drug discovery, and future possibilities.  AI is not a new phenomenon in biotech and has evolved from data processing to sophisticated models that can screen vast amounts of data. There is a critical need for high-quality, structured data to train effective AI models, and these experts caution about the hype surrounding AI-generated discoveries and emphasize the need for real-world biological and human testing. Frank explains, "We are all about AI right from the get-go. We sort of inherited that from the parent company, BioXcel, which is now BioXcel, LLC. The company started by deploying data science on big biomedical and other datasets. Much of the data was unstructured and required significant curation, which at first was largely manual. Later, we began deploying more natural language processing and knowledge graphs to predict whether drugs that initially failed but were safe could be repurposed for other indications. More recently, the latest evolution has really been to use large language models and more agentic workflows to generate hypotheses and insights."   Joanne explains, "So Gain has had for many years, I think 10 years also, a virtual drug discovery platform where we've been able to screen millions of compounds virtually to discover allosteric binding molecules. But about three or so years ago, we made the change from screening millions of compounds to screening, now we're up to the capability of screening trillions of compounds." "We can screen in days, whereas it would take you months and maybe a year to do high-throughput screening. But in terms of having introduced AI into this system, it means that we can do things better because obviously, if you can screen trillions of compounds, you're screening more of the possibilities, you are going to be making better drugs. At least that's the hypothesis than if you are screening fewer compounds. So it's the fact that this is a fast tool set that makes you able to do things that you wouldn't have been otherwise able to do, but it doesn't necessarily make the process itself that much faster because you are doing much more." Martin elaborates, "So we had the good fortune to start from scratch. We're a very small company. We have made from the get-go the decision that our scientists would be bilingual. They're not only data and AI scientists, but they're also biologists. That makes it a lot easier to translate between the two disciplines. We literally started, or Rubrik Therapeutics started, on the hypothesis that would be a model of structure prediction for proteins. So the company was clearly ahead of its time, and we started by making molecules that set up better than existing ones. And that's, I think, a very low hurdle that a lot of people are doing right now. And you hear sometimes this overreaching argument: we make AI drugs. First of all, tomorrow medicines take 10,000 steps, and enabling three of them is not making an AI drug, but making better molecules. This was the first important step." #BioXcel #GainTherapeutics #iBio #AI #ClinicalAI #ArtificialIntelligence #Biotechnology #DrugDiscovery #PersonalizedMedicine #HealthcareInnovation #BiopharmaAI #ClinicalTrials #RareDisease #Neuroscience #PrecisionMedicine #HealthTech #BiotechLeadership #AIinHealthcare #DrugDevelopment #MedicalInnovation bioxceltherapeutics.com  gaintherapeutics.com  ibioinc.com Listen to the podcast here    

Lawrence Blatt, Chairman, President, and CEO of Aligos Therapeutics,  describes the current gaps in treating the hepatitis B virus and how the disease can potentially lead to end-stage liver disease and liver cancer. Current therapies were initially developed for HIV and can suppress the virus but not eliminate or prevent the disease. The lead Aligos drug candidate blocks all steps of viral replication and prevents the virus from integrating into infected liver cells, where it can activate cancer-causing genes. Lawrence explains, "Hepatitis B virus is actually the most prevalent chronic viral infection in the world that makes patients very ill, and they can actually die from this disease. There's almost 250 million, a little bit more than 250 million people infected with Hepatitis B. And it really affects people in all walks of life across many different demographic groups. So there's not a typical HPV patient out there."   "So HBV needs to be treated for life, currently very similar to HIV, and actually HBV and HIV share common features. And early on in the HIV epidemic, patients who were treated with a class of drug called nucleoside analogs, who were also coinfected with HBV, we saw responses to those drugs. So the drugs that worked in HIV, called nucleoside or nucleotide analogs that were purposely built for HIV, worked against HBV, and they worked to a certain degree. They can suppress the virus, but they can't eliminate the virus, and they can't completely suppress all the components of the viral lifecycle that end up causing disease."   "So we're not going to affect the damage that's there initially, but we're blocking that damage from occurring. Now, one thing that's really interesting is that our livers are regenerative organs. So the liver is constantly replacing itself with new healthy hepatocytes or cells that make up the liver. And so if you could block the ongoing disease processes, the liver will have time to heal itself and eventually reverse the scarring. And that's really the only organ in our body that can regenerate. If you get scarring on your lungs or any other part of your body, that is for life. But in the liver, if you block the disease processes, you can reverse that scarring. So it's a very important and unique finding."  #AligosTherapeutics #HepatitisB #Biotechnology #DrugDevelopment #LiverHealth #ClinicalTrials #MedicalBreakthrough #PatientCare #Virology #PharmaceuticalInnovation #Vaccines Aligos.com Download the transcript here  

