BioTech Nation ... with Dr. Moira Gunn: Recent Episodes
Moira Gunn
Welcome to the RE-LAUNCH of BIOTECH NATION !!! Since 2004, the public radio program "Tech Nation" has followed biotech's journey from the science lab to actual products in its regular segment, "BioTech Nation". With understandable interviews - requiring no background science - BTN attracts a wide audience. From everyday people looking for hope in potential future treatments, to entrepreneurs interested in the experience of their fellow travelers, to venture capitalists seeing possibilities in cutting-edge breakthroughs, to scientists interested in the work of others, BioTech Nation is the voice of human endeavor, driving science to new realities for everyone.
Osteoarthiritis – mostly in the knee, but pick a joint. Dr. Diem (Zem) Nguyen (N’Win) is the CEO of Xalud (Za-lood) Therapeutics. We’ll talk about their work to reduce the inflammation that drives pain. It’s now in human clinical trials.
Modern cannabis products, with higher potency than those from the past, can lead to acute cannabis intoxication. Anebulo Pharmaceuticals, led by Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Ken Cundy, is working on an antidote that counteracts the negative effects of THC overdose, potentially benefiting both adults and children.
Continuous monitoring ... when we want it, when we don’t, should we share it? Or not. Or perhaps just part of it. Dr. Kal Patel, the Co-Founder and CEO of BrightInsight talks about this brave new frontier.
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, and progress in treating Glioblastoma has been elusive. Now, Toronto-based Medicenna has completed a successful Phase 2 with its innovative drug, and is now deep into planning the Phase 3 Trial. Also of interest, the FDA agreed to an unprecedented approach in Phase 2, which not only yields better science, but reduces the cost of the clinical trials themselves. To be sure, this approach will be carried forward into Phase 3. Dr. Fahar Merchant is the President & CEO of Medicenna Therapeutics.
In this week's BioTech Nation, we discuss Geovax, a company working on a novel approach to treat head and neck cancers, which are often difficult to treat after standard options have been exhausted. Geovax is developing A2 component therapy, using an enzyme delivered directly to the tumor by a needle injection, followed by an infusion of an inactive form of a chemotherapeutic drug, which becomes toxic to the tumors when processed by the enzyme. The treatment aims to localize the effects, reduce side effects, and potentially activate the immune system to target other tumor cells in the body. Phase two trials are underway, with promising results so far.
In this week's episode of Biotech Nation, Dr. Jeffrey Cleland, the President and CEO of Ashvattha Therapeutics, discusses their drug development efforts to address long COVID. They discuss the definition of long COVID by the World Health Organization, the prevalence of the condition, and the chronic inflammation that occurs in the body, including the brain. Dr. Cleland explains how their nanomedicine approach aims to selectively target and turn off reactive inflammatory cells, potentially offering a treatment for long haul COVID and other diseases.
In this week's episode of Biotech Nation, Dr. Greg Frost, CEO of Exuma Biotech, discusses their innovative approaches to cancer treatment. They are working on a method to shorten the time and eliminate hospital stays for CAR-T therapy, while also developing a new technology called G-car that combines T cells and NK cells to create a more gentle and effective cancer therapy.
A new cell therapy, just entering human clinical trials. It focuses on a particular type of Epilepsy - Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. I speak with Dr. Cory Nicholas, the Co-Founder and CEO of Neurona Therapeutics, about their idea, what they’ve done, and how they plan to approach testing this unprecedented treatment.
Join us as Dr. Chris Nave, the managing director of Brandon Capital and Chair of PolyActiva, reveals groundbreaking advancements in eye treatments on this week's episode of Biotech Nation! Discover how their innovative technology is revolutionizing the way we deliver drugs to the eye, offering extended therapy periods and eliminating the need for frequent injections or daily drops. Don't miss out on this eye-opening discussion about the future of ophthalmology and the potential to transform the lives of millions affected by glaucoma and other eye diseases.
Join Dr. Richard Austin, Founder and CEO of Reglagene, as he reveals the intense process of selecting the most promising drug candidate for treating brain cancer. Delve into the intriguing world of the "Bake Off" or "beauty contest" where molecules compete to be the breakthrough therapy in human clinical trials. Discover the challenges of penetrating the blood-brain barrier and the quest to revolutionize brain cancer treatment.
This week we explore the commonalities among neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. Dr. Maria Macccecchini, Founder and CEO of Annovis Bio, discusses the role of sticky proteins in these diseases and how her company is developing a drug to prevent the aggregation of these proteins. The episode also touches on their ongoing clinical trials for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and their potential application in treating traumatic brain injuries.
Moira speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Ed Humes. His latest is “The Forever Witness … How DNA and Genealogy Solved a Cold Case Double Murder.” We get an object lesson in the Three Ages of DNA, and while it reads like a fast-paced Cold Case on steroids – it provides details no fiction writer would dare to make up, like the unexpected involvement of the famous true crimes writer, Ann Rule, and a person whose DNA skills are familiar to fans of the PBS documentary series, “Finding your roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.”
Dr. Hamid Khoja, Chief Scientific Officer of Fibro Biologics, discusses the potential of fibroblasts in regenerative medicine, highlighting their abundance and diverse functions in the body. He shares insights from their ongoing human clinical trials, including the use of fibroblasts for treating degenerative disc disease and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Khoja also mentions their promising findings in animal studies related to diabetic foot ulcers.
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, among others, are often grouped as Neurodegenerative Disorders. While they each present a different profile of symptoms, what do they have in common? Dr. Maria Maccecchini, the Founder, President & CEO of Annovis Bio, says, "Sticky proteins".
Anixa is pioneering a new approach to preventing the truly aggressive triple-negative form of breast cancer. Based on research from Cleveland Clinic, this approach has the potential to treat other breast cancers as well as ovarian cancer. Dr. Amit Kumar is the President & CEO. More information is available at anixa.com.
Dr. George Yancopoulosis is the President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron. Regeneron is successful on many levels but is perhaps best known for its Covid treatment, directly infusing antibodies. This, of course, requires innovative science … but how do get students to become scientists? Dr. Yancopoulos has an answer.
Blood clots of any sort are dangerous. So dangerous in fact, that 1 in 4 people die from blood clots - independent of medical condition, medicines they take, or medical procedures they undergo. Dr. Daniel Bloomfield, the Chief Medical Officer of Anthos Therapeutics, describes their approach to preventing bleeding while avoiding blood clotting.
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases continue to be challenging, but now new science has led to a better understanding of the natural repair mechanisms in the brain. This, in turn, has generated new options for innovative treatments, and one such approach has entered late-stage human clinical trials. Dr. Mark Litton is the President and CEO of Athira Pharma.