Lawrence Blatt, Chairman, President, and CEO of Aligos Therapeutics,  describes the current gaps in treating the hepatitis B virus and how the disease can potentially lead to end-stage liver disease and liver cancer. Current therapies were initially developed for HIV and can suppress the virus but not eliminate or prevent the disease. The lead Aligos drug candidate blocks all steps of viral replication and prevents the virus from integrating into infected liver cells, where it can activate cancer-causing genes. Lawrence explains, "Hepatitis B virus is actually the most prevalent chronic viral infection in the world that makes patients very ill, and they can actually die from this disease. There's almost 250 million, a little bit more than 250 million people infected with Hepatitis B. And it really affects people in all walks of life across many different demographic groups. So there's not a typical HPV patient out there."   "So HBV needs to be treated for life, currently very similar to HIV, and actually HBV and HIV share common features. And early on in the HIV epidemic, patients who were treated with a class of drug called nucleoside analogs, who were also coinfected with HBV, we saw responses to those drugs. So the drugs that worked in HIV, called nucleoside or nucleotide analogs that were purposely built for HIV, worked against HBV, and they worked to a certain degree. They can suppress the virus, but they can't eliminate the virus, and they can't completely suppress all the components of the viral lifecycle that end up causing disease."   "So we're not going to affect the damage that's there initially, but we're blocking that damage from occurring. Now, one thing that's really interesting is that our livers are regenerative organs. So the liver is constantly replacing itself with new healthy hepatocytes or cells that make up the liver. And so if you could block the ongoing disease processes, the liver will have time to heal itself and eventually reverse the scarring. And that's really the only organ in our body that can regenerate. If you get scarring on your lungs or any other part of your body, that is for life. But in the liver, if you block the disease processes, you can reverse that scarring. So it's a very important and unique finding."  #AligosTherapeutics #HepatitisB #Biotechnology #DrugDevelopment #LiverHealth #ClinicalTrials #MedicalBreakthrough #PatientCare #Virology #PharmaceuticalInnovation #Vaccines Aligos.com Listen to the podcast here  

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message. On this week's episode of the Business of Biotech, Nick Manusos, CEO at Kenai Therapeutics, talks about his experiences building cell therapy spinouts from FujiFilm Cellular Dynamics, learning from big pharma decision-making processes, and dosing the first patient with Kenai's allogeneic neuron replacement cell therapy for Parkinson's disease. Nick also talks about funding an early-stage cell therapy company and forging key manufacturing and therapy administration partnerships. Access this and hundreds of episodes of the Business of Biotech videocast under the Business of Biotech tab at lifescienceleader.com. Subscribe to our monthly Business of Biotech newsletter. Get in touch with guest and topic suggestions: ben.comer@lifescienceleader.comFind Ben Comer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencomer/

The company has also fully enrolled the Phase 2/3 VISTA clinical trial for its XLRP gene therapy.

Recorded live at the NCLifeSci 2025 Annual Meeting, Marcel Frenkel, co-founder and CEO of Ten63 Therapeutics, joins hosts Heather Matthews and Lauren DeMoss for an exciting conversation about the future of drug discovery. Marcel shares how Ten63 is using advanced AI and computational tools to take on one of the hardest problems in medicine: the 80% of the human genome considered “undruggable.” By creating groundbreaking therapeutics and redefining what's possible for patients, Ten63 is opening the door to new treatments for cancer and rare diseases like Ewing sarcoma. Marcel explains how their approach could transform drug discovery, speed up development, and bring hope to patients who currently have no options. Listen now!

We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message. On this week's episode of the Business of Biotech, Dan Schmitt, President and CEO at Actuate Therapeutics, talks about building a company around elraglusib, a GSK-3β inhibitor for cancer. Dan describes his fast-fail approach to early product testing and development, using basket trials to evaluate chemotherapy combinations, and choosing pancreatic cancer as a lead program. He also talks about surviving an IPO during a brutal funding cycle for biotech, building lean teams and efficient operations, and potentially onshoring API in response to changing U.S. policy. Access this and hundreds of episodes of the Business of Biotech videocast under the Business of Biotech tab at lifescienceleader.com. Subscribe to our monthly Business of Biotech newsletter. Get in touch with guest and topic suggestions: ben.comer@lifescienceleader.comFind Ben Comer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencomer/