Biotech 2050 Podcast: Recent Episodes
Biotech 2050
Biotech 2050 Podcast is a think tank chronicling the disruptions changing the biotech industry over the next 50 years.
P Global’s Kensho Technologies. He was also a founding volunteer at NeighborShare, a nonprofit that connects families in need with local donors. Nick was selected as a member of the inaugural 2026 cohort of the Aspen Institute's Technology Leaders Initiative, a fellowship within the Aspen Global Leadership Network bringing together senior leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence and frontier technologies.Nick is broadly interested in how advances in computation reshape the pace and structure of scientific discovery, and in building the discovery infrastructure required to increase the world’s scientific bandwidth. Nick earned a B.A. from Wesleyan University and later studied history and philosophy of science at the University of Cambridge.
CEO of Indalo Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutics for serious fibrotic diseases, and President, CFO, and Co-Founder of Symbiomix Therapeutics, which was sold after achieving NDA approval for Solosec®. Robert also previously held the positions of Head of Corporate Development for Tobira Therapeutics, Head of Business Development for ACT Biotech, and Entrepreneur-in-Residence for OrbiMed Advisors. Robert began his pharmaceutical industry career in finance and product development at Pfizer, where he last worked as the Director of Business Development for Oncology and Infectious Diseases. Robert earned an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MSE in Civil Engineering from Stanford University, and a BSE in Civil Engineering from Duke University. When not solving intractable healthcare problems, Robert spends as much time as possible with his two daughters.
Chief Executive Officer of Ardelyx, and Laura Williams, Chief Patient Officer, share how empathy, resilience, and patient advocacy have shaped both their careers and the culture of the company they’ve built.Mike reflects on an unconventional journey that spans pharmaceutical sales, rare disease leadership at Genzyme, venture capital at NEA, and ultimately leading Ardelyx through some of biotech’s most difficult challenges—including a Complete Response Letter, massive layoffs, and a historic FDA reversal that resulted in approval without additional clinical trials. Laura shares her path from rural Mississippi to becoming a physician, recounting the transformative patient experience during the HIV epidemic that inspired her move from academia into industry and ultimately into a pioneering Chief Patient Officer role.Together, they explore what patient-centricity truly means beyond corporate slogans, how Ardelyx embedded patient advocacy into the C-suite, and why empathy must be a core competency for biotech leadership. The discussion also dives into clinical trial diversity, commercializing therapies for underserved populations, navigating regulatory adversity, responsible capital allocation, and the future of building enduring biotech companies. It is a powerful reminder that when patients become the North Star, resilience, innovation, and impact naturally follow.Biography: Mike Raab Mike has served as Ardelyx’s President and Chief Executive Officer since March 2009. Before Ardelyx, Mike was a partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), one of the world’s largest and most successful venture capital firms, where he specialized in healthcare investments focusing on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Prior to joining NEA in 2002, Mike spent 15 years in commercial and operating leadership roles in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. He was senior vice president, therapeutics and general manager of the renal division at Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi company. In this position, Mike launched and oversaw the sales growth of sevelamer, the leading phosphate binder for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia, with over $1.0 billion in worldwide sales in 2013. Mike was also instrumental in the worldwide launch of Genzyme’s therapies for Gaucher disease, Ceredase and Cerezyme.Laura Williams, MD, MPH Laura has served as Ardelyx’s Chief Patient Officer since 2025, having joined the company in November 2020 as Senior Vice President, Global Therapeutic Strategies and Patient Advocacy. Laura was later promoted to Chief Medical Officer in 2021. Laura is a life science enterprise leader with extensive experience as a pharmaceutical drug developer, healthcare policy advisor, patient advocate, and portfolio strategist. She is an accomplished, results-oriented, physician scientist and board member who is committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative therapies that address unmet medical need. With nearly 30 years of pharmaceutical experience, across all clinical development phases and multiple therapeutic areas, in both large pharma and smaller biotech, Laura has a proven track-record in drug development, as indicated by her leadership and major contributions toward eight drug approvals.
D and manufacturing at AstraZeneca.Ms. Owen Adams currently serves on the board of directors of Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly held company, and AssistRx, a privately held company. Ms. Owen Adams was formerly on the board of directors and chair of the compensation committee for Optinose PLC, a public specialty pharmaceutical company, and was on the board of directors of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospitals, a non-profit organization. Ms. Owen Adams earned a BSc. in Pharmacy from the University of Manchester, becoming a qualified pharmacist and member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (MRPhS).
D and nine FDA-approved drugs to his name, Barry shares a rare insider perspective on building and scaling biotech companies—from pioneering HIV therapies that reshaped the AIDS epidemic to leading next-generation biologics targeting acute asthma exacerbations. He unpacks Connect’s differentiated IL-4 receptor biology, the untapped opportunity in acute care settings, and why innovation has lagged for decades in treating exacerbations despite millions of ER visits annually.The conversation also explores the realities of running a publicly traded biotech in volatile markets, the evolving role of China in global drug discovery, and how leaders navigate geopolitical complexity while advancing science. As Connect approaches key clinical catalysts, this episode offers a compelling look at where biotech innovation, capital, and global strategy intersect.Biography:Dr. Barry Quart is the CEO of Connect Biopharma, (Nasdaq: CNTB), a clinical-stage company developing therapies for acute exacerbations of inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and COPD. Barry is currently leading the company’s development of rademikibart, a best-in-class antibody that targets interleukin-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα) and reduces severe flare-ups called “exacerbations” that can occur with asthma and COPD and can lead to hospitalization and even death. Connect is the first company to enter this space addressing acute exacerbations of inflammatory diseases. Dr. Quart is a recognized industry leader with over 30 years of leadership experience and nine FDA-approved drugs under his belt. Barry brings deep expertise in drug development, biotech strategy, and bringing breakthrough therapies to the market. He holds a PharmD from the University of California, San Francisco.
Synopsis: Addiction is often misunderstood as a failure of willpower—but emerging science increasingly shows it may be deeply rooted in biology.In this episode of Biotech 2050, recorded during JPM 2026 in San Francisco, host Alok Tayi speaks with Cary Claiborne, CEO of Adial Pharmaceuticals, about a new precision-medicine approach to tackling one of the world’s most widespread and undertreated conditions: alcohol use disorder.Cary shares the personal and professional journey that brought him into addiction medicine—from a career in finance at global corporations to helping take pioneering biotech companies public and ultimately leading Adial’s mission to address addiction through science. After losing a close family member to addiction, Cary became determined to focus his work on diseases where innovation could create meaningful societal impact.The discussion explores Adial’s genetically targeted therapy, designed to reduce alcohol cravings without requiring patients to stop drinking entirely. Cary explains how their repurposed low-dose therapy, paired with a simple cheek-swab diagnostic test, could help identify the patients most likely to benefit—bringing a precision-medicine framework to addiction treatment, an area that has seen little therapeutic innovation in more than two decades.Alok and Cary also examine the broader landscape of addiction science, the societal costs of untreated alcohol use disorder, and how AI-driven clinical simulations are helping design smarter Phase III trials. Looking ahead, Cary discusses how this scientific platform could expand into other impulse-driven conditions, including opioid addiction, gambling, and compulsive behaviors.It’s a compelling conversation about precision psychiatry, addiction medicine, and the future of neuropsychiatric drug development.Biography:Cary Claiborne was named Chief Executive Officer of Adial Pharmaceuticals in August 2022 after previously being appointed Chief Operating Officer in December 2021 and being named to the Board of Directors. Mr. Claiborne previously served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and board member of Indivior PLC, a publicly traded specialty pharmaceutical company developing medicines to treat addiction and serious mental illnesses. Among his accomplishments, Mr. Claiborne led the company’s spin off from its then parent company, Reckitt Benckiser, to become an independent, listed company. While at Indivior, he established and oversaw corporate reporting, internal audit, tax, treasury, external audit, and information technology. Prior to joining Indivior, Mr. Claiborne served as the CFO of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company, which was later sold to Mallinckrodt. Before joining Sucampo, Mr. Claiborne served as CFO and Corporate Secretary of Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., and oversaw corporate finance during the company’s initial public offering. He graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Business Administration and from Villanova University with an M.B.A. and was a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Governance Fellow.
Synopsis: This episode is proudly sponsored by Quartzy.Physician-scientist, biotech founder, and leadership advocate Sheila Gujrathi, MD joins Rahul Chaturvedi on the Biotech 2050 Podcast for a powerful conversation at the intersection of biotech innovation, leadership, and personal transformation.Sheila shares the unconventional journey that led her from academic medicine to the forefront of biotechnology—spanning roles at Genentech and Bristol Myers Squibb, founding companies, serving on boards, and recently helping guide Ventus Therapeutics through its acquisition by Lilly. Along the way, she reflects on the lessons she learned building drugs, scaling companies, and navigating the evolving biotech deal environment.The discussion then turns deeply personal as Sheila explores the ideas behind her book “The Mirror Effect,” revealing how self-awareness, supportive networks, and authentic leadership can transform careers—especially for women and underrepresented leaders in science. From overcoming imposter syndrome to building the “CEO Sisterhood” network of women biotech leaders, Sheila shares hard-earned insights on navigating power, culture, and identity in high-stakes industries.For founders, investors, and leaders alike, this episode blends biotech strategy with deeply human lessons on resilience, purpose, and the power of believing in yourself.Biography:SHEILA GUJRATHI, MD, is a biotech entrepreneur, executive, and champion for under- represented leaders. Over the past 25 years, she’s had the privilege of developing life-changing medicines for patients with serious diseases while building and running private and public biotech companies—including some exciting exits. Today she’s a founder, chairwoman, board director, strategic advisor, and consultant to start-up companies and investment funds.Dr. Gujrathi was the co-founder and former CEO of Gossamer Bio and former Chief Medical Officer of Receptos. Her journey started at Northwestern University, where she earned both her M.D. and biomedical engineering degree, and took her from the halls of Harvard, UCSF, and Stanford to the corporate offices of Fortune 500 companies like McKinsey, Genentech, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.Dr. Gujrathi has earned multiple leadership awards, including AIMBE Fellow, BLOC100 Luminary, Healthcare Technology Report Top 25 Women Leaders in Biotechnology, Corporate Directors Forum Director of the Year, and Fiercest Women in Life Sciences. But what really lights her up is creating the inclusive environments she wished she’d had throughout her career. That’s why she co-founded the Biotech CEO Sisterhood, a group of trailblazing female CEOs—because we’re all better when we support each other.
D, manufacturing, and commercial capabilities. Prior to Venrock, Dr. Aslan was Director of Business Development and Head of Investor Relations for CuraGen, a Nasdaq-listed oncology-focused biotech company. Prior to CuraGen, he was a consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Dr. Aslan holds a B.S. in biology from Duke University, an M.D. from Yale School of Medicine, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
D, working hands-on with patients at the Oncology Clinical Trials Unit at Harvard Medical School before moving into industry in clinical operations. Outside of her corporate responsibilities, Michelle is a wife and mother to three children and is a member of the rare disease community. She is currently serving a Board appointment for the non-profit organization Rare Disease Renegades, a purpose that fuels her passions both personally and professionally.
D—and the strategic thinking behind its ambitious pipeline: first-in-class breakthroughs in interstitial lung disease, major obesity programs, and upcoming waves of launches through 2027 and beyond.They also unpack the future of commercial pharma—from direct-to-consumer models and digital patient engagement to AI-powered launches and trial recruitment—plus Brian’s candid views on China’s innovation engine and the growing importance of rare disease. A masterclass in modern pharma leadership, portfolio strategy, and building for generations.Biography:Brian Hilberdink is an accomplished global executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry, currently serving as President of U.S. Human Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim. In his role at Boehringer, he oversees several business units across multiple therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic and renal diseases, obesity, pulmonary fibrosis (ILD), and oncology. Renowned for driving impactful results and fostering cultures of accountability and engagement, Brian consistently enhances organizational performance.Previously, Hilberdink served as Executive Vice President at LEO Pharma, where he led the North American Region and served as President of the U.S. affiliate, which became the primary growth driver for the company globally.. Earlier in his career, Hilberdink held several senior-level positions at Novo Nordisk, where he worked across multiple geographies. He was recognized for developing and executing innovative go-to-market strategies, resulting in the successful launch of multiple blockbuster therapies in the areas of obesity and diabetes.
D in March 2019. Johan is a Swedish national and is trained as a Doctor of Dental Sciences from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. He also holds a PhD in Neurobiology and Histology as well as an Associate Professor title from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. Johan is a Member of the Board of Directors of Brain+.
Synopsis: At a moment when biotech is rethinking growth, innovation, and patient impact, Alok Tayi sits down with Christophe Bourdon, Chief Executive Officer of LEO Pharma, to explore what it truly means to build a purpose-driven, commercial-stage biotech.Drawing on three decades across Sanofi, Alexion, Amgen, and now LEO Pharma, Christophe shares a clear conviction: innovation only matters when it meaningfully changes patients’ lives. At LEO Pharma, that belief is shaping a focused strategy in medical dermatology, where over one-third of the global population is affected and thousands of skin diseases still lack approved treatments.The conversation spans LEO Pharma’s evolution into a nearly $2B growth company, the rise of first-in-class therapies in atopic dermatitis and chronic hand eczema, and why formulation science, rare disease execution, and “white-glove” patient support are essential to changing standards of care. Christophe also offers sharp perspectives on AI-enabled scouting, the accelerating innovation coming out of China, and why biotech must resist “me-too” products in favor of true clinical breakthroughs.From JPMorgan Healthcare Conference insights to deeply human stories of rare disease care at 4 a.m., this episode is a masterclass in disciplined growth, differentiated innovation, and patient-first leadership.Biography:Christophe joined LEO Pharma as CEO in April 2022 and has since led the company through a strategic transformation, sharpening its focus on innovation and external partnerships. Under his leadership, LEO Pharma has accelerated growth in key markets, advanced its pipeline, and strengthened its culture, reinforcing its position as a global leader in medical dermatology. Before joining LEO Pharma, he served as CEO of Orphazyme A/S. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Amgen, including Senior Vice President and General Manager for the U.S. Oncology Business, and at Alexion as Senior Vice President, EMEAC, overseeing the commercial development of ultra-orphan therapies across 40 countries. Christophe holds an MBA from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a B.A. from the Institut Supérieur de Gestion (ISG) in Paris, France.
Synopsis: This episode is proudly sponsored by Quartzy.Roivant Sciences CEO Matt Gline returns to Biotech 2050 for a deeply reflective conversation with host Rahul Chaturvedi on what it really takes to build a biotech company that lasts. From Roivant’s transformational $7B Pfizer-to-Roche deal to delivering registrational Phase 3 data in dermatomyositis—one of biotech’s most difficult graveyard indications—Matt shares how disciplined execution, decentralization, and learning from failure shaped Roivant’s trajectory.The discussion explores Roivant’s unique “Vant” model, why multiple CEOs can outperform centralized command-and-control structures, and how thoughtful clinical trial design—down to steroid tapering and site execution—can make or break outcomes in rare disease development.Beyond science and strategy, Matt reflects candidly on his own evolution as CEO, the realities of leading a public biotech through volatile markets, and why authenticity, focus, and embracing hard lessons matter more than chasing hype. This episode is a masterclass in biotech leadership, clinical development, and long-term value creation.Biography:Matt Gline serves as Chief Executive Officer of Roivant Sciences. Mr. Gline joined Roivant in March 2016 and previously served as Chief Financial Officer. From April 2014 to March 2016, he was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs, Fixed Income Digital Structuring, where he focused on technology and data strategy.Prior to Goldman Sachs, Mr. Gline was a co-founder of Fourthree, a risk analytics technology and consulting company. From 2008 to 2012, he served as Vice President at Barclays, Enterprise Risk Management Advisory, where he provided analysis for corporate clients related to capital markets access for financing and risk management. Mr. Gline earned his A.B. in Physics from Harvard College.
COO of Diakonos Oncology, to unpack one of the most unconventional—and promising—approaches in cancer immunotherapy today.Jay traces his journey from biomedical engineering into biotech operations, sharing how Diakonos was built outside the traditional venture playbook and why the company chose to tackle two of the most punishing cancers first: glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer. He reveals how Diakonos’ dual-loading dendritic cell platform creates an exponentially stronger immune response—essentially tricking the body into launching a viral-level attack against cancer.From capital-efficient clinical execution to nontraditional fundraising and early signs of durable patient responses, this conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how bold science, disciplined operations, and relentless persistence can reshape what’s possible in oncology.Biography:Jay Hartenbach is a distinguished leader in the biotechnology and wellness sectors, known for his passionate commitment to advancing innovative healthcare solutions and transforming patient outcomes. He currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer at Diakonos Oncology, where he is leading the team through the development and clinical advancement of pioneering immunotherapies targeting some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers, including glioblastoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Since joining Diakonos Oncology, Jay has been instrumental in achieving significant milestones such as attaining FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designation for the company’s lead candidate, DOC1021, securing greater than $30 million in financing, and establishing research collaborations with leading cancer centers to advance the clinical trials of the company’s novel dendritic cell vaccine platform. Before his role at Diakonos, Jay co-founded Medterra, a globally recognized wellness company that set industry standards for quality and innovation, and where he continues to serve as Chairman of the Board, shaping high-level strategic direction. He also co-founded Perland Pharmaceuticals, an early-stage biotech firm focused on developing therapies for arthritis conditions, and has held leadership and board advisory roles across several life sciences ventures.Jay holds a degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Miami and a Master of Engineering Management from Duke University, grounding his entrepreneurial leadership with scientific expertise.
D deals. Before joining the biopharma industry, Dr. Lepore was a faculty cardiologist and research investigator at the University of Pennsylvania, where his lab investigated the transcription regulation of cardiovascular development. He currently serves on the boards of ProFound, KSQ Therapeutics, and the Innovation Growth Board of Mass General Brigham. Dr. Lepore received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Scranton and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School, after which he completed his residency and post-doctoral training at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health.
D timelines, rewrite cost structures, and enable thousands of new biotech companies to test ideas faster than ever before. For scientists, engineers, and AI practitioners, this episode offers a compelling look at the new scientific architecture emerging at the intersection of robotics, data, and programmable biology.Biography:Dr. Jason Kelly is the co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks. He took the company public and raised $1.6B in the largest US biotech public listing to date in 2021. Today the company is pioneering autonomous labs that accelerate bioengineering across biopharma, agriculture, and industrial biotech industries. Jason also previously served as the Chair of the US National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology which oversees how advancements in emerging biotechnology will shape current and future activities of the US Department of Defense. Prior to Ginkgo, Jason received B.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Biology and a PhD in Biological Engineering all from MIT.
A momentum—and why 2026 may mark the beginning of a healthier biotech cycle.A must-listen for anyone evaluating platform durability, risk mitigation strategies, and next-generation neurodegenerative therapeutics.Biography:Arun Swaminathan, Ph.D., has over 20 years of hands-on healthcare business executive experience with an emphasis on corporate and business development, strategy, and finance. He possesses a demonstrated history of prospecting, evaluating, structuring, and closing company validating transactions that augment both organizational and shareholder value.Prior to joining Coya, Arun served as Chief Business Officer (CBO) for Actinium Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: ATNM) where he was responsible for all business development. Within 1 year of joining Actinium, he successfully moved forward negotiations to closure and executed a $452M deal with $35M upfront. Prior to Actinium, he was the CBO at Alteogen (196170.KQ) where he spearheaded over $6B in deals, including deals with two of the top 10 global pharma companies and a $1B+ deal within the first year of assuming the role of CBO. Prior to this, he co-founded and served as CEO of Lynkogen Inc, a pre-clinical stage biotech.Arun began his career in clinical development and commercial roles of increasing responsibility at BristolMyers Squibb and Covance. He obtained his Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Pittsburgh.
Synopsis: Nimbus Therapeutics CEO Abbas Kazimi walks Alok Tayi through the company’s evolving pipeline and playbook for choosing the right risks in a noisy biotech environment. From Werner helicase for MSI-high cancers to a highly selective SIK2 program and GLP-1–adjacent strategies focused on body composition, Abbas details how Nimbus balances rigor, speed, and capital efficiency.He shares candid lessons from pausing and later resurrecting AMPK in partnership with Eli Lilly, the decision to remain modality-agnostic but small-molecule-centric, and the importance of knowing when not to chase the latest fad. Throughout, Abbas returns to a consistent theme: success at Nimbus comes from disciplined target selection, deep collaboration, and a culture that empowers teams to make hard calls in service of patients rather than headlines.Biography:Abbas Kazimi is the Chief Executive Officer of Nimbus Therapeutics. Previously, he served as Chief Business Officer, leading the company’s strategic and corporate development efforts while overseeing business operations. Since joining Nimbus in 2014, he has helped raise over $630 million in equity financing and led transactions totaling more than $8 billion.Notably, Mr. Kazimi spearheaded the $6 billion sale of Nimbus’s TYK2 program to Takeda, the $1.2 billion sale of its MASH (ACC) program to Gilead, and multiple licensing deals exceeding $1.5 billion with partners such as Genentech, Celgene/Roche, and Eli Lilly. Under his leadership, Nimbus has advanced four programs into the clinic, returned over $4 billion to investors, and continues to expand its computational drug discovery and clinical development capabilities.In 2025, Mr. Kazimi joined the board of Unnatural Products (UNP), a biotech company pioneering orally delivered macrocyclic peptides to tackle previously undruggable targets. He also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for In Vivo magazine, a leading publication offering strategic insights and analysis of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medtech, and consumer health industries. Along with his family, he established the Kazimi Family Endowment for Data Science in Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. This endowment reflects their personal commitment to philanthropy and their vision for revolutionizing cancer treatment through data-driven innovation. At the core of Mr. Kazimi’s leadership is a deep sense of purpose—one that seeks to change the trajectory of medical diagnoses where options are limited. The ability to give patients, prescribers, and families a new outlook on life is a powerful responsibility—and one he knows the biopharmaceutical sector has the ability to fulfill.Before Nimbus, he was at Extera Partners, LLC (formerly PureTech Development, LLC), where he provided strategic advisory, supported fundraising, and executed numerous business development transactions. Earlier in his career, he was with JSB-Partners, LP, a specialized investment banking and advisory firm serving biotech and pharmaceutical companies.Mr. Kazimi holds a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. from Harvard University.
CEO of Foresite Capital, joins Rahul Chaturvedi to dissect the patterns driving biotech innovation, the role of macroeconomic cycles in venture performance, and how disciplined science fuels enduring investment success.Drawing from three decades across entrepreneurship and venture leadership, Jim reflects on his path from co-founding drug discovery startups with Harvard collaborators to building one of the most respected investment firms in life sciences. He unpacks how interest rate environments shape fund vintages, why AI is emerging as the next transformative platform, and how investors can identify enduring opportunities amid volatility.Their discussion spans valuation compression, AI-driven discovery, CNS and Alzheimer’s innovation, and the geopolitical forces influencing biotech globally. Jim’s perspective offers a masterclass in balancing scientific rigor with strategic foresight — and in positioning capital where breakthrough innovation meets sustainable impact.“Lean into areas where there’s likely to be immense change,” Jim advises — a principle as relevant to biotech investing as it is to shaping the future of healthcare itself.Biography:Jim is the founder and CEO of Foresite Capital, a healthcare investment firm founded in 2011 that has approximately $3.5B in assets under management. Jim assembles the people, ideas, and money needed to launch products that save lives and improve healthcare. During the last three decades, Jim has been a thought partner for some of the fastest-growing companies of their generation, including 10x Genomics (Nasdaq: TXG), Amerigroup (Nasdaq: ANTM), and Jazz Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: JAZZ).Jim’s entrepreneurial experience began at Harvard Business School when he co-founded GelTex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:GENZ). With less than $80M in funding, GelTex brought two drugs to market, and the company was acquired in 1999 for $1.4B. Jim was also the founding chief executive of Theravance, Inc. Under his tenure, he raised over $350M. Theravance has since split into two parts, one of which is now part of GSK’s respiratory franchise through a joint venture, Innoviva (Nasdaq: INVA), and the other was spun out into Theravance Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: TBPH). Together, they achieved a market capitalization that exceeded $4B.Jim’s investment experience includes co-founding Prospect Ventures and, earlier in his career, being a partner of Sierra Ventures, where he established its healthcare services investment practice.Jim graduated from Yale with a BS and BSEE in Applied Math and Electrical Engineering/Computer Science. He then earned an MD from Harvard, graduating from the Harvard/MIT HST Program. He also earned an MBA from Harvard while playing rugby.
E (Institutional Research and Evaluation) Committee at Moffitt, a key component of its External Advisory Committee (EAC). He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), and served as its treasurer. He is a member of the Life Sciences Advisory Board at Innovatus Capital Partners and the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (DOE). Dr. Duyk previously served on the board of the Jackson Laboratory and on numerous NIH advisory committees. He is currently a Senior Advisor at Qiming Venture Partners (USA) and serves on the boards of Enno DC, Oobli, and MelanyzeDr. Duyk earned both his M.D. and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University and completed his medical and fellowship training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a Lucille P. Markey Fellow and an HHMI postdoctoral fellow. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Synopsis: Few biotechs can pull off what Syndax Pharmaceuticals has achieved — two first-in-class oncology drug launches, built entirely through strategic in-licensing and disciplined execution.In this episode, host Alok Tayi sits down with Michael Metzger, Chief Executive Officer of Syndax, to explore how the company identified breakthrough assets, advanced them through development, and successfully commercialized them within a span of just a few years.Metzger unpacks Syndax’s distinctive model — leveraging external innovation, rapid clinical validation, and precision in go-to-market strategy — to create measurable patient and shareholder value. From the first menin inhibitor approved in acute leukemia to a novel CSF1R antibody reshaping GVHD and fibrosis care, Syndax’s portfolio embodies science that scales.The conversation offers an insider’s perspective on risk management, deal-making, data-driven decision-making, and why speed to market has become the new differentiator in biotech. A must-listen for investors, executives, and founders navigating the complexities of growth in a capital-intensive industry.Biography:Michael A. Metzger is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with extensive leadership experience in company building, operations, and strategic transactions across the life sciences industry. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Syndax Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded oncology company, a role he assumed in 2022. Prior to this, Michael served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Syndax from 2015 and has been a member of the company’s Board of Directors since 2019.Previously, Michael held leadership roles at Regado Biosciences, Inc, where he served as President and CEO and guided the company through a successful merger with Tobira Therapeutics. He also served as Executive Vice President and COO at Mersana Therapeutics, Inc., where he oversaw key strategic initiatives in ADC development for oncology. Earlier in his career, Michael held senior roles in business development and M&A at Forest Laboratories, LLC, contributing to its transformation ahead of its acquisition by Allergan plc. He also held leadership positions at Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., and was a Managing Director at MESA Partners, Inc., a healthcare-focused venture capital firm.Michael has served on several public and private company boards, including CTI BioPharma Corp., acquired by SOBI AB in 2023, and continues to be active in guiding innovative biotech organizations.Michael holds a B.A. from George Washington University and a M.B.A. in Finance from the NYU Stern School of Business.
Synopsis: When biotech meets bold partnerships, new models of innovation emerge. In this episode of the Biotech 2050 Podcast, host Rahul Chaturvedi welcomes Paul Biondi, Managing Partner at Flagship Pioneering, and Uli Stilz, Vice President, R&D External Innovation Partners at Novo Nordisk, to explore the power of co-creation.Together, they unpack how Flagship’s pioneering medicines model and Novo’s Bio Innovation Hub intersect to accelerate breakthroughs in obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic diseases. They share lessons on building trust, navigating crises, and structuring alliances that go beyond transactions into enduring innovation ecosystems.From human disease atlases to new frameworks for agile collaboration, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how pharma and biotech can partner differently—turning complexity into transformative therapies.Biography:Paul Biondi is a Managing Partner at Flagship Pioneering, leading Flagship’s product and partnering capabilities, including Pioneering Medicines, Partnering, and Pipeline and Product Innovation.In this role, Paul oversees Pioneering Medicines, Flagship's in-house drug discovery and development unit, as well as therapeutic partnering and business development efforts for the Flagship ecosystem, including driving broad institution-wide Innovation Supply Chain partnerships with biopharma companies to jointly conceive and create innovative products.Paul also works with Flagship company CEOs and their teams to achieve the best attainable value for each company, guiding them in their pipeline strategy, product concepts, R&D execution, and partnering approach. He serves on the boards of Flagship-founded companies, including Tessera Technologies (NASDAQ: TSRA) and Valo Health.Paul Biondi is Managing Partner at Flagship Pioneering, joining after 17 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), where he served as SVP of Strategy & Business Development and held leadership roles in R&D. He previously spent nine years at Mercer Management Consulting. Paul earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his B.A. from Dartmouth College.Uli Stilz is Corporate Vice President, R&D External Innovation Partners, External & Exploratory Innovation (E2I) at Novo Nordisk., based in Boston. He leads a global R&D team that builds creative partnerships with biotech, venture capital, academia, and research hospitals to co-create next-generation therapeutics in cardiometabolic and rare diseases. Building on the success of the Novo Nordisk Bio Innovation Hub, Uli and the E2I team drive an externally anchored portfolio of collaborations that stimulate global innovation ecosystems and advance Novo Nordisk’s pipeline.Uli Stilz earned his Master’s in Organic Chemistry from ETH Zürich and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, followed by postdoctoral research at Caltech. He began his industry career at Hoechst AG and later Sanofi, where he became Associate VP of the Innovation Unit in the Diabetes Division. Over two decades, he contributed to more than 60 preclinical and clinical drug candidates in cardiometabolic, immunology, and oncology. From 2012–2014, he served as President of the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry.In 2014, Uli joined Novo Nordisk in Copenhagen and in 2019 moved to Boston to establish and lead the Bio Innovation Hub, now the External & Exploratory Innovation (E2I) organization. He also serves as Adjunct Professor at the University of Frankfurt, sits on editorial and scientific advisory boards, and holds board roles at the Kendall Square Association and Gensaic, while advising the aMoon Fund.
Synopsis: From stargazing in rural Tennessee to reimagining the future of immune health, Kevin Caldwell’s journey is anything but conventional. In this episode of Biotech2050, Rahul Chaturvedi speaks with the CEO, Co-Founder & President of Ossium Health about how personal experiences with a reactive healthcare system—and a deep curiosity about the universe—sparked a mission to extend human healthspan through regenerative medicine.Kevin shares how Ossium built the first scalable bone marrow bank sourced from deceased organ donors—unlocking a powerful, overlooked source for life-saving cell therapies. He discusses Ossium’s fully integrated model, commercialization strategy, and why rigorous company-building must go hand-in-hand with scientific ambition.The conversation unpacks hard-won lessons from raising $130M+, navigating regulatory pathways, and leading with long-term conviction. A bold vision for transforming cell therapy—and a candid look at the mindset needed to build for impact.Biography:As CEO, Co-Founder & President of Ossium Health, Kevin Caldwell has built Ossium from a small startup into a clinical stage bioengineering company. Mr. Caldwell set the company’s mission to improve human health through bioengineering and designed its platform-based model for cellular therapeutics development. Mr. Caldwell has led the company’s successful pursuit, negotiation, and execution of more than 50 business relationships, including 5 successful fundraisings and dozens of supply partnerships, clinical partnerships, and commercial contracts with biopharmaceutical companies. After seven years of strategic engagement and networking, Mr. Caldwell drove the team to successfully secure a transformative federal contract with BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) that validates Ossium’s innovative approach. This milestone represents the culmination of persistent relationship-building, targeted proposals, and our unwavering commitment to addressing national biomedical challenges through cutting-edge technology and collaborative partnerships.Prior to founding Ossium, Mr. Caldwell served as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey’s San Francisco office where he advised clients in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors. His projects ranged from due diligence of acquisition targets in the biotech startup ecosystem to restructuring distressed biopharma companies. Mr. Caldwell led more than 20 engagements with more than a dozen clients, leading teams that advised clients on revenue growth, go to market strategy, and organizational restructuring.Before McKinsey, Mr. Caldwell served as a Senior Investment Associate at Bridgewater Associates where he did quantitative research for the firm’s global macro investments. Mr. Caldwell studied Physics and Economics at MIT before receiving his JD from Harvard Law School. In addition, he is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and a Fellow of the Leaders in Tech Program.
Synopsis: Some of the most game-changing ideas in healthcare come from unexpected intersections—where engineering meets biology, and where data meets patient urgency. This episode of Biotech 2050 dives into that exact convergence with a look at how one visionary leader helped pioneer blood-based cancer diagnostics.Co-CEO & Co-Founder of Guardant Health, AmirAli Talasaz, shares the story behind building one of biotech’s most impactful companies. From a graduate student navigating genomics for the first time to raising over $3 billion and leading a public company, he reflects on lessons learned, obstacles faced, and what it takes to create a patient-first culture at scale.The conversation explores the technology behind liquid biopsies and companion diagnostics, the challenges of insurance reimbursement, and how Guardant’s innovations are helping detect recurrence and screen for early-stage cancers—all through a simple blood test.Hosted by Biotech 2050 Co-Founder Rahul Chaturvedi, this episode is packed with insights on biotech leadership, pharma partnerships, and building a company that scales with both urgency and heart.Biography:AmirAli Talasaz is the co-CEO of the leading precision oncology company, Guardant Health, which he co-founded in 2012 with Helmy Eltoukhy. Prior to co-founding Guardant Health, he was senior director of Diagnostics Research at Illumina and led the efforts for emerging clinical applications of next-generation genomic analysis. Before Illumina, he founded Auriphex Biosciences, which focused on purification and genetic analysis of circulating tumor cells for cancer management. Talasaz received his PhD in electrical engineering and MSc in management science from Stanford University.
Synopsis: Amy Burroughs, CEO of Terns Pharmaceuticals, joins Alok Tayi to share how she’s leading bold innovation in CML and obesity treatment, driving two high-stakes data readouts in 2025. From a non-linear path through tech, brand management, and Genentech to building resilient biotech teams, Amy reveals why product positioning, tolerability, and mentorship matter just as much as the science. She also shares her take on CEO loneliness, the value of a “personal board of directors,” and what it takes to lead with clarity, grit, and purpose in today’s biotech landscape.Biography:Amy Burroughs joined as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors in February 2024, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience. Most recently, she served as CEO at Cleave Therapeutics, where she led the company through financings, spearheaded licensing and collaboration deals, and oversaw the clinical development of its investigational therapy, CB-5339, for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Previously, she served as executive in residence at 5AM Ventures and, in parallel, as senior advisor to one of its portfolio companies, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, during its initial public offering. Earlier in her career, Ms. Burroughs held roles of increasing responsibility in commercial and strategy at Genentech, commercial and business development at other high growth therapeutics companies, talent and governance at Egon Zehnder International, and brand management at Procter & Gamble. Ms. Burroughs earned her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, where she graduated as a Baker Scholar, and her B.A. in computer science with a minor in economics from Dartmouth College. She is currently a member of the board and audit committees at Tenaya Therapeutics.
Synopsis: Host Rahul Chaturvedi sits down with Jeremy Bender, CEO of Day One Biopharmaceuticals, to explore the bold mission of transforming pediatric oncology. From earning FDA approval for a groundbreaking brain cancer drug to building a culture rooted in execution and empathy, Jeremy shares lessons from big pharma and startups alike. He discusses how to lead through uncertainty, scale with discipline, and stay focused on delivering targeted therapies for underserved patients. They also dive into real-world data, AI’s emerging role in clinical trial design, and why pediatric-first innovation could reshape the future of oncology.Biography:Jeremy Bender, Ph.D., M.B.A. has served as our Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of our board of directors since September 2020. Prior to joining Day One, Dr. Bender was Vice President of Corporate Development at Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company, from March 2018 to September 2020.Prior to that, he was Chief Operating Officer of Tizona Therapeutics from July 2015 to March 2018 and Chief Business Officer of Sutro Biopharma, a biotechnology company specializing in cancer and autoimmune therapeutics, from October 2012 to July 2015. Prior to joining Sutro Biopharma, he was Vice President of Corporate Development at Allos Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on cancer treatments, from January 2006 to September 2012.Dr. Bender also sits on the board of Mereo BioPharma as an independent board member. He started his career in the life sciences practice at Boston Consulting Group, a management consulting company.Dr. Bender holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University, a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Colorado, and an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Synopsis: What do courtroom litigation, computational biology, and fibrosis drug development have in common? In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi speaks with Ahmed Mousa, CEO of Vicore Pharma, to explore his unconventional journey from biotech law to the C-suite. Ahmed shares how Vicore is advancing a first-in-class therapy targeting the angiotensin II type 2 receptor to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)—a devastating disease with limited options and poor survival. The conversation dives into how AI is reshaping drug discovery, the promise of precision in early-stage candidate design, and the regulatory and data challenges biotech must overcome. Ahmed also reflects on leading a Swedish-listed biotech as an American CEO, and how a patient-first mission continues to fuel bold innovation across continents.Biography:Ahmed Mousa is the Chief Executive Officer of Vicore Pharma (VICO.ST), where he leads the company’s mission to advance angiotensin II type 2 receptor agonists for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other serious diseases. Under his leadership, Vicore continues to expand its clinical pipeline and global presence in respiratory and fibrotic diseases.Previously, Ahmed served as Senior Vice President, Chief Business Officer, and General Counsel at Pieris Pharmaceuticals (PIRS). In this role, he was the site head for the company’s Boston office and oversaw business development, portfolio strategy, centralized project leadership, and quality assurance. He also led Pieris’ legal and intellectual property functions, including licensing, corporate governance, and management of the company’s global patent portfolio.Before joining Pieris, Ahmed was an attorney at Covington & Burling LLP, where he advised pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on a range of regulatory and intellectual property matters. He also served as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and began his legal career as an IP associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.Ahmed holds dual undergraduate degrees in Molecular Biology and Government from Cornell University, a Master’s in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, and a J.D. with honors from Georgetown Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Georgetown Journal of International Law.
Synopsis: When an introverted engineer becomes the President & CEO of REGENXBIO, transformation follows. Curran Simpson joins host Rahul Chaturvedi to unpack his unlikely journey from biotech operations to the C-suite—and how that hands-on experience is reshaping gene therapy's future.They dive into the evolution of REGENXBIO’s pipeline, tackling ultra-rare diseases like MPS II, ambitious plans for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and commercial partnerships with giants like AbbVie. Curran offers hard-earned leadership lessons, honest reflections on scaling science, and insights into how one-time gene therapies could revolutionize treatment in both rare and common diseases.From clinical nuance to strategic boldness, this is a masterclass in biotech leadership, platform focus, and staying patient-first—no matter how complex the science or market.Biography:Curran M. Simpson is the President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors at REGENXBIO. Mr. Simpson previously served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. In that role, he led key business functions including Research & Clinical Development, Corporate Strategy, Manufacturing & Quality, Regulatory, and Commercial Operations. Mr. Simpson joined REGENXBIO in 2015 with extensive leadership experience across biopharmaceutical operations and served as the Company’s Chief Technology and Operations Officer before becoming COO. Prior to joining REGENXBIO, he was the Regional Supply Chain Head for North America and Interim Chief Operating Officer at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Mr. Simpson earlier served as interim CEO of Human Genome Sciences (HGS), where he led the integration of HGS into GSK, and as Senior Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Manufacturing Operations at HGS. Prior to HGS, Mr. Simpson was Director of Manufacturing Sciences at Biogen. Earlier in his career, Mr. Simpson served in an overseas assignment at Novo-Nordisk Biochem in Denmark and in various senior development and engineer roles at Genentech, working on Herceptin and Avastin, among other roles. Mr. Simpson has an M.S. in surface and colloid science from Clarkson University and a B.S. in chemistry from the Clarkson College of Technology.
Synopsis: Longevity isn’t just about living longer—it’s about living better. In this insightful episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi sits down with Sergey Jakimov, Founding Partner at LongeVC, to unpack what it really takes to invest in the future of healthspan.Blending his experience as a medtech entrepreneur, rare disease patient, and venture capitalist, Sergey shares why LongeVC focuses on practical, science-backed longevity solutions rather than hype-driven moonshots. He explains why aging isn’t a disease, how diagnostics differ from therapeutics in venture ROI, and what makes AI drug discovery a pivotal unlock in modern biotech.The conversation also explores the rise of pet longevity, the role of lifestyle in aging, and how LongeVC grew from a €20M experiment to a high-performing fund now raising $250M for Fund Two—all with zero write-offs.For founders, funders, and anyone curious about the intersection of biotech, aging, and real-world outcomes, this episode offers an honest, no-fluff look at building the future of longevity—one evidence-based investment at a time.Biography:Sergey Jakimov is a founding partner of LongeVC, a venture capital fund supporting early-stage biotech and longevity-focused founders that are changing the world. He is a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded 3 deep-tech ventures and raised more than $40 million in venture funding for his own ventures and as an entrepreneur in residence. He has worked with several other early-stage companies in the therapeutics space on fundraising, IP protection, and clinical trial strategies, focusing on early treatments in cardiovascular, oncology, and neurodegenerative spaces. He is also a visiting lecturer to several universities on venture capital and intellectual property rights, and he co-authored a master's program in Technology Law for the Riga Graduate School of Law.Since 2018, he has co-founded medical tech startup Longenesis, a cutting-edge company that unlocks the hidden value of biomedical data and accelerates novel drug treatment & discovery. In 2020 he co-founded LongeVC, and in 2021, he co-founded the Longevity Science Foundation - a non-profit organization advancing the field of human longevity by funding research and development of medical technologies to extend the healthy human lifespan.He holds a BSc in International Affairs from Rīga Stradiņš University and two MScs in Political Science and Government and Law and Finance from Central European University and Riga Graduate School of Law, respectively. He was named Forbes Latvia 30 Under 30 in technology and healthcare in 2020.
Synopsis:What happens when a world-class scientist and a philanthropic legacy collide with one of medicine’s greatest challenges? Dr. Howard Fillit and Mark Roithmayr of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) join host Alok Tayi for an inspiring conversation on bold science, visionary funding models, and the future of Alzheimer’s research. From treating Estée Lauder in the 1990s to building a $100M venture philanthropy engine, they trace ADDF’s evolution into a global leader in high-risk, high-reward drug development. The discussion covers the rise of biomarkers and digital diagnostics, the foundation’s partnerships with visionaries like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, and how ADDF’s venture philanthropy approach bridges the “valley of death” in biotech. They also dive into global regulatory challenges, the economic urgency of Alzheimer’s, and why the future lies in prevention, precision medicine, and a patient-first mindset. This episode is a masterclass in scientific grit, ecosystem thinking, and turning urgency into progress.Biography:Howard Fillit, MDFounding Executive Director and Chief Science Officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery FoundationHoward Fillit, MD, is a geriatrician, neuroscientist, and innovative philanthropy executive, who has led the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) since its founding. Dr. Fillit has held faculty positions at The Rockefeller University, the SUNY-Stony Brook School of Medicine and the Cornell University School of Medicine. In 1987, he joined the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he is a clinical professor of geriatric medicine and palliative care, medicine and neuroscience. Dr. Fillit also maintains a limited private practice in consultative geriatric medicine with a focus on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.He has authored or co-authored more than 300 publications and is the senior editor of Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. Dr. Fillit is the recipient of many awards and honors including the Rita Hayworth Award from the Alzheimer's Association.Mark RoithmayrChief Executive OfficerMark Roithmayr is an admired nonprofit leader with four decades of experience in both start-ups and mature organizations. As CEO of the ADDF, he is responsible for steering the Foundation’s overall strategy, focus, and business operations. Since joining the ADDF in 2017, the organization has transformed dramatically in impact, scale, presence, and brand. Under his leadership, the ADDF’s revenue has increased five-fold from $17M to over $90M, and mission-related investing has grown over 100%.He works closely with Dr. Fillit, executive leadership, and the board to advance the ADDF’s mission of accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. His key accomplishments include securing donations from Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and MacKenzie Scott, and a 10-figure gift from the Lauder family to cover ADDF’s overhead for the next 20 years.
Synopsis: What does bold biotech leadership look like in 2025?In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi sits down with Stacy Lindborg, President & CEO of Imunon, to discuss bold innovation in ovarian cancer treatment and how harnessing the immune system through targeted gene therapy is reshaping survival outcomes.Stacy shares insights from her 30-year career—from her statistical roots at Eli Lilly to her mission-driven leadership at Imunon. She highlights the groundbreaking results from Imunon’s IL-12 plasmid platform, which is showing a remarkable 13-month overall survival advantage in ovarian cancer patients and is now entering Phase 3 trials.They also discuss the evolving biotech landscape, how adaptive trial designs and AI are unlocking clinical potential, and why cultivating a bold, transparent company culture is key to advancing transformational science.Biography:Stacy R. Lindborg, PhD, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Imunon in May 2024. Dr. Lindborg has served on Imunon’s Board of Directors since June 2021. Dr. Lindborg has nearly 30 years of pharmaceutical and biotech industry experience with a particular focus on R&D, regulatory affairs, executive management and strategy development. She has designed, hired and led global teams, guiding long-term vision for growth through analytics and stimulating innovative development platforms to increase productivity. Prior to joining Imunon, Dr. Lindborg was Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Executive Officer at BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics where she will remain a member of the company’s Board of Directors. At BrainStorm she was accountable for creating and executing clinical development strategies through registration and launch and progressed its novel cell therapy for ALS through a positive Phase 3 Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) study with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She interacted frequently with investors and analysts, represented the company in the scientific community as well as with the media, and played an active role in discussions with potential business partners.Dr. Lindborg previously was Vice President & Global Analytics and Data Sciences Head, responsible for R&D and marketed products at Biogen. She began her biopharmaceutical career at Eli Lilly and Company where over the course of 16 years she assumed positions of increasing responsibility, including Head of R&D strategy.Dr. Lindborg received an M.A. and Ph.D. in statistics, and a B.A. in psychology and math from Baylor University. She has authored more than 200 presentations and 90 manuscripts that have been published in peer-reviewed journals, including 20 first-authored. She has held numerous positions within the International Biometric Society and American Statistical Association and was elected Fellow in 2008.
Synopsis: What happens when a former journalist becomes one of biotech’s boldest investors? Meet Stephanie Sirota, Chief Business Officer and Partner at RTW Investments, who helped grow the firm from $27 million in assets to a global biotech force. In this engaging conversation with host Rahul Chaturvedi, Stephanie shares her unconventional path into the industry, and how a mission-driven, science-led investment strategy has guided RTW’s approach across public markets, private deals, and company creation.Stephanie reflects on the evolution of biotech financing, why GLP-1 drugs are just getting started, and how RTW is preparing for changes in U.S. healthcare policy. She also unpacks how the firm sources opportunities, evaluates risk, and sticks to long-term conviction even in volatile markets. For Stephanie, great biotech investing starts with deep research, strong science, and a relentless focus on patient outcomes.Whether you're an investor, operator, or simply curious about the future of medicine, this conversation is packed with insights on building bold bets—and the staying power behind them.Biography:Stephanie leads a team at RTW overseeing business development, strategic partnerships, communications, and investor relations.Her background in investment banking and expertise in financial markets has helped position the firm as both a partner to life sciences companies and a steward of investors’ capital. Stephanie also manages RTW’s relationships with key partners including banks, academic institutions, corporations, investors, and NGOs. She has led the firm’s entry into the UK and European markets and serves as a director of the RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd, a publicly traded investment fund listed on the London Stock Exchange.Prior to joining RTW, she served as director at Valhalla Capital Advisors, a macro and commodity investment manager. Stephanie also worked in the New York and London offices of Lehman Brothers, where she advised on various Merger & Acquisitions, IPOs, and capital market financing transactions with a focus on cross-border transactions for the firm’s global corporate clients.Stephanie graduated with honors from Columbia University and also received a Master’s Degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.She serves as president of the RTW Foundation; and co-chair of Council of the New York Philharmonic.
Synopsis: Building in biotech isn’t for the faint of heart—especially during a market downturn. But that’s exactly when Steve Tregay, Managing Partner at Mission BioCapital, thrives. A seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Forma Therapeutics, Steven has navigated biotech’s toughest cycles—and emerged stronger each time.Hosted by Rahul Chaturvedi, this conversation dives into what it really takes to launch and scale biotech companies: from mastering the evolution of the CEO role to raising nearly $900M through strategic partnerships, to knowing when it’s time to pass the torch.Steve also shares how Mission BioCapital is rewriting the playbook for early-stage innovation through its Platinum Program, offering $500K and lab access to science founders ready to launch bold new ideas.Real talk, real strategies, and a blueprint for building lasting biotech companies—especially when its hardest.Biography:Steve Tregay, PhD is a Managing General Partner based in our Cambridge office. He focuses on new therapeutics investments with a particular emphasis on company creation opportunities as well as on overall management of the firm. Within the Mission BioCapital portfolio, he is currently founding CEO and board member of Arclight Therapeutics, LLC, a founding board member at Jupiter BioVentures LLC, and has board roles at Vedere Bio and Nocion Therapeutics. In addition, Steve serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at LabCentral. He is a Harvard Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator Advisory Committee member and is a member of the board of advisors for the non-profit Life Sciences Cares.Previously, Steve was the Founder and CEO of FORMA Therapeutics. Additional roles held prior to his engagement at FORMA include Managing Director for the Novartis Venture Fund and Executive Director & Head of Strategic Alliances for Oncology, Ophthalmology and Technologies at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. Prior to Novartis, he held roles in research and business development at Array BioPharma.Steve received his doctoral and Master’s degrees in organic chemistry from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s from Davidson College.
Synopsis: In this episode of Biotech2050, host Rahul Chaturvedi sits down with Neil F. McFarlane, President and CEO of Zevra Therapeutics, to explore his unique leadership journey from military nurse to biotech executive. Neil shares reflections from his time at Genzyme and UCB, insights on running a rare disease-focused biotech, and the art of mission-driven leadership. He dives into Zevra’s recent therapeutic milestones, regulatory strategies, and the importance of reflection in high-stakes environments. This conversation offers powerful takeaways for anyone navigating biotech leadership, board management, or rare disease innovation.Biography:Neil F. McFarlane took the reins as President and CEO of Zevra Therapeutics, a commercial-stage rare disease therapeutics company, in October 2023, bringing with him a wealth of experience in the biopharma industry and specific expertise in neurological and rare diseases. Before joining Zevra, he served on the board of Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc. from 2022 to 2024 and was the CEO of Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for neurological diseases, from 2019 until its acquisition by Supernus Pharmaceuticals in 2021.Prior to Adamas, Mr. McFarlane was Chief Operating Officer at Retrophin, Inc. (now Travere Therapeutics, Inc.), from 2016 to 2019, where he managed day-to-day operations. He also held roles of increasing responsibility at UCB, Inc., Genzyme Corporation (now Sanofi), and Sangstat Medical Corporation, which was acquired by Genzyme.
Synopsis: How do you build a biotech company that disrupts drug discovery and delivers real impact? In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Rahul Chaturvedi speaks with Raj Devraj, President & CEO of Rectify Pharmaceuticals and Venture Partner at Atlas Venture.Raj shares his journey from big pharma to biotech entrepreneurship, the science behind Rectify’s groundbreaking approach to drugging membrane proteins, and how his team is tackling rare hepatobiliary diseases with small-molecule therapies.He also dives deep into biotech innovation, smart capital strategy, M&A trends, and the power of hiring the right talent. Whether you’re a biotech founder, investor, or science enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on building, funding, and scaling a biotech startup in today’s competitive landscape.Biography:Rajesh (Raj) Devraj, Ph.D., is President and Chief Executive Officer of Rectify Pharma and a Venture Partner at Atlas Venture. Throughout his career, he has been focused on creating and building groundbreaking biotech companies. Prior to Rectify, Raj co-founded Disarm Therapeutics with Atlas and served as its Chief Scientific Officer prior to its acquisition. Before Disarm, he served as Chief Scientific Officer of Atlas-founded Padlock Therapeutics. Prior to his tenure at Atlas, Raj served in senior executive roles at Euclises & Deciphera Pharmaceuticals and at Jubilant Life Sciences. In addition, Raj spent 14 years in positions of increasing responsibility with Pfizer Global R&D and the legacy Pharmacia and Searle companies. Raj also serves on the boards of directors for several biotech companies. Over a 25-year career in large pharma and biotech, Raj has led discovery, early clinical development, and strategic planning teams that have advanced multiple candidates into clinical trials for refractory cancers, autoimmune diseases, IPF, diabetic nephropathy, COPD, and pain. Raj received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Mumbai, and Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from Duquesne University.
Synopsis: Host Rahul Chaturvedi welcomes back Rachel Haurwitz, President & CEO of Caribou Biosciences, for a deep dive into the future of CRISPR-based genome editing and its transformative impact on cell therapy. As a pioneer in the field, Rachel shares the evolution of off-the-shelf CAR T therapies and how Caribou Biosciences is tackling some of the biggest challenges in biotech.With four ongoing Phase 1 trials in lymphoma, multiple myeloma, AML, and lupus, Caribou is leading the charge in making CAR T therapies more scalable, accessible, and cost-effective. Rachel also discusses Caribou’s journey from a private startup to a publicly traded company, the role of strategic partnerships like Pfizer’s equity investment, and how biotech companies can navigate today’s uncertain funding landscape.She reflects on lessons from co-founding Caribou at just 26, the evolution of biotech entrepreneurship, and why raising more capital than you think you need is crucial. Plus, she shares her perspective on leadership, industry trends, and the importance of diversity in biotech, as seen during JPMorgan’s ‘Pink Tuesday’ movement.From cutting-edge science to strategic decision-making, this episode is packed with insights for biotech professionals, investors, and anyone fascinated by the future of gene editing and cell therapy.Biography:Rachel is a co-founder of Caribou Biosciences and has been its president and chief executive officer and a director since the company’s inception in 2011. Rachel is an inventor on patents and patent applications covering multiple CRISPR-based technologies, and has co-authored several scientific papers in high-impact journals characterizing CRISPR-Cas systems. In 2014, she was named by Forbes Magazine to the “30 Under 30” list in Science and Healthcare, and in 2016, Fortune Magazine named her to the “40 Under 40” list of the most influential young people in business. In 2018, the Association for Women in Science recognized Rachel with the annual Next Generation Award. She serves on the board of directors for Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). Rachel earned an AB in biological sciences from Harvard College and a PhD in molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Synopsis: In this thought-provoking episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi sits down with Liam Killingstad, Member at Finiam Investments, to unpack the growing influence of family offices in biotech. Driven by his own family's experience with rare cancers, Liam shares how that journey sparked Finiam's deep dive into biotech investing and the co-creation of companies like Khora Therapeutics.From the untapped power of family offices to the strategies they use to enter high-stakes sectors like biotech, Liam offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how mission-driven capital is shaping the future of healthcare innovation.Biography:Liam Killingstad is an experienced finance and operations professional in the biopharma, healthcare, and investment sectors. As Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations at KHORA Therapeutics, Liam works closely with the C-suite to drive strategic initiatives, including the development of multi-asset portfolio construction and complex financial model building in support of executing oncology-focused asset acquisitions across global markets.Prior to KHORA, Liam served as Chief of Staff at SHEPHERD Health, a precision oncology diagnostics company where he played a pivotal role in securing bridge financing, managing investor relations, and establishing strategic partnerships, including joint ventures that expanded SHEPHERD's precision diagnostics capabilities. He was also instrumental in advocating for federal legislation to improve access to molecular diagnostics for cancer patients.Liam's financial expertise was honed during his time as an investment banking associate at Goldman Sachs, where he managed transactions exceeding $2 billion in the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors. He has a proven track record of structuring complex financial models, leading investor roadshows, and crafting innovative financing solutions for high-impact projects.In addition, Liam serves as Operating Partner at Finiam Investments, a European-based family office. He leads due diligence efforts for investments across biotech, digital health, cleantech, and media, supporting the portfolio with strategic planning, financial modeling, and capital formation.Liam holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics, graduating magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University, where he was a varsity baseball captain and recognized for academic excellence. Born and raised in Germany and various other European cities, Liam brings a global perspective to his work and leadership in life sciences and finance.
Synopsis: Host Alok Tayi sits down with Clare Terlouw, Head of Ventures at LifeArc Ventures, to explore biotech investing from an LP perspective. Clare shares her unique journey—from physiotherapy to investment banking and, ultimately, leading venture investments at a medical charity. The conversation delves into LifeArc’s role in bridging the funding gap for biotech innovation, the challenges of attracting LP capital, and the future of biotech investing. If you're curious about how a medical charity strategically deploys capital while fueling scientific breakthroughs, this episode is a must-listen!Biography:Clare Terlouw is Head of LifeArc Ventures, responsible for LifeArc’s portfolio of direct and LP investments across the life sciences sector. The venture investment fund focuses on early stage life sciences companies at seed to Series A, with significant follow-on investment reserved for successful portfolio companies. Clare has significant expertise in funding innovative life sciences companies in the private and public markets. She was previously Head of Corporate Development at Syncona Investment Management Ltd, a FTSE250 healthcare investment trust which builds and invests in life science companies, and has more than 15 years of biotech and healthcare financing experience as a UK investment banker at Nomura, Numis Securities and Peel Hunt. Clare was a physiotherapist in Canada prior to moving into finance.Clare is a board member of the UK Biotechnology Industry Association and director of a number of venture-backed companies.
Synopsis: Venture capital is evolving, and so is biotech. In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi, CEO and co-founder of VibeBio, sits down with Alex Bangash, Founder of Transpose, an investment firm backing both startups and funds.With over 20 years of experience in venture investing, Alex shares his unconventional journey from engineering to investing and how his unique perspective has shaped his approach to funding. He breaks down the shifting startup landscape, the critical role of LPs in biotech, and why AI is a game-changer for both tech and life sciences.Alex also offers sharp insights into what it takes to build a successful venture fund today and the structural shifts that are redefining the industry. Whether you're a founder, investor, or biotech enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on navigating the future of venture capital.Biography:Alex Bangash is the Founder of Transpose Platform, an anchor fund for the most disruptive venture funds of this decade. He is also the co-founder and former CEO of Trusted Insight, a machine learning–driven platform that hosts the world’s largest network of institutional investors. Prior to TI Platform, Alex managed capital for clients at premier endowments, foundations, family offices, insurance firms, sovereign wealth funds, and pension funds since 2003. He has helped invest over $2 billion in 50 funds with a track record of investing over $1 billion in 50+ funds for institutional investors with an IRR of 30%+ and a 2x NAV. He advised the first checks in Accel, First Round Capital, Founders Fund, Emergence, Y Combinator, Khosla, SaaStr, Initialized, Crystal Towers, and Baseline. Earlier in his career, Alex was an engineer and executive at AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Bell Labs, and GE. Alex holds an MBA from the Wharton School (where he is a frequent guest lecturer); an M.Eng. in Operations Research from Cornell, and a BS in Computer Science, English, and Economics from Cornell.
Synopsis: In this special episode of Biotech 2050, Host Alok Tayi, CEO and Co-Founder of VibeBio, delves into the world of neurodivergent entrepreneurship and impact investing with guest Chad Belinsky, founder of AtypicalPath.org. Chad shares his inspiring journey from running a transformative B2B materials company to establishing Atypical Path—a nonprofit dedicated to supporting neurodiverse individuals, fostering mentorship, and creating impact-driven investment opportunities. Together, they explore the unique perspectives neurodivergent individuals bring to innovation, the importance of self-awareness, and how capital can drive meaningful societal change. A must-listen for those interested in mission-oriented investment, entrepreneurship, and the untapped potential of neurodivergent talent. Biography:“Dumb” dyslexic, awkward aspie kid, empowered by love & tech, transformed himself and a bootstrapped family material science B2B into a 20 year overnight success with PE platform exit.Now stewarding the proceeds & sharing forward learnings through developing AtypicalPath.org , an entrepreneurial nonprofit community where accomplished neuro-atypical earnest entrepreneurs inspire each other to compound social & economic good, while sharing forward opportunity for the next generation to thrive, through shared wisdom, contacts, grants & impact investment.
Synopsis: In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi explores the world of biotech venture capital with Narayan Chowdhury, Co-Founder of Franklin Park. As a key player in funding the next wave of biotech breakthroughs, Narayan shares how limited partners (LPs) navigate risk, identify high-potential biotech funds, and decide where to allocate billions in capital.Discover why biotech investing is different from tech VC, the growing role of AI in drug development, and how emerging biotech hubs are shaping the future of innovation. Whether you're a founder, investor, or just biotech-curious, this episode unveils the strategies, challenges, and untapped opportunities that fuel the industry.Biography:At Franklin Park, Narayan is responsible for the analysis and evaluation of private equity investment opportunities, monitoring clients’ portfolios and conducting industry research. He is also involved in the development and implementation of Franklin Park’s technology platform, and regularly interacts with clients on investment and portfolio matters.Prior to Franklin Park, Narayan worked with Hamilton Lane and Public Financial Management. He is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. Narayan received a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Bucknell University.
Synopsis: Join host Alok Tayi as he welcomes David Meeker, CEO of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, for an inspiring conversation on the transformative journey of rare disease biotech. David shares his incredible path from practicing physician to biotech visionary, recounting his experiences at Genzyme, where he helped shape the rare disease business model and set the stage for a wave of life-changing innovations. In this episode, David dives deep into the breakthroughs and hurdles of developing therapies for rare diseases, the pivotal role of patient-centric approaches, and how advancements in precision medicine are reshaping treatment for conditions like genetic obesity. He also explores the evolving relationship between biotech and big pharma, the critical impact of regulatory decisions, and the essential elements of building a thriving biotech company today. Don’t miss this captivating discussion packed with actionable insights, industry wisdom, and a look at the future of rare disease therapeutics.Biography:Dr. David Meeker, a member of Rhythm’s Board of Directors since 2015 and Chairman of the Board since 2017, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in July 2020. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of KSQ Therapeutics for approximately three years. Previously, David was the Executive Vice President and Head of Sanofi Genzyme, the specialty-care global business unit of Sanofi that focused on rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology, and immunology. He joined Genzyme in 1994 as Medical Director and, over the course of his tenure, served the company as Vice President of Medical Affairs, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Executive Officer. He led Genzyme’s commercial organization and global market access functions and managed the launch of several treatments for rare genetic diseases, including Aldurazyme®, Fabrazyme® and Myozyme®. Prior to his tenure with Genzyme, David was Director of the Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Ohio State University. Dr. Meeker earned his MD from the University of Vermont Medical School and completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.
Synopsis: Host Rahul Chaturvedi leads an insightful conversation with Dr. Kristin Yarema, President and CEO of Poseida Therapeutics. Kristin shares the inspiring journey of her career, from her roots in science to leadership roles in big pharma, culminating in her move to biotech entrepreneurship. She reflects on pivotal experiences at Novartis and Amgen, her deep-seated passion for oncology and autoimmune diseases, and the exciting leap into the field of cell therapy.Kristin unveils Poseida’s innovative genetic engineering toolkit and the company’s advancements in allogeneic cell therapies, spotlighting their potential to revolutionize treatment for conditions like multiple myeloma. She delves into the challenges and opportunities within the cell therapy space, underscoring Poseida's strategic partnerships and commitment to transformative solutions. With candid reflections on the lessons learned as a first-time CEO, Kristin offers valuable insights on fostering cohesive company culture and shares career advice for aspiring biotech professionals.An essential listen for anyone drawn to biotech innovation, the future of cell therapy, and leadership strategies at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and patient care.Biography:Dr. Yarema was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Poseida and named to the Board of Directors in January 2024. She joined Poseida as President, Cell Therapy in April 2023, bringing extensive biopharmaceutical experience in oncology and allogeneic T cell immunotherapy. Prior to Poseida she served as Chief Commercial Officer at Atara Biotherapeutics, where she led the commercialization of EBVALLO™️, which became the world’s first marketed allogeneic T cell therapy after receiving regulatory approval in Europe for the treatment of a rare lymphoma. Previously Dr. Yarema held a series of U.S. and global commercial leadership roles at Amgen, including most recently Vice President & Therapeutic Area Head for Global Product Strategy & Commercial Innovation in Hematology-Oncology. Earlier in her career, Dr. Yarema worked at Novartis and McKinsey & Company. Dr. Yarema holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Berkeley and is a graduate of Stanford University, where she earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a B.A. in English. She is an officer and member of the board of directors of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine and serves on the board of directors of the Celiac Disease Foundation.
Synopsis: In this insightful conversation on Biotech2050, host Rahul Chaturvedi sits down with Bharatt Chowrira, CEO, and Eric Elenko, Co-Founder and President of PureTech Health. They explore the company’s pioneering R&D model and how it reshapes drug development by focusing on solving specific problems rather than pushing predefined solutions. Bharatt and Eric share their professional journeys and key insights, emphasizing the importance of simplicity and unwavering commitment to impactful ideas.The episode delves into the story behind Karuna Therapeutics, highlighting the challenges of obtaining funding and skepticism from the industry before its success with a groundbreaking schizophrenia drug. Bharatt and Eric underline the importance of patient-centered innovation and reflect on the lessons learned, including overcoming obstacles with persistence. They also discuss the need for more efficient pathways in drug development and share a glimpse into PureTech’s upcoming projects.Biography:Bharatt Chowrira, PhD, JD, is the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors at PureTech. Dr. Chowrira has been a member of the PureTech management team since March 2017, leading various departments including Operations, Finance and Business Development. Dr. Chowrira plays a key role in the Founded Entity fundraisings and provide strategic guidance as a Board member to many Founded Entities, including co-founding Seaport Therapeutics. Prior to joining PureTech, he held various leadership roles including Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel in multiple biotech companies over the past 30+ years, including Auspex Pharmaceuticals Inc., which was acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals for $3.5 billion and Sirna Therapeutics that was acquired by Merck for $1.1 billion and as a Vice President at Merck & Co. Dr. Chowrira received a JD from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, an MS in molecular biology from Illinois State University and a BS in microbiology from the UAS, Bangalore, India.Eric Elenko, PhD, is the president at PureTech where he has led the development of a number of programs, including three that have received US FDA approvals (EndeavorRx, Plenity and Cobenfy). Dr. Elenko plays a key role in the Founded Entity drug discovery and fundraisings, including co-founding Seaport Therapeutics. Prior to joining PureTech, Dr. Elenko was a consultant with McKinsey and Company where he advised senior executives of both Fortune 500 and specialty pharmaceutical companies on a range of issues such as product licensing, mergers and acquisitions, research and development strategy and marketing. Dr. Elenko received his BA in biology from Swarthmore College and his PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of California, San Diego.
Synopsis: Rob Williamson, CEO of Triumvira, joins Biotech 2050 host, Rahul Chaturvedi, to discuss his dynamic career from economics to biotech, tackling the volatile capital markets, and navigating high-stakes decisions in cell therapy. He shares insights on therapeutic developments in cell therapy, the pressures of solid tumor research, and the evolving biotech ecosystem. A deep dive into biotech board dynamics, funding strategies, and the potential of AI in healthcare, Rob offers invaluable lessons and forward-thinking perspectives on life sciences and patient care innovation.Biography:Robert F. Williamson, III has been active in building biotechnology companies and shareholder value for over two decades. He currently is the President and COO of Triumvira Immunologics. Previously, he was the CBO of OncoMyx, an oncolytic virus company, and CEO of BioTheryX, a protein degradation therapeutics company, raising a $100M crossover round and preparing the company for an IPO. Prior to BioTheryX, Mr. Williamson served as CEO of both PharmAkea and ATXCo, oncology and fibrosis companies financed through a partnership with Celgene, until PharmAkea’s acquisition by Galecto and ATXCo’s acquisition by Blade Therapeutics. Prior, Mr. Williamson was CEO of Arriva Pharmaceuticals, President and COO of Eos Biotechnology, which he sold to Protein Design Labs, and COO of DoubleTwist, Inc. through its acquisition by Merck and Hitachi.Mr. Williamson also serves as a director and adviser for foundations, private, and public companies. Notably, Mr. Williamson served as an early Director of Pharmasset, Inc., where he helped finance, grow, and advance the company into the public markets and through its acquisition by Gilead in 2011 for $11 billion. Earlier, Mr. Williamson was a Partner with The Boston Consulting Group and a Research Assistant for the Federal Reserve Board. He received a BA in economics from Pomona College and an MBA from Stanford.
Biotech2050 Host, Rahul Chaturvedi, engages with Gene Mack, Interim CEO and CFO of Gain Therapeutics, as he shares his journey from aspiring neurosurgeon to biotech leader. Gene reflects on his career shift from clinical research to Wall Street and eventually operational roles in biotech. He details the development of Gain's lead asset, GT02287, which targets Parkinson's disease by aiming for disease modification rather than symptom management. Gene also discusses the challenges of biotech leadership, running clinical trials, and navigating the financial landscape, highlighting the dynamic intersection of science, business, and innovation in neurodegenerative diseases.
Synopsis: Discover how Bitterroot Bio is poised to revolutionize cardiovascular health in this captivating conversation between host Rahul Chaturvedi and CEO Pavan Cheruvu. Pavan opens up about his inspiring journey from engineering to leading a biotech company at the forefront of cardio-immunology. Learn how his visionary leadership is driving innovative solutions to combat atherosclerosis—one of the world’s deadliest diseases. Delve into Bitterroot Bio's cutting-edge approach, blending scientific breakthroughs with bold strategies to create life-saving treatments while overcoming the hurdles of drug development in an ever-changing biotech landscape.Biography:Dr. Pavan K. Cheruvu is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Bitterroot Bio. Prior to joining Bitterroot, Dr. Cheruvu was an early member of the executive team at Roivant Sciences and served as President and CEO of Sio Gene Therapies. Over the course of his career, he has worked with multiple biotechnology and medical device companies, as well as in the public sector, with focus areas spanning neurology, oncology, women’s health, and cardiology. Dr. Cheruvu previously worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on R&D strategy and transformation for biopharmaceutical firms across North America, Asia, and Europe.Dr. Cheruvu holds a BS in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, and chemistry from Duke University and an MSc in computer science from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He went on to earn an MD from Harvard Medical School and MIT. Dr. Cheruvu completed his residency in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital and continued his training as a clinical fellow in cardiovascular medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and daughter. He serves on the Executive Leadership Team of the American Heart Association’s Research Roundtable, and the Board of Advisors of Life Sciences Cares Bay Area.
Synopsis: In this episode of Biotech 2050, Alex Martin, CEO of Abcuro, sits down with host Rahul Chaturvedi to share his inspiring journey from aspiring actor to biotech trailblazer. Alex reveals how his unique background shaped his leadership approach as he drives Abcuro’s groundbreaking work on Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM), a rare muscle disease with no current treatments. He offers valuable insights for biotech CEOs on navigating the complexities of fundraising, building mission-driven teams, and fostering productive relationships with boards. Tune in to discover how Alex is leading Abcuro to the forefront of biotech innovation and making a profound impact on patient lives.Biography:Alex Martin brings over 30 years of experience building companies and closing transactions in the biopharmaceutical industry. He was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Palladio Biosciences, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company which was acquired by Centessa Pharmaceuticals (CNTA), and previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Realm Therapeutics (RLM) which was acquired by ESSA Pharma (EPIX). He was also Chief Operating Officer of Intercept Pharmaceuticals (ICPT), and Chief Finance Officer of BioXell (BXLN) which was acquired by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals (COPN). He began his career at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals where he held roles of increasing responsibility in marketing and business development and later joined Novartis as Vice President, Global Business Development & Licensing. Alex is an active coach and mentor to other senior executives, and a guest lecturer at Wharton and Columbia Business School on biotech, entrepreneurship, and raising capital. He holds a BA from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard.
Synopsis: Abe Ceesay, CEO of Rapport Therapeutics, sits down with host Rahul Chaturvedi to reveal how precision neuroscience is driving revolutionary treatments for neurological disorders. They explore Rapport’s cutting-edge lead program targeting focal epilepsy and discuss the groundbreaking advancements that are reshaping the landscape of drug development. Abe also shares his dynamic leadership journey, offering insights into the biotech industry’s future and how innovative approaches are delivering life-changing treatments. Don’t miss this powerful discussion on the future of precision medicine and the hope it brings to patients with neurological conditions.Biography:Abe brings nearly two decades of biopharmaceutical industry experience to Rapport. He served as President of Cerevel Therapeutics from May 2021 through February 2023, and was previously CEO of Tiburio Therapeutics, where he built a fully integrated company that led to the investigational new drug enablement for a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Prior to joining Tiburio, Mr. Ceesay held positions including Chief Operating Officer at scPharmaceuticals, Head of Commercial at Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Vice President of Marketing at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, and roles of increasing responsibility at Sanofi, formerly Genzyme. Mr. Ceesay serves as Chairman of the Board for Life Science Cares and on the Board of Trustees at The Museum of Science in Boston. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and Master of Business Administration from Suffolk University’s Sawyer School of Management.
Synopsis: Explore the forefront of biotech innovation as host Rahul Chaturvedi interviews Dr. Dave Bearss, Co-Founder & CEO of Halia Therapeutics, in this engaging episode of Biotech 2050. Dr. Bearss shares the story behind Halia’s pioneering genetic discoveries and their mission to tackle Alzheimer’s disease. Learn about the science driving breakthrough therapies that target neuroinflammation, offering hope in the fight against neurodegenerative disorders. Packed with insights and inspiration, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of healthcare and biotech innovation.Biography:Dr. David J. Bearss, a serial entrepreneur and pharmaceutical innovator, has over two decades of experience spanning academic and industrial roles. His expertise lies at the intersection of structure-based small-molecule drug discovery and the utilization of genetic model systems for drug discovery. Dr. Bearss's career is marked by significant achievements, with a strong foundation in translational research focused on drug advancement to the clinic and using genetic markers for predictive drug sensitivity.Notably, Dr. Bearss has discovered 16 compounds that have successfully navigated from discovery in the lab to IND into clinical development. His entrepreneurial experience is evident through his roles as the co-founder of eight biotechnology companies. More importantly, his unwavering commitment to advancing novel drug development truly sets him apart.Before taking on his role as chief scientific officer at Halia in January 2021 and assuming the CEO position in March 2022, Dr. Bearss served as the CEO of Tolero Pharmaceuticals, an organization later acquired by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma in 2017. His tenure as chief scientific officer at Montigen Pharmaceuticals, followed by its acquisition by SuperGen Inc., demonstrates his dedication to driving early-stage drug discovery and development. At SuperGen, he continued to develop his expertise in these critical areas.Dr. Bearss's academic career is equally impressive. It led to his founding role as the Center for Investigational Therapeutics Co-Director at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He also held academic positions as an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah and as an Associate Professor of Physiology and Developmental Biology at Brigham Young University, demonstrating his deep knowledge and expertise in these fields.Dr. Bearss's academic career began with a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute for Drug Development at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center also in Texas. He has won several awards for his entrepreneurial and scientific achievements, including the Utah Governor's Medal of Science and BIO Utah Entrepreneur of the Year.
Synopsis: In this episode, host Rahul Chaturvedi interviews Sarah Boyce, President & CEO of Avidity Biosciences, as she shares her dynamic journey from big pharma to leading groundbreaking advancements in RNA therapeutics. Sarah delves into overcoming drug delivery challenges, the transformative potential of genetic medicine, and Avidity’s mission to redefine rare disease treatments. She also offers candid insights on leadership, the importance of cultivating a strong company culture, and balancing personal well-being for long-term success. This episode is essential for those eager to explore the future of biotech and the next wave of medical innovation.Biography:Sarah Boyce joined Avidity as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors in October 2019. She has more than 25 years of global leadership experience in both pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. Sarah’s tenure at Avidity has been marked by transformative leadership, starting with the company's successful Series C funding round and IPO. She continues to drive the company’s evolution from a research and development entity to a biopharmaceutical company through the advancement of three therapies into clinical development and the expansion of the broad utility of the company’s proprietary RNA technology. Prior to joining Avidity, Sarah held the position of president and a member of the board of directors of Akcea Therapeutics. She previously held executive roles in business development and global operations for leading life sciences companies including Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Forest Laboratories, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Oncology and Roche. Sarah was named a Healthcare Technology Report Top 25 Biotech CEO in 2022 and has been named one of Fiercest Women in Life Sciences. Sarah currently serves as a member of the board of directors at OmniAb, Inc., Contineum Therapeutics, Inc., and Abcuro, Inc. Sarah holds a BSc (Hons) degree in microbiology from the University of Manchester, England.
Synopsis:Step into the future of biotech as host Rahul Chaturvedi delves into an exclusive conversation with Fabrice Chouraqui, CEO of Cellarity, as he unveils the groundbreaking ways AI is revolutionizing drug discovery. Fabrice will take you behind the scenes of Cellarity’s trailblazing approach, revealing how their pioneering technology is accelerating drug development and creating a synergy-driven powerhouse. Tune in for a front-row seat to the next era of biotech innovation and gain exclusive insights from a leader at the cutting edge of the industry.Biography:Fabrice Chouraqui is CEO-partner of Flagship Pioneering and CEO of Cellarity. Cellarity is a Flagship-backed company developing game-changing medicines that are unreachable with traditional methods of drug discovery. By harnessing the power of AI and single-cell omics data, Cellarity’s approach allows them to see disease biology others can’t. The Cellarity platform links biology and chemistry to multi-omics data and enables the design of medicines against cellular dysfunction – an approach applicable to a vast array of diseases to offer new hope to patients in need. Fabrice is an experienced global pharmaceutical executive with a passion for driving the progress of medical sciences and bringing innovation to patients. He has deep experience across the business spectrum, from R&D to commercial leadership, business development and investor communications. Fabrice has led the launch of breakthrough treatments in a number of areas, including oncology, immunology, neuroscience and cardiovascular. Prior to Cellarity, Fabrice was president of the U.S. Pharmaceuticals business for Novartis, where he was credited with transforming the organization to adapt to a new market environment and turning around its performance. He also represented Novartis on the board of BIO. Fabrice earned an MBA from INSEAD in France and a Doctorate in Pharmacy, a Post-Graduate Degree in Quality Assurance of Medicines, and a MSc in Biological and Medicinal Sciences from University of Paris V. Born in Paris, France, he is fluent in English and French.
Get ready for an insightful conversation as Rahul Chaturvedi connects with John Alam, CEO of CervoMed, to uncover the revolutionary advancements transforming dementia treatment, with a spotlight on Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). John shares his remarkable journey from practicing medicine to leading cutting-edge biotech innovations, shedding light on the bold breakthroughs in neurodegenerative research and the intense, high-stakes world of clinical trials. This episode reveals how CervoMed is not just advancing dementia care but redefining it, proving that resilience and bold thinking are the keys to success in biotech.Biography:John Alam serves as the Chief Executive Officer at CervoMed, co-founding the company (formerly known as EIP Pharma) in 2014. John is an industry leader in translational medicine with over 30 years of experience creating value to help build companies through clinical development success.Until May 2014, he was therapeutic area head for diseases of aging at Sanofi, where he led all discovery and development activities directed at Alzheimer’s disease, as well as a number of other age-related diseases including sarcopenia/frailty, osteoarthritis, chronic pain and many others. From 1997 to 2008, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, including Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, Medicines Development. At Vertex, he played major roles in the development of novel innovative medicines for HIV, Hepatitis C and Cystic Fibrosis. Prior to Vertex, Alam led clinical development of Avonex (interferon beta-1a) for multiple sclerosis at Biogen from 1991 to 1997.John is a member of the board of directors of the Alliance for Aging Research (AAR), a Washington, D.C. based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting innovation to address the healthcare needs of older Americans. He received a MD from Northwestern University School of Medicine and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition, he completed an internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a post-doctoral fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics, appears on this insightful episode of Biotech 2050 with host Rahul Chaturvedi. Renée shares her unconventional journey from investment banking to biotech leadership, underscoring the crucial role of capital markets and regulatory strategies. The discussion explores the unique challenges of developing treatments for rare diseases, strategic decisions on indication selection, and the complexities of managing a global team. Highlighting the importance of continuous learning and curiosity, Renée provides invaluable insights into navigating the fast-paced biotech industry. Tune in to discover the strategic and operational nuances of leading a successful biotech company in today's dynamic environment.Biography:CEO since 2017.Before joining Calliditas, Renée Aguiar-Lucander was a Partner and COO of Omega Fund Management, an international venture capital company focused on investments within the life science sector. Before that, she served as a Partner in the venture capital group 3i Group plc in London, where she managed the publicly quoted assets and was co-head of the global healthcare and technology portfolio. Prior to this, Renée Aguiar-Lucander was the European Group Head and Managing Director at a global investment bank and has more than 12 years’ experience in corporate finance. Prior to her career in investment banking, she was the Head of European Sales and Marketing in a company focused on the sale of software for financial services.Renée took up BA in Finance from Stockholm School of Economics and finished her MBA from INSEAD.
Synopsis: In this engaging episode, host, Rahul Chaturvedi welcomes Marshall Fordyce, Founder and CEO of Vera Therapeutics, to discuss his transformative journey from physician to biotech entrepreneur. Marshall shares the story behind Vera Therapeutics' strategic pivot to focus on IG nephropathy and their development of atacicept, a promising B-cell modulator. He provides valuable insights into the biotech industry's landscape, emphasizing the importance of scientific rigor, adaptability, and maintaining a lean, effective operating model. Marshall's enthusiasm for advancing autoimmune disease treatments and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs make this a must-listen episode.Biography:Dr. Fordyce brings more than 15 years’ experience leading teams in drug discovery, development, clinical translation, and commercialization of new treatments. Before founding Vera, Fordyce was the founder and CEO of gene-editing company Trucode Gene Repair, Inc., having previously served as an entrepreneur in residence at Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers.Earlier in his career, Fordyce served as Senior Director of clinical research at Gilead Sciences, Inc., where he contributed to seven new drug approvals and served as project lead for Gilead’s TAF/GENVOYA development program.With subspecialty training in infectious disease from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Fordyce was previously Chief Resident at NYU Bellevue and spent two years as a translational research fellow at Rockefeller University.Fordyce currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. He received his BA from Harvard University and his MD from Harvard Medical School.
Zandy Forbes, Founder, President, and CEO of MeiraGTx, joins host Rahul Chaturvedi in this compelling episode. Zandy shares her inspiring journey from academia, where she developed a deep interest in molecular biology and genetics, to her significant role in biotech investing, and eventually leading a groundbreaking gene therapy company. She elaborates on Meira’s cutting-edge approach to genetic medicines, focusing on the development of innovative therapies for non-inherited diseases. Zandy discusses the unique challenges and opportunities that arise in the biotech sector, shedding light on the strategies Meira employs to navigate this complex landscape.Biography:Alexandria Forbes, Ph.D. is the President and CEO of MeiraGTx (NASDAQ: MGTX). MeiraGTx is a vertically integrated gene therapy company with core capabilities in viral vector design and optimization and gene therapy manufacturing, as well as a potentially transformative gene regulation technology. The company is developing innovative gene therapy products to cost effectively treat a range of serious medical disorders, with clinical programs currently in the eye, salivary gland and CNS. Prior to founding MeiraGTx, Dr. Forbes served as Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at Kadmon Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from September 2013 to April 2015.Before joining the biotech industry, she spent 10 years as a healthcare investor at Sivik Global Partners (Argus Partners) and Meadowvale Partners. At Sivik, Dr. Forbes was responsible for investments in biotechnology, specialty pharmaceuticals and diagnostics public equities and was portfolio manager of the Sivik Global Life Science Fund, a long-biased public markets fund investing in biotechnology companies globally. During her time as a biotechnology investor, Dr. Forbes covered over 300 companies and gained expertise in biotechnology business strategies and clinical drug development as well as a wide range of disease areas. Particular areas of focus included HIV, HCV, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune disorders, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease and liver disease. Before entering the hedge fund industry, Dr. Forbes was an academic scientist studying the regulation of stem cell identity and different aspects of embryogeneis. She was a Human Frontiers/Howard Hughes postdoctoral fellow at the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, where her research focused on cytoplasmic determinants and cell signaling pathways involved in the migration, establishment and maintenance of germ line stem cells in Drosophila melanogaster. Prior to this, Dr. Forbes was a research fellow at Duke University and at the Carnegie Institute at Johns Hopkins University where she studied the role of the hedgehog gene and its signaling pathway in the Drosophila embryo and adult. Dr. Forbes received her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Oxford University, UK and attained a double first degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, UK. Dr. Forbes serves on the Board of Directors of MeiraGTx, and as a Trustee and Director of the Selfridges Group Foundation, the European arm of the Weston Brain Institute, a charity supporting research into neurodegenerative diseases with the aim of speeding the time to the development of disease modifying treatments for these currently intractable diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s.
Dive into this episode of Biotech 2050 where host Rahul Chaturvedi interviews Jeb Keiper, CEO of Nimbus Therapeutics. Discover Jeb's fascinating journey from MIT chemist to industry leader, as he shares insights into Nimbus’ groundbreaking work in ultra-rare diseases, innovative corporate structure, and strategic capital management. Emphasizing bold risks, team collaboration, and strategic partnerships, Jeb shares valuable insights into biotech’s challenges, opportunities, and the future of cancer therapies.Biography:Jeb Keiper, M.S., M.B.A., has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors since October 2018. He previously served as Chief Business Officer from November 2014 to October 2018 and as Chief Financial Officer from February 2017 to October 2018. Since joining Nimbus, Mr. Keiper has overseen the discovery and development of three programs into clinical testing across a range of indications, over $400M raised in equity funding, executed deals worth over $7B, and the return of over $4B in gains back to equity holders.Prior to joining Nimbus, Mr. Keiper served as the Vice President of Business Development at GSK Oncology (a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE: GSK)) from March 2011 to October 2014, where he was responsible for identifying and concluding several critical collaborations for GSK in Oncology, including the Novartis-GSK Oncology integration, and spent a decade at GSK in various business development leadership roles. Prior to GSK, Mr. Keiper was a consultant at McKinsey & Company starting in September 2000-2002, then September 2004 to 2005, after having started his career as a pharmaceutical chemist at Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) in 1998.Mr. Keiper currently serves as a member of the board of directors at private biotechnology companies Cardurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and ROME Therapeutics, Inc.Mr. Keiper received two B.S. degrees, one in Chemistry and one in Chemical Engineering, as well as an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management with joint program in Biomedical Enterprises with the Harvard Medical School.
Sujal Patel, co-founder and CEO of Nautilus Biotechnology, discusses their innovative work in proteomics and its impact on drug development. Sujal shares his transition from tech to biotech, the formation of Nautilus with Parag Mallick, and their revolutionary approach using multi-affinity probes. The conversation highlights the importance of proteomics in drug discovery, the broad applications of their technology, and the significance of product-market fit and fiscal discipline in building a sustainable business.Biography:Sujal Patel is the co-founder of Nautilus Biotechnology, a life sciences company working to create a platform technology for quantifying and unlocking the complexity of the proteome. Nautilus’ mission is to democratize access to the proteome and, in doing so, enable fundamental advancements across human health and medicine. Sujal founded Isilon Systems in 2001, a storage company built for the future of unstructured, file-based data. In 2006, Isilon completed one of the most successful initial public offerings of the year. EMC (since acquired by Dell) acquired Isilon in December 2010 for $2.6 Billion, the largest acquisition in EMC’s history. Sujal served as the president of EMC’s Isilon Storage Division from the acquisition until November 2012, driving significant revenue growth, market expansion, and organizational scale. Prior to EMC and Isilon, Sujal served in various engineering roles at RealNetworks, Inc., in part as the chief architect behind the company’s second-generation core media delivery system. Sujal holds nineteen patents in the areas of storage, networking, and media delivery and five patents for innovations related to the development of Nautilus Biotechnology’s technology. He is a well-known speaker on entrepreneurship and has received a variety of industry awards. Currently, Sujal serves on the board of directors at Qumulo and Rainier Scholars and helps direct the philanthropic efforts of his family’s foundation. He graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 1996 with a degree in computer science.
Synopsis: In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi, CEO and co-founder of Vibe Bio, speaks with Dr. Bruce Leuchter, President and CEO of Neurvati Neuroscience. They discuss capital markets, neurology, psychiatry, and Neurvati's work in ultra-rare diseases. Dr. Leuchter shares his journey from clinical training to leadership at Neurvati. The conversation covers the convergence of neurology and psychiatry, advanced technologies in drug development, and addressing unmet medical needs in neuroscience. Join us for insights into the future of biotech and developments in neuroscience.Biography:Dr. Bruce Leuchter brings deep-rooted, wide-ranging experience to his role as President and CEO at Neurvati, spanning neuroscience, clinical neuropsychiatry, biotechnology equity research, healthcare investment banking and entrepreneurship. His expertise captures all aspects of building and leading a neuroscience company, and his experiences have generated deep empathy for the patient journey. Across his many roles in the clinic, industry, and beyond, Dr. Leuchter has maintained a passion for knowledge and has aimed to purposefully apply that knowledge to help patients suffering from diseases of the brain and nervous system.A physician by training and neuropsychiatrist by specialty, Dr. Leuchter completed residency training in Neurology and Psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Leuchter served as Director of Clinical Neuropsychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and maintains a voluntary faculty appointment in the Department of Psychiatry.Dr. Leuchter has also held multiple financial services roles including biotechnology equity research at Goldman Sachs, healthcare investment banking at Credits Suisse, and biotechnology mergers and acquisitions at PJT Partners, all of which drive a nuanced understanding of the biotechnology industry and particularly the neuroscience ecosystem.Dr. Leuchter is Co-Founder and Founding Neuropsychiatrist of a digital therapeutics company, Click Therapeutics, which specializes in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. He serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Daedelus Fund for Innovation at Weill Cornell Medical College, as a member of the Life Science Institute Leadership Council at the University of Michigan, as a member of the Advisory Board at Michigan Drug Discovery, and as a Business Advisory Board member at FOXG1 Research Foundation.
Synopsis: In this episode of BioTech 2050, Ken Keller, President and CEO of Daiichi Sankyo, provides an in-depth look into the company's transformation from a cardiovascular-focused organization to a leader in oncology. He discusses the groundbreaking advancements in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), particularly highlighting the success of their HER2-targeted therapies. Ken shares his career journey, emphasizing the importance of building a team of passionate individuals who are eager to innovate and make a difference. He also touches on the significance of strategic partnerships in accelerating drug development and ensuring global access to life-saving treatments. The conversation offers valuable insights into the future of cancer therapies and the dynamic landscape of the biotech industry.Biography:Ken Keller is the Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. He is also the Head of the Global Oncology Business responsible for leading the overarching company strategy of ensuring innovative medicines are available to patients with cancer around the world. With more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Ken has led multi-billion dollar businesses in both U.S. and Europe while working to unify cross-functional teams to create a global infrastructure – enabling the commercial success of Daiichi Sankyo oncology and specialty medicines. Through leadership roles in multiple markets, across cultures and within different healthcare systems, Ken has successfully launched numerous biologic products in therapeutic areas ranging from oncology to bone health to nephrology to inflammatory diseases, transformed businesses, and delivered sustainable revenue and profit growth. With more than 20 years of oncology experience, Ken had a longstanding career at Amgen where he held several leadership roles, with increasing global and commercial responsibility, including Vice President and General Manager, Bone Health Business Unit. Prior to joining Daiichi Sankyo, Ken served as Chief Operating Officer at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, where he held global responsibility for leading commercial operations, medical and clinical development, regulatory, quality, safety and pharmaceutical operations.Ken is motivated by passion for innovation and compassion for patients, which is at the core of everything he instills within his leadership teams. Developing and coaching high-performing global teams that can have a profound impact on patient lives and leading an organization that is responsible for helping to change the standard of care for the oncology community is a privilege he is incredibly grateful for.
Synopsis: In this episode of Biotech2050, Praveen Tipirneni, CEO of Morphic Therapeutics, shares insights on Morphic’s strategic IPO, the rising interest in autoimmune treatments, the journey of their alpha 4 beta 7 program, and maintaining a conservative yet opportunistic approach in biotech. He also discusses the importance of building a strong team, navigating the complex biotech landscape, and the value of enjoying the journey.Biography:Praveen Tipirneni, MD, MBA is Chief Executive Officer of Morphic Therapeutic Inc. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Global Strategy at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, a position in which he served from 2002 until the company’s acquisition by Merck in 2015. In his time at Cubist, he was a member of the clinical group working on the Cubicin NDA (skin and skin structure infections) and sNDA (Staph. Bacteremia and Endocarditis) teams. He was head of business development since January 2006. Prior to joining Cubist, Dr. Tipirneni worked at Sun Microsystems in corporate strategy, Covad Communications in Corporate Strategy, and Deltagen in business development. He also served time as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Dr. Tipirneni received a bachelor’s degree from MIT in mechanical engineering and an M. D. from McGill University. After completing his post-graduate residency in Internal Medicine at University of Illinois, Chicago, he received his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in healthcare finance.
Synopsis: In this episode of BioTech 2050, Robert Ang, CEO of Vor Bio, shares insights on the current state of cancer therapies and next-gen modalities. He discusses Vor Bio's work on shielded stem cell transplants and CAR T-cell therapies targeting hematologic malignancies like AML and MDS. Robert also talks about his experience serving on boards and emphasizes the importance of core values in shaping organizational culture. He highlights his approach to hiring, focusing on finding individuals who are passionate about making an impact over titles. Overall, the discussion provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cancer treatment.Biography:Robert Ang, MBBS, MBA brings experience as a senior biotech executive and is formerly a physician, venture capitalist, and strategy consultant. Prior to Vor Bio, Robert was Chief Business Officer at Neon Therapeutics, serving as part of the early team that established the company prior to its Series A investment through IPO. Before Neon, he served as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Bavarian Nordic, where he was primarily responsible for conducting a $975 million transaction with Bristol-Myers Squibb for PROSTVAC, a Phase 3 immuno-oncology asset, and served as Head of Business Development and Medical Affairs for Cadence Pharmaceuticals. Robert also worked at Frazier Healthcare Ventures, a leading life sciences venture capital firm, where he was involved in several pharmaceutical and biotechnology investments including Cadence Pharmaceuticals (purchased by Mallinckrodt), Incline Therapeutics (purchased by The Medicines Company), Alnara Pharmaceuticals (purchased by Eli Lilly), and Collegium Pharmaceuticals. Robert also has strategy consulting experience at the Boston Consulting Group and has general surgical training. He holds an MBBS (Doctor of Medicine) from the University of Western Australia and an MBA with honors from Columbia Business School. Robert serves as the Board Chair of Enara Bio, a UK-based biotechnology company focused on non-classical HLA targets for immuno-oncology approaches. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the leading international advocacy organization dedicated to realizing the promise of regenerative medicines and advanced therapies.
Synopsis: In this episode of Biotech2050, Vik Bajaj, Co-founder and CEO of Foresite Labs, delves into the convergence of tech and biotech, hyper-growth phases in biotech companies, changes in finance and capital markets, and lessons from global healthcare systems, particularly the UK. He highlights the transformative potential of technology in biotech and the challenges and opportunities of rapid growth.Biography:Vik is the founder and CEO of Foresite Labs, Foresite Capital’s entrepreneurial innovation hub. He is also managing director at Foresite Capital, evaluating and pursuing investments at the intersection of technology and life sciences, including in personalized and precision healthcare. Most recently, Foresite Labs, ARCH Venture Partners, and Dr. David Baker of the UW Medicine Institute for Protein Design teamed up to launch Xaira to deliver transformative medicines by harnessing AI for drug discovery and development. With $1B in funding, Xaira launched with one of the largest biotech funding rounds in history. He is also managing director at Foresite Capital, evaluating and pursuing investments at the intersection of technology and life sciences.Prior to joining Foresite Capital, Vik was the chief scientific officer of GRAIL, a life sciences company working to detect cancer early (acquired by ILMN). He is also the co-founder and former chief scientific officer of Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences) and previously served as chair of its scientific advisory board. He is also a Director of Genomics England, an initiative of the United Kingdom’s Department of Health, and is a co-founder and director of numerous biotechnology companies. In the educational realm, Vik currently holds the position of Adjunct Associate Professor at the Stanford School of Medicine. He was previously an affiliate scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley. He also served on the advisory board of the College of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. Vik’s research interests lie at the interface of the physical sciences, engineering, and life sciences, including in the generation and use of large biomedical datasets and new AI/ML methods to productively harness them for product development. In his academic career, he and his collaborators have developed nanotechnology probes for the early detection and molecular imaging of disease, spectroscopic tools for imaging objects on the nanoscale, microfabricated and miniaturized analytical and imaging systems for point-of-care testing, methods and devices that dramatically enhance the sensitivity and specificity of MRI, and new tools for clinical bioinformatics and integrative systems biology. Aspects of this work have been commercialized through several startups. At GRAIL, Vik led laboratory and data science teams at the forefront of industrial cancer genomics and diagnostics development.He holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Vik’s scientific and engineering awards include the Anatole Abragam Prize (2012), the R&D 100 Award for the most promising commercialized technologies (2011 and 2013), and the Department of Energy’s LBL Innovation Grant (2013).
Synopsis: In this episode of Biotech2050, Dr. Ted Love, former CEO of Global Blood Therapeutics and Current Chairman of BIO, shares insights on sickle cell breakthroughs, transitioning from academia to research, navigating a tight funding environment, and protecting an innovative ecosystem to benefit patients.Biography:Dr. Ted Love is the chair of the Board of Directors at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), a position he assumed in June 2023. A long-time BIO Board Member, Dr. Love has focused on championing access to care, standing up for science, and improving the narrative around the biopharma industry. Dr. Love previously served as president and chief executive officer of Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT). During his tenure at GBT, Dr. Love led the company from a pre-clinical start-up, through the accelerated approval and launch of Oxbryta®, and into a global commercial company with an advanced pipeline of innovative therapies focused on sickle cell disease. Prior to GBT, Dr. Love was executive vice president, research and development and technical operations, at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he played an instrumental role in the accelerated approval of Kyprolis® for multiple myeloma, and the subsequent purchase of Onyx by Amgen. Previously, Dr. Love served as president, chief executive officer and chairman of Nuvelo, Inc., and as senior vice president, development, at Theravance, Inc. Dr. Love began his biotech career at Genentech in 1992, where he held several senior management positions in clinical science and product development, and ultimately as chairman of Genentech’s Product Development Committee. As vice president, product development, Dr. Love oversaw the development strategy and execution leading to approvals of Rituxan®, Herceptin®, Xolair®, TNKase®, Raptiva® and Avastin®. Prior to Genentech, Dr. Love was a member of the Department of Cardiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Love currently serves on the boards of directors of Royalty Pharma and Structure Therapeutics. Dr. Love holds a B.A. in molecular biology from Haverford College and an M.D. from Yale Medical School. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Synopsis: In this episode of the Biotech 2050 podcast, host Rahul Chaturvedi engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ray Stevens, a prominent figure in the biotech industry who co-founded Structure Therapeutics. Ray's extensive experience and pivotal role in advancing structure-based drug discovery make him a compelling guest for biotech entrepreneurs seeking to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and funding strategies. The episode delves into Ray's journey as a serial entrepreneur, the evolution of structure-based drug discovery, and the strategies employed by Structure Therapeutics to drive innovation and create impactful treatments for global health challenges. Ray's insights into the changing funding environment, the impact of distributed teams on value creation, and the significance of shared passion and mission in a company's success offer valuable knowledge for industry professionals and entrepreneurs. His reflections on the industry's future trends and the personal growth aspect add a relatable and human element to the discussion, making it a valuable resource for individuals at all career stages.Biography:Dr. Stevens helped pioneer the field of structure-based drug discovery. He has been involved in the discovery and development of several therapeutic molecules that have become breakthrough drugs including Palnziq™, which was developed at BioMarin Pharmaceutical and approved in 2018 to treat phenylketonuria. Dr. Stevens also founded Receptos which developed Zeposia™—a GPCR agonist targeting the S1PR1 receptor approved in 2020 for multiple sclerosis and 2021 for ulcerative colitis. Prior to Structure, Dr. Stevens founded the Bridge Institute at the University of Southern California (USC), and the iHuman Institute at ShanghaiTech University. He was previously a tenured chaired chemistry professor at Scripps Research and before that, an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Stevens’ laboratory and students have launched several successful biotech startups including Syrrx (acquired by Takeda), MemRx (acquired by Chiron/Novartis), Receptos (acquired by Celgene/BMS), and RuiYi (now Bird Rock Bio). A prolific scholar, Dr. Stevens has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and received several academic and industry awards. Dr. Stevens conducted postdoctoral research in structural biology at Harvard University with William Lipscomb, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1976. Dr. Stevens earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from USC with Robert Bau and George Olah, the latter of whom received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1994. He completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Southern Maine.
Synopsis: In this episode of Biotech2050, Scott Megaffin, CEO of Adiso Therapeutics, shares valuable insights on the challenges and opportunities in the biotech industry. His deep involvement in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sector has shaped his strategic approach to leadership and business management. Scott emphasizes the importance of a CEO's versatility and willingness to undertake any task, no matter how small, and also highlights the burden of proving the value of differentiation in a small company. The conversation delves into the significance of collaboration with research institutions and strategic partners, underlining the importance of differentiation and collaboration in competitive markets. Scott’s reflections on his career journey and the development of Adiso's asset Adso 51 provide valuable lessons for professionals and entrepreneurs in the field, making this episode a must-listen for biotech entrepreneurs and professionals seeking to enhance their ability to differentiate and collaborate in competitive markets.Biography:Scott joined Adiso Therapeutics as Chief Executive Officer in January 2022, bringing more than 35 years of successful industry leadership, having held multiple senior executive, CEO and board director roles during his career at both Fortune 500 pharmaceutical and emerging biotechnology companies. Among Mr. Megaffin’s many career leadership roles, he previously served as the CEO of Adastra Pharmaceuticals Inc., a pioneer in the pursuit of better treatment options for high unmet need cancers, where he led the company from early informative to clinical-stage advancement of first-in-class clinical programs, and ultimately to its acquisition by Cothera Bioscience. Earlier, he served as a President of Churchill Pharmaceuticals, Inc., leading the organizational growth and development of a fully differentiated oral oncology asset for metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer through FDA approval and ultimately a transaction to Sun Pharma. Mr. Megaffin has held numerous global strategic and operational positions of increasing responsibility within Onconova, Schering-Plough, Yamanouchi, Pharmacia, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. During his career Scott has led six global drug development programs resulting in regulatory approvals. He possesses far reaching knowledge in a broad number of therapeutic categories including oncology, anti-infectives, inflammation, pain, critical care, and virology. Mr. Megaffin currently serves as a board member of Adastra and on the Board of Directors for BioNJ, the biotechnology and life science organization of New Jersey. Mr. Megaffin holds a B.S. in Biology from Pittsburg State University.
Synopsis: In this episode of the Biotech2050 podcast, Dr. Mathai Mammen, CEO of FogPharma, shares valuable insights into the future trends of the biotech industry and the development of peptide-based therapeutics. Dr. Mammen's extensive career trajectory, from academia to leading pharmaceutical organizations, provides a comprehensive understanding of the industry's evolution and the pivotal roles he played at Theravance, Merck, and J&J. The episode delves into the significance of intracellular protein interactions and FogPharma's focus on developing helicon peptides to address this unmet need. Dr. Mammen's emphasis on a moonshot culture at FogPharma, coupled with his strategic approach to commercial success in biotech, makes this episode essential listening for executives in the biotech industry who are looking to stay ahead of future trends and gain insights into the innovative approaches shaping the industry's landscape. His profound knowledge and experience position him as a thought leader, offering invaluable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in biotech, making this episode a compelling resource for industry executives seeking to implement strategies for commercial success in the biotech sector.Biography:Mathai Mammen is a world-renowned innovator in drug discovery, development, and team and company building. He brings significant global R&D and corporate leadership experience to his role as CEO, President and Chairman at FogPharma.Most recently, Mathai was a member of the executive committee at Johnson & Johnson, where he served as executive vice president of pharmaceuticals, R&D. During his tenure, he spearheaded a significant evolution of Janssen’s R&D, one of the largest R&D organizations in the world. Mathai was a key leader in Johnson & Johnson’s bold foray into COVID vaccines and he helped drive Janssen’s substantial growth to become one of the top pharmaceutical companies globally. Under Mathai’s leadership, Janssen R&D executed 40+ acquisitions and licenses and 350+ strategic partnerships and collaborations. A central pillar of his strategy was data science, which he used to couple recent revolutionary advances in data, compute and algorithmic approaches to every aspect of discovering and developing medicines. Mathai led his team to global approvals of eight new medicines, including Tremfya™, Darzalex Faspro™, Balversa™, Carvykti™, Rybrevant™, Ponvory™, Spravato™ and Tecvayli™, with many additional global approvals for expanded indications of marketed products.Prior to his role at Johnson & Johnson, Mathai served as senior vice president at Merck, where he was responsible for multiple research areas, including cardiovascular, metabolic and renal diseases, immunology, oncology and immuno-oncology. Before Merck, he led R&D at Theravance, Inc., a company he co-founded out of graduate school based on his work at Harvard University with Dr. George Whitesides. Under his leadership, Theravance advanced a robust pipeline of multiple development-stage compounds resulting in five approved pharmaceutical products, and separated into two companies: Theravance Biopharma, Inc. and Innoviva, Inc.In addition to his extensive corporate experience, Mathai currently serves on the board of directors of 10x Genomics, Inc. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and patents.Mathai holds an M.D. from the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (HST) and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard University.
Synopsis: In the recent episode of Biotech2050, Ken Galbraith, CEO of Zymeworks, shares profound insights into the biotech industry, leadership, and the complexities of developing innovative treatments for challenging cancers. Galbraith's accidental entry into biotech in 1987, despite lacking prior experience, led to his pivotal role in establishing a successful biotech company in Canada, shaping the industry significantly. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the critical elements of leadership, continuous learning, and the relentless pursuit of groundbreaking science. Galbraith's focus on addressing unmet medical needs and navigating the dynamic biotech landscape offers valuable lessons for current and aspiring biotech leaders. Furthermore, his involvement in developing innovative biologic structures for difficult-to-treat cancers, exemplified by Zymeworks' mission, underscores the episode's relevance for biotech professionals seeking insights into leadership, growth, and pioneering solutions for challenging medical conditions. Galbraith's wealth of experience and strategic approach provide a compelling narrative that makes this episode an invaluable resource for understanding the keys to success in the dynamic and impactful field of biotechnology.Biography:Mr. Galbraith has served as Zymeworks’ Chair & CEO since January 2022. Mr. Galbraith has over 35 years’ experience in biotechnology and venture capital having acted as an executive, director, investor as well as an advisor to companies in the biotechnology, medical device, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors across North America and the UK in the growth of both private and public companies from an early-stage through regulatory approval and commercialization. Ken has worked with many biotechnology companies including: Liminal BioSciences Inc., Macrogenics, AnorMED, Alder Pharmaceuticals, Celator Pharmaceuticals, Novadaq, Profound Medical, Fairhaven Pharmaceuticals, Tekmira, Angiotech, Aquinox, and Xenon Pharmaceuticals among others. Mr. Galbraith currently serves on the board of directors of Profound Medical He earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) degree from the University of British Columbia in 1985.
Synopsis: In this episode of Biotech2050, host Alok Tayi engages in a profound conversation with Craig Chambliss, CEO and co-founder of Neurellis, delving into their strategic advancements in precision therapies for CNS diseases. Chambliss shares his journey, highlighting his finance and accounting background and pivotal roles in pharmaceutical companies like Bristol Myers Squibb and Alza Pharmaceuticals. His passion for impactful drug delivery technologies led to the launch of life-changing products, including an intranasal diazepam program for seizure emergencies, ultimately culminating in the founding of Neurellis in 2008. With the approval of their product Altoco in 2020, Neurellis addressed unmet needs in the epilepsy market, emphasizing the significance of a passionate team and a foundational product for successful clinical trials and market access. The conversation emphasizes the importance of precision therapies in the CNS space, collaboration for innovative solutions, and the potential of Neurellis' pipeline in addressing severe epileptic encephalopathies. Chambliss's insights into the strategic management of a biotech company, the utilization of platform technologies, and the evolving landscape of the biotech industry offer compelling takeaways for biotech executives seeking strategic insights. This episode provides a valuable opportunity to gain strategic insights into precision therapies for CNS diseases and the journey of a successful biotech company.Biography:Craig Chambliss’ 30-year tenure in the biopharma and drug delivery sectors has largely specialized in rare diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and epilepsy. As the co-founder, CEO, and President of Neurelis, he has orchestrated the company's growth, securing over $300M in funding and guiding its evolution into a fully integrated organization, spanning from early-stage development to commercialization.Before his current role at Neurelis, Mr. Chambliss played a key part in reshaping NextWave Pharmaceuticals into a CNS-focused entity, serving as its Chief Business Officer. Under his leadership, NextWave secured $45M in Series C financing and was later acquired by Pfizer in a deal value exceeding $700M in 2012. Prior to NextWave, he also helped rebuild Questcor Pharmaceuticals as a CNS-focused organization, where he led commercial operations supporting the relaunch of Acthar® Gel for the treatment of a rare epilepsy disorder in pediatric patients.Mr. Chambliss's pharmaceutical journey began in sales at Bristol Myers Squibb and continued through various roles at Alza Pharmaceuticals and Elan Pharmaceuticals. In 2001, he helped launch Xcel Pharmaceuticals, a CNS startup focusing on epilepsy treatment, leading to a successful acquisition by Valeant Pharmaceuticals in 2005 for $280M. His academic foundation includes Bachelor of Science degrees in Finance and Accounting from Missouri State University.
Synopsis: On the Biotech2050 podcast, Tuyen Ong, CEO at Ring Therapeutics and CEO partner at flagship pioneering, shared his journey from a medical background to leading innovative gene therapy companies, highlighting the importance of cross-disciplinary expertise in driving biotech advancements. His insights into the gene therapy landscape and the future of genetic medicine, including its intersection with artificial intelligence, offer valuable perspectives for biotech professionals seeking to navigate the complexities of precision medicine and drug development. Tuyen's emphasis on fostering a values-driven culture, leveraging innovation in genetic medicine, and maintaining a resilient mindset in the face of industry challenges serves as a guiding light for aspiring biotech professionals and organizations striving to make a positive impact on global health. With a deep understanding of the industry's challenges and opportunities, Tuyen's discussion with host Rahul Chaturvedi provides a comprehensive exploration of culture-building, precision medicine, and strategic growth within the biotech industry, making it a must-listen for professionals seeking insights into innovative advancements in precision medicine.Biography:Tuyen is a physician, bioentrepreneur and Ring’s CEO. Prior to joining Ring Therapeutics in September 2020, Tuyen served as Senior Vice President at Biogen and as Chief Development Officer at Nightstar Therapeutics until its acquisition by Biogen. During this time, he was involved with the company’s public listing on the NASDAQ, corporate and gene therapy strategy, investor, and M&A activities. Tuyen brings over 20 years of clinical and drug development experience from both large pharma and biotech, working in the fields of genetics, ophthalmology, and rare disease at PTC Therapeutics Inc., Bausch and Lomb Inc. (acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.), and Pfizer. Tuyen holds an MD from the University College London and an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. He is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and a Churchill Fellow.
Synopsis: In a recent episode of Biotech2050, hosted by Alok Tayi, Kristen Fortney, CEO of BioAge, provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of aging biology and the innovative approach BioAge is taking to identify therapeutic targets. Kristen's background in aging biology, genetics, and statistics underscores her expertise in the field. The conversation delves into the shift towards translational research in aging biology, emphasizing the increasing interest in targeting aging-related diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer. Kristen highlights the importance of leveraging human data, utilizing relevant animal models, and strategically allocating resources to enhance the success rate of drug development in the biotech industry. She shares BioAge's unique approach to drug discovery, focusing on human data sets collected over decades, and emphasizes the importance of identifying novel targets for aging-related diseases. This episode is essential listening for entrepreneurs in biotech and aging research, providing valuable insights into the current state and future prospects of the field, and highlighting the potential for driving innovation through collaboration and strategic partnerships.Biography:Kristen leads BioAge in its mission to develop a broad pipeline of therapies that target metabolic aging by harnessing the science of human longevity.Kristen draws from a deep background in geroscience and systems biology to advance BioAge’s data-driven approach to identifying and targeting the molecular pathways that drive aging. Kristen received her PhD in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto, followed by postdoctoral training at Stanford University where she was a fellow of the Ellison Medical Foundation / American Federation for Aging Research. She has over 15 years of experience developing novel bioinformatics approaches for data-driven investigation into the mechanisms of aging and age-related disease, with 18 published papers spanning computational drug discovery, biomarkers of aging, and the genetics of exceptional human longevity. BioAge recently closed a Series D financing bringing the company’s total raise above $300 million.
Synopsis: In this episode of the Biotech2050 podcast, Chris Gibson, the co-founder and CEO of Recursion, shares insights on the intersection of technology and biotech, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and diverse partnerships in driving innovation. Gibson's journey from pursuing an MD-PhD program with a focus on merging engineering and medicine to founding Recursion showcases his deep understanding of the evolving biotech landscape. His experience navigating the capital markets and proactive decision-making in response to market conditions offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs in the industry. The episode delves into the challenges and opportunities in the biotech sector, highlighting the transformative potential of technology and the significance of embracing entrepreneurship and risk-taking. Gibson's emphasis on building diverse teams and the impact of partnerships serves as a compelling reason for entrepreneurs and leaders in the biotech industry to listen to this episode, providing valuable insights and strategies for navigating the rapidly changing biotech landscape. Biography:Chris Gibson developed the technology and approach that seeded Recursion as part of his MD/PhD work in the lab of Co-Founder Dr. Dean Li (current President of Merck Research Labs) while at the University of Utah. After completing his Ph.D., Chris left medical school to build Recursion into the rapidly growing company it is today. Chris is a graduate of Rice University with degrees in bioengineering and management. Chris serves on the Board of BioHive, the public-private partnership driving expansion of Utah's life-science ecosystem, the fastest growing in the nation. Chris is also active as an advisor and mentor, both formally and informally, of many young biotech founders. Chris enjoys cycling on both the road and the trails that cut through Utah's great wilderness, as well as spending time with family.
Synopsis: Christian Angermayer, a prominent investor and entrepreneur in the biotech industry, shares valuable insights in the Biotech2050 podcast, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities within the sector. Drawing from his extensive experience, Angermayer emphasizes the importance of making biotech more accessible to a broader audience while maintaining the integrity of the science. He discusses the need for a broader investor community in biotech to unlock more capital and stimulate early-stage science funding. His unique perspective highlights the intersection of tech and biotech, emphasizing the potential for collaboration and innovation. By implementing Angermayer's insights, entrepreneurs can gain a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape of biotech and harness new opportunities for growth and development. By incorporating Angermayer's insights, entrepreneurs can gain essential knowledge of the evolving biotech landscape and capitalize on new opportunities for growth and development.Biography:Christian Angermayer is a serial entrepreneur and investor who builds and invests in companies that are shaping the Next Human Agenda: a future in which technology empowers people to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. Christian’s family office and private investment firm, Apeiron Investment Group, has more than USD 2.5 billion under management and 50 people in London, New York City, Abu Dhabi and Berlin. Apeiron focuses on Life Sciences, FinTech & Crypto, Future Tech and Experiences, Hospitality & Happiness. Over the past 20 years, Christian has founded three unicorns himself and has been the lead investor in four unicorns and two decacorns.
Synopsis: In this episode of the Biotech2050 podcast, David Kirn, CEO of 4D Molecular Therapeutics, shares invaluable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs in the biotech industry. Kirn discusses the development of his company's platform that integrates gene therapy and directed evolution to create innovative treatments for genetic diseases. By utilizing directed evolution, 4D Molecular Therapeutics has been able to invent an AAV vector that achieves safe and effective gene expression in the retina, targeting rare genetic diseases initially and subsequently expanding to larger markets. Kirn emphasizes the importance of balancing a strong platform with diverse product opportunities to decrease risk and increase the probability of success in the biotech landscape. Kirn's expertise and experience provide a compelling narrative that sheds light on the vital aspects of biotech entrepreneurship. Kirn emphasizes the importance of balancing a strong platform with diverse product opportunities to decrease risk and increase the probability of success in the biotech landscape. The episode delves into the tension between platform and product focus, offering guidance on fundraising and the regional dynamics of biotech investment. Kirn's expertise and experience provide a compelling narrative that sheds light on the vital aspects of biotech entrepreneurship, making this episode a must-listen for academic entrepreneurs looking to navigate the complexities of biotech investment and build traction in the industry.Biography:David Kirn, MD, is our co-founder and has served as our Chief Executive Officer since our inception in 2013. Dr. Kirn is also Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering and Molecular & Cellular Biology at UC Berkeley.Over his 30 year career, Dr. Kirn has co-founded and been CEO of four viral vector-based genetic medicines companies, three of which to date were either acquired or went public. Dr. Kirn also held senior clinical research and development positions at Onyx Pharmaceuticals (VP) and Celgene (SVP), and was a senior advisor to Novartis, Bayer, Pfizer, Biogen and others in the genetic medicines field.Dr. Kirn received a BA in Physiology (Departmental Citation; Phi Beta Kappa) from UC Berkeley in 1985, an MD (Alpha Omega Alpha) from UC San Francisco Medical School in 1989 and completed internal medicine residency training at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (including a term as Chief Medical Resident at affiliated VA hospital). He has also completed hematology-oncology and clinical research fellowships at UC San Francisco and completed a certificate of business excellence from the Haas Business School at UC Berkeley. In 2013, he was awarded the Johnson & Johnson Entrepreneur Innovator award from the J&J Innovation Center.
Synopsis:In this episode of the Biotech2050 podcast, David Esposito, CEO of ONL Therapeutics, provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in the field of ophthalmology. Esposito's extensive career journey, from the United States Military Academy to leading ONL Therapeutics, underscores his deep understanding of the industry. He offers a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on indication selection and the evolving capital market for biotech companies. The episode delves into the complexities of proving safety and tolerability in new mechanisms of action, the strategic shift in pursuing chronic indications, and the interplay between big pharma and early-stage biotechs in the current capital environment. Esposito's expertise and in-depth knowledge make this episode essential listening for ophthalmology professionals seeking to navigate industry challenges, understand the IRA's implications, and explore strategic partnerships for clinical development support.,In this episode of the Biotech2050 podcast, CEO of ONL Therapeutics, David Esposito, shares his extensive insights into the challenges and opportunities within the ophthalmology field. With a career spanning from the United States Military Academy to leading ONL Therapeutics, Esposito brings a wealth of experience and understanding to the topic. The discussion delves into the intricate impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on indication selection and the dynamic capital market for biotech companies. Esposito's analysis covers the complexities of proving safety and tolerability in new mechanisms of action, strategic shifts in pursuing chronic indications, and the interplay between big pharma and early-stage biotechs in the current capital environment. Professionals in the ophthalmology sector will find this episode invaluable for gaining insights into industry challenges, comprehending the implications of the IRA, and exploring strategic partnerships for clinical development support.Biography:David is the former CEO of Armune BioScience where he led the development and commercialization of blood-based diagnostics to improve the early detection of cancer. The Company successfully launched the only non-PSA blood test to improve the detection of prostate cancer. Armune BioScience was sold to Exact Sciences (EXAS) in 2017.David Esposito is an experienced healthcare executive who has built and scaled multiple companies that resulted in successful exits to strategic buyers.He was President of Phadia US Inc. (allergy and autoimmune diagnostics) and played a pivotal role in the sale of the business to Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) in 2011. David began his career as a sales representative with Merck & Co. Inc. and rose through the ranks of sales, marketing and commercial strategy for the US Division.David is a combat veteran, led an infantry platoon with the 101st Airborne Division through several combat operations, and was recognized with a Bronze Star for combat action in Iraq in 1991. David earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his MBA from Syracuse University.
Synopsis: In this episode of the Biotech2050 podcast, Jak Knowles, co-founder of Affini-T Therapeutics, shares valuable insights into the challenges faced by bootstrapped biotech companies and the significance of venture capital in the industry. Knowles discusses the importance of finding key partners and securing intellectual property early on, shedding light on the capital-intensive nature of drug development. Furthermore, he highlights the value of experienced investors and the impact of their investment source, emphasizing the advantage of being one of the first investments out of a fund. Knowles also provides an update on Affini-T Therapeutics' focus on developing therapies for solid tumors, offering a glimpse into their innovative approach using cell therapy and synthetic biology to address the challenges of the tumor microenvironment. His journey and expertise in navigating the intricacies of fundraising and company-building make this episode essential listening for entrepreneurs in the biotech industry, providing practical lessons and strategic insights for overcoming funding obstacles and driving success in the competitive landscape of biotechnology.,In this episode of the Biotech2050 podcast, Jak Knowles, the co-founder of Affini-T Therapeutics, offers valuable perspectives on the challenges encountered by bootstrapped biotech companies and the pivotal role of venture capital in the industry. Knowles emphasizes the significance of early intellectual property acquisition and strategic partnerships as critical factors in the capital-intensive arena of drug development. Furthermore, he underscores the importance of securing investment from experienced sources and elaborates on the benefits of being an early investment in a fund. Knowles also provides an update on Affini-T Therapeutics' focus on developing innovative therapies for solid tumors, showcasing the company's pioneering approach involving cell therapy and synthetic biology to address the complexities of the tumor microenvironment. With his wealth of experience and expertise, Knowles offers essential insights for biotech entrepreneurs, providing actionable strategies and valuable lessons for navigating the funding landscape and achieving success in the competitive biotechnology sector.Biography:Jak Knowles, MD, is Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Affini-T Therapeutics. He has more than two decades of R&D, management, and entrepreneurial experience in the life science industry. Prior to launching Affini-T, Jak served as Co-founder and Chief Business Officer for Metagenomi, a next-generation gene editing company based in Berkeley, California. Jak was previously Head of Pharma Venture Investments for Leaps by Bayer, where he helped lead Metagenomi’s initial seed financing and early strategy serving on Metagenomi’s Board of Directors. Before joining Bayer, Jak served as Chief Executive Officer of CytoSen Therapeutics, where he developed Natural Killer immune cell therapies for oncology indications. In 2016, Jak co-founded and launched Exonics Therapeutics, a CRISPR gene-editing company, serving as President and interim-Chief Executive Officer. Jak previously served on the Board of Directors for Century Therapeutics, Exonics Therapeutics, Metagenomi Technologies, Triumvira Immunologics, and Pyxis Oncology.Jak earned his MD from Stanford University where he graduated with honors in biomedical research, and an undergraduate degree in biology from Binghamton University
Synopsis: Sean Bohen, M.D., Ph.D., is the President and CEO of Olema Oncology, a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative targeted therapies for women’s cancers. We’re excited to welcome Sean back to the podcast – he last appeared on episode 130 in late 2022. Sean provides an update on all the exciting things that have happened at Olema since then, including an update on their lead product candidate. Sean reflects on navigating the challenging biotech market environment over the past year, making careful spending decisions, and raising significant capital to extend Olema’s runway. He also offers advice to first-time CEOs on building a strong support network to guide company growth. Biography:Dr. Bohen has served as Chief Executive Officer of Olema Oncology and a member of the Board of Directors since September 2020. He is also a non-executive director of Gyroscope Therapeutics, Ltd. and AltruBio, Inc. He has extensive oncology drug development experience, having served as Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development, and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca PLC. Before that, he held a number of senior leadership roles at Genentech, Inc., including Senior Vice President, Early Development, Genentech Research and Early Development. Prior to Genentech, he was a Clinical Instructor in Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine; a research associate at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and a postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. Bohen received a B.S. in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics and an M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco.
Synopsis: Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., is the President and CEO of Kura Oncology, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer. Troy talks about his experiences being a CEO and the differences in responsibility between being a CEO and a board member. He also shares what it takes to have a productive board for a biotech company. He discusses recruiting at both the team level and the board level and the qualities that he looks for in a candidate. He shares where he thinks cancer drug development is headed, where it needs to head and where he thinks there’s unmet need. Finally, he talks about the work they’re pursuing at Kura and where they are from a development perspective.Biography:Troy E. Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., is one of Kura’s Co-founders and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as the Chairman of our Board of Directors since our inception in August 2014. Previously, Dr. Wilson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wellspring Biosciences, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, and its parent company Araxes Pharma LLC from July 2012 to March 2019 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Avidity Biosciences, Inc., a publicly held biopharmaceutical company, from November 2012 to February 2019.Dr. Wilson served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Intellikine, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, from April 2007 to January 2012 and from August 2007 to January 2012, respectively, until its acquisition by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Puma Biotechnology, Inc., a publicly held biopharmaceutical company, since October 2013, Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of Avidity Biosciences, Inc., a publicly held biopharmaceutical company, since February 2019 and November 2012, respectively, Executive Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of Wellspring Biosciences since February 2019 and July 2012, respectively, and a member of the Board of Managers of Araxes Pharma LLC since July 2012. Dr. Wilson holds a J.D. from New York University and graduated with a Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry and a B.A. in biophysics from the University of California, Berkeley.
Synopsis: Keith Gottesdiener, MD, and Jeremy Duffield, MD, PhD, FRCP, are the President & CEO and CSO, respectively, of Prime Medicine. Prime Medicine was founded to bring the promise of gene editing to patients. They use Prime Editing, a next-generation technology that can “search and replace” to restore normal genetic function almost anywhere in the genome. Keith and Jeremy discuss the arc of their careers and how they go to where they are today. They talk about the differences working in big pharma vs. a smaller biotech like Prime. They discuss the importance of companies investing in safety and what they’ve learned in terms of indication selection frameworks within the context of gene editing. Finally, they talk about their goal of engaging in partnerships down the road, and the importance of having transparency within their organization.Biography:Keith Gottesdiener, MD is President and Chief Executive Officer of Prime Medicine and has served as a member of our Board of Directors since July 2020. From October 2011 until March 2020, Dr. Gottesdiener served as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that develops therapeutics in rare genetic obesity. During that time, Rhythm submitted a New Drug Application for setmelanotide in two indications, for which setmelanotide was subsequently approved.Dr. Gottesdiener received his B.A. from Harvard College and his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency and fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-Beth Israel Medical Center-Dana Farber Cancer Institute Children’s Hospital programs. After his fellowship, Dr. Gottesdiener did postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Jack Strominger at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He then joined the faculty as an assistant professor at Columbia University, where he started an independent research laboratory with NIH RO-1 funding, ending his academic career as Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the time he left to join Merck in 1995.Jeremy Duffield, MD, PhD, FRCP, is the Chief Scientific Officer of Prime Medicine. He has many years of drug discovery experience at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Biogen Inc. preceded by a distinguished career in academic medicine.Dr. Duffield has held several leadership roles, with focus in the fields of human genetics, innate immunity and regenerative medicine. He served as Global Head of Human Biology at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and as Vice President of Business Development where he and his team played important roles in discovering and advancing candidates to clinical studies in rare diseases including cystic fibrosis, a1-antitrypsin deficiency, sickle cell disease, FSGS and muscular dystrophies. Several candidates are now approved therapies. He was instrumental in building Vertex Cell and Genetic Therapies.At Biogen, Dr. Duffield served as Senior Research Fellow and Vice President with responsibilities in early research programs, as joint Head of Innate Immunity and Regenerative Medicine therapeutic area, and as Head of the Biogen Post-Doctoral program. There he contributed to advancing integrin inhibitors, TNF superfamily inhibitors and IRAK inhibitors to clinical evaluation for pulmonary fibrosis and autoimmune diseases.Dr. Duffield received his B.A. and M.D. (B.M., B.Ch.) from Oxford University and a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Edinburgh in the laboratory of Sir John Savill.
Synopsis: Brett Hall, Ph.D., is the CSO of Immuneering, a public, clinical-stage oncology company dedicated to developing medicines for broad populations of cancer patients by applying its deep knowledge of translational bioinformatics to every stage of the drug development process. Brett talks about his background in the military targeting nuclear missiles prior to becoming a scientist and some of the commonalities between working in the military and pharma/biotech. He shares his thoughts on AI and machine learning in drug development. He talks about Immuneering’s disease-agnostic platform that enables the company to utilize human data, novel biology and chemistry, and translational planning to create and advance its pipeline. Finally, he discusses their focus on oncology and providing potential treatments for patients with advanced solid tumors.Biography:Brett Hall, Ph.D. has served as Chief Scientific Officer of Immuneering since November 2019. He also served as the Founder and Chairman of the board of directors of BioArkive, Inc., or BioArkive, a privately held biotechnology services company from January 2019 until December 2021. Prior to joining Immuneering, Dr. Hall served as the Chief Executive Officer of Asellus Therapeutics, LLC from July 2015 until May 2018. Dr. Hall served in roles of increasing responsibility with Johnson & Johnson from November 2008 until July 2014, culminating in his role as the Head of Biomarkers of the Hematologic Disease Area Stronghold, where he led translational efforts for Sylvant® and Imbruvica® through clinical development. Subsequently, he served as the Head of Translational Medicine of Oncology at Medimmune, LLC, the biologics division of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, from July 2014 until July 2015, before transitioning to executive discovery roles in biotechnology. He has extensive drug development and leadership experience ranging from early drug discovery through translational clinical sciences, including multiple drug registrations. Dr. Hall has extensively published in the areas of tumor microenvironment (TME) and translational sciences, and holds multiple patents for drug pharmacology and discovery. He was also a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Ohio State University where his laboratory focused on the development of human TME-aligned models to better translate preclinical data into the clinic and discover novel biomarkers. Prior to Dr. Hall’s career in life sciences, he served in the United States Air Force and worked as an investment banker. Dr. Hall received his B.S. in biochemistry from Ohio State University, his Ph.D. in immunology and cancer biology from West Virginia University, and completed his post-doctoral fellowship in cancer cell epigenetics at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Synopsis: Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch, PhD, JD, is the President and CEO of Vigil Neuroscience, a microglia-focused company dedicated to improving the lives of patients, caregivers, and families affected by rare and common neurodegenerative diseases by restoring the vigilance of microglia, the sentinel cells of the brain’s immune system. Ivana shares how sitting on boards of other companies has informed how she operates as CEO at Vigil. She talks about how she’s seen her role evolve as the company has grown over the last three years. She discusses the importance of having diversity and diversity of thought on the leadership team. She provides her perspective on neurology as a therapeutic area, where unmet needs still exist, and the challenges and opportunities in precision-based neurology. Finally, she shares her approach to building culture at Vigil.Biography: Ivana is an accomplished pharmaceutical and biotechnology executive focused on corporate excellence and execution. She has over 20 years of senior management experience in financing, strategic partnerships, M&A, clinical development, regulatory affairs, commercialization, legal and IP strategies, and preparation and execution of operating plans. Prior to Vigil, Ivana was Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Business Officer at Ipsen where she was responsible for fueling the pipeline through external innovation and led the External Innovation, Business Development and Alliance Management functions. Prior to Ipsen, Ivana was EVP, Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer at Axcella Health, Senior VP (SVP) and Head of Global Business Development for the specialty drug business at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. She previously worked at Dyax Corp in management roles including EVP and Chief Operating Officer where she launched the company’s first drug, Kalbitor® for an orphan indication, Hereditary Angioedema, and at Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. Ivana serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. Ivana holds a PhD in Genetics from Harvard University and received her JD in High Technology law from Suffolk University Law School.
Synopsis: Bobak Azamian, MD, Ph.D., is the CEO and Chairman of Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company that applies proven science and new technology to revolutionize treatment for patients, starting with eye care. Bobby talks about his early years working in the venture capital space before founding his first company. He shares what it’s like running a publicly traded biotech for the first time and the evolution of his role over the years at Tarsus. He shares his viewpoint on unmet needs and the importance of having a true focus on what’s really happening to the patient. He talks about future indications they’re pursuing at the company and how he leverages learnings from the first programs they ran to what’s coming up next. Finally, he discusses the company’s decision to commercialize in-house versus with a partner and the challenges of taking the company public during the pandemic in 2020.Biography: Bobby cofounded Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. with Michael Ackermann in November 2016 and has served as its President and CEO since September 2018. He has served as the company’s Chairman since December 2022. Since its founding, Tarsus has established a leading team and culture and has completed successful fundraising efforts through multiple private and public financings and global partnerships. Tarsus recently secured FDA approval for its first product, XDEMVY™ (lotilaner ophthalmic solution) 0.25%, which is the first and only FDA-approved treatment in the United States for the eyelid disease Demodex blepharitis. Beyond XDEMVY, Tarsus continues to advance its pipeline into Phase 2 clinical studies evaluating therapies that have the potential to create new categories to treat other major diseases, including meibomian gland disease, rosacea, and Lyme disease prevention. Bobby has cofounded and led other novel therapeutics companies, including Vibrato Medical and Metavention, and currently serves on the board of Vibrato Medical and as Chairman of the board of Osanni Bio. Bobby began his biotechnology career at Versant Ventures and Third Rock Ventures, where he was an investor and board observer for a variety of life sciences companies. He also served on the board of the nonprofit organization Octane. Bobby trained as a physician scientist, completing his residency in internal medicine and serving as an attending hospitalist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He received an MD from Harvard Medical School (Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology), a PhD in chemistry from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and a BA in physics from Rice University. He is also an author of numerous patents and peer-reviewed publications. Bobby enjoys sports, travel, arts and culture, and spending time in Newport Beach with his newborn son, wife, and dog.
Synopsis: Nima Farzan is the CEO of Kinnate Biopharma, a clinical-stage precision oncology company focused on expanding on the promise of targeted therapies for those battling cancer. The company is developing medicines for known oncogenic drivers where there are no approved targeted drugs. Having started his biotech career in the late 90s, Nima discusses how his vision of leadership has evolved over the years. He talks about joining Kinnate in March of 2020 and the challenges of running the company and growing the team during a pandemic. He dives into the evolution of genomics over the last several years and what has surprised and impressed him about the genomic ecosystem as a whole. He discusses where Kinnate is from a development perspective and how he thinks about indication selection. Finally, he talks about how being an immigrant has shaped his approach to team building, culture and leadership style.Biography: Nima brings over two decades of executive leadership experience in the biopharma industry to our team. Prior to joining us, Nima spent seven years at PaxVax, where he was most recently President and CEO. While there, he successfully led a team of 250 people through a number of commercial product launches and negotiated the sale of PaxVax to Emergent BioSolutions in 2018. Prior to PaxVax, he was at Novartis AG in a series of roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as Vice President of US Marketing at Novartis’ Vaccines and Diagnostics division. Prior to Novartis, Nima worked at DoubleTwist, a pioneering genomics company, and was a consultant with Boston Consulting Group. He was a member of the founding Board of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). He is on the Executive Committee of the Northern California Chapter of Young President’s Organization (YPO) and a Trustee at the Hamlin School. He is also a Director of Keros Therapeutics (NASDAQ: KROS). He holds a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Synopsis: Mark Litton, Ph.D., is the President and CEO of Athira Pharma, a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to restore neuronal health and slow neurodegeneration for those suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and more. Mark talks about being a CEO for the first time and what he’s learned. He discusses how the biotech ecosystem and its ability to raise capital for companies has changed over the last couple of years and how that’s informing how he’s operating at Athira. He talks about fundraising strategy and how he communicates with team members who perhaps haven’t been involved in fundraising cycles and value creation at biotech before. Finally, he shares how he thinks about business development and his approach to partnerships.Biography: Mark is President and CEO of Athira Pharma, a position he has held since October 2021. Previously, he served as Athira’s COO since July 2019. Prior to joining Athira, Mark served as the President and COO of Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. Prior to that he spent more than 14 years at Alder Biopharmaceutical Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, which was acquired by Lundbeck A/S. As co-founder and CBO, Mark helped build the business and oversaw finance, investor relations, deal making, business development, alliance management, human resources, and overall corporate strategy. While at Alder, Mark was directly responsible for raising over ~$1B in equity capital and led negotiations for numerous corporate alliances between biotech and pharmaceutical companies.Mark has a PhD in immunology from Stockholm University, an MBA from Santa Clara University and a BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UC Santa Cruz.
Synopsis: Ram Aiyar, Ph.D., MBA, is the President & CEO of Korro Bio. Korro Bio harnesses the body’s natural RNA editing machinery to make precise, single-base RNA edits to modulate protein function, addressing the medical needs of patients. Having founded several companies, Ram talks about some of the non-obvious differences in terms of being senior leadership and founder of a company versus being CEO. He discusses his approach to fundraising and how it’s changed over time. He talks about the field of RNA editing, the evolution of that space, and where he sees it heading long term. Finally, he discusses where the company is from a pipeline building perspective and how he thinks about indication selection.Biography: Ram Aiyar, Ph.D., MBA, is the chief executive officer and president of Korro Bio and sits on the board of directors.Ram brings nearly two decades of diverse experience in biotech and pharma, working across all stages of development from launch to clinical to commercialization. He has a long history of launching and building biotech startups, and previously held a wide range of roles in finance, strategy, product development and venture capital. Most recently, he was a co-founder, chief financial officer and chief business officer at Corvidia Therapeutics, and eventually led its acquisition by Novo Nordisk for $2.1B. Prior to Corvidia, he was an entrepreneur-in-residence at BioHealth Innovation (BHI).Ram started his scientific career in research at Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ immunology group. He has also held leadership roles in corporate development, finance and strategy at FlowMetric Inc., Sofinnova Partners, and J.P. Morgan Chase.Ram received his M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Drexel University and an MBA in finance and business strategy from INSEAD (France/Singapore).
Synopsis: Seemay Chou, Ph.D., is the Co-Founder and CEO of Arcadia Science, a research and development company leveraging the biology of emerging research organisms. Seemay sits down with Alok to discuss her move from academic science into an entrepreneurial role and her advice for others looking to make a similar transition. She talks about Arcadia’s unique model and how they’re pushing the boundaries of open science and innovating at every step in the research, development, and commercialization process. She shares how the company leverages AI and machine learning, the culture they’re building at Arcadia and why it’s such an exciting time to work there.Biography: Seemay is the Co-Founder and CEO of Arcadia Science. Arcadia is a science company that applies an evolutionary lens to accelerate purposeful discovery of nature’s greatest innovations. Seemay joined Arcadia from UCSF where she was an Assistant Professor in Biochemistry and Biophysics. She received a PhD in Molecular Cell Biology from UC Berkeley.
Synopsis: Michelle Werner is the CEO of Alltrna and a CEO-Partner at Flagship Pioneering. Alltrna is the world’s first tRNA platform company to decipher tRNA biology and pioneer tRNA therapeutics to treat thousands of diseases. Flagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category bioplatform companies to transform human health and sustainability. Michelle discusses her 20+ year career in drug development and the importance of bringing new innovations to people who need them. She talks about her motivations behind going to business school in London and why she felt she needed to supplement her science and math education with the fundamentals of business in order to transition her career to commercial from R&D. She discusses tRNA as a treatment modality and its potential to be a platform technology. Finally, she shares where the company is from a development perspective and fundraising announcements.Biography: Michelle C. Werner is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with more than 20 years in the industry spanning both commercial and research & development (R&D) responsibilities. Most recently, Michelle served as Worldwide Franchise Head, Solid Tumors at Novartis Oncology, where she was responsible for delivering the disease area strategies across multiple tumors and led business development efforts resulting in a doubling of long-term portfolio value for the franchise.Previous to Novartis, Michelle was a senior leader at AstraZeneca, where she held multiple positions during her five-year tenure. As Global Franchise Head in Hematology, Michelle was critical in launching multiple indications worldwide for CALQUENCE® and was responsible for developing the mid- and long-term strategy for AstraZeneca in hematology. Prior to this role, Michelle served as Head of US Oncology, where she led the business through dramatic growth in both team and revenue through eight-plus product launches as well as Country President for the Nordics and Baltics, where she also served as an elected Board Member to Sweden’s pharmaceutical industry association.Previous to AstraZeneca, Michelle was with Bristol Myers Squibb for 10 years in various positions of increasing responsibility including roles in sales, marketing, and market access in the US and UK, and above market in Europe (based in France) and global almost exclusively in oncology. Michelle started her professional career in R&D, working hands-on with patients at the Oncology Clinical Trials Unit at Harvard Medical School before moving into industry in clinical operations.Outside of her corporate responsibilities, Michelle is a wife and mother to three children and is a member of the rare disease community. She is currently serving a Board appointment for the non-profit organization Rare Disease Renegades, a purpose that fuels her passions both personally and professionally. Michelle holds a B.A. in biology & anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the London Business School (UK). She also completed an Executive Education program for Women on Boards at Harvard Business School in 2018.
Synopsis: Bernard Coulie is the President and CEO of Pliant Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics that seek to halt progression of fibrotic diseases — ultimately preserving organ function. Bernard discusses the arc of his career and shares his perspective on the European biotech ecosystem compared to the United States, and how that’s changed over the last 10 years. He talks about the importance of having access to lots of capital in the early days of starting a company. He discusses fibrotic disease, the high medical need to treat it, and the indications they are pursuing. Finally, he discusses the challenges of focusing on multiple therapeutic areas and the advice he would give to others. Biography: Pliant CEO Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., brings to the company more than 15 years of senior leadership experience and drug development expertise. He joined Pliant from ActoGeniX (acquired by Intrexon Corporation in February 2015), where he was CEO, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder. In these positions, Dr. Coulie played an integral role in advancing the company’s unique technology platform for oral delivery of biologics from early discovery stage through Phase 2 studies. Prior to ActoGeniX, Dr. Coulie held various positions with increasing responsibilities in drug discovery and clinical development at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development Europe. At Johnson & Johnson, he served as Therapeutic Area Leader Internal Medicine, managing a portfolio of products in GI, metabolic diseases and inflammation/immunology, ranging from early drug discovery through Phase 2 studies. Earlier in his career, Dr. Coulie was a Staff Physician in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), Assistant Professor in Medicine at Mayo Medical School and a Mayo Foundation scholar. Dr. Coulie serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of SQZ Biotechnologies, a publicly-traded cell therapy biotechnology company, as Independent Chairman of Dualyx, a privately-held biotechnology company based in Belgium and as an Independent Director at Calypso Biotech, a privately-held biotechnology company based in the Netherlands.Dr. Coulie holds an M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Leuven, Belgium. He is a board-certified internist and holds an MBA from the Vlerick Management School, Leuven, Belgium.
Synopsis: Mahesh Karande is the President and CEO of Omega Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of a new class of programmable epigenomic mRNA medicines for unprecedented control of gene regulation and cellular function. Through its OMEGA platform, the company engineers mRNA therapeutics called Omega Epigenomic Controllers™ (OECs), with the goal of treating or curing a broad range of diseases. Mahesh discusses his early years in engineering and consulting before moving into the pharmaceutical industry. He talks about the transition from big pharma to biotech and the lessons he learned from his days in pharma. He discusses being a CEO and how he approaches the role differently the second time around. He talks about company culture and leadership at Omega and how he motivates team members in such a fast paced environment. Finally, he dives into programmable approaches to biology, what it really means, and the intersection of biology and technology. Biography: Mahesh Karande joined Omega Therapeutics as President and Chief Executive Officer and brings deep experience in running biopharma businesses across discovery, preclinical development, clinical development, commercialization and product life cycle management stages. His breadth of therapeutic experience spans cardiovascular and metabolic, oncology, neurosciences, ophthalmology, antibiotics, pain, respiratory and rare and genetic diseases, as well as drug and device combinations.Mr. Karande has been involved with more than 10 product launches in the U.S. and across global markets. He has strong leadership, operational and business-building experiences combined with a global work history spanning the U.S., Europe, Asia and Africa.Prior to taking the helm at Omega, Mr. Karande was President and Chief Executive Officer of Macrolide Pharmaceuticals, a company he took from discovery into early development. Earlier, Mr. Karande spent several years at Novartis in senior leadership roles: Vice President and Head of U.S. Oncology for solid tumors, President of Novartis Africa and President of Novartis Egypt. He worked for McKinsey & Company prior to joining the bio-pharmaceutical industry. Currently, Mr. Karande serves on the Board of Directors of KSQ Therapeutics and Ashvattha Therapeutics.Mr. Karande has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology where he completed his M.S. in Engineering, and the University of Bombay where he completed undergraduate studies in engineering.
Synopsis: Joseph Payne is the Founder, President and CEO of Arcturus Therapeutics, a global late-stage clinical messenger RNA medicines and vaccines company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutics for rare diseases and vaccines. Joseph discusses the founding story behind Arcturus and the impetus behind starting his own company. He talks about fundraising and what he would do differently now, and shares his perspective on the dynamic between entrepreneurs and VCs. He shares his thoughts on the evolution of messenger RNA over the last decade, the challenges the modality has faced and how we've overcome some of those challenges. Finally, he dives into the work Arcturus is pursuing now, where they are from a development perspective, and recent partnerships.Biography: Joseph E. Payne, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Arcturus Therapeutics. He serves on Arcturus’s Board since March 2013. He brings with him an exceptional track record of ushering novel therapeutics to the clinic including targeted RNA medicines utilizing lipid-mediated delivery technologies. Joseph’s background includes over 20 years of successful drug discovery experience at Merck Research Labs, DuPont Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Kalypsys, and Nitto as evidenced by over 40 publications and patents, and several investigational new drug (IND) clinical candidates. His academic training includes a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, magna cum laude from Brigham Young University, a Master of Science in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the University of Calgary and Executive Training Certification from MIT Sloan School of Management.
Synopsis: Robert Blum and Fady Malik are the President & CEO and EVP, Research and Development, respectively, of Cytokinetics, a late-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing potential medicines that impact the mechanics of muscle and may improve the lives of people living with debilitating diseases. Robert and Fady discuss how they have developed a company culture that embraces some of the learnings that come along with failure and the advice they would provide other leaders. They talk about how the current capital market environment shapes the way the company is operating. They also discuss the cardiovascular market and overall landscape, where Cytokinetics is from a development perspective, and some upcoming milestones. Finally, they each share a piece of advice they wish they could provide to their younger selves knowing what they now know.
Biography: Robert Blum has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cytokinetics and a member of our Board of Directors since 2007. Previously, he served as Cytokinetics’ President and held other senior-level positions at the Company overseeing research and development, finance, corporate development, legal, commercial operations, and business development at various times since participating in the launch of Company operations in 1998.
Prior to Cytokinetics, Robert held senior positions in business development and marketing at COR Therapeutics from 1991 to 1998. He also performed roles of increasing responsibility in sales, marketing, and other pharmaceutical business functions at Marion Laboratories and Syntex Corporation beginning in 1981.
Robert previously served on the faculty at the Center for BioEntrepreneurship at University of California, San Francisco, where he taught a corporate finance course to graduate students. He co-chaired the BIO Business Development Committee and is a frequent lecturer on matters of business development and finance in the biopharmaceutical industry. Mr. Blum received B.A. degrees in Human Biology and Economics from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Fady Malik has led Research and Development since 2014 and been with Cytokinetics since its inception in 1998 when he joined its founders to participate in the launch of the company. Early on, Fady recognized the potential therapeutic utility of modulating the sarcomere of cardiac and skeletal muscle and led discovery and development efforts giving rise to Cytokinetics’ current portfolio of early- to late-stage development programs targeting muscle contractility for the treatment of cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases.
Fady is an internationally recognized cardiovascular physician-scientist, an inventor on more than 20 issued patents, and has authored or co-authored over 60 publications appearing in prominent journals such as Science, Nature Medicine, the Lancet, and the New England Journal of Medicine. He currently holds an appointment in the Cardiology Division of the University of California, San Francisco, as a Clinical Professor of Medicine and until 2019 was an Attending Interventional Cardiologist at the San Francisco Veterans Administration and UCSF Medical Centers.
Fady serves on the Board of Directors for Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:RCKT). Fady received a B.S. in bioengineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and a M.D./Ph.D. from the University of California at San Francisco where he also completed an internal medicine residency and fellowship in cardiology.
Synopsis: James McArthur is the CEO of PepGen, a biotech company creating a pipeline of disease-modifying therapeutics with the potential to safely and effectively target the root cause of serious genetic diseases, with an initial focus on neuromuscular diseases. James talks about his experience on the venture capital side and how that has influenced his management style and overall approach to company building. He shares his advice to others who may be interested in pursuing a leadership role at their company. He discusses drug development in the rare disease space and what motivates him and his team. Finally, he talks about some of the challenges involved in running a rare disease company.
Biography: James McArthur currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of PepGen and serves on the company’s Board of Directors. James has 25+ years of industry experience, has cofounded 5 biotechnology companies, 3 of which were acquired, and has served as a Director of two companies through successful initial public offerings. He was founding CEO of Imara, a public company developing therapies for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, co-founder and President of R&D of Cydan, a rare disease accelerator, and founding CSO of Synovex/Adheron, a rheumatology therapy company acquired by Roche. Prior to these companies, James held senior research leadership roles in several pioneering gene and stem cell therapy companies. He was a Venture Partner at RA Capital and an entrepreneur in residence at HealthCare Ventures. James was previously a post-doctoral fellow at MIT and UC Berkeley working with Drs. David Raulet and Nobel Laureate James Allison, before which he received his PhD in molecular oncology and BSc in biochemistry from McGill University in Montreal.
Synopsis:
Paul Lammers, M.D., is the CEO of Triumvira Immunologics, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing unique, targeted autologous and allogeneic T cell therapeutics that co-opt the natural biology of T cells to treat a broad range of patients with cancer. A Dutch-trained biologist and physician, Paul talks about starting his career in pharma and some of the commonalities between operating in pharma and biotech. He talks about being a CEO and how his approach to running a company has evolved over the years. He discusses the uncertainty in the market and how that’s informing how the company is approaching development activities. He dives into the fundamental challenges and opportunities within cell therapy and the work Triumvira is doing to treat cancer.
Biography:
Paul Lammers, MD, MSc, joined Triumvira Immunologics as President and CEO in January 2018. Before Triumvira, Dr. Lammers served as President & CEO at Mirna Therapeutics, for which company he raised $160 million through venture capital and Federal and State government funding, as well as a public listing on NASDAQ. Previously, he served as Chief Medical Officer and Head of US Product Development for EMD Serono.
During his early industry tenure, Dr. Lammers also held various executive/senior management positions in clinical development, medical and regulatory affairs, at different pharmaceutical companies, as well as at small public and privately held biotech companies. Dr. Lammers serves as Lead Independent Director for publicly-traded Salarius Pharmaceuticals, and as Director for a private biotech company, Immunomet.
Synopsis: Andrew Scharenberg is the Co-founder and CEO of Umoja Biopharma, a company pioneering the future of immunotherapy by reprogramming T cells in vivo. Umoja’s groundbreaking integrated platform therapeutics reprogram the immune system in the patient’s body to target cancer cells and generate lasting remissions. Andrew talks about the CAR T-cell therapy space, the opportunities he sees, and how he sees the space evolving over the next two decades. He discusses the work that his team is pursuing at Umoja to develop a new approach to cancer therapy that retools a patient’s immune system in vivo, enhancing the body’s natural capacity to fight cancer, and where the company is from a development perspective. He also talks about how he thinks about indication selection, particularly in the early stages of biotech. Finally, he shares how the pandemic impacted his approach to team building and his thoughts on distributed teams.
Biography: Dr. Andrew M. Scharenberg is the founder and CEO of Umoja Biopharma, an MPM portfolio company. He also serves as an Executive Partner at MPM Capital, and Chairs the Scientific Advisory Boards at Generation Bio, Genti Bio, and Alpine Immune Sciences.
Prior to founding Umoja, Andrew co-directed the Program in Cell and Gene Therapy at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, working to translate cell and gene therapies for the treatment of inherited immunologic and blood diseases. This work led to the development of a program in engineered regulatory T-cells, partnered with Casebia Therapeutics for the purpose of developing a gene edited cell therapeutic for Type I diabetes and other inflammatory diseases. Previously, he was the Chief Scientific Officer of Cellectis Therapeutics, where he initiated the development of an allogeneic CAR T-cell platform, and co-founder of Pregenen Inc., a gene editing and cell-signalling technology company that was acquired by bluebird bio in 2014.
Andrew earned his M.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and then completed residency at the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital and his fellowship in immunology at NIH and at the Division of Experimental Pathology, Beth Israel Hospital. From 2000 to 2020, he was an attending Physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital, a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Immunology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Andrew received the American Pediatric Society/Society for Pediatric Research National Young Investigator Award in 2002. He is an active member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the American Pediatric Society.
Synopsis: Theresa Heah, M.D., is the CEO of Intergalactic Therapeutics. Intergalactic is overcoming the limitations of viral-based gene therapy and developing a best-in-class non-viral alternative. Intergalactic uses synthetic biology and engineered gene circuits to make covalently closed and circular DNA (“C3DNA”) molecules designed to provide a potentially safer and more effective solution for patients. Theresa has over two decades of global drug development and commercial experience. She talks about her choice to focus on ophthalmology, where ophthalmology as a therapeutic area is from a drug development perspective, and some of the opportunities she sees ahead for this space. She discusses the importance of having mentors and the emotional aspects of being a CEO. Finally, she dives into the work Intergalactic is doing, where they are from a company building perspective, and how she thinks about driving more access and scale for gene therapies, given the high cost of development and scalability.
Since this podcast was recorded, in July 2023, new data from IG-002, Intergalactic’s lead program, demonstrated persistent ABCA4 expression in non-human primate retinas over six months after a single administration.This data support plans to advance IG-002 into Phase 1 trials in 2024.
Biography: Dr. Heah is an accomplished executive who brings over two decades of drug development and commercial experience, focused primarily in gene therapy and ophthalmology. She most recently served as President and Chief Medical Officer at Kriya Therapeutics, where she launched the ophthalmology division, Kriya Ophthalmology, and was responsible for building its AAV gene therapy portfolio strategy and supporting the company’s Series C financing. Prior to joining Kriya, Dr. Heah served as Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Medical Officer at AsclepiX Therapeutics, where she led the company’s Series A financing and advancement of its pipeline products into the clinic. Dr. Heah also previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (AGTC), working to develop gene therapies in ophthalmology and rare diseases. In addition, she has held several leadership positions with increasing responsibility in early-stage private companies (Fovea Pharmaceuticals) and publicly traded companies (Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Bayer Healthcare, Sanofi). Dr. Heah earned her M.D. from Guy’s, King’s and St. Thomas’ School of Medicine, King’s College, University of London, and her Executive Master’s in Business Administration from the European School of Management & Technology (ESMT), Berlin.
Synopsis:
Volker Herrmann is the President and CEO of Sonata Therapeutics, a Flagship Pioneering company revolutionizing the world’s understanding of the cellular microenvironment and its importance to human biology and disease. Sonata’s product-platform creates drugs based on a systematic, comprehensive characterization of the microenvironment in diseases with high unmet medical need. Volker discusses the arc of his career, starting with attending medical school in Germany, then training as a cardiologist and clinical pharmacologist before working at Pfizer. He talks about his transition from big pharma to biotech and how his approach to running a biotech has evolved. He discusses the importance of patient impact and how that drives him in this industry. He talks about their work at Sonata to develop therapeutics for cancer and other diseases, and how he thinks about indication selection.
Biography: Volker Herrmann is Chief Executive Officer of Sonata Therapeutics and a Flagship Pioneering CEO-Partner. A veteran pharmaceutical and biotech leader, Volker brings more than 20 years of experience in management, commercial development, business development, marketing and strategy to Sonata.
Volker was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Inzen Therapeutics, a predecessor to Sonata, after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer at SQZ Biotechnologies. Prior to SQZ, he held various leadership roles at Pfizer, including European Lead CNS/Pain franchise, Global Lead Pain franchise and Head of Global Strategy, Marketing and Commercial Development within Pfizer’s Vaccine Business Unit. Subsequently, he served as the Chief Commercial Officer for Viamet Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for preparing the organization for the launch of its first commercial product as well as streamlining the company’s pipeline. Volker also served as the Chief Operating Officer of Selenity Therapeutics.
Volker received his M.D. from Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg in Germany and an MBA from the University of San Diego.
Synopsis:
Greg Flesher is the President and CEO of Reneo Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for patients with rare genetic mitochondrial diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Greg discusses beginning his career at Eli Lilly in the mid 1990s and how he approaches being a CEO differently the second time around. He talks about the rare mitochondrial disease landscape and the opportunities and challenges within it. He also dives into patient access for rare diseases and the difficulties around accessing the right patients for late-stage pivotal trials. Finally, he shares how the current environment impacts how he approaches execution against clinical programs and his advice to other leaders navigating the current times.
Biography:
Greg is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Reneo Pharmaceuticals and serves as a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Greg brings to Reneo more than 25 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience in executive management, corporate and business development, operations, sales and marketing, and clinical development. He has been closely involved with several novel development programs resulting in multiple product approvals and successful commercial launches in the U.S. and Europe.
Prior to joining Reneo, Greg was Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Novus Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NVUS), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company he took public in 2017 and led through the transformational acquisition of Anelixis Therapeutics in 2020. Prior to Novus, Greg was Chief Business Officer of publicly traded Avanir Pharmaceuticals (AVNR), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company, where he led corporate and business development as well as corporate operations through the $3.5 billion acquisition of the company by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals in 2015. From 1995 to 2006, Greg held multiple leadership roles at Intermune (acquired by Roche), Amgen, and Eli Lilly and Company.
Greg received his B.S. in biology from Purdue University and studied biochemistry and molecular biology at Indiana University School of Medicine.
Synopsis:
Adrian Gottschalk is the president and CEO of Foghorn Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new class of medicines that treat cancers and other serious diseases by correcting abnormal gene expression. Adrian discusses his early beginnings at Biogen before joining Foghorn. He talks about the evolution of his role as CEO at Foghorn, particularly as the company has grown tremendously from a small biotech to a clinical- stage company. He discusses the work his team is pursuing at Foghorn, the overall landscape for therapeutic options in oncology, and what’s changed with our ability to modulate gene expression. He also dives into Foghorn’s pipeline of over 15 different programs and its two major collaborations with Merck and Loxo Lilly Oncology.
This interview was recorded in February 2023.
Biography:
Adrian Gottschalk is president and chief executive officer of Foghorn Therapeutics. An experienced leader in biotech, Adrian is interested in solving complex issues at the intersection of science, medicine, and business on a global scale to help people and families dealing with diseases.
Prior to joining Foghorn, Adrian spent 13 years at Biogen, where he was most recently a senior vice president and the neurodegeneration therapeutic area head. In this role, he was responsible for the late-stage development and commercialization of medicines for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). During his time at Biogen, Adrian held additional roles of increasing responsibility ranging from head of corporate strategy, head of global commercial strategy, head of Japan, and head of the Japan, Australia and Emerging Markets geographies. He has also worked as a consultant for Price Waterhouse in Dallas, Texas.
He holds a BS in biochemistry from Texas A&M University and received his MBA from the Sloan School of Management at MIT. He also holds an ScM degree from the joint Harvard Medical School / MIT Biomedical Enterprise Program, where his graduate work was focused on evaluating the costs and benefits of the Prescription Drug User Fee Acts and improving the efficiency of the drug development process.
Synopsis:
Jim Brown is the President and CEO of DURECT Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company committed to transforming the treatment of acute organ injuries and chronic liver diseases by advancing novel and potentially lifesaving epigenetic therapies. Jim discusses how his early beginnings as a vet ultimately led him to the biotech industry. He talks about epigenetic regulation and how it ties into the work DURECT is leading. He dives into the unmet need for treatment for chronic liver diseases and how he gets capital markets to understand the potential impact in an area where there isn’t a lot of awareness. He also discusses where the company is from a development perspective, their plans to commercialize, and his advice to other entrepreneurs and leaders as they navigate the inherent risk that’s involved in developing a new therapeutic.
Biography: James E. Brown, D.V.M., co-founded DURECT in February 1998 and has served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director since June 1998.
He previously worked at ALZA Corporation as Vice President of Biopharmaceutical and Implant Research and Development from June 1995 to June 1998. Prior to that, Dr. Brown held various positions at Syntex Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, including Director of Business Development from May 1994 to May 1995, Director of Joint Ventures for Discovery Research from April 1992 to May 1995, and held a number of positions, including Program Director, for Syntex Research and Development from October 1985 to March 1992.
Dr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts from San Jose State University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis, where he also conducted postgraduate work in pharmacology and toxicology.
Synopsis: James Peyer, Ph.D., is the Founder and CEO of Cambrian Bio, a clinical-stage drug-development company focused on creating therapies to prevent and cure age-related diseases. James discusses the driving force behind his interest in aging biology and oncology, how his perspective on aging has changed over the years, his entrepreneurial journey, and what he hopes to achieve over the next decade with PipeCos such as Telos, Amplifier, and Tornado. He also discusses the inherent risk involved in drug development, how he manages the emotional aspects, and Cambrian’s vision for the future of drug development.
Biography: James Peyer is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Cambrian Bio. He also holds multiple board and executive roles across Cambrian’s pipeline. He has spent his entire life dedicated to the mission of finding ways of preventing people from getting diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s instead of waiting for people to get sick. James was previously Founder and Managing Partner at Apollo Ventures, the first global longevity-focused venture capital firm, investing across the US and Europe. Prior to Apollo, James was a biotech R&D specialist at the New York office of McKinsey & Company, serving major pharmaceutical clients. He earned his PhD in stem cell biology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center as a National Science Foundation Fellow and received his B.A. with special honors from the University of Chicago.
Interested to learn more: Telos: https://www.telosbio.com/ Amplifier: https://www.amplifier-tx.com/ Tornado: https://www.tornado-tx.com/
Synopsis:
Gary Lee, Ph.D. is the CSO of Lyell Immunopharma, a T-cell reprogramming company dedicated to developing cell therapies for patients with solid tumors. A chemical engineer by training, Gary has been working in the gene therapy field for 20+ years. He discusses how he’s observed the cell therapy space evolve over the last couple of decades. He talks about the work his team is doing to develop effective cell-based therapies for solid tumor cancers and where they are from a development and team-building perspective. He also provides his perspective on opportunities he sees for future technology across the cell therapy landscape.
Biography:
Gary Lee, Ph.D., has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since January 2022. Dr. Lee is a veteran biotech executive with over a decade of experience leading cell and gene therapy programs for human applications. From October 2018 to January 2022, Dr. Lee was the Chief Scientific Officer at Senti Bio. From August 2005 to October 2018, Dr. Lee held positions of increasing scientific and leadership responsibility at Sangamo Therapeutics, including last as the Vice President of Cell Therapy. Dr. Lee earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Synopsis:
Liang Schweizer, Ph.D. is the Founder and CEO of HiFiBiO Therapeutics, a clinical-stage global biotech company mobilizing the human immune system to combat disease. The company employs its unique Drug Intelligence Science (DIS®) platform, which combines its proprietary microfluidic single-cell platform with advanced AI/ML-based data analytics, to gain insights into human disease biology at the single-cell level allowing for precise treatment of patients based on their underlying disease mechanisms. HiFiBiO’s approach is distinguished from others in industry by applying single-cell science at every stage of drug development, including discovery of novel targets, therapeutic antibodies, and predictive biomarkers, enabling rapid advancement of new therapeutics into the clinic. Liang shares her perspective on the Chinese biotech ecosystem and how it has evolved over the last couple of years. She also discusses how approaches to drug development have changed, specifically around leveraging technology and the intersection of science and technology. She talks about being a CEO for the first time and how she approaches managing globally distributed teams.
Interested to learn more? Check out this paper mentioned in our episode: https://tinyurl.com/d3cv9vjt
Biography: Liang Schweizer is the Founder, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of HiFiBiO Therapeutics. She has over 30 years of research and industry experience with numerous publications and global keynote presentations. She is the co-inventor of 12 immuno-modulatory therapeutic antibodies with over 50 patent publications. She also has contributed to 4 marketed drugs and over 20 clinical candidates.
Previously, Liang co-founded Harbour Biomed and served as its CSO, successfully transforming a technology platform company to an antibody drug discovery enterprise. Before launching her entrepreneurial career, Liang served as Head of Asian Cancer Research at Sanofi, advancing Sanofi’s Asia-Pacific oncology pipeline as well as contributing to global oncology programs from preclinical to clinical efforts. Before joining Sanofi, she was a director at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Liang received a B.S. from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and an M.S. in Microbial Engineering and Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University in Zurich. Her postdoctoral training was with Dr. Harold Varmus, a Nobel Laureate, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).
Synopsis: Detlev Biniszkiewicz is the Founder and CEO of NextPoint Therapeutics, a company advancing the field of immuno-oncology through its leading scientific work on the novel HHLA2 pathway. Detlev discusses the immuno-oncology landscape including its challenges and opportunities, and the work his team is pursuing at NextPoint to deliver new therapies to cancer patients. He talks about how he operates and leads as a CEO and how he approaches team building. He also shares his advice to others that are in an early stage company, and discusses the current macro environment across biotech.
Biography: Dr. Detlev Biniszkiewicz is a Managing Director at MPM and Entrepreneur at BioImpact Capital, an affiliate manager of MPM. He is currently CEO of portfolio company NextPoint Therapeutics and is also a board member of portfolio company iTeos Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ITOS). Detlev is a serial entrepreneur and an experienced biopharma executive who brings deep knowledge of oncology and immuno-oncology to his role.
At NextPoint Therapeutics, Detlev oversees the development of precision treatments for patients with currently intractable cancers. Leveraging the novel HHLA2 pathway characterized by scientific founders Dr. XingXing Zang and Dr. Gordon Freeman, NextPoint is advancing precision immuno-oncology therapeutics that activate the immune system to find and kill cancer cells.
Prior to joining MPM and BioImpact Capital, Detlev was the President and CEO of Surface Oncology (NASDAQ: SURF), where he led its growth and transformation through to clinical-stage and its preparation for a public offering. Prior to Surface Oncology, he was Vice President of Strategy in AstraZeneca’s Oncology Unit and was part of the oncology leadership that developed Lynparza® and Tagrisso®, two innovative medicines that help thousands of patients suffering from cancer. His group transformed AstraZeneca’s Oncology pipeline through numerous licensing deals, clinical and academic collaborations, and external research. Detlev has also held multiple roles at Novartis including Global Head of Portfolio, where his group provided oversight of Novartis’ research and early development portfolio.
Detlev began his career at the Boston Consulting Group and performed his academic research at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Synopsis:
Eric Dobmeier is the President and CEO of Chinook Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering, developing and commercializing precision medicines for rare, severe chronic kidney diseases. Eric discusses how his early years as a lawyer working in-house as general counsel for Seattle Genetics (now Seagen), ultimately led him to running his own biotech company. He talks about the landscape of kidney disease, the current unmet need, what opportunities he sees in the space, and the growing interest in kidney disease amongst big pharma. He also discusses the progress Chinook has made over the last several years, particularly the three clinical stage programs they currently have, and what’s ahead for the company.
Biography: Eric is President and CEO of Chinook Therapeutics. Previously, he was President and CEO of Silverback Therapeutics, a Seattle-based biotechnology company in the immuno-oncology space. Prior to that, he spent more than 15 years at Seattle Genetics, most recently as Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw business development, corporate communications, manufacturing, program/alliance management activities and corporate strategy initiatives. While at Seattle Genetics, Eric was also directly involved in raising more than $1.2 billion in equity capital, and led negotiation and completion of multiple corporate alliances with leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Earlier in his career, he represented technology companies in connection with public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions and corporate partnering transactions. Eric has a J.D. from University of California, Berkeley School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University. He is also a director of Atara Biotherapeutics and Structure Therapeutics.
Synopsis: Faraz Ali is the CEO of Tenaya Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a mission to discover, develop and deliver potentially curative therapies that address the underlying causes of heart disease. Faraz discusses his non-traditional background as an electrical engineer before he found his passion for applying science and technology to healthcare problems. He talks about his experience working at Genzyme and what aspects from his time there he still carries with him today. Faraz also discusses his perspective on the application of genetic modalities, and his team’s work pursuing treatment for both rare and prevalent forms of heart disease. Finally, he talks about what it’s like being a first time CEO and his thoughts on team building.Biography: Faraz Ali, MBA, is the CEO of Tenaya Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a mission to discover, develop and deliver potentially curative therapies that address the underlying causes of heart disease. He was most recently Chief Business Officer at REGENXBIO, where he had accountability for corporate development, commercial planning, portfolio strategy, alliance management and corporate communications. Prior to that, Mr. Ali was a Vice President at bluebird bio, where he was responsible for new product planning, program management, patient advocacy and external affairs. He also held roles of increasing global commercial leadership at Genzyme Corporation, where he helped launch multiple first-in-class enzyme replacement therapies for rare diseases. He started his career at General Electric, including technical roles at GE Healthcare and business assignments at GE Corporate. Mr. Ali received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his B.S. from Stanford University. He was appointed to the Board of Directors for The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the leading international advocacy organization dedicated to realizing the promise of regenerative medicines and advanced therapies, in 2022.
Synopsis: Gregory Verdine, Ph.D., is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of LifeMine Therapeutics and FogPharma. LifeMine Therapeutics is reinventing drug discovery by mining genetically-encoded small molecules (GEMs) from the biosphere. FogPharma is developing a new class of drugs to address the limitations of today’s precision medicines and achieve universal druggability. In this episode, Greg discusses his unique journey from starting as an academic scientist to transitioning to an investor, and how that exposure to the venture world rounds out his approach to how he now runs biotechs. He talks about what it’s been like running two companies for six years and how he structures his time so he can successfully operate between the two. He also discusses fundraising in a challenging environment and the importance of being part of a team in biotech.Biography: Greg Verdine is a leader in the discovery, development and commercialization of new drug modalities. A passionate and accomplished inventor of novel approaches and drug classes to engage targets widely believed intractable, Greg coined the phrase “drugging the undruggable” to describe his life’s mission. Greg is the co-founder of FogPharma, which has its roots in the scientific work of Greg and his academic team at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, a hotbed of innovation and invention in the new modality therapeutics space. Greg is also the co-founder and CEO of LifeMine Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company refashioning drug discovery by mining genetically-encoded small molecules from the biosphere. Together with co-founder WeiQing Zhou, he developed the scientific and business concept for FogPharma and LifeMine and co-led the companys’ initial capitalization and operationalization in mid-2016 and 2017, respectively.Greg is highly regarded for having moved seamlessly between roles as an academic scientist, biotech entrepreneur, investor and company executive. As Erving Professor at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, he founded the burgeoning field of hyperstabilized alpha-helical peptides, starting with the first-generation all-hydrocarbon stapled peptide technology, and invented not only the modality but also the direct precursor to the Phase 2 stapled peptide ALRN 6924. The greatly improved second-generation Helicon technology was developed in the Verdine Lab at Harvard and licensed exclusively to FogPharma, and subsequently developed by FogPharma into the third-generation approach that is so impactful today. The Verdine Lab at Harvard also made seminal contributions to understanding fundamental mechanisms of DNA repair and epigenetic DNA methylation. As an entrepreneur, Dr. Verdine has founded multiple public biotech companies including Variagenics, Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Eleven Bio, Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Wave Life Sciences and Aileron Therapeutics, and a private company, Gloucester Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Celgene. These companies have succeeded in achieving FDA approval for three marketed drugs.Greg has served on the board of directors of Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Wave Life Sciences, Warp Drive Bio and LifeMine Therapeutics. Having led the formation and financing of Wave Life Sciences, Warp Drive Bio and LifeMine Therapeutics, Greg took a role in managing these companies as their president, chief executive officer and chief scientific officer. Greg also conceived of, co-founded and served as the founding president and chairman of the tandem non-profits Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, which trains high school graduates for technical careers in biotech, and Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, which is supporting fisheries science and economic development on Cape Ann.Greg earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Columbia University and served as an NIH postdoctoral fellow in molecular biology at MIT and Harvard Medical School. He also holds an honorary Ph.D. degree from Clarkson University.
Synopsis: Kate Haviland is the CEO of Blueprint Medicines, a global precision therapy company that creates life-changing medicines for people with cancer and blood disorders. Applying an approach that is both precise and agile, they create medicines that selectively target genetic drivers, with the goal of staying one step ahead across stages of disease. Kate discusses beginning her career at Genzyme before joining Blueprint Medicines, and what the transition to becoming CEO was like after having held various different roles at Blueprint. She also talks about how personalized medicine is transforming patient care, and the company’s focus on applying precision medicine to cancer and hematologic diseases. Finally, she dives into how the current environment informs how she approaches leading a publicly traded biotech and her perspective on partnerships.Interested in learning more? Check out their recent approval here: https://rb.gy/4126eBiography: Kate brings an impressive breadth of experience and leadership within the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as a substantial background in business development, commercial and strategic planning, and program management. Since April 2022, Kate has served as Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint Medicines. Kate joined Blueprint in 2016 as Chief Business Officer and later served as Chief Operating Officer, where she served as the founding chair of the portfolio management team, formed and executed business development strategy, drove global capital investment plans, and played a key role in capital market financings. In addition, she worked to drive the transformative growth of the company and support its evolution into a fully integrated business by developing and providing ongoing management of critical functions, including portfolio strategy, corporate development, commercial strategy, international, technical operations, corporate affairs, and information systems. Prior to joining Blueprint Medicines, Kate held leadership roles focused on building emerging, high-growth companies and advancing the development of innovative therapies in oncology and rare diseases as Vice President, Rare Diseases and Oncology Program Leadership at Idera Pharmaceuticals, Head of Commercial Development at Sarepta Therapeutics, Executive Director of Commercial Development at PTC Therapeutics, and roles in both corporate development and project management at Genzyme. She holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University with a double major in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Economics and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Kate currently serves as chair of the board of directors at Fulcrum Therapeutics and is a member of the audit and compensation committees.
Synopsis: Asit Parikh, M.D., Ph.D., is the President and CEO of MOMA Therapeutics, a biotech company discovering the next generation of precision medicines by targeting highly dynamic proteins that underlie human disease. Asit discusses his experience and learnings being the CEO of a biotech for the first time and his approach to recruiting high quality talent. He also talks about the inherent risks in drug development, how he manages the emotional ups and downs, and provides his perspective on how drug development has changed and evolved over the last couple decades. Biography: Asit Parikh, M.D., Ph.D., joined MOMA in 2021 as President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors.Asit brings to MOMA more than 20 years of academic and industry experience. Prior to MOMA, Asit served as senior vice president and head of Takeda’s gastroenterology unit from 2014 to 2020. Under his leadership, Takeda achieved global approvals for Entyvio® for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease; European adult and U.S. pediatric approvals for Gattex®/Revestive® for short bowel syndrome; Japan and China approvals for Takecab®/Vocinti® for acid-related disorders; a European approval for Alofisel® for perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease; and a U.S. approval for Motegrity® for chronic constipation. During this time, to ensure a sustainable pipeline, Asit oversaw the creation of a drug discovery unit focused on gastroenterology and liver diseases and identified and executed over 25 business development deals. These diverse transactions included regional and global licensing (eg Arrowhead A1AT), M&A (eg Tigenix SA) and company creation (eg Ambys Medicines).Previously, Asit served as the general internal medicine franchise head at Takeda. Earlier, he held leadership roles in inflammation and oncology clinical development at Millennium Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Takeda in 2008). During his tenure at Millennium/Takeda, Asit was regularly recognized at the enterprise level for his inspirational leadership style, and as an identifier and developer of talent.Asit remains actively engaged in the practice of medicine as a consulting gastroenterologist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts, and serves as a board member of Ambys Medicines, Phathom Pharmaceuticals and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Basic Sciences.Asit earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry and M.D. from Vanderbilt University, completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania and subspecialty training in gastroenterology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He performed postdoctoral research in cancer biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Synopsis: Samir Ounzain is the CEO and Co-Founder of HAYA Therapeutics, a precision medicines company developing RNA-guided programmable therapeutics targeting the regulatory genome for serious health conditions including fibrosis. Samir discusses the current landscape as it relates to precision medicine and genomic medicine and what his team is hoping to achieve over the next year. He also talks about the evolution of his approach to fundraising and shares his thoughts on applying machine learning and AI at the intersection of biology. Finally, with a distributed team in both the US and Switzerland, he discusses the challenges that come with that, and how he approaches team building.Biography: Samir Ounzain is a molecular biologist with over 15 years of experience exploring the dark matter of the genome and its roles in development and disease. Prior to founding HAYA Therapeutics, Samir was a Project Leader and Research Fellow at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), where his research efforts directly led to the discovery of hundreds of novel heart-enriched lncRNAs, most notably the lncRNAs CARMEN, Meteor and Wisper.
Synopsis: Sekar Kathiresan is the Co-Founder, CEO and Board Member of Verve Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing gene editing medicines to treat patients with cardiovascular disease. Sekar discusses Verve’s work developing single-course, in vivo liver-directed gene editing medicines for patients with and at risk of cardiovascular disease and what the company pipeline looks like. He talks about the evolution of his pitch after years of experience with fundraising, how he approaches team building, and his perspective on why people are leaving academia for biotech. He also discusses what he’s learned about being a board member and what a good board for a pre-revenue biotech looks like.Biography: Dr. Sekar Kathiresan is co-founder and CEO of Verve Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering a new approach to the care of cardiovascular disease, transforming treatment from chronic management to single-course gene editing medicines. Dr. Kathiresan is a cardiologist and scientist who has focused his career on understanding the inherited basis for heart attack and leveraging those insights to improve the care of cardiovascular disease. Based on his groundbreaking discoveries in human genetic mutations that confer resistance to cardiovascular disease, Dr. Kathiresan co-founded Verve Therapeutics with a vision to create a pipeline of single-course, gene editing therapies focused on addressing the root causes of this highly prevalent and life-threatening disease. Today, Verve is advancing two initial programs that target PCSK9 and ANGPTL3, respectively – genes that have been extensively validated by Dr. Kathiresan and others as targets for lowering blood lipids, such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is a major driver of cardiovascular disease.Prior to joining Verve, Dr. Kathiresan’s roles included director of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Genomic Medicine, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Initiative at the Broad Institute and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. There, Dr. Kathiresan’s research laboratory focused on understanding the inherited basis for blood lipids and myocardial infarction. For his research contributions, he has been recognized by the American Heart Association with its highest scientific honor – a Distinguished Scientist Award and by the American Society of Human Genetics with the 2018 Curt Stern Award.Dr. Kathiresan graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania and received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He completed his clinical training in internal medicine and cardiology at MGH and his postdoctoral research training in human genetics at the Framingham Heart Study and the Broad Institute.
Synopsis: Harlan Robins, Ph.D., is the CSO and Co-Founder of Adaptive Biotechnologies, a pioneer and leader in immune-driven medicine that aims to improve people’s lives by learning from the wisdom of their adaptive immune systems. Adaptive’s proprietary immune profiling platform reveals and translates insights from our adaptive immune systems with unprecedented scale and precision. Harlan discusses how he navigated the ups and downs of co-founding a company. He talks about the adaptive immune system, why it’s important, and what Adaptive is currently working on from a development perspective. He also discusses Adaptive’s partnership with Genentech to create personalized cancer therapies.Biography: Dr. Harlan Robins is the Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Adaptive Biotechnologies, a commercial-stage biotech company that aims to translate the genetics of the adaptive immune system into clinical products to diagnose and treat disease.Prior to co-founding Adaptive, Harlan served in various roles at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) in the Computational Biology Program, including Assistant Faculty Member, Associate, and Full Member and Head of the program.Harlan holds a BS in Physics from Harvard University and a master’s degree and PhD in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley, with a visiting appointment to the California Institute of Technology. Harlan received postdoctoral appointments in the particle theory group at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.Interested in the mathematics behind genetics and observing the potential utility of high-level mathematics to study problems in the biological sciences, Harlan took another postdoctoral appointment at the Institute for Advance Study in Princeton under famed biologist Dr. Arnold Levine. With Dr. Levine, he concentrated on developing bioinformatic algorithms for micro RNA targets and bacterial genome analysis, a precursor to his faculty appointment at FHCRC in the Computational Biology Group, Public Health Sciences and Human Biology Divisions.
Synopsis: Dr. Paul Bolno is the President and CEO of Wave Life Sciences, a clinical-stage RNA medicines company committed to delivering life-changing treatments for people battling devastating diseases including Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Paul discusses his early years at GSK and the events that led him to join Wave as CEO, and some of his early learnings during that transition from big pharma to a biotech. He also talks about the role and opportunity that RNA presents in medicine, where he sees RNA therapeutics going next, and what excites him about the emerging field of RNA editing.Biography: Dr. Bolno has served as President and CEO of Wave Life Sciences since 2013 and oversaw the company’s initial public offering in 2015. During his tenure as President and CEO, Dr. Bolno has grown Wave into a fully integrated clinical-stage genetic medicines company, overseen the development of the company’s proprietary stereopure oligonucleotide discovery and drug development platform, and built a broad pipeline of preclinical and clinical programs supported by scalable, in-house manufacturing capabilities.In addition to Dr. Bolno’s current role at Wave, he is on the Board of Directors for SQZ Biotech and serves as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Group for the Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA) in the United Kingdom.Prior to joining Wave, he was Vice President, Worldwide Business Development—Head of Asia BD and Investments, as well as Head of Global Neuroscience BD, at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). He also served as a Director of Glaxo Wellcome Manufacturing, Pte Ltd. in Singapore. Dr. Bolno joined GSK as Vice President, Business Development for the Oncology Business Unit, where he helped establish GSK’s global oncology business and served as a member of the Oncology Executive Team, Oncology Commercial Board and Cancer Research Executive Team. Prior to GSK, he served as Director of Research at Two River LLC, a healthcare private equity firm.Dr. Bolno earned a medical degree from MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine and an MBA from Drexel University. He was a general surgery resident and cardiothoracic surgery postdoctoral research fellow at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Synopsis: Garo Armen, Ph.D., is the Chairman and CEO of Agenus, an immuno-oncology company with the goal of treating cancers with novel combinations utilizing its unique portfolio of checkpoint antibodies, tumor microenvironment modifiers, vaccines and adjuvants. After receiving his Ph.D. in chemistry, Dr. Armen worked on Wall Street where he specialized in specialty pharmaceutical companies as well as biotech. Dr. Armen discusses how his personal history was a driving force behind founding Agenus, as well as his perspective on immunology and immunotherapy. He talks about Agenus’s approach to bringing curative therapies to cancer patients by harnessing the power of the immune system. He also discusses his approach to hiring, leveraging external providers and team building. Biography: Dr. Garo Armen serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Agenus Inc., which he co-founded in 1994. Under his leadership, Agenus has been advancing breakthrough scientific technologies and immunotherapeutic products. In addition, Garo oversaw the successful restructuring of the biopharmaceutical company Elan Corporation, plc, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Garo currently acts as Chairman of the Board of Protagenic Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focusing on human brain hormones for the treatment of neurological and metabolic disorders. He began his research career at Brookhaven National Laboratory subsequent to which he made a transition to Wall Street, as an analyst and investment banker at EF Hutton and then at Dean Witter Reynolds ( now Morgan Stanley) , cultivating key relationships and stock-market expertise. Garo received his PhD in physical chemistry from the City University of New York.
Synopsis: Craig Thompson is the CEO of Cerevance, a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focused on developing novel therapeutics for central nervous system diseases. He discusses the arc of his career, beginning at big pharma at Merck and Pfizer before transitioning to biotech, and his learnings along the way. As CEO, he shares what he’s learned about developing a relationship with his board and the value they bring to his company. He also talks about the current CNS landscape, where Cerevance is from a development perspective, and the unique way the company approaches AI. Biography: Craig Thompson is the Chief Executive Officer of Cerevance, a private, clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focused on developing novel therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) diseases using the company’s proprietary Nuclear Enriched Transcript Sort sequencing (NETSseq) platform. Most recently, Mr. Thompson was President and Chief Executive Officer of Neurana Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Neurana, Mr. Thompson was President and Chief Executive Officer of Anthera Pharmaceuticals. His previous biotech experience includes Chief Operating Officer for Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals and Chief Commercial Officer for Trius Therapeutics where he was involved in the $707M up front acquisition of Trius by Cubist Pharmaceuticals, as well as a partnership with Bayer Pharma AG. Prior to Trius, Mr. Thompson served in various global and U.S. roles at Pfizer Inc., including Therapeutic Group Leader of Allergy, Respiratory, Pulmonary Vascular Disease and Inflammation; and ultimately served as Vice President of Marketing for Pfizer’s Specialty Care Business Unit. Previous to Pfizer, Mr. Thompson served in positions of increasing responsibility at Merck & Co., Inc including leading the partnership with Schering Plough. Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from McMaster University and an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.
Synopsis: We recorded this episode in December 2022 with Florian Brand and Srinivas Rao, the Co-Founders and CEO & CSO, respectively, of atai Life Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company that leverages a decentralized platform approach to incubate and accelerate the development of highly effective mental health treatments that address the unmet needs of patients, including psychedelics and digital therapeutics. Florian and Srinivas provide an overview of the neuropsychiatry landscape, the history of psychedelics within mental health, and the role COVID played in increasing mental health awareness. They also discuss the model at atai around drug development and how they approach tackling such a massive unmet need. Finally, Florian talks about how self-awareness can lead to healthier habits and decision-making, and the importance of investing in therapy.Biography: Florian Brand is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of atai Life Sciences. Prior to joining atai, Florian was starting and building user-centric technology companies as a serial entrepreneur.Florian suffered from anxiety in his youth and was able to achieve remission through a combination of psychotherapy and robust meditation practice. It was ultimately his experiences seeing his friends and loved ones failed by the mental healthcare system that inspired him to join the movement to transform the treatment landscape for patients who have been unable to find relief in currently available therapies.In 2022, Florian was recognized in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list spotlighting influential individuals shaping business and Business Insider’s 30 Under 40 in Healthcare. Florian was also featured in Endpoint News’ list of 20 Under 40 Innovators in Biotech in 2021. He is a proud member of the Founders Pledge, a global community of mission-aligned entrepreneurs dedicated to doing good.Srinivas Rao is the Chief Scientific Officer at atai Life Sciences. Dr. Rao has over 19 years of professional experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Prior to atai, Dr. Rao has held the titles of Chief Scientific, Medical, or Executive Officer at companies ranging from venture-backed startups to vertically-integrated, publicly-traded pharmaceutical companies.Dr. Rao completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He received his Ph.D. in neurobiology from Yale Graduate School and his M.D. from Yale School of Medicine. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Yale College and Yale Graduate School, respectively.
Synopsis: Kevin Judice is the Co-Founder and CEO of DICE Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative medicines for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Kevin trained as an organic chemist in graduate school before beginning his career at Genentech in the early 90s. He talks about stepping into the CEO role for the first time at DICE, the challenges of maintaining a lean startup while avoiding burnout, and how he approaches fundraising. He also shares insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and advice he would give to his younger self.Biography: Kevin Judice currently serves as the co-founder and CEO of DICE Therapeutics. Prior to DICE, he co-founded Achaogen, Inc., where, as the first employee, he was the chief scientific officer and CEO. During his seven-year tenure at Achaogen, Kevin oversaw three rounds of venture financing, steered its growth to 65 full-time employees and established collaborations with DARPA, NIAID, DTRA and BARDA.Prior to Achaogen, he ran medicinal chemistry at Genentech. In the late ‘90s, he was one of the first employees and served as the vice president of chemistry at Theravance, where he led the discovery of Vibativ®.Kevin holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of California Los Angeles with Nobel Laureate Donald J. Cram, then did his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California Berkeley in the laboratories of Peter G. Schultz. He received his B.S. in chemistry from Texas A&M University. Kevin is also a Henry Crown fellow at the Aspen Institute.
Synopsis: Tariq Kassum, M.D. is the CEO of Celsius Therapeutics, a company pioneering new precision medicines in inflammatory disease by harnessing the power of single-cell RNA sequencing and human biology at scale. Tariq shares his unique journey from med school, to working in Wall Street as a biotech investment banker and stock analyst, to the corporate side working at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Takeda, and finally the innovative biotech world. He discusses the importance of learning to adapt to each environment in order to remain productive and successful, and building meaningful relationships with coworkers and mentors. He also talks about what it will take for the biopharma executive of the future to be successful. Biography: Tariq Kassum brings 20 years of experience in corporate development, strategy and business leadership to Celsius. He joined the company in 2019 from Obsidian Therapeutics, where he was a co-founder and served as chief operating officer and head of corporate development. During this time, Tariq helped build Obsidian into a leading platform technology company and played a central role in the company’s strategic partnership with Celgene. Prior to Obsidian, Tariq spent seven years with Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Takeda, most recently as vice president, business development and strategy for Takeda Oncology, responsible for transactions, collaborations, alliance management and strategic planning. Before that, he led Takeda’s global corporate development efforts, where he managed multiple acquisitions and divestitures in the U.S. and internationally. He was also part of the business development team at Millennium Pharmaceuticals.Prior to Takeda, Tariq was an analyst covering healthcare equities for institutional investment firms, where he led scientific due diligence and investment decisions on numerous companies and pharmaceutical compounds across multiple therapeutic areas. He began his career as an investment banker with CIBC World Markets, serving clients in the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceuticals industries.
Synopsis: Prakash Raman, Ph.D., is the President and CEO of Ribon Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing the development of novel small molecules targeting stress support pathways in cancer and inflammation. A medicinal chemist by training, Prakash discusses his professional development and the evolution of his strategic thinking as he went from chemist, to project management, to business development, to now CEO. He shares his advice for scientists in biotech and pharma and the best method he’s found for communicating with and motivating his team. He also discusses the inherent risk involved in biotech and his perspective on how failure can be a teaching moment.Interested to learn more about Ribon? Check out this episode featuring Heike Keilhack, CSO: https://bit.ly/3yeXUmi Biography: Prakash Raman, Ph.D. has served as Ribon’s president, chief executive officer and board member since February 2022. Dr. Raman brings to Ribon decades of biopharmaceutical business development and executive leadership experience, blending his scientific background, program and portfolio management and strong business development experience. Prior to joining Ribon, he served as Senior Partner, Chief Business Development Officer at Flagship Pioneering from October 2019 to February 2022, where he leveraged the platforms and assets in Flagship’s network to generate opportunities for significant value creation. Prior to Flagship, Dr. Raman spent nearly fourteen years at Novartis, most recently as Vice President, Global Head of Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR) Business Development and Licensing (BD&L). During his time at Novartis, Dr. Raman was instrumental in forging key collaborations in immuno-oncology, executing many out-licensing opportunities and guiding the acquisitions of Advanced Accelerator Applications, Endocyte, IFM Tre and Selexys. In addition, he has led cross-functional drug discovery and early development project teams that successfully progressed compounds to clinical testing in patients. Prior to Novartis, Dr. Raman spent six years as a Senior Scientist at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and two years as a post-doctoral fellow at The Scripps Research Institute. He completed his undergraduate work at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and received his Ph.D. in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Synopsis: Joel Schneider, Ph.D. and Robert Kotin, Ph.D. are the President & CEO and Founder & Chief Technology Advisor, respectively, of Carbon Biosciences, an emerging leader in the development of novel parvovirus-derived gene therapies. Joel and Robert sit down with host Rahul Chaturvedi to discuss the arc of their careers, how the AAV field has changed over the last decade, and how they approach building out their team at Carbon. They also talk about Carbon’s focus on cystic fibrosis and the implications of The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation investing in their Series A. Finally, they both weigh in on what excites them when thinking about the future of gene therapy. Biographies: Dr. Joel Schneider joined Carbon as CEO in 2022, after serving as Chief Operating Officer at Solid Biosciences. As Solid’s first employee, he played an instrumental role in building the company’s unique disease-focused business model. Dr. Schneider is an accomplished biosciences executive with a track record of achievement in identifying, developing, and financing high potential therapeutic modalities and has diverse leadership experiences across R&D, technical and corporate operations, and corporate development organizations. Dr. Schneider holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University and an undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles related to Duchenne and stem cell biology. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, where he characterized and developed the small molecules that enhance skeletal muscle regeneration.Dr. Robert Kotin has been a leader in adeno-associated virus (AAV) research for 35 years, focusing on the molecular biology of the virus’s non-structural proteins and then leveraging this understanding to develop novel AAV vectors for somatic cell gene therapy. Beginning as a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University Medical Center, Dr. Kotin discovered a common integration site for AAV DNA in human chromosome 19, which he designated AAVS1 locus. He spent most of his career in the Intramural Research Program at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), first as a tenure-track investigator and then as a tenured senior investigator and Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy. While at the NIH, Dr. Kotin’s laboratory invented and developed a scalable recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) production process in Sf9 cells which was licensed by UniQure, ThermoFisher, Voyager, Biomarin, and others and was used to produce Glybera™, the first rAAV product granted regulatory agency approval for sale. Additional research from the Kotin lab resulted in the discovery of an AAV replicative product that has been described as closed-ended linear duplex DNA (ceDNA) and became the basis of the non-viral gene therapy company Generation Bio (NASDAQ: GBIO). Dr. Kotin served as vice president of virology and gene therapy at Voyager Therapeutics from 2014 to 2016. Since 2016, he has served as an adjunct professor at UMass Medical School, where his research interests include vectorizing and characterizing ancestral parvoviruses based on inferred sequences from endogenous virus elements (EVEs) as novel gene therapy vectors.Dr. Kotin earned his B.A. in biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his doctorate in microbiology from Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now Robert Wood Johnson Medical School).
Synopsis: Matt Gline is the CEO of Roivant Sciences, a company that delivers innovative medicines and technologies to patients by building Vants – nimble, entrepreneurial biotech and healthcare technology companies. Matt discusses his transition from CFO to CEO at Roivant and how he prepared to step into the CEO role for the first time. He talks about Roivant’s model and how it’s different from other biotech companies, and how the current market conditions inform how Roivant operates across its portfolio. He also discusses some of the inefficiencies across biotech and where he sees room for improvement, how telemedicine emerged as a silver lining from the pandemic, and his thoughts on the current labor market.Biography: Matthew Gline serves as Chief Executive Officer of Roivant Sciences. Mr. Gline joined Roivant in March 2016 and previously served as Chief Financial Officer. From April 2014 to March 2016, he was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs, Fixed Income Digital Structuring, where he focused on technology and data strategy.Prior to Goldman Sachs, Mr. Gline was a co-founder of Fourthree, a risk analytics technology and consulting company. From 2008 to 2012, he served as Vice President at Barclays, Enterprise Risk Management Advisory, where he provided analysis for corporate clients related to capital markets access for financing and risk management. Mr. Gline earned his A.B. in Physics from Harvard College.
Synopsis: Jack Bailey is the CEO of G1 Therapeutics, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and delivery of next generation therapies that improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Jack worked at Eli Lilly for 19 years followed by GSK for 12 years, and served on the company board at G1 Therapeutics before stepping into the role of CEO. Jack provides his perspective on the state of the industry and how the current macro environment is affecting financing, the supply chain, and attracting and retaining talent. He talks about his team’s work at G1, the proactive approach they’re taking to combat cancer, and the unique commercial aspect of the company. He also discusses the current legislative and regulatory environment, concerns he has, and opportunities for the future.Biography: As Chief Executive Officer, Jack Bailey leads G1 in its mission to fundamentally change the chemotherapy experience for patients with cancer. Mr. Bailey has over thirty years of commercial pharmaceutical experience and has an in-depth understanding of the healthcare marketplace. He has extensive experience in commercialization, health systems, health policy, and government affairs.Previously, Mr. Bailey led the GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceuticals and vaccines business as President of the U.S., with responsibility for commercialization efforts across the company—oncology, immunology/rare disease, respiratory, and vaccines portfolios. He also was a member of the company’s Pharmaceutical Investment Board responsible for the clinical development investments by the company. Earlier in his career, he held various senior commercial leadership positions at Eli Lilly and Company, including Senior Vice President of the Account-Based Markets Division that included both the oncology and cardiovascular portfolios along with the managed markets groups.Mr. Bailey was appointed to the G1 Therapeutics Board of Directors in March 2020 and in September 2020, he was named CEO. He also serves on the board of the UNC Health System, Emergo Therapeutics, a privately-held biotechnology company, and is a past member of the board at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the board of directors of PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry trade association, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. He holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina and a B.S. in biology from Hobart College.
Synopsis: Nabiha Saklayen, PhD, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cellino Biotech, a company working to democratize access to personalized stem cell-based therapies for patients at scale. Nabiha joins host Rahul Chaturvedi for a discussion about her entrepreneurial journey and her learning process in the early days of building a start-up. She talks about opportunities and challenges in the field of regenerative medicine and the exciting science her team is pursuing at Cellino to use stem cell-derived regenerative medicines to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s, diabetes, and heart disease. She also touches on changes and trends in biotech she’s observed over the years. Nabiha first appeared on the Biotech2050 podcast for its 100th episode - listen here: https://on.soundcloud.com/HkAxqBiography: Nabiha Saklayen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cellino. Cellino’s proprietary technology makes personalized stem cell-derived therapies scalable for the first time. Nabiha was selected as a Pioneer in MIT Tech Review's 35 Innovators under 35 list for her patented inventions in cellular laser editing. She received her Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) International Fellow. She is also the inaugural Tory Burch Foundation Fellow in Genomics at the Innovative Genomics Institute led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Jennifer Doudna. Nabiha is also a TED speaker and co-creator of I Am A Scientist, an educational program running in 50 states that inspires children to explore science.
Synopsis: Andrew Allen is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Gritstone bio, a clinical-stage biotech company developing groundbreaking immunotherapies for cancers and infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and HIV. Gristone seeks to generate a therapeutic immune response by leveraging insights into the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy diseased cells by targeting select antigens. Andrew joins host Rahul Chaturvedi for a conversation about his entrepreneurial journey founding a biotech, the state of biotech right now and how he manages his team during times of volatility. He also discusses the exciting science they’re pursuing at Gritstone and the role T cells play in engaging the immune system against cancer and infectious diseases.Biography: Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D. co-founded Gritstone bio, Inc. and has served as President, CEO and a board member since 2015. In 2009, Dr. Allen co-founded Clovis Oncology and served as Chief Medical Officer until 2015, driving development of Rucaparib, a PARP inhibitor. Prior he was Chief Medical Officer at Pharmion Corporation, developing Vidaza, the first approved DNA methylation inhibitor, until acquisition by Celgene in 2008. Dr. Allen also served in clinical development leadership roles at Chiron Corporation and Abbott Laboratories, and worked at McKinsey & Company. He currently serves on the board of directors of TCR2 Therapeutics and Sierra Oncology (both public biopharma companies) and Revitope Oncology and Verge Genomics (both private biopharma companies). He previously served on the board of directors of Epizyme (developers of the first approved histone methylation transferase inhibitor) and Cell Design Labs (acquired by Gilead Sciences in 2017). Dr. Allen qualified in medicine at Oxford University and received a Ph.D. in immunology from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London.
Synopsis: Nicki Thompson is the CEO of Amphista Therapeutics, a company identifying and advancing novel approaches in targeted protein degradation to develop a new generation of innovative therapies. Nicki spent the first 20 years of her career in big pharma at GSK before joining the biotech industry. She shares her thoughts on how the interaction points between biotech and pharma have changed over the last 10 years. She also talks about target protein degradation as a treatment modality and the opportunities and challenges it brings, as well as Amphista’s novel approach to targeted protein degradation to treat diseases with high unmet need in oncology, immunology and CNS disorders.Biography: Nicki has over 25 years’ experience in pharmaceutical and biotechnology R&D in a variety of senior scientific and leadership roles. She was previously VP and Global Head of External Drug Discovery at F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and prior to that, Senior Director, Business Development for GSK’s Centre of Excellence for External Drug Discovery (CEEDD). Nicki’s Biotech experience includes her role as Chair of the Board for Nanna Therapeutics Ltd, founding CEO of VirionHealth and Head of Drug Discovery at Syntaxin Ltd. She holds a PhD in Cell Biology from University College London.
Disclaimer: Anything that is express in the following conversation are Michael's views and not necessarily those of Roche / Genentech.Synopsis: Michael Rosenblatt is the Vice President of Clinical Operations at Roche, leading their organization to reduce hierarchy, embrace agility, and increase engagement. Michael has spent the last 11 years between regulatory and clinical operations in late stage development at Roche/Genentech and is currently leading its GI indications from an operational standpoint. He provides his perspective on the clinical operations landscape now and what’s changed over the last five-seven years. He shares the technology he’s excited by that has the potential to transform R&D and clinical operations. He discusses his role at Roche and some of the transformation underway bringing more treatments and better outcomes to patients everywhere!Biography:Michael Rosenblatt is a Vice President in Roche’s late stage clinical operations group (PDG). In this role he is responsible for registrational clinical trials for Roche’s Gastroenterology and Hepatology portfolio. He also acts as a mentor and coach for the countries in Roche’s Asian operational footprint. In this role he helps to ensure that Roche is taking full advantage of the talent and capabilities in that region. Michael is also part of the team leading the transformation of Roche’s Clinical Operations function, moving from a siloed hierarchical structure to a flatter, more agile organization. In this transformation Roche has helped rethink Clinical Operations, enabling talent flow across disease areas and cross-functional projects and empowering teams to make decisions closest to the work and takes. This work is unleashing significant efficiencies and helping Roche reach its goal of bringing new medicines to patients faster. In earlier roles at Roche, Michael oversawkey infrastructure for both the Clinical Operations and Regulatory groups at Roche and helped pioneer early eTMF processes and technology.Prior to joining Roche, Michael was a consultant in IBM’s life sciences consulting and business process management practices working with multiple pharmaceutical companies to introduce processes and technology designed to streamline and simplify work across finance, commercial, regulatory and other business units. He has also held numerous consulting, sales, marketing, and operational roles for several other US-based enterprises.Michael is an avid runner and swimmer. He resides near San Francisco, CA with his wife and two boys.
Synopsis: Josh Mandel-Brehm is the President and CEO of CAMP4 Therapeutics, a company pioneering mRNA amplification by using programmable ASO therapeutics to control gene expression. He joins host Rahul Chaturverdi to discuss the arc of his career and his interest in the intersection of business and science. They dive into the origins of CAMP4 and the inspiration behind the company’s name. He also talks about where CAMP4 is from a pipeline development perspective and how he approaches fundraising.Biography: Josh Mandel-Brehm is President & Chief Executive Officer of CAMP4 Therapeutics.Mr. Mandel-Brehm previously held roles as an entrepreneur partner with Polaris Partners and key business development and operations leadership roles at leading biotech companies. Most recently he served as part of the Business Development group at Biogen, where he led multiple strategic activities and corresponding transactions, which included expanding Biogen’s non-malignant hematology franchise and overseeing seminal investments to enter in gene therapy and the ophthalmology field. Prior to Biogen, Mr. Mandel-Brehm held several roles of increasing responsibility at Genzyme as part of the business development group for the company’s rare disease business unit.Mr. Mandel-Brehm earned a BA in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis and holds an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Synopsis: This special episode features a panel discussion with three biotech leaders about drug development for rare diseases. James Mackay, Ph.D., is the Founder, President and CEO of Aristea Therapeutics, an immunology-focused clinical stage biotech that is focused on inflammatory diseases. Arthur T. Suckow, Ph.D., is the Co-Founder and CEO of DTx Pharma, which is focused on developing novel technology for delivery of RNA medicines. Eslie Dennis is the SVP and CMO of Kyowa Kirin North America, a Japan-based global specialty pharmaceutical company. Our guests discuss the patient journey for those living with rare diseases, the importance of driving awareness for this patient population, important points to consider when partnering with big pharma, clinical trial design for patients with rare diseases, and best practices for driving awareness and inclusion of people of color in rare disease trials.Biography: James Mackay, Ph.D., Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, has over 25 years of development and commercialization expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, including 6 drug product approvals across multiple therapeutic areas. Prior to founding Aristea, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Ardea Biosciences, Inc., following the company’s acquisition by AstraZeneca in 2012. James was instrumental to setting up an innovative model for Ardea Biosciences that retained the biotech’s independence and accountability for the development of the gout franchise while also developing a synergistic and collaborative relationship with the parent company, AstraZeneca. Prior to Ardea, James held senior executive positions at AstraZeneca where he led the development and commercialization of drugs across a range of therapy areas. and managed significant global functional departments. James plays a pivotal role in the San Diego Ecosystem and currently sits on the Board and Executive Committee of CONNECT and sits on the Board of BIOCOM. He is a former Board member of the San Diego Economic Development Corporation (EDC). James holds a BS in Genetics and Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from Aberdeen University, Scotland.Dr. Arthur Suckow founded DTx Pharma in 2017. An innovative leader in drug discovery, he previously worked on the ophthalmology, diabetes, and NASH programs at Regulus Therapeutics, at the MedImmune arm of AstraZeneca, and in the Diabetes Drug Discovery program at Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Suckow received his BS from the University of Delaware and his PhD from University of California, San Diego. He has received numerous awards including a Beckman Fellowship, a NSF graduate research fellowship, and a BIOCOM catalyst award.Dr. Eslie Dennis joined Kyowa Kirin in May 2021 as SVP, Chief Medical Officer for Kyowa Kirin North America. Prior to joining this organization, she was Vice President and Head Global Medical Affairs at Ventana/Roche Tissue Diagnostics. She is a physician with 10 years experience in clinical practice (internal medicine and hematology/oncology) and research, and over 20 years international biopharma experience holding positions of increasing responsibility in pharmaceutical and diagnostic organizations at MSD, Novartis and Roche, including leadership of public-private consortia at the Critical Path Institute. Throughout her career, Dr. Dennis has championed innovative science and solutions to address unmet needs for patients and society, particularly addressing healthcare disparities. Dr. Dennis received her MBChB from the Godfrey Huggins School of Medicine in Harare, Zimbabwe, and was the recipient of the Winston Churchill, Margaret Low, and Prankard-Jones Scholarships, as well as the Guy Elliot Bursary. She is a Fellow of the College of Physicians of South Africa and received her internal medicine and hematology/oncology training at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.
Synopsis: Mike Cloonan is the President and CEO of Sionna Therapeutics, a life sciences company dedicated to developing therapies for people living with cystic fibrosis. They are developing first-in-class small molecules that are focused on a unique target with the potential to fully normalize CFTR function for the first time for the vast majority of people living with CF. Mike has over 20 years of experience in biotech and healthcare, 14 of which were spent working at Biogen where he was focused on the business and commercial side of the company. In this episode, he provides his perspective on the right time for a company to build out a commercial team and hire a commercial leader, his learnings stepping into a CEO role for the first time, and the current landscape of cystic fibrosis and what drew him to work on such an important patient population. Biography: Mike is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sionna. He is a respected biotech leader with over 20 years of biopharma experience across global organizations. Most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer at Sage Therapeutics leading all the business functions (commercial, medical affairs, government affairs, business development, technical operations, strategy and program management) and G&A functions. During his four years with Sage, he helped lead the growth of the organization through multiple capital raises, the launch of the company’s first product, and execution of a transformational, multi-billion dollar collaboration.Prior to Sage, he had a 14-year tenure at Biogen in various business and commercial roles. His most recent role at Biogen was as Senior Vice President, U.S. Commercial, where he was the general manager of the multi-billion dollar MS, hemophilia, and SMA franchises. Prior to Biogen, Mike worked at Bain & Company as a consultant specializing in healthcare. Mike earned his MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia and a B.A. from College of the Holy Cross.
Synopsis: Geoff Nosrati is the Chief Business Officer of Nutcracker Therapeutics, an early-stage company that is pioneering a revolutionary therapeutic development and manufacturing platform designed to enable the advancement of RNA-based treatments for as many diseases as possible. Early in his career, Geoff joined McKinsey & Co. as a consultant, working with biotech and pharma companies. He then worked with several small oncology-focused biotech companies, including Aduro Biotech and ImmunoScape before joining Nutcracker. In this episode he provides his perspective on the RNA space as it stands right now and the diversity of applications that exist, some of the opportunities and challenges of working on an RNA therapeutic, how he thinks about indication selection, Nutcracker’s complete RNA platform and the work they’re doing to develop therapeutics, and where the company is now from a building and R&D perspective.Biography: As Chief Business Officer, Geoff oversees Nutcracker’s business development and corporate strategy functions. Prior to Nutcracker, Geoff served as Chief Business Officer at ImmunoScape and as SVP of Strategy and Corporate Development at Aduro Biotech. Earlier in his career, Geoff was a consultant with McKinsey & Co., where he primarily served clients across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.Geoff was awarded a B.S. in Chemistry from Duke University and received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Synopsis: John LaMattina is the former President of Global R&D at Pfizer and is currently a Senior Partner at PureTech Health. A self-proclaimed defender of the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. LaMattina worked at Pfizer for 30 years before joining the biotech industry as a board member for a variety of different biotech companies. His recently published book, “Pharma and Profits”, talks about the misconceptions around COVID-19 vaccines and other areas including the cost of drugs, and the impact that the passing of the IRA Act will have on R&D going forward. In this episode he also discusses how biotech leaders should be thinking about the new IRA Act legislation and what changes they should anticipate.Biography: Dr. John L. LaMattina is the former Senior Vice President, Pfizer Inc and President, Pfizer Global Research and Development. In this role, Dr. LaMattina oversaw the drug discovery and development efforts of over 13,000 colleagues in the United States, Europe and Asia. He retired from this position in December, 2007. Dr. LaMattina spent 30 years at Pfizer Inc having joined as a medicinal chemist in 1977. Over the years, he held positions of increasing responsibility for Pfizer Central Research, including Vice President of US Discovery Operations in 1993, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Discovery Operations in 1998 and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Development in 1999.Dr. LaMattina graduated cum laude from Boston College in 1971 with a B.S. in Chemistry. He attended the University of New Hampshire receiving a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1975. He then moved on to Princeton University as a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Professor E. C. Taylor.During his tenure as head of global R&D, Pfizer produced new treatments for cancer, smoking cessation, rheumatoid arthritis and AIDS. Dr. LaMattina is the author of numerous scientific publications and holds a number of U.S. patents. In addition, he is the author of Drug Truths: Dispelling the Myths About Pharma R&D and Devalued and Distrusted – Can the Pharmaceutical Industry Restore Its Broken Image? He is also a Forbes contributor.Dr. LaMattina has received a number of awards including the 1998 Boston College Alumni Award of Excellence in Science, the 2007 Equal Opportunity Award from Legal Momentum, an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire and the 2010 American Chemical Society Earle Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management.Dr. LaMattina is a Senior Partner and a member of the Board of Directors of PureTech Health. He serves on the Board of Directors of Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Immunome and Vedanta. Dr. LaMattina also serves as a Trustee Associate on the Board of Trustees of Boston College.
Synopsis: Luba Greenwood is the CEO of Kojin Therapeutics and Managing Partner of Dana Farber Cancer Institute Venture Fund. Kojin Therapeutics harnesses groundbreaking discoveries in cell state and ferroptosis biology to create novel therapies and cures for diseases traditionally considered intractable. The Dana Farber Cancer Institute Venture Fund accelerates the development of new research and technologies to treat incurable diseases, particularly in oncology and immunology. Luba discusses the early years of her career as a lawyer and how her legal experience relates to running a biotech company, her background in big pharma at Pfizer and Roche, and the work Kojin is doing in novel biology. She also dives into the qualities that she values in a board member, the importance of company culture, and her perspective on what good leadership looks like.Biography: Luba Greenwood is a leading figure in the biotech and digital health world with vast experience as an executive, investor, and company builder in the biotech, life sciences, diagnostics, and tech sectors. Luba is the Chief Executive Officer of Kojin Therapeutics, a world leader in ferroptosis, pioneering breakthrough medicines in oncology, immunology, neuro, metabolism, and inflammation. Most recently, Luba has served as the Managing Partner of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute Venture Fund, Binney Street Capital, which she has built and launched. She has also taught at Harvard University at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.Previously, Ms. Greenwood served in leadership roles at Google Life Sciences, Verily, and was a VP Global Business Development and Mergers & Acquisitions at Roche, where she also established and led the East Coast Innovation Hub. Ms. Greenwood has led $5B+ in deals and investments across multiple therapeutic areas and life sciences globally. She has also co-founded companies in the oncology, AI/ML, women’s health and microbiome space.Luba began her career as a lawyer, practicing at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. She is a recipient of several awards and honors for her work in the community, including the Science Club for Girls Catalyst Award for her commitment to advocating for women in science and technology.
Synopsis: Amber Salzman is the CEO of Epic Bio, a company that develops therapies to dynamically control gene expression and treat complex diseases. Dr. Salzman started her career in big pharma at GlaxoSmithKline before transitioning to the biotech industry and focusing on rare diseases. In this episode, she sits down with host Rahul Chaturverdi to discuss her learnings from moving from big pharma to biotech, how her roles differ from being a CEO vs. being a board member, her perspective on pursuing interesting technology in biotech, the work Epic Bio is doing in the gene therapy space, and the role of patient advocacy in early stage biotechs. Biography: Amber Salzman, Ph.D., is Epic Bio’s chief executive officer and director. Dr. Salzman is a leader with more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceuticals industry. Before joining Epic Bio, Dr. Salzman served as the president and CEO of Ohana Biosciences, pioneering the industry’s first sperm biology platform. Before Ohana, she served as the president and CEO of Adverum Biotechnologies and was a co-founder of Annapurna, SAS, where she served as president and CEO before its merger with Avalanche Biotechnologies to become Adverum. In that role, she saw the company’s stock price double.Dr. Salzman began her career as a member of the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) research and development executive team, where she was responsible for operations in drug development across multiple therapeutic areas, overseeing global clinical trials with over 30,000 enrolled patients, managing 1,600 employees and a $1.25B budget. Following her time at GSK, Dr. Salzman served as the CEO of Cardiokine, a pharmaceutical company that developed treatments for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and saw the successful sale of the company to Cornerstone Therapeutics. Dr. Salzman currently serves on the Osler Diagnostics (UK) and AviadoBio (UK) Boards.Dr. Salzman received her bachelor’s degree from Temple University and holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from Bryn Mawr College.In addition to advocating for patients living with rare diseases, Dr. Salzman leads the Stop ALD Foundation, a non-profit medical research foundation focused on developing novel gene therapies for adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).
Synopsis: Sean Bohen is the President and CEO of Olema Oncology, a company dedicated to developing targeted therapies for women with breast cancer. An oncologist by training, Dr. Bohen has a background in big pharma, having worked at Genentech and AstraZeneca before joining Olema. He talks with host Rahul Chaturverdi about the differences between working for biotech and big pharma companies, the work his team is pursuing at Olema, the opportunities and challenges within the breast cancer landscape, the ups and downs of running a biotech company and managing a team with the current market dynamics, and the importance of partnerships and how they can strength companies.Biography: Dr. Bohen has served as Chief Executive Officer of Olema Oncology and a member of the Board of Directors since September 2020. He is also a non-executive director of Gyroscope Therapeutics, Ltd. and AltruBio, Inc. He has extensive oncology drug development experience, having served as Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development, and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca PLC. Before that, he held a number of senior leadership roles at Genentech, Inc., including Senior Vice President, Early Development, Genentech Research and Early Development. Prior to Genentech, he was a Clinical Instructor in Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine; a research associate at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and a postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. Bohen received a B.S. in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics and an M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco.
Synopsis: Bill Hinshaw is the President and CEO of Axcella Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new approach to treat complex diseases using endogenous metabolic modulator (EMM) compositions. Bill entered biotech a little over four years ago following a long life sciences career in pharma, working for companies such as Novartis and Schering Plough. He joins host Rahul Chaturverdi for a discussion about where Axcella is from a development perspective and the therapeutic areas they’re pursuing, the company’s work to treat long Covid, the challenges of developing drugs to treat nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and Axcella’s “combination by design” multi-targeted approach to tackle complex diseases.Read More on Axcella Announces Positive Interim Data from Phase 2b EMMPACT Study of AXA1125 in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) https://bit.ly/3U0iEa6Biography: Mr. Hinshaw joined Axcella as CEO in May 2018. He is the former Executive Vice President of U.S. Oncology at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, having served 15 years with the organization. Mr. Hinshaw led all aspects of this >$6B organization, heading up more than a dozen product launches, including Tasigna®, Gleevec®, and Kymriah®; the integration of the GSK oncology portfolio; innovative medical, commercial, and market access models; and a patient-centric focus on education and support programs. He also played a key role on the Global Oncology Executive Committee, including leading key strategic programs to maximize the portfolio and pipeline development.Mr. Hinshaw was formerly the Head of the Northern and Central Europe Region for Novartis Oncology where he was responsible for leading all functions across 33 countries. Prior to that role, Mr. Hinshaw was the head of Group Emerging Markets, which included all divisions of Novartis in 50 countries worldwide.Prior to his role as EVP, Mr. Hinshaw held a number of lead roles for Novartis, including Head of the Hematology Business Franchise, which achieved >20% overall growth each year under Mr. Hinshaw’s leadership. He also was the Global Head of Infectious Disease and Transplantation and Immunology (IDTI) based out of Basel, Switzerland, with responsibility for all functions of the organization, including commercial, development, BD&L, and strategy for the Business Unit. Other Novartis positions held by Mr. Hinshaw included Global Head of Infectious Disease Marketing and IDTI Development and Business Development & Licensing; Business Franchise Head, Infectious Disease; and Head of Infectious Disease Marketing.Mr. Hinshaw started his career at Schering Plough, where over the course of 12 years, he held a series of roles of increasing responsibility in the sales and marketing functions in both primary care and specialty business units, including market research, new products and in-line brand management, and sales positions at the representative, district, regional, and national levels. He also led the U.S. Oncology Unit where he was responsible for sales, marketing and business development.Mr. Hinshaw holds a B.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin.
Synopsis: Jeremy Levin is the Chairman and CEO of Ovid Therapeutics, a company that develops medicines to treat patients with rare neurological conditions, including epilepsies and seizure-related disorders. Dr. Levin earned a PhD from Oxford and medical and surgical degrees from Cambridge before moving to the States in the late 1980s and eventually working in big pharma for companies such as Teva Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He discusses how his formative years shaped his personal philosophy and mission to change the world for the better, the differences he experienced from running big pharma companies to early stage biotech startups, the science at Ovid and their pipeline, and his hopes for R&D in neurology over the next 10-20 years.Biography: Jeremy Levin, D.Phil, MB BChir, is chairman and chief executive officer of Ovid Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OVID), a company whose mission is to bring treatments to patients with rare neurological conditions. Dr. Levin is concurrently the chairman of Opthea (NASDAQ.OPT). Prior to founding Ovid, Dr. Levin was president and CEO of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., (TLV: TEVA). Before Teva, Dr. Levin was a member of the executive committee Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY). In that capacity, he was the architect, lead and implementer of the String of Pearls Strategy, which transformed Bristol and facilitated the dawn and massive growth of the immuno-oncology revolution in the biopharmaceutical industry. Dr. Levin joined Bristol from Novartis (NYSE: NVS), where he was the global head of strategic alliances. He has served as a member of the board of directors of various public and private biopharmaceutical companies, including Biocon Ltd., (NSE: BIOCON), and is currently on the board of directors of Lundbeck (OMX: LUN). 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. He was selected by Endpoints in 2021 as one of the 60 living pioneers of the industry. He is the recipient of the Albert Einstein Award for Leadership in Life Sciences and the B’nai B’rith Award for Distinguished Achievement. In June 2020, he edited and published the best seller “Biotechnology in the Time of Covid-19”. Dr Levin has been widely quoted and interviewed in national and international news outlets and life science industry-related publications. He believes that the role of leaders in business is to take a public stand on public policy matters as a core part of their business strategy and responsibility to shareholders, industry and society. He is committed to a public stance on key aspects of society and industry, including, but not limited to: encouraging immigration; policies that drive innovation; patient access to medicines; the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion; the primacy of medicine and science as the sole determinants to develop medical products; and the democratic right to vote for all citizens.Dr. Levin has practiced medicine at university hospitals in England, South Africa and Switzerland. Dr. Levin earned a First-Class Bachelor in Zoology, winning the University Prize, and subsequently, was awarded a master’s degree and doctorate in chromatin structure, at the University of Oxford. Thereafter, he earned his medical and surgical degrees from the University of Cambridge, where he won the Kermode Prize for his work on Captopril.
Synopsis: Keith Flaherty is the Director of Clinical Research at Mass General Cancer Center and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Flaherty is a medical oncologist and has worked in the field for 22 years, during which he has founded seven biotech companies. He joins Rahul for an in-depth conversation about his work in oncology. They cover a wide range of topics including his early decision in school to switch from neuroscience to oncology, his entrepreneurial journey and what he’s learned along the way, his perspective on the immuno-oncology landscape and opportunities that lie ahead in this field, what he values in a board and how you can be most effective as a board member, and much more.
Biography: Dr. Keith Flaherty is the Director of Clinical Research at Mass General Cancer Center, a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and an Associate Physician of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Flaherty is also the Deputy Chair for Biomarker Sciences and the Chair of the Developmental Therapeutics Committee in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Dr. Flaherty has served as Principal Investigator for numerous first-in-human clinical trials with novel, targeted therapies, including the first in-human trials of the first prospectively developed selective BRAF inhibitors for metastatic melanoma and has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers. He currently serves on the board of directors of Scorpion Therapeutics (founder), Strata Oncology (founder), Kinnate Biopharma, and Clovis Oncology. Dr. Flaherty has a Bachelor of Science from Yale University and medical degree from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Flaherty trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and completed a medical oncology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.
Synopsis: Dennis Zaller is the Chief Scientific Officer of ROME Therapeutics, a company developing novel therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases by harnessing the power of the dark genome, defined as vast stretches of uncharted genetic material that have long been dismissed as “junk DNA.” Dennis joins host Rahul Chaturverdi for a conversation about ROME’s unique path to conquering disease and the multiple drug discovery programs they have underway. They also discuss Dennis’ transition to biotech after having worked in big pharma for 30 years, the application of data science and drug development at ROME tx, what the company’s pipeline and company building looks like over the next several years, and how the dynamic between biotech and big pharma has changed over the last 10-20 years, and where it’s headed.
Biography: Dennis is Chief Scientific Officer at ROME Therapeutics. He has more than 30 years of experience in the biopharma industry. Most recently, he spent five years as executive director, integrative sciences at Celgene (later Bristol Myers Squibb). In this role, he provided scientific leadership across a large portfolio of external collaborations with early stage biotechs that helped bring six novel molecules to the clinic. During his time at Celgene, Dennis participated in more than 20 joint steering research committees with biotechs and academic collaborators and helped bring six novel molecules to the clinic. Prior to Celgene, he spent 25 years at Merck Research Laboratories in a series of roles with increasing responsibility leading large drug discovery teams at Merck’s New Jersey and Boston sites. While at Merck, Dennis helped to advance 28 molecules into the clinic resulting in eight marketed drugs, including aprepitant, sitagliptin and vibegron.
Before joining industry, he conducted academic research at the California Institute of Technology. Dennis has a B.S. from the State University of New York at Albany, and an M.A., M.Phil. & Ph.D. from Columbia University. He is an author of more than 60 manuscripts in leading journals covering a variety of scientific discoveries and is an inventor on seven patents.
Synopsis:
This episode is co-hosted by Chris Ghadban at BIOS Builders. Guests Tim Lu and Kanya Rajangam are the Co-Founder & CEO and Chief Medical and Development Officer, respectively, of Senti Bio, a company that develops and manufactures intelligent gene circuits for use in next-generation cell and gene therapies across therapeutic areas and modalities. They join Chris and Alok for a conversation about how Senti Bio uses its gene circuit technologies to increase the efficacy of cancer treatments. They also discuss their path to an IND from the FDA, some of the challenges they still have to overcome, and the potential their platform has for enabling future cell therapies.
Watch on BIOS Builders: https://bit.ly/3sNe5EZ
Biography: Tim Lu has served as Senti Bio’s CEO since he co-founded the company in 2016. Since 2010, Dr. Lu has been an MIT faculty member in the departments of Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. In addition, Dr. Lu has been a co-founder and a Scientific Advisory Board member to a number of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies, including BiomX, Corvium, Eligo Bioscience, Engine Biosciences, Synlogic and Tango Therapeutics.
Dr. Lu earned his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and his Ph.D. in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology as part of the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Medical Engineering and Medical Physics Program. Dr. Lu has extensive experience in the field of synthetic biology and has received numerous awards: NIH New Innovator Award, US President Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, MIT Technology Review’s TR35, Navy and Army Young Investigator Prizes and others.
Kanya Rajangam is responsible for leading the development and regulatory strategy to rapidly advance Senti Bio's off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell oncology programs into and through clinical development. Dr. Rajangam served in leadership roles at various biotech companies, most recently Nkarta Therapeutics where, as chief medical officer, she was responsible for clinical development of CAR-NK cell therapies for oncology. Prior to Nkarta, she was chief medical officer at Atara Biotherapeutics where she led the development of T-cell therapies for oncology, neurology and infectious diseases. Prior to that, Dr. Rajangam was chief medical officer of Cleave Biosciences, where she led oncology clinical development programs. Prior to becoming a chief medical officer, Dr. Rajangam gained relevant senior leadership experience at Onyx and Exelixis, while contributing to the clinical development and global approval of several marketed oncology products including Kyprolis®, Cotellic® and Cometriq®/Cabometyx®. Dr. Rajangam currently serves on the board of directors of Turnstone Biologics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation tumor infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapies and oncolytic virus cancer immunotherapies.
Dr. Rajangam received a medical degree from St. Johns’ Medical College and completed her surgical residency with a focus on oncology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), both in India. She received a Ph.D. in biomedical cell and tissue engineering from Northwestern University.
Synopsis: Ivan Dimov is the Co-Founder and CEO of Orca Bio, a cell therapy company focusing on next-generation precision cell therapies for blood cancer patients. Orca Bio’s cell therapies are designed to replace a patient’s cancerous blood and immune system with a healthy one, with the goal of improving survival rates and quality of life for survivors. Ivan discusses the historically limited treatment options for blood cancer patients and the resulting unmet need, how Orca Bio’s innovative technology is tackling this problem, and how he uses lessons from history to learn from failures and build success.
Biography: Ivan launched Orca Bio in 2016 and is Chief Executive Officer of Orca Bio. He is also co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of Lucira Health, a molecular diagnostics company that received the first FDA authorization for a COVID-19 at-home self-testing kit. Prior to Orca Bio, Ivan was Siebel Fellow and visiting Instructor in Irv Weissman’s laboratory and Senior Scientist at Stanford University. He was also a visiting research scholar at the BioPOETS Lab at the University of California, Berkeley, where he developed innovative microfluidic platforms for stem cell research and low-cost molecular diagnostics. Earlier in his career, Ivan founded BlobCode Technologies, a startup that incorporates 2D barcode reading capabilities using the standard camera within a mobile phone. Ivan has a PhD in applied biophysics from Dublin City University and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electronics, telecommunications, and computer science from Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Chile. He has established 2 research centers in Chile in the robotics and hospital technologies arena that provide clinical engineering and technology innovation to the largest hospitals in the country. Ivan has published more than 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has more than 40 patents or patent applications.
Synopsis: Stanley Crooke is Founder and CEO of n-Lorem Foundation, a nonprofit with the goal of discovering, developing and providing experimental ASO treatments to nano-rare patients for free for life. He joins us for a discussion about the business model behind rare diseases and how n-Lorem is looking to industrialize and scale the treatment of this unique population. Stanley talks about the challenges behind developing and bringing a new modality to the clinic, the company’s collaboration with the FDA, and how n-Lorem seeks to be sustainable and scalable over time.
Biography: Dr. Crooke is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of n-Lorem, a nonprofit foundation focused on providing treatments for patients with nano-rare disease (1 to 30 patients worldwide), which he initiated in January 2020. Prior to n- Lorem, Dr. Crooke founded and was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Lead Scientist of Ionis Pharmaceuticals. During his tenure at Ionis, he led the scientific development of a new platform for drug discovery, antisense technology and the creation of one of the largest and more advanced development pipelines in the biotechnology industry, and commercialized several antisense drugs including, Spinraza, Tegsedi and others. Early in Dr. Crooke’s career, he led the creation of the first broad anticancer program in the industry at Bristol-Myers, bringing numerous anticancer drugs to the market in the first five years of his career. He then assumed responsibility for worldwide R&D (president) at SmithKline Beckman (now GSK). During his tenure at SKB, Dr. Crooke led the restructuring of R&D and the development of several drugs that were commercialized. Dr. Crooke has also contemporaneously led a successful academic career becoming a full professor at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School where he trained a number of PhD students and won several teaching awards. Dr. Crooke has been an active scientist throughout his career as well. Dr. Crooke has received a number of awards, most recently, Prix Galein Roy Vagellos Pro Bono Humanum Award, the American Chemical Society’s E.B. Hershberg Award for Important Discoveries in Medicinally Active Substances, the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society, the Scrip Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2019 Massry Prize. Dr. Crooke received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees and house staff training at Baylor College of Medicine and has been an active scientist throughout his career. In 2021, Dr. Crooke has been named Distinguished Alumnus of both Baylor College of Medicine’s Graduate and Medical schools and named one of the 20 of the most influential biopharma R&D executives by Endpoints News. He has published nearly 600 scientific publications, edited more than 20 books, has numerous patents, and led the development of more than 23 drugs that have been commercialized.
Synopsis:
Andrew Sandford and Michael Paglia are the President and COO, respectively, of ElevateBio BaseCamp, a cell and gene therapy technology company powering transformative therapies. They join us from the company’s manufacturing facilities in Waltham, Massachusetts, for a discussion about the landscape of company creation in the cell and gene therapy space and how ElevateBio is helping companies bring innovation and therapeutics to clinics and patients to help treat and cure diseases. They talk about how ElevateBio is driving next-generation technologies like gene editing and regenerative medicine that empower new therapies in the industry. They also cover what they think the next two decades in this space will look like, opportunities they feel are untapped, and advice for their younger selves.
Biographies: Andrew Sandford brings over 20 years of experience in building, operating, and leading life science technology and manufacturing companies and will continue to extend ElevateBio BaseCamp strategic partnerships in the field of cell and gene therapy. Prior to ElevateBio, Andrew worked in several leadership roles to oversee the successful implementation of strategic business development, marketing, and manufacturing operations. Notably, as Global Vice President of Business Development, Biologics for Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., his teams were responsible for driving revenue expansion, enabling the transformation of Catalent to a global biologics services provider. Prior to Catalent, Andrew held various leadership positions at Selexis Inc, Lonza Corporation, and Dow Chemical Company, creating strategic value through global business and licensing opportunities and increasing business unit profitability. Most recently, Andrew was an Executive in Residence for Anzu Partners, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of VREX Therapeutics, and Founder, Inventor and Managing Director of Arthropod Biosciences.
Michael Paglia has spent the last twenty years in biotechnology building, leading and motivating process development and manufacturing teams to support clinical programs from early development to late-stage clinical trials. Currently, Michael is the Chief Operating Officer at ElevateBio BaseCamp, leading facility, process development and manufacturing operations for a broad portfolio of cell and gene therapy products and technologies. Prior to ElevateBio, Mike was the Vice President of CMC Operations at Oncorus and Program Lead for the development of a next-generation oncolytic immunotherapy platform. Prior to Oncorus, Michael was the Sr. Director of Technical Operations and Head of Cellular Process Development and Manufacturing Operations at bluebird bio.
Synopsis: Josh Wolfe is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Lux Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in emerging science and technology ventures. Josh joins us for a discussion centered around investing in biotech. He discusses the arc of his career and the forces that led him to pursue a path at the intersection of science and finance. Josh also talks about the current state of biotech investing, trends he expects to see in the future, his advice to founder-led biotech companies, what he believes are the top three criteria for success for biotech companies, and his thoughts on the future of biotech. It’s an illuminating conversation you won’t want to miss.
Biography: Josh co-founded Lux Capital to support scientists and entrepreneurs who pursue counter-conventional solutions to the most vexing puzzles of our time in order to lead us into a brighter future. The more ambitious the project, the better—like, say, creating matter from light. Josh is a Director at Shapeways, Strateos, Lux Research, Kallyope, CTRL-labs, Variant, and Varda, and helped lead the firm’s investments in Anduril, Planet, Echodyne, Clarifai, Authorea, Resilience and Hadrian. He is a founding investor and board member with Bill Gates in Kymeta, making cutting-edge antennas for high-speed global satellite and space communications. Josh is a Westinghouse semi-finalist and published scientist. He previously worked in investment banking at Salomon Smith Barney and in capital markets at Merrill Lynch. In 2008 Josh co-founded and funded Kurion, a contrarian bet in the unlikely business of using advanced robotics and state-of-the-art engineering and chemistry to clean up nuclear waste. It was an unmet, inevitable need with no solution in sight. The company was among the first responders to the Fukushima Daiichi disaster. In February 2016, Veolia acquired Kurion for nearly $400 million—34 times Lux’s total investment. Josh is a columnist with Forbes and Editor for the Forbes/Wolfe Emerging Tech Report. He has been invited to The White House and Capitol Hill to advise on nanotechnology and emerging technologies, and a lecturer at MIT, Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Columbia and NYU. He is a term member at The Council on Foreign Relations and Chairman of Coney Island Prep charter school, where he grew up in Brooklyn. He graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Economics and Finance.
Amanda Wagner is the President and CEO of Immunitas and was a founding member of the company at its launch in 2019. During her time at Immunitas, she has contributed to the company’s fundraising efforts totaling nearly $100 million; led the structuring and negotiation of multiple strategic collaborations with leading academic institutions; and driven the advancement of the lead asset IMT-009, a CD161 inhibitor, and robust pipeline based on the company’s proprietary discovery engine. Prior to joining Immunitas, she was Vice President of Corporate Development at Q32 Bio, where she contributed to the company’s $46 million Series A. Previously, Amanda was at Concert Pharmaceuticals, where she managed a $250 million asset sale, directly contributed to the Initial Public Offering, and identified and led the development of a preclinical therapeutic for autoimmune disease, now in Phase 3. Prior to Concert, Amanda was an early member of the team at UpToDate, Inc. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Amanda has a master’s degree in business administration from the Simmons School of Management.
Interested in purchasing the book? Order here: https://amzn.to/3R4RWfT
Ankit Mahadevia is the founder and CEO of Spero Therapeutics, an organization committed to fighting the threat of infectious disease through the development of novel medicines. Over his career, he has led the formation of nine companies, including Spero, several of which are trading on the Nasdaq exchange and several others acquired by large pharmaceutical organizations. Through these companies, he has raised over $1 billion for the development of novel therapeutics, and built multiple high performing management teams. He and the companies he built have won multiple awards for their culture, including Boston Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” Award and Glassdoor’s “Top 50 CEOs of 2021” (#15 nationwide).
Prior to these roles, Ankit advised on and supported investments in the biotechnology sector as a Venture Partner at Atlas Venture, a Cambridge, MA venture capital firm. He held previous positions at organizations including Genentech, McKinsey & Company, the United States Government Accountability Office, and the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
He has spoken widely on entrepreneurship and leadership, including at Harvard University, Columbia University, Northwestern University, MIT, and the Berkeley Forum. Ankit received his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA from Northwestern University. He lives in Chestnut Hill, MA with his wife and two sons.
Christopher Posner Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director
Mr. Posner has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since November 2021 and has served as a member of our Board since August 2018. He has broad experience in commercial and marketing operations and product management at both large and specialty pharmaceutical companies, where he has focused on products for autoimmune, inflammatory and pain conditions, including Xeljanz® and Enbrel®. From July 2017 to October 2021, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of LEO Pharma, Inc. US, a subsidiary of LEO Pharma A/S, a global healthcare company specializing in dermatology and critical care, including such conditions as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Prior to joining LEO, he was the Head of Worldwide Commercial Operations at R-Pharma-US, LLC, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on oncology and chronic immune disorders, from 2014 until 2017. Previously, Mr. Posner held a variety of senior management positions in commercial and marketing operations at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Pfizer Inc., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals plc. Mr. Posner holds an M.B.A. from Fuqua School of Business, Duke University and a B.A. in Economics from Villanova University.
Please see korsuva.com/pi for Full Prescribing Information.
Rachel Meyers serves as the chief scientific officer at Faze Medicines. She was most recently an entrepreneur-in-residence at Third Rock Ventures (TRV), where she helped drive the creation of Faze Medicines. Rachel brings more than twenty years of drug discovery and development expertise to Faze and is an expert in the development of RNAi therapeutics. Prior to joining Faze and TRV, she served as a biotech consultant in the Greater Boston area and served as SVP Research and RNAi Lead Development at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals where she spent over 13 years. Prior to Alnylam, Rachel was a senior scientist at Millennium Pharmaceuticals. She also serves on several scientific advisory boards, consults on nucleic acid therapeutic development, is listed as an inventor on many patents and patent applications, and has numerous peer-reviewed publications. She completed her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School in the field of signal transduction and received her PhD from MIT in the field of in vitro transcription.
Rachel also enjoys participating in women-in-science panels and events, teaching at Harvard and Brandeis, contributing in ED&I initiatives and playing a variety of sports, particularly racket sports. When Rachel isn’t engaged in one of the many things above, she is traipsing around the world with her husband and 2 kids.
Mr. Culley joined Lineage as Chief Executive Officer in September 2018. Prior to joining Lineage, Mr. Culley served from August 2017 to September 2018 as interim Chief Executive Officer at Artemis Therapeutics, Inc. (ATMS). Mr. Culley previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Mast Therapeutics, Inc. (MSTX), from 2010, and was also a member of its board of directors from 2011, until Mast’s merger with Savara, Inc. (SVRA) in April 2017. Mr. Culley served from 2007 to 2010 as Mast’s Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President, from 2006 to 2007 as Mast’s Senior Vice President, Business Development, and from 2004 to 2006 as Mast’s Vice President, Business Development. From 2002 until 2004, Mr. Culley was Director of Business Development and Marketing for Immusol, Inc. From 1999 until 2000, he worked at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Department of Technology Transfer & Intellectual Property Services and from 1996 to 1999 he conducted drug development research for Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NBIX). Mr. Culley has also served on the Board of Orphagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since May 2017. Mr. Culley has more than 25 years of business and scientific experience in the life sciences industry. He received a B.S. in biology from Boston College, a masters in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an M.B.A. from The Johnson School of Business at Cornell University. Mr. Culley brings to our Board significant knowledge of the biotechnology industry and extensive experience as an executive and board member of publicly traded pharmaceutical companies.
Timothy Kieffer Dr. Kieffer has a deep knowledge of gene and cell therapies, regenerative medicine, diabetes applied research, and industry experience. As Chief Scientific Officer, he leads ViaCyte’s scientific team focused on delivering and commercializing clinical interventions for diabetes. Prior to joining ViaCyte, Dr. Kieffer oversaw the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Medicine with a focus on the development of novel gene and cell therapy approaches to treat diabetes at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kieffer holds patents in the field and has co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications that collectively have been cited more than 20,000 times. He co-founded enGene, a biotech developing non-viral gene therapies. He received his Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of British Columbia and completed his post-doctoral training in Molecular Endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kieffer received the Diabetes Canada Young Scientist Award and was elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Previously, he spent a year on sabbatical at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Japan.
Manasi Sinha Jaiman Dr. Jaiman has significant expertise in both drug and device development. Prior to joining ViaCyte as Vice President, Head of Clinical Development, Dr. Jaiman was Senior Medical Director at Covance/LabCorp working on clinical trials in diabetes as well as building the medical device department. She was also an attending physician at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where she was responsible for the clinical care of type 1 and type 2 diabetes pediatric patients. Dr. Jaiman remains on faculty at MGH.
Before joining Covance, she was involved in a variety of diabetes and obesity-related clinical research activities. In particular, she served as a co-investigator for the development of a closed-loop system at MGH for several adult and pediatric trials, evaluating improvements in glycemic control using a bihormonal, dual-chambered “bionic pancreas” programmed to deliver insulin and glucagon in response to real-time glucose sensor monitoring data. She was also a co-investigator in the development of a stable glucagon formulation using hyperinsulinemic-normoglycemic clamp techniques. Other research contributions included development of intradermal delivery of insulin and glucagon using a novel microneedle device, metabolic effects of gastric bypass surgery in young patients, and pharmacokinetic studies on multiple insulin types. Dr. Jaiman received her M.D. from Medical University of South Carolina and M.P.H. from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine with a focus on Health Systems Management. She completed her pediatric residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and endocrinology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, with a focus on type 1 diabetes research.
Dr. Ying Huang currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Legend Biotech. He sits on the Board of Directors of Legend, as well as Quanta Therapeutics.
Dr. Huang brings over 9 years of experience in research and development at major multi-national pharmaceutical companies and 12 years of experience as a biotechnology analyst on Wall Street.
Dr. Huang was a Managing Director and Head of Biotech Equity Research at Bank of America Merrill Lynch where he led a team of analysts covering more than 30 biotechnology companies that encompass a wide range of therapeutic areas. His knowledge and expertise have been recognized by the Institutional Investor survey as a top ranked biotechnology analyst on Wall Street. Dr. Huang previously worked at Wachovia, Credit Suisse, Gleacher and Barclays before joining Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Besides providing investment research to investors, Dr. Huang and his team conducted due diligence for numerous successful initial public offerings (IPOs) and follow-on offerings in the biotechnology sector.
Prior to his Wall Street career, Dr. Huang was a Principal Scientist at Schering-Plough in the Department of Chemical Research focusing on small molecule drug discovery in the therapeutic areas of cardiovascular and central nervous system. He is the co-author of multiple patents and peer reviewed publications. Dr. Huang received his Doctor of Philosophy in Bio-organic Chemistry from Columbia University. He also studied in the Special Class for the Gifted Young at the University of Science and Technology of China and Columbia Business School.
Eli de los Pinos is the founding CEO of Aura, which she has created from the ground up: She developed the company concept and has spearheaded fundraising efforts, and today, she continues to lead Aura’s strategy and operations. Prior to founding Aura, she worked in Eli Lilly & Co.’s oncology business unit, where she was part of the leadership team responsible for the market launch in Europe of Alimta, a drug for the treatment of lung cancer. Earlier in her career, Eli worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the Institute of Cancer Research in London. She previously completed fellowships at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Institute of Molecular Medicine and at the Georgetown School of Medicine. Eli holds a Ph.D., magna cum laude, in Molecular Biology from the University of Barcelona and an MBA from IE Business School.
She is a member of the board of overseers at the Museum of Science, Boston. Eli has also been named to Boston Business Journal’s 2009 “Top 40 under 40” list; as a Mass High Tech “Woman to Watch” in 2010; as a “Technology Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum in 2010; and as one of Goldman Sachs’ “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs” in 2014.
Brad Margus is co-founder and Executive Chairman of Cerevance, a drug discovery company advancing a robust pipeline of targeted treatments for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The company's lead program, CVN424, has recently shown significant and clinically meaningful efficacy and safety in a 135-patient, phase 2 clinical study for Parkinson’s Disease. Investors include Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Google Ventures, Bill Gates, Casdin Capital, Lightstone Ventures, Foresite Capital, UPMC Enterprises, Dolby Ventures and the Dementia Discovery Fund. In 2013, Margus started Genome Bridge, a non-profit subsidiary of the Broad Institute of Harvard and M.I.T., to build a computational platform for sharing genomic data. From 2009 to 2012, as co-founder and CEO of Envoy Therapeutics, Margus led the discovery of therapeutics for brain diseases and then sold the company to Takeda Pharmaceuticals. From 2000 to 2007, Margus was co-founder and CEO of Perlegen Sciences, a leader in analyzing genetic variation.
Concurrent with his business career, for the last 25+ years, Margus has worked as a volunteer in founding and leading the A-T Children’s Project, a non-profit that orchestrates and funds research on a rare disease - ataxia telangiectasia or "A-T" - that two of his sons have. A-T causes progressive loss of muscle control, cancer and immune system problems. One supported project involves testing an antisense oligonucleotide gene therapy approach for A-T.
Margus currently serves on the Boards of Arvinas (Nasdaq: ARVN), a protein degradation company; Presage Bio, an oncology company; and Neurona, a cell therapy company. He also serves as Co-chair of the Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials External Oversight Board at the Nat'l. Institutes of Health.
Margus previously served on the Advisory Council to the National Inst. of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; the Secretary of HHS's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society; the Board of the Genetic Alliance, representing hundreds of genetic disease advocacy organizations; the Nat'l. Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Advisory Council at the NIH, the Cure Acceleration Network Review Board; as a Harvard Business School Global Advisor, as an advisor to Counsyl (acquired by Myriad Genetics); on the Board of Children’s Neurobiological Solutions; the Board of Cellular Research, a molecular biology tool company (acquired by Becton Dickinson); the Board of Second Genome, a microbiome company; the Board of Global Genes, a non-profit supporting all rare diseases; and on the Stanford University School of Medicine’s Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee. Margus holds an MBA from Harvard.
Dr. Aoife Brennan is an experienced physician scientist and drug developer responsible for the successful clinical development and registration of multiple transformative medicines. Aoife has served as Synlogic’s president and chief executive officer since May 2018. She joined Synlogic in September 2016 as chief medical officer. Prior to Synlogic, Aoife spent six years at Biogen, most recently as vice president and head of the Rare Disease Innovation Unit, developing programs from pre-clinical to commercial. She has led programs across multiple therapeutic areas including the successful late phase development & registration of SPINRAZA® (nusinersen) for spinal muscular atrophy and ALPROLIX® and ELOCTATE® for Hemophilia B and Hemophilia A, respectively.
Aoife serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Cerevance and Fibrogen, Inc, and previously served on the Board of Directors of Ra Pharmaceuticals until it’s acquisition by UCB. Earlier in her career, Aoife led clinical development at Tolerx, a start-up biotech company focusing on immunotherapy for Type 1 diabetes.
Aoife holds a medical degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland and has completed post-graduate training in internal medicine, endocrinology and metabolism. She has completed post-doctoral training in clinical research and metabolism at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and is a graduate of the Harvard Medical School Scholars in Clinical Science Program.
Mr. Gergen was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Poseida in February 2022. He joined Poseida in February 2018, initially serving as Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer before being named President and Chief Business Officer in July 2020. He has been a member of the Company’s board of directors since 2018. Mr. Gergen was previously the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Halozyme, Inc. and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. Previously he served in senior management positions, including as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, at Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He also served in senior management positions at CardioNet Inc., Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc., and Medtronic, Inc. Mr. Gergen received a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and a B.A. in business administration from Minot State University.
Timothy J. Miller, Ph.D. CEO, President and Co-Founder
Timothy Miller is CEO, President and Co-Founder of Forge Biologics, Inc., a VC-backed gene therapy development engine focused on accelerating access to potentially life-saving AAV gene therapies. Prior to founding Forge, Dr. Miller co-founded Abeona Therapeutics, a rare disease gene and cell therapy company. He served as Abeona’s CEO and President from 2012-early 2018, taking the company public in 2015. He is a proven biotech leader with experience in driving gene therapy pipeline development, regulatory strategy, investor relations, M&A activities, licensing, GMP manufacturing, clinical development, and leading stakeholder/shareholder engagement. Dr. Miller has over 20+ years of business development, scientific research, product development and clinical operations expertise, with a focus on transitioning novel gene and cell therapies through pre-clinical and Phase 3 human clinical trials. He is an avid patient-centric drug developer and entrepreneur. Dr. Miller earned degrees in Pharmacology (Ph.D.) and Biology/Molecular Science (M.S. and B.S.) from John Carroll University.
Erandi De Silva, Ph.D. Co-Founder & Senior Vice President of Product Development
Erandi De Silva is Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Product Development at Forge Biologics. She is an experienced scientist and entrepreneur, with 10+ years of experience in discovery research, therapeutic development, and partnering across oncology, infectious disease, and gene therapy. Prior to founding Forge, Dr. De Silva held leadership roles in both academic and industry settings, including at Myonexus Therapeutics. She earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University, where she was awarded the Procter Fellowship in recognition of exceptional research, and her B.S., with honors, from Stanford University. Dr. De Silva was also a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Genentech.
Our guest this week is one of our hosts, Alok Tayi, and he has some exciting news. The official launch of his new company, Vibe Biotechnology, building a global community of patients, scientists, and partners around a shared mission to cure rare diseases. Vibe Bio's novel approach seeks to scale the development of treatments sustainably and provides patient communities unprecedented ownership over the results.
Alok is a scientist by trade, with over 15 years under his belt including a PhD at Northwestern - and time spent at Harvard under a successful biotech founder. He then went on to start multiple biotech software companies - securing over $100M in total venture funding along the way.
Through his own personal and professional experience, Alok has realized that the families of patients with rare diseases have plenty of hope - but what they need is help. Not necessarily finding the right potential therapeutic option - but actually funding it. That’s where the Vibe community steps in - vetting out which drug development programs have the highest potential and financing the process via crypto token sales.
Tapping into the crypto market opens up a wealth of new opportunities when it comes to tackling some of these major rare diseases. Vibe’s aim is to give families not only the community of support - but the genuine power to pursue a cure for any rare disease at scale - an issue that impacts 1 in 10 Americans.
Sit back, relax, and we hope you enjoy this enlightening conversation between Alok and our wonderful guest host Susanna Harris, PhD.
Paul is the CEO & Co-founder of Locus Biosciences. With a career that spans manufacturing, research & development, information technology and corporate transformations, Paul brings a broad range of experience and capability to deliver on the Locus vision. Prior to Locus, Paul was Chief Technology Officer at Patheon Pharmaceuticals and also held the role of Global Head of Operations for Patheon’s Pharmaceuticals Development Services business unit. Paul previously served as Global Head of Manufacturing and Chief Information Officer at Valeant Pharmaceuticals, amount other roles. Paul was a Visiting Professor at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management and volunteered as an executive-in-residence for the HiTEC Graduate Program, NCSU’s Entrepreneurship Collaborative, where he identified the technology that would form the basis for Locus. Paul earned a BSBA in Management Information Systems from the University of Arizona and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Dr. Trevor Martin founded Mammoth Biosciences with the mission to enable the next generation of CRISPR-based synthetic biology products across therapeutics and diagnostics, including a novel class of affordable, effective, and rapid CRISPR-enabled molecular diagnostics that allow individuals worldwide to better understand their health and a novel family of CRISPR Cas14 proteins that can enable in vivo editing.
Trevor earned his BA from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in Biology from Stanford. His work has been featured in outlets including FiveThirtyEight and The Atlantic. He is the featured healthcare honoree on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, is on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list, and is a Malaria No More “10 to END” innovator.
Laurence joined Decibel in January 2020. He previously served as an entrepreneur in residence at Third Rock Ventures, where he focused on novel drug discovery and development opportunities. Before that, Laurence was CEO of Warp Drive Bio, a small molecule company focused on novel oncology and antibiotic drug discovery based on natural products, until its merger with Revolution Medicines in 2018. Prior to that, he was the senior vice president and chief business officer of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for the company’s business development, finance and legal functions. Before coming to Alnylam, Laurence was the chief business officer at Ensemble Discovery, where he led the company’s strategic planning and corporate development efforts. Laurence previously spent ten years at Millennium Pharmaceuticals in a range of general management and business development positions. In addition to his professional interests, Laurence is a board member of the Possible Project and board advisor to Life Science Cares. He earned his Ph.D. from King’s College London and his B.A. from Cambridge University.
Ms. Zaderej has served as Axogen’s President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of our Board of Directors since September 2011 and the Chairman of our Board of Directors since May 2018. Since May 2010, she has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Axogen’s wholly owned subsidiary, Axogen Corporation, and a member of the Board of Directors of Axogen Corporation. Ms. Zaderej joined Axogen Corporation in May 2006 and served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales from May 2006 to October 2007 and as Chief Operating Officer from October 2007 to May 2010. From October 2004 to May 2006, Ms. Zaderej worked for Zaderej Medical Consulting, a consulting firm she founded to assist medical device companies build and execute successful commercialization plans. From 1987 to 2004, Ms. Zaderej worked at Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, where she held senior positions in marketing, business development, research & development, and manufacturing. Ms. Zaderej is a member of the University of Tampa Board of Trustees and the MedExec Women Board of Advisors. Ms. Zaderej has an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Business and a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University.
John Glasspool is CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Anthos Therapeutics.
Mr. Glasspool is also a member of the Board of Directors of Dalcor Corporation. He was formerly the Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Strategy and Customer Operations at Baxalta Incorporated (NYSE: BXLT), formerly Baxter BioScience (NYSE: BAX).
Prior to joining Baxter in August 2012, Mr. Glasspool was Head of Region Europe and Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics (NYSE: NVS), a member of the V&D Executive Committee. Mr. Glasspool served as a board member, Vice President and President of the European Vaccine manufacturers (EVM), from 2010 until December 2012.
Previously, Mr. Glasspool was Head of Global Pricing & Market Access and Head of Global Commercial Operations in Novartis Pharma, where he led the functions in embedding the needs of customers and consumers for brands at all stages of their lifecycle development, launch, and in market. Mr. Glasspool joined Novartis as Head of Marketing for Neuroscience. He was promoted to Global Head Cardiovascular & Metabolism Business Franchise in 2006, during which time he grew the franchise sales over a three-year period.
Dr. Sullivan is co-founder and CEO of Vanqua. In addition, he has been a Venture Partner with Orbimed since January 2019. Previously, he was the Vice President of Research at Abbvie where he was responsible for the company’s research efforts in a variety of therapeutic/disease areas including oncology, immunology, neurology, hepatitis C and cystic fibrosis. Jim has advanced more than 100 compounds into clinical development across a number of disease states and technology platforms. These include products on the market for HCV (Mavyret and Viekira), the first-in-class Bcl2 selective inhibitor, Venclexta, for hematological cancers, a new oral agent for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, RINVOQ, and multiple compounds currently in Phase II or III clinical trials. He has authored/co-authored more than 130 scientific publications and is an inventor on 11 patents. Jim is an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern University and serves on the board of several companies and foundations including Regis Technologies, Genomics Medicine Ireland, Genuity Science, MATTER Healthcare Incubator, Chicago Biotechnology Accelerator and the Pistoia Alliance. He earned his bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in biochemistry from Trinity College Dublin and conducted post-doctoral research in neurobiology at Northwestern University.
Paula Soteropoulos brings to Ensoma more than 30 years of experience in the biopharma industry in areas of drug development, manufacturing, business development, global commercialization with P&L accountability, company building and organizational development. Her leadership throughout her career spans a broad range of therapeutic areas, including rare disease, cardiovascular and metabolism, infectious disease, renal, and transplant and oncology. In addition to Ensoma, Paula is a strategic advisor to 5AM Ventures and a member of the Board of Directors of uniQure and Rallybio. Previously, Paula served as the founding CEO and board member of rare disease therapeutic developer Akcea Therapeutics. There, she led the company through its IPO, as well as significant growth — employing over 270 staff in 13 countries and overseeing six drugs in its portfolio with two rare disease drug approvals and commercial launches. Prior, Paula served as senior vice president and general manager, cardiometabolic and rare disease businesses and strategic alliances at Moderna Therapeutics. She also spent more than 20 years at Genzyme Corporation, most recently as vice president and general manager, cardiovascular, rare diseases. Paula holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemical and biochemical engineering from Tufts University and an executive management certificate from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Paula serves on the advisory board for the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department of Tufts University.
Jake Becraft is co-founder and CEO of Strand Therapeutics, an emerging biotechnology company at the forefront of mRNA therapeutics. With colleagues at MIT’s Synthetic Biology Center, he led the development of the world’s first synthetic biology programming language for mRNA. Jake has been featured in Fierce Biotech, Bloomberg, and the Boston Business Journal, among others, for his vision and mission at Strand of applying this unique platform for real-world disease applications. Jake was recently named a Termeer Fellow and listed on MIT Technology Review's 35 Innovators Under 35 and Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Outside of science, Jake is an active backcountry snowboarder and trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Lex Rovner is the CEO and cofounder of 64x Bio, a spinout of Harvard Medical School and the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. Using novel high throughput genome engineering and screening technologies in a design loop with computational tools, 64x Bio is developing new ways of generating highly optimized cell lines for the manufacturing of viral vectors. These fundamental advances enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to bring more lifesaving cell and gene therapies to patients by reducing the cost and complexity of manufacturing, a critical bottleneck in this multibillion dollar market. Lex was a postdoc in George Church’s lab and cofounded the company along with George, Pam Silver, Jeff Way, and David Thompson. She received her Ph.D in molecular, cellular and developmental biology at Yale University.
Josh Mandel-Brehm is President & Chief Executive Officer of CAMP4 Therapeutics and holds a dual appointment as entrepreneur partner with Polaris Partners.
Mr. Mandel-Brehm previously held key business development and operations leadership roles at leading biotech companies. Most recently he served as part of the Business Development group at Biogen, where he led multiple strategic activities and corresponding transactions, which included expanding Biogen’s non-malignant hematology franchise and overseeing seminal investments to enter the ophthalmology field. Mr. Mandel-Brehm also played an integral role advancing Biogen’s gene therapy strategy, executing a series of external collaborations. Prior to Biogen, Mr. Mandel-Brehm held several roles of increasing responsibility at Genzyme as part of the business development group for the company’s rare disease business unit.
Mr. Mandel-Brehm earned a BA in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis and holds an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Nabiha Saklayen is CEO & co-founder of Cellino. Cellino’s proprietary technology makes personalized stem cell-derived therapies scalable for the first time. Nabiha was selected as a Pioneer in MIT Tech Review's 35 Innovators under 35 list for her patented inventions in cellular laser editing. She received her Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) International Fellow. She is also the inaugural Tory Burch Foundation Fellow in Genomics at the Innovative Genomics Institute led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Jennifer Doudna. Nabiha is also a TED speaker and co-creator of I Am A Scientist, an educational program running in 50 states that inspires children to explore science.
Tim Sweeney, MD, PhD, is co-founder and CEO of Inflammatix. Tim has extensive experience in medical practice (general & trauma surgery), bench research, and bioinformatics / machine learning. While training at Stanford he helped invent the core technology on which Inflammatix is based, is named on over a dozen patents related to medical diagnostics, and has published >100 manuscripts & abstracts. He is PI (through Inflammatix) on multiple development contracts from DARPA, BARDA, and NIH, and brought Inflammatix to recognition as the ‘Most Disruptive Technology’ at AACC in 2019, and the “Fierce 15” list in 2020.
Al leads teams in early-stage discovery up through non-clinical development, identifying new drug candidates for advancement into clinical research. Al joined Sage as CSO in 2011, with more than 20 years of drug discovery experience focused primarily in the neuroscience arena. Most recently, he was Vice President of Chemistry and Pharmacokinetic Sciences at Lundbeck USA, where he was responsible for the drug discovery, analytical, computational and pharmacokinetics departments focused on synaptic transmission and neuroinflammation. Earlier, as Senior Director and Head of the Neuroscience Discovery Chemistry Department of Wyeth Research, Al led a group that successfully delivered more than 15 drug candidates into clinical development in a broad range of neuroscience indications. He has co-authored more than 125 manuscripts and abstracts, and is a co-inventor on 50 patents and patent applications.
Al holds a B.S. in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of California, Irvine and was an American Chemical Society postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University.
Dr. Stuart Peltz founded PTC Therapeutics in 1998 and has served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors since the company’s inception.
Under his leadership, PTC has grown from a research organization to a publicly traded, global commercial organization with multiple approved products and a foundation of strong technology platforms that continues to drive a robust discovery pipeline for patients with rare disorders. PTC now has a footprint in more than 50 countries, with offices in 20 countries and more than 1,000 employees.
Prior to founding PTC, Dr. Peltz was a Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University.
Dr. Peltz is a recognized scientific leader in RNA biology in the area of post-transcriptional control processes involving mRNA turnover and translation, with more than 30 years of research and over 100 publications in this area.
Dr. Peltz has received a number of business and scientific awards. Notably, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science in 2010. He was recognized as PharmaVoice’s 100 Most Inspiring People in 2009 and received the Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision Innovation and Leadership in 2014. He earned a Ph.D. from the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research at the University of Wisconsin.
Patrick Kleyn joined Rhythm in 2018 with over 25 years’ experience in human genetics and genomics, and he was named as head of TRAD in 2021. Prior to joining Rhythm, Patrick has held leadership roles in academia, biotech and large pharmaceutical companies, as his work has focused on the application of genomic technologies for drug and biomarker discovery and development. He began his career at Millennium Pharmaceuticals initially working on obesity target discovery and ultimately leading the genomics organization. He subsequently served as Chief Scientific Officer at Gemini Genomics and as Head of Scientific Planning at the Broad Institute during its inception and launch. He left the Broad to co-found Ligon Discovery and subsequently joined EMD Serono as the Head of External Innovation at its Boston site. Patrick earned his bachelor’s of Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, his Ph.D. in human genetics at University College London and carried out postdoctoral research in neuromuscular diseases at Columbia University.
Jacob(Jake)Rubens, Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer
Jake is Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Tessera Therapeutics, as well as a Principal at Flagship Pioneering. Jake joined Flagship Pioneering in 2015 and works as part of a venture-creation team, founding and growing companies based on new biotechnology.
At Flagship, Jake launched Kaleido Biosciences and co-founded Sana Biotechnology. Jake was the Head of Innovation at Cobalt Biomedicine, where he invented and developed the company’s Fusosome platform prior to its merger with Sana Biotechnology.
Before joining Flagship, Jake received his Ph.D. in microbiology from MIT, working in the Synthetic Biology Center with Professor Tim Lu with the support of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. At MIT Jacob invented gene circuits that allow engineered cells to do novel analog, digital, and hybrid computations, enabling the emerging field of “intelligent” cell therapies.
Jake’s work has resulted in multiple pending patents and publications, including articles in Nature and Nature Communications. Jake was honored in 2017 in Forbes' 30 under 30 list in science. Hari Pujar, Chief Operating Officer
Hari is Chief Operating Officer of Tessera, as well as Operating Partner at Flagship Pioneering. At Tessera, his responsibilities span across research, manufacturing, program strategy and management and IP. Hari is a global Biopharmaceutical executive with 20+ years of value creation in the biologics and vaccine industry.
Before Flagship, Hari served as Chief Technology Officer of Spark Therapeutics, leading the technical operations, process and technology development and quality assurance organizations. At Spark, Hari was responsible for growing and scaling the company’s cutting-edge technology capabilities for an expanding development pipeline.
Prior to Spark, Hari was head of Technical Development & Manufacturing at Moderna Therapeutics. At Moderna, he built and led the technology and early manufacturing organizations that delivered on supply for more than a dozen clinical programs in a brand-new technology area. Previously, Hari held a variety of scientific and cross-functional leadership positions during 18+ years at Merck & Co in the company’s commercial, R&D and manufacturing divisions, culminating in the franchise leadership of pediatric and adult vaccines representing over $2B in revenue.
Hari has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers.
Kleanthis is a serial biotechnology entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical research industries as an executive, company founder, chief executive officer, investor and board member.
Dr. Xanthopoulos has founded five companies, introduced three life science companies to NASDAQ and financed and brokered numerous creative strategic alliance and partnership deals with large pharmaceutical partners.
In addition to his role at Shoreline Biosciences, Dr. Xanthopoulos is the Chairman of Stork Capital Life Sciences which focuses on building and investing in innovative biotechnology companies. Dr. Xanthopoulos is a member of the board of directors of IRRAS AB, Connect Biopharma, (NASDAQ: CNTB), Zosano Pharma, Inc., (NASDAQ: ZSAN), and is the co-founder and a member of the board of directors of privately held Sente Inc.
Previously, he served on the boards of LDO sp.a. (Milan, Italy), Odyssey Therapeutics, Anadys Pharmaceuticals and Regulus Therapeutics.
Dr. Xanthopoulos participated in The Human Genome Project as a Section Head of the National Human Genome Research Institute from 1995 to 1997. Prior to this, he was an Associate Professor at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. An Onassis Foundation scholar, Dr. Xanthopoulos received his B.Sc. in Biology with honors from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and received both his M.Sc. in Microbiology and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Stockholm, Sweden.
Dr. Xanthopoulos has over 45 peer-reviewed publications and several issued patents.
David Berry is the Founder and CEO of Valo and since 2005, has served as General Partner at Flagship Pioneering, having founded over 25 companies including Indigo Agriculture, Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), Eleven Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: EBIO), T2 Biosystems (NASDAQ: TTOO), Evelo Biosciences (NASDAQ: EVLO), Axcella Health (NASDAQ: AXLA), and Joule Unlimited. David played an instrumental role in the conception and implementation of Flagship Labs, which is the foundation of all of its companies.
David has been broadly recognized as a world-leading innovator: elected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, named as Innovator of the Year by Technology Review from amongst its Annual TR35 list, and selected as one of 12 Innovators Reshaping Reality by the U.S. State Department, alongside pioneers such as Tim Berners-Lee. He holds over 200 patents and patent applications. David and his companies have been awarded with over 150 additional awards and honors.
David currently serves on the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN), where he was a Founding Leadership Council Member. David received his MD from Harvard Medical School and his PhD from MIT in Biological Engineering.
A serial entrepreneur in software and biotech, Yochi Slonim has built multiple companies as a founder and CEO through all phases of growth all the way to IPOs and large M&A exits. As a Co-founder and CEO of Anima Biotech, he is driving the company's vision and strategy, fundraising, and partnering.
Prior to Anima, Yochi was a co-founder of Mercury Interactive. As CTO and VP R&D from the company's early days, he created product vision and strategy and led a multi-product organization of 200 developers. After going public and reaching revenues of over $1B annually, Mercury was acquired by HP for $4.5B.
As Senior VP of products and marketing for Tecnomatix, a public NASDAQ company, he led a 500 people organization of 4 divisions that generated revenues of $100m until the company was acquired by UGS for $230m.
In 2000, Yochi was founder and CEO of Identify. The company reached revenues of $50m in less than 5 years and was acquired by BMC in 2006 for $150m in cash.
Yochi founded ffwd.me, a unique startup acceleration program where he led a team that worked with over 25 startups in diverse areas and technologies, developing strategy, products and go to market operations while raising multiple rounds of financing from VCs and private investors.
As one of Israel's leading speakers on the subject of startup positioning and company building, several of Yochi's approachable and amusing lectures can be found on Youtube ("Youtube Yochi Slonim").
Lovisa Afzelius is an origination partner at Flagship Pioneering and the former SVP of Strategy & Operations at Flagship-founded Cogen Immune Medicines, now known as Repertoire Immune Medicines. A computational scientist by training, she has two decades of leadership experience and a passion for data-driven drug discovery, from early inception to clinical development across multiple therapeutic areas.
Previously, Lovisa built and led Pfizer’s systems immunology function and served as executive director of clinical programs. In this role, she launched several Phase II studies across autoimmune indications and as a member of the Inflammation & Immunology Research Unit leadership team, Lovisa co-managed the portfolio from early target discovery to Phase II clinical trials across all immunological assets. In addition, she served on Pfizer’s Worldwide R&D Data Strategy Committee.
In 2017, Lovisa co-founded Elsa.science, a digital health company in the rheumatoid arthritis space where she serves as chairman of the board. She also serves on the board of the Swedish New England Chamber of Commerce. Before moving to the US in 2013, Lovisa was CEO of BioChromix Pharma.
Lovisa began her career at AstraZeneca as Project Director, Global In Vitro Metabolism Leader and Computational Chemist across cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Lovisa has received numerous accolades for her work: she was included in the top 100 “most influential persons under age 40 in Sweden” by Affärsvärlden, and “scientist of tomorrow” at the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations’ 30th anniversary. Lovisa received the Rosenön Award for best thesis of the year within the field of pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics in Sweden.
Lovisa holds a Ph.D. in computational chemistry from Uppsala University, a Master of Science in integrative pharmacology from Gothenburg University as well as an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Theonie is a principal at Flagship Pioneering where she conceives, builds and grows the science, intellectual property and business strategy that form the foundation of Flagship’s next breakthrough startups. She co-founded Alltrna and serves as its chief innovation officer.
Prior to joining Flagship, Theonie completed her graduate studies in cell and molecular biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focused on replication fork dynamics in the context of cancer development and therapeutics. Theonie has received several awards and has been granted multiple fellowships for her academic work, including an NIH NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship. During her graduate studies, Theonie held multiple leadership positions on Executive and Curriculum Committees. She also completed a Wharton Business Foundations Specialization and was a mentor at the yearly Larta Institute NIH CAP FeedForward Sessions.
Theonie is a Business Advisory Board member of the Harvard Institute for RNA Medicine and a member of the Bioscience & Investor Inclusion Group (BIIG) Diverse Talent Network Group. Theonie’s work has resulted in multiple pending patents and publications, including articles in Nature Biotechnology, Molecular Cell and Journal of Biological Chemistry.
James Mackay, PhD, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, has over 25 years of development and commercialization expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, including 6 drug product approvals across multiple therapeutic areas. Prior to founding Aristea, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Ardea Biosciences, Inc., following the company’s acquisition by AstraZeneca in 2012. James was instrumental to setting up an innovative model for Ardea Biosciences that retained the biotech’s independence and accountability for the development of the gout franchise while also developing a synergistic and collaborative relationship with the parent company, AstraZeneca. Prior to Ardea, James held senior executive positions at AstraZeneca where he led the development and commercialization of drugs across a range of therapy areas. and managed significant global functional departments.
James plays a pivotal role in the San Diego Ecosystem and currently sits on the Board and Executive Committee of CONNECT and sits on the Board of BIOCOM. He is a former Board member of the San Diego Economic Development Corporation (EDC). James holds a BS in Genetics and PhD in Medical Genetics from Aberdeen University, Scotland.
A physician-scientist, her groundbreaking work in vascular and lung engineering has made Dr. Niklason a world leader in regenerative medicine. She is a member of the National Academies of Engineering and Medicine.
Dr. Niklason is the founder of Humacyte and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since November 2020 and as a member of the Humacyte Board since 2004. Dr. Niklason holds a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of Chicago and an M.D. from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Fordyce brings more than 15 years’ experience leading teams in drug discovery, development, clinical translation, and commercialization of new treatments.
Before founding Vera, Fordyce was the founder and CEO of gene-editing company Trucode Gene Repair, Inc., having previously served as an entrepreneur in residence at Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers.
Earlier in his career, Fordyce served as Senior Director of clinical research at Gilead Sciences, Inc., where he contributed to seven new drug approvals and served as project lead for Gilead’s TAF/GENVOYA development program.
With subspecialty training in infectious disease from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Fordyce was previously Chief Resident at NYU Bellevue and spent two years as a translational research fellow at Rockefeller University.
Fordyce currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. He received his BA from Harvard University and his MD from Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Schneider is the Chief Operating Officer for Solid Biosciences, responsible for overseeing corporate and technical operations, quality, patient advocacy, communications, corporate strategy, and human resources.
As Solid’s first employee in 2014, Dr. Schneider was instrumental in discovering and executing proof-of-concept studies for SGT-001, as well as building the company’s unique disease-focused business model. In his role as Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Schneider oversees corporate and technical operations, quality, patient advocacy, communications, corporate strategy, and human resources. Dr. Schneider previously completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, characterizing and developing small molecules that enhance skeletal muscle regeneration. He holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University and an undergraduate degree from Brandeis University. Dr. Schneider is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles related to Duchenne and stem cell biology.
Patricia (Trish) Hurter, Dr. Patricia Hurter is CEO of Lyndra Therapeutics.
Prior to Lyndra, Dr. Hurter was Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical and Preclinical Sciences at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. She also served as Interim Head of Global Regulatory Affairs from 2013-2014 and oversaw several label expansions for Kalydeco® and the submission of the new drug application for Orkambi®. She played a leadership role in the development and commercialization of 5 transformative therapies for Vertex: Incivek®, Kalydeco®, Orkambi® and Symdeko® and Trikafta®. Prior to joining Vertex, Dr. Hurter was Director, Formulation Design and Characterization for Merck where she was a key member of the early development team for Januvia®, a treatment for type II diabetes.
A respected thought leader in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Hurter is a frequent contributor to many scientific publications. At Vertex, she founded and was the executive sponsor of “IWILL,” a Vertex employee network devoted to the advancement of women leaders. As a member of the Advisory Board for Women in the Enterprise of Science & Technology (WEST), she mentors Boston-area women who are early or in the midst of their careers in STEM. She also champions the Posse Foundation, an organization that recruits high school students from diverse backgrounds and supports them as they pursue college degrees and beyond. She is a mentor to alumnae from the program.
Dr. Hurter earned her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as an M.S. in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University and a B.Sc. in chemical engineering, cum laude, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa.
Jessica Ballinger
Mrs. Ballinger is President and Chief Operations Officer of Lyndra Therapeutics. In her 25+ year career, she has contributed to the development and commercialization of more than 15 leading-edge patient therapies.
Prior to joining Lyndra, she was a Senior Director at Biogen responsible for redesigning and transforming the patient-centered technical development organization. While at Biogen, she contributed to developing products in critical therapeutic areas such as hemophilia, Alzheimer’s Disease, spinal muscular atrophy and multiple sclerosis, delivering high-quality, highly-innovative, globally approved products with three products filed and approved in just three years.
Prior to Biogen, she was the Senior Director Injectable Product and Device Strategy and Business Unit Interface driving technology development and lifecycle management innovation priorities for injectable products and devices in partnership with Pfizer Business Units and R&D. While in this role, Ballinger delivered ~50% capital investment savings and 25% cost-of-goods reduction through an innovative injectable device platform. She led the technical development and manufacturing scale-up of critical therapies in diabetes, endocrinology, neurology, ophthalmology, cardiovascular, women’s health and men’s sexual health.
Ballinger is a respected leader in diversity and inclusion, co-creating the inaugural Biogen Alzheimer’s Patient and Caregiver Employee Resource Network (ERN), co-leading the inaugural Biogen Women’s Innovation Network, and co-leading the inaugural Pfizer European Women’s ERN. She was appointed to the inaugural Chief of Staff position supporting the Pfizer European R&D and Site Leader during her time at Pfizer Sandwich. She received the honorable Pfizer R&D Achievement Award twice in her tenure at Pfizer, recognizing her strong leadership and business impact.
Ballinger is an active volunteer in fundraising and leadership roles, working with the Oasis Domestic Abuse Service and the Melanoma Education Foundation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois – Champaign/Urbana.
Shawn M. Leland is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Elevation Oncology overseeing all day-to-day operations. Shawn brings over a decade of experience in medical affairs and business development for the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, with a focus on building collaborations to realize the full potential of targeted and personalized therapeutics. Shawn has been involved in global transactions totaling more than $450 million in upfront payments and milestone payments at Eli Lilly, ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Argos Therapeutics and Verastem Oncology. Shawn has also served as an expert strategic consultant for Catenion providing guidance on portfolio management for pharmaceutical/biotech companies. Shawn resides in Denver, Colorado and enjoys snowboarding, hiking and cycling.
Paul Biondi, Executive Partner, Flagship Pioneering and President, Pioneering Medicines
Paul joined Flagship Pioneering in 2019 as Executive Partner, Flagship Pioneering and President, Pioneering Medicines. In his role at Flagship, Paul works with growth company CEOs and their teams to achieve the best attainable value for each company and serves on the boards of selected Flagship companies including Seres Therapeutics, Valo Health. As a member of Flagship’s senior leadership team, Paul is involved in strategic and operational aspects of Flagship, including leading Pioneering Medicines.
Pioneering Medicines is an initiative of Flagship dedicated to conceiving and developing an innovative pipeline of life-changing treatments for patients. By harnessing the power of Flagship’s scientific platforms, Pioneering Medicines will create novel medicines that deliver benefits to more patients, sooner. Pioneering Medicines also enters into strategic partnerships to jointly conceive new products by combining partners' R&D priorities with Flagship's unique platform capabilities, providing partners access to the full spectrum of innovation across Flagship as well as the R&D expertise that Pioneering Medicines offers.
Paul joined Flagship Pioneering following a seventeen-year tenure at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). Most recently, Paul served as the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development where he had enterprise-wide responsibility for establishing and evolving BMS’s strategy, and for pursuing strategic transactions to access external innovation, enhance BMS’s capabilities and strengthen the company’s portfolio. Prior to this role, Paul held a series of leadership roles within BMS’ R&D organization overseeing strategy, portfolio and project management, and clinical and business operations.
Prior to BMS, Paul spent nine years at Mercer Management Consulting. He received his M.B.A. from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his B.A. from Dartmouth College.
Thank you for your support for Season 2! We reflect and look forward to Season 3 on this episode! Learn more about our co-hosts below!
Alok Tayi, PhD is the Co-founder and CEO of Vibe Bio. Vibe is a therapeutics company that partners with patient communities to develop new medicines. Previously, Alok spent 10 years as an entrepreneur and life sciences software executive. He started and built the Life Sciences business unit at Egnyte, was a YCombinator-backed founder and started two SaaaS companies. Prior to his career in software, Alok spent over 15 years as a scientist, including postdoctoral work at Harvard University with George Whitesides. Alok holds a PhD from Northwestern University and BS from Cornell University.
Rahul Chaturvedi is the Founder and CEO of Clora, the leading marketplace where people go to discover, build, and manage on-demand life science teams. Prior to founding Clora in 2017, Rahul was the head of clinical development at several biopharma companies, such as Kaleido Biosciences (NSDQ: KLDO) and Avedro (acquired by Glaukos). Rahul has successfully led the development activities for 20+ Phase II/III programs that have resulted in 6 product approvals to date. Rahul holds a bachelor of science degree from Brandeis University.
As Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ticho is responsible for Stoke’s efforts to develop first-in-class RNA based disease-modifying medicines to treat severe genetic diseases. He is also co-founder and former CEO of Verve Therapeutics which is developing therapies to edit the genome and confer protection from cardiovascular disease. Prior to joining Stoke Barry was Head of R&D for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases at Moderna Therapeutics. He was previously Head of External R&D Innovation for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases at Pfizer. Prior to that he was Vice President of Clinical Development at Biogen where he led clinical development for the Tysabri program for MS and led the aducanumab program for Alzheimer’s Disease. Barry obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Chicago and completed Pediatrics training at Northwestern University and a Cardiology fellowship at Children’s Hospital in Boston. He was on clinical staff at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Gregory J. Divis serves as Avadel’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of Avadel’s Board of Directors. Greg was appointed CEO in June of 2019, after previously serving in several leadership roles within the company, including Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, and Chief Commercial Officer. Greg brings over 30 years of experience in building and leading business and financial operations within the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Avadel, Greg served as an Executive in Residence at Linden Capital Partners, a healthcare-focused private equity firm. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Lumara Health, a specialty branded pharmaceutical company focused on women's health. Prior to Lumara, Greg held general management, sales, marketing, and business development roles at Schering-Plough, which was acquired by Merck & Co., Inc., and Sanofi-Aventis. Greg earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa.
Chip has served as Genocea's President and Chief Executive Officer since February 2011 after serving as Chief Business Officer from August 2010 to February 2011. Chip has also served on Genocea's board of directors since February 2011. Prior to joining Genocea, he served as Chief Business Officer at Vanda Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company he co-founded in 2004. Prior to Vanda, Chip was a principal at Care Capital, a venture capital firm investing in biopharmaceutical companies, after serving in a variety of commercial and strategic roles at SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline). Chip holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Srini Ramanathan, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research and Development Sciences
Srini Ramanathan, Ph.D., joined Horizon Therapeutics in 2018. He leads Horizon’s research and development sciences, with portfolio oversight of discovery, preclinical research and development functions; he also oversees scientific due diligence for business development evaluations. He has worked in the biotechnology industry over 20 years and has been involved in drug approvals across ophthalmology, oncology and virology. Before joining Horizon, Ramanathan served as senior project leader at AbbVie, overseeing the development of multiple immunology programs for rheumatology and gastrointestinal indications. Prior to AbbVie, he served as global head of clinical pharmacology at Gilead Sciences with responsibilities for portfolio programs across all therapeutic areas. Ramanathan earned his Master of Science in pharmaceutics from Duquesne University and his doctorate in pharmaceutics from Rutgers University.
Dr. Keilhack is an accomplished cancer biologist with rich experience in cell biology, animal models of cancer, pharmacology and translational medicine with over 15 years of experience in oncology drug discovery in both small biotechnology companies and large pharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining Ribon, Dr. Keilhack was Senior Director of Biology at Epizyme where, among other responsibilities, she was the project leader for the company’s EZH2 inhibitor program, tazemetostat, which was FDA-approved in 2020 as Tazverik®. Before that, she was a research fellow at Merck and the biology project lead for the company’s clinical stage AKT inhibitor, MK-2206.
Dr. Keilhack received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Friedrich Schiller University of Jena (Germany) and completed postdoctoral training at the Harvard Medical School. She earned a B.S. in Biochemistry at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg (Germany).
Dr. Ethan Perlstein is the founder and CEO of Perlara PBC, the first biotech public benefit company established in 2014 that partners with highly motivated and entrepreneurial families and foundations to develop treatments and cures for genetic diseases. Ethan is also cofounder and CEO of Maggie's Pearl LLC, a joint venture co-owned by Perlara, a family based in Michigan and the Mayo Clinic that is commercializing a repurposed drug for a congenital disorder of glycosylation. Ethan relaunched Perlara in 2021 as the first fully decentralized, distributed and web3 biotech company.
Michel Detheux is the co-founder, President, and CEO of iTeos Therapeutics, and has held the role of CEO since the company’s inception in 2012. He previously served as a director at Ludwig Cancer Research from December 2010 to March 2012. Prior to that, Michel worked in various scientific and business development roles at Ogeda (f/k/a Euroscreen). He has also held roles concurrent to his time at iTeos, including Founder and Managing Director of MG6A Bioconsulting SPRL, Director of the Board at BioWin, and Board Member at Immune Health. He studied at Université Catholique de Louvain, receiving his undergraduate degree and his PhD in biochemistry there, before doing his post-doc in parasitology at University of Glasgow and receiving a business certificate from Solvay Brussels School. Michel holds a degree in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Université Catholique de Louvain and a business certificate from Solvay Business School.
Armon Sharei, PhD, is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SQZ Biotechnologies, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on unlocking the full potential of cell therapies for patients around the world and has active programs in Oncology, Autoimmune and Infectious Diseases, and other serious conditions.
SQZ Biotech was founded on Dr. Sharei’s doctoral research at MIT and leverages the broad capabilities of the CellSqueeze® technology to enable a diverse pipeline of antigen-specific cell therapies.
SQZ Biotech and the CellSqueeze® platform have been named as one of Scientific American’s Top 10 World Changing Ideas (2014), Fierce Biotech’s Fierce 15 (2015), and a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer (2017). The technology has also been highlighted in numerous scientific publications, such as Nature and PNAS.
Dr. Sharei received his BS in Chemical Engineering with Honors and Distinction from Stanford University. He earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from MIT in the laboratories of Professors Klavs Jensen and Robert Langer where he created and implemented the CellSqueeze® technology as a novel method for rapid and flexible cell engineering.
Prior to joining SQZ Biotech as CEO, Dr. Sharei completed a Ragon Institute postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School in the laboratory of Ulrich von Andrian. Dr. Sharei has published 19 peer-reviewed publications and is the inventor on 20 patent families. He has been recognized in INC. Magazine’s 30 under 30, Endpoints 40 under 40, and Forbes Magazine’s 30 under 30 in Healthcare.
Thomas is a veteran entrepreneur who has turned creative scientific visions into successful businesses for both startups and established organizations for over 20 years and has co-founded or helped launch several companies, including Intellia Therapeutics and Eleven Biotherapeutics. While at Intellia Therapeutics, a CRISPR/Cas9 company which Tom joined as Chief Scientific Officer, he helped build the research team, raise funds (including an IPO), and provide a vision for technology extension. He played a significant role as the corporate spokesperson to lay and industry press, and to governmental and non-governmental organizations on the rapidly evolving and intensely followed CRISPR landscape. Tom has wide-ranging knowledge of biological systems through his work across diverse platforms including gene editing, genomics and gene discovery, small molecule drug repositioning, and protein engineering. He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge and completed research fellowships at Harvard Medical School and McGill University. He is currently also an Executive Partner at MPM.
Andrew Bellinger is chief scientific officer of Verve Therapeutics. He is a general cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is board-certified in cardiovascular medicine and internal medicine. His scientific expertise includes biomedical engineering and drug delivery, computational modeling, pharmacology, clinical strategy and translational medicine. Prior to joining Verve, Dr. Bellinger co-founded and served as chief scientific officer of Lyndra Therapeutics, where he helped to build the company’s research team and was involved in the company’s key partnerships with Gilead and Allergan. During Dr. Bellinger’s tenure, Lyndra advanced several programs into the clinic. Prior to Lyndra, Dr. Bellinger served as chief scientific officer of Cocoon Biotech, leading the development of the company’s drug delivery platform based on silk fibroin. Dr. Bellinger completed his clinical training in internal medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and his clinical training in cardiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He completed his postdoctoral research training in drug delivery with Dr. Robert Langer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Bellinger holds an M.D. and Ph.D. from Columbia University, an M.S. in mathematics from New York University, and an A.B. in physics from Princeton University.
Brian Finrow brings the skills and experience of a lawyer to a position that, in the biotech world, is more typically occupied by a scientist. This is essential to an enterprise like Lumen, which is rethinking drug development from the ground up to emphasize speed, efficiency and ease of delivery, and whose approach is so innovative that traditional ways of thinking about IP and regulatory pathways oftentimes do not apply.
Prior to co-founding Lumen, Brian oversaw complex negotiations with various major biopharma companies and managed IP strategy for Adaptive Biotechnologies, where he was Senior Vice President and General Counsel. As Senior Attorney at the law firm Cooley LLC, his practice focused on equity financing and M&A transactions, and negotiating complex biotech licensing and collaboration deals. With over 15 years of legal and commercial experience at these market-leading, innovative firms, he is well positioned to develop creative, win-win deal structures with other organizations.
Harvard Law School, JD
Harding University, BS, Public Administration
Harding University, BA, Political Science
Jeffrey Goldberg is the president and CEO of Immunitas. Jeff is an experienced biotech program and brand leader with over 20 years of industry experience. He has driven programs from discovery and pre-clinical through IND, clinical trials, NDA, and commercialization in multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurology, renal, and other rare and orphan diseases. Prior to joining Immunitas, Jeff was at Akcea Therapeutics, where he was chief operating officer from the time of its formation in January 2015. Previously, Jeff was vice president of business operations, leading both program management and business development at Proteostasis Therapeutics, Inc., a biotech company focusing on neurology and rare diseases. He also spent more than 11 years in positions of increasing responsibility with Genzyme and Sanofi, providing brand management for two marketed products within Sanofi Oncology. Prior to joining Sanofi Oncology, Jeff served as Global Program Lead for Genzyme's stem cell mobilization agent Mozobil, leading the global launch team and overseeing the program management and marketing functions for the product. He began his career at Genzyme as Director, Program Management overseeing the development and launch of Renvela in patients undergoing dialysis. Jeff has both an MBA and a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University.
Todd Zavodnick has over 20 years of leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Dermavant in November 2018, Mr. Zavodnick served as Chief Commercial Officer and President of Aesthetics and Therapeutics at Revance. He served in global leadership roles at ZELTIQ Aesthetics prior to the company’s acquisition by Allergan; at Galderma Laboratories, where he was President and General Manager of North America; and at Alcon Laboratories. He is a member of the board of directors of the Children’s Skin Disease Foundation.
On August 10, 2021, after this interview was recorded, Dermavant Sciences announced that the FDA accepted for filing a New Drug Application (NDA) for tapinarof for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in adult patients. Tapinarof is an investigational, novel, therapeutic aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulating agent, in development as a once-daily, steroid-free and cosmetically elegant topical cream for the treatment of plaque psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date in Q2 2022.
Alison serves as the chief medical officer at Surface Oncology. She has over 20 years of experience in clinical research, oncology drug development and clinical neuro-oncology. Prior to joining Surface, Alison held several leadership roles in clinical research and development at Radius Health, Synta Pharmaceuticals and at Sanofi in the global oncology division. Prior to entering the biotech industry, she served on faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital where she focused on early phase clinical studies and treating patients with malignancies of the central nervous system. Alison earned both her bachelor’s degree and her medical degree from the University of Chicago. She completed her residency training at the University of Michigan in neurology and her neuro-oncology fellowship training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Nancy Lurker: President & Chief Executive Officer Our President, CEO, and a director since September 2016, Ms Lurker has broad-ranging experience in the pharmaceutical industry and a track record of maximizing the potential of new therapies and successfully implementing innovative US and global drug launches.
Said Saim, PhD: Chief Technology Officer Dr Saim has more than 25 years of product development experience. Dr Saim has published 22 papers in engineering and science journals, holds 18 patents, and earned a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Kansas.
Mike Nally is the Chief Executive Officer of Generate Biomedicines and a CEO-Partner at Flagship Pioneering. Mike brings significant experience leading global organizations and is passionate about working with teams and partners to bring innovations to patients.
Mike previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at Merck & Co. In this role, Mike was responsible for Global Marketing and Brand Strategy across a vast portfolio, exceeding $40B in revenue, of innovative medicines and vaccines.
Prior to this role, Mike served as President of Global Vaccines at Merck, providing a broad portfolio of pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines to the world. In this position, Mike and his team worked to drive a dramatic increase in the reach and public health impact of vaccines, while delivering significant business growth.
Additionally, Mike has led the company's business in Sweden and the UK, focusing on the development and implementation of innovative, customer-centered approaches that delivered improved business results and accelerated patient access to our medicines. He has also held a variety of positions in Commercial Operations, Business Development and Investor Relations.
Geoffrey von Maltzahn is an inventor, entrepreneur, CEO, and the co-founder of multiple groundbreaking companies in therapeutics and agriculture.
Geoffrey is a General Partner at Flagship Pioneering and has co-founded companies that represent, in aggregate, over $10 billion in public and private market capitalization. Through his role in Flagship Labs, Geoffrey has created companies that include Generate Biomedicines, Tessera Therapeutics, Indigo Agriculture, Sana Biotechnology (NASDAQ: SANA), Kaleido Biosciences (NASDAQ: KLDO), Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), and Axcella Health (NASDAQ: AXLA). These are pioneering, respectively, generative biology, gene writing, plant microbiome products for crop improvement, engineered cells and cell-specific gene therapies, novel chemistries to drive the human microbiome, the first microbiome therapeutics, and amino acid-based drugs.
Geoffrey recently served as founding CEO for Generate Biomedicines and currently serves as a Board Director. Additionally, he is Chief Executive Officer and Director of Tessera Therapeutics, Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Indigo, and Director of Kaleido Biosciences and Sana Biotechnology. He recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Cobalt Biomedicine, which he led from inception to merger with Sana Biotechnology, and as Kaleido’s Chief Executive Officer, where he led the company from inception to the launch of multiple clinical studies. Geoffrey also served as Chief Executive Officer of Indigo, where he led the development of the company’s plant microbiome platform and the discovery of the company’s first commercial products: Indigo Cotton, Indigo Wheat, Indigo Corn, and Indigo Soy, which are now used on over a million acres. Previously, Geoffrey was the Chief Technology Officer of Seres Therapeutics, where he led the discovery of SER-109, the first microbiome therapeutic to report positive phase 3 data, and built out the company’s discovery platform.
Geoffrey has deep expertise in genome engineering, the microbiome, bioengineering, and nanotechnology. He is listed as an inventor on over 200 patent applications and patents, and he has co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles. Geoffrey has received a number of awards and honors, including Bloomberg 50's Ones to Watch; Business Insider’s 30 Biotech Leaders Under 40; Endpoints News' 20 Biopharma Leaders Under 40; Boston Chamber of Commerce's Ten Outstanding Young Leaders; the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Student Prize, awarded to the most innovative students at MIT; the National Inventors Hall of Fame Graduate Student Prize; the Biomedical Engineering Society Graduate Research Award; and the Harvard-MIT Martha Gray Prize.
Ron Cohen, M.D. is President, CEO and founder of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., a public biotechnology company developing therapies for disorders of the nervous system, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and migraine. Dr. Cohen previously was a principal in the startup and an officer of Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc., a biotechnology company engaged in the growth of human organ tissues for transplantation uses. He serves as a Director on the Board of Directors of VBL Therapeutics. He previously served as a Director on the Board of Dyax Corp. until its acquisition in 2016. He also previously served as Chair of the Board of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), as Chair of the Emerging Companies Section of the BIO Board, and as Director and Chair of the New York Biotechnology Association (NYBA). Acorda Therapeutics has been recognized as one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York State seven years in a row (2011-2017), among the Fortune 100 Best Medium-Size Workplaces the U.S. (2017), and among the Fortune 100 Best Workplaces for Women (2016-2017), Millennials (2017) and Baby Boomers (2017). Dr. Cohen is a recipient of the NY CEO Lifetime Achievement Award and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the New York Metropolitan Region. He was named Neuroinvestment’s CEO of the Year and is an inductee of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association’s “Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame.” Dr. Cohen received the Burke Award from Burke Rehabilitation Hospital for his contributions to helping people with disabilities gain independence, and was awarded Columbia University’s Alumni Medal for Distinguished Service.. He has been recognized by the New York Biotechnology Association as the NYBA “The Cures Start Here” Business Leader of the Year, by the Westchester County Association as its Leadership Award recipient, by Life Science Leader Magazine as True Life Science Leader of the year, by PR Week/MM&M as one of the Health Influencer 50, and by PharmaVOICE Magazine as one of the 100 Most Inspirational People in the Biopharmaceutical Industry. Dr. Cohen received his B.A. degree with honors in Psychology from Princeton University, and his M.D. from the Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia Medical Center, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.
Avanish Vellanki is passionate about offering cancer patients better treatment options, and he firmly believes that precision oncology strategies are the best manner in which to achieve that goal. He has 20 years of experience across the healthcare and investment banking sectors and began his career on Wall Street at Bear, Stearns & Co. in 2004 in equity research, covering small/mid-cap biotechnology companies. Following his time at Bear, Stearns, Avanish transitioned to Global Healthcare Investment Banking at Citigroup where he focused on large-cap global biopharmaceutical strategic and financing transactions. He subsequently moved to industry, joining Proteolix in 2009 prior to its acquisition by Onyx Pharmaceuticals, where he helped develop carfilzomib (Kyprolis(R)) for patients with multiple myeloma. Prior to founding Rain, Avanish was senior vice president and chief business officer at Aptose Biosciences. Avanish holds a BA from Carleton College, an MBS in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota and MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
Benjamine Liu is the co-founder and CEO of TrialSpark, a technology company that is reimagining drug development.
Benjamine received his DPhil at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, conducting his work with Sir Simon Lovestone. His doctoral thesis leveraged machine-learning, AI, and healthcare big-data -- genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, imaging -- to develop diagnostics and therapeutics for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
During his graduate work, he observed the way clinical trials bottlenecked the development of new treatments for patients, compelling him to start TrialSpark. TrialSpark's tech-forward clinical trial engine accelerates the drug development process. With an integrated data layer as its foundation, TrialSpark offers unprecedented study quality and speed through real-time access to data, process standardization, and operational agility. TrialSpark acquires majority or minority positions in drugs from other pharma companies/biotechs to run through its own trial engine, enabling these drugs to be tested far faster and more efficiently.
Before TrialSpark, Ben graduated from Yale where he was awarded the college’s highest honor at graduation and received his MPhil with distinction in Computational Biology from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge as a Paul Melon Fellow.
Ankit Mahadevia is the CEO of Spero Therapeutics and a member of the Board of Directors. He was formerly a Venture Partner in the life sciences group at Atlas Venture, located in Cambridge, MA. In that capacity he supported the formation of eight companies focused on novel drug discovery platforms and therapeutic products including Nimbus Therapeutics, Arteaus Therapeutics (acquired by Lilly), and Translate Bio (Nasdaq: TBIO). He led three of these as Acting CEO, including Synlogic (Nasdaq: SYBX). Prior to joining Atlas in 2008, Ankit worked on product and business development with the founding team at Arcion Therapeutics. He has also held positions in business development both at Genentech and at Vanda Pharmaceuticals. Previously, he worked in the health care groups of McKinsey & Company and Monitor Group. Ankit began his career in health care policy, with roles in the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committees, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). He has spoken widely on entrepreneurship, including at Harvard University, Columbia University, Northwestern University, and the Berkeley Forum. Ankit has also been active in the policy of life science innovation, including service on the Advisory Council at the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Studies.
Jonathan Rigby is an experienced CEO with three decades of experience creating value and opportunities for companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech and drug delivery technology industry. He currently serves as the CEO of Revolo Biotherapeutics, a biotechnology company setting out to revolutionize the treatment for autoimmune and allergic diseases, through the development of therapies that reset the immune system to achieve superior long-term disease remission.
Prior to leading the charge at Revolo, Mr. Rigby established SteadyMed Therapeutics Inc. and focused the company on the development of drug device combination products to treat Pulmonary Hypertension. As the CEO, he led the company through a Nasdaq listing in 2015(Nasdaq: STDY) and a public-to-public company sale to United Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UTHR)in late 2018. In 2006 he co-founded Zogenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZGNX) a specialty pharmaceutical company now focused on the development and commercialization of drug products to treat rare diseases and was instrumental in its listing on Nasdaq in 2010. Earlier in his career, Jonathan held commercial and business development positions of increasing responsibility at large pharmaceutical companies including Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb and Profile Therapeutics, now Phillips Medical.
Jonathan has served as Executive Board Member at SteadyMed Ltd. (Nasdaq: STDY), Non-Executive Board Member at Xeris Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: XERS) and Chairman of the Board at CollPlant Biotechnologies (Nasdaq: CLGN). He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors in Biological Sciences from Sheffield University, UK, and an MBA from Portsmouth University, UK.
Balkrishan (Simba) Gill, Ph.D. has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors since September 2015. Dr. Gill also has served on the board of directors of Realm Therapeutics PLC since 2016, and as a Venture Partner at Flagship Pioneering, a life sciences innovation enterprise, since 2015. From 2006 to 2015, Dr. Gill served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of moksha8 Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. From 2016 to 2019, Dr. Gill served as a director at Realm Therapeutics PLC. Dr. Gill received his Ph.D. from King’s College, London and his M.B.A. from INSEAD.
Yizhen is passionate about investing in and working with persevering entrepreneurs who want to change the world, especially in healthcare and biotech. Yizhen focuses on early stage investments in frontier technologies applied to healthcare and life sciences, with interests across artificial intelligence, engineering, robotics/automation, and new biology.
BIOS Community brings together innovation minded life science professionals, uniting founders, VCs, professors, pharma, PhDs, & all those in between to join an exclusive, invite-only community focused on driving patient impact! Learn more: https://www.bios.community
Read the Medium post here: https://bit.ly/3cwutlg
Dr. Bexon brings to Vyriad more than 20 years of management experience in clinical development of biopharmaceuticals, including management of multi-site clinical trials and FDA approval of lead assets. Prior to joining Vyriad, Dr. Bexon founded Bexon Clinical Consulting, which provides clinical development support to the pharma and biotech industries. Previously, Dr. Bexon was Vice President of Clinical Development of Idera Pharmaceuticals, from 2007-2009. From 2001-2006, she held a number of positions of increasing responsibility at Roche Oncology, including serving as a key member of the clinical development and life cycle team responsible for Xeloda®. Dr. Bexon earned her medical degree from Bristol University Medical School in the United Kingdom and her oncology diploma at the Institut Gustave Roussy in France.
Martin (Marty) is a cofounder and chief executive officer of Meissa Vaccines. Prior to cofounding Meissa, Marty was an Associate Professor at Emory University and director of the Emory Children’s Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines (CCIV). He developed an RSV reverse genetics platform technology and novel strategies and methods for making vaccine candidates by synthetic biology. As applied to RSV vaccines, this technology was recognized as Emory University’s innovation of the year in 2013. Marty has more than 70 publications in virology, is co-inventor of 20 RSV-related technologies, and is a frequent national/international lecturer on RSV and vaccines.
Dr. Miller is a Founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Karuna Therapeutics. Dr. Miller is the lead inventor of Karuna’s KarXT platform and served as CEO of Karuna from 2016-2018. He served as a member of our board of directors from April 2012 to March 2019. From August 2008 to July 2016, Dr. Miller held several positions at PureTech Health plc, last serving as a Vice President, Venture Partner, in such capacity served as Chief Operating Officer of Tal Medical and the acting Chief Operating Officer of Entrega, Inc. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Entrega, Inc.
Dr. Miller received a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois with highest honors. He completed his doctoral work in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received the MIT Presidential fellow and National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate fellowship awards. In 2016, Dr. Miller was named one of the top 40 innovators under 40 by MedTech Boston.
Samuel Mazin, Ph.D. Founder and Chief Technology Officer Member, Board of Directors
Sam Mazin, Ph.D., co-founded RefleXion Medical in 2009, where he is the inventor of the company’s core technology. While a postdoctoral researcher in Radiology at Stanford University, Dr. Mazin was selected by the Kauffman Foundation as one of 13 postdocs in the nation to commercialize promising innovations. His prior research at Stanford was focused on the design of a novel X-ray computed tomography (CT) system, resulting in several journal papers and a patent, as well as the Joel Drillings Award from the American Heart Association (AHA). His work on a PET-based algorithm received the prestigious Cum Laude award from the SPIE international medical imaging society. He has been invited to speak about biology-guided radiotherapy by cancer centers worldwide. Dr. Mazin received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and he holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
Thorsten Melcher, Ph.D. Chief Business Officer
Thorsten Melcher, Ph.D., joined RefleXion in July 2019 as chief business officer with over 25 years of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical business development. Most recently, Dr. Melcher served as CBO for Xyphos Biosciences, a startup developing next-generation CAR-T products. Previously, he served as senior director of new ventures at J&J, where he championed business development projects focusing on therapeutics in oncology and neuroscience. Dr. Melcher was also vice president at Varian Medical, where he developed a strategy to integrate radiotherapy with diagnostics and therapeutics to improve combination cancer treatment. His other past tenures include co-founding three biotech companies. Dr. Melcher received a Master of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Hannover and he holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Heidelberg University. He completed postdoctoral research in Molecular Biology at the University of California, San Francisco, and was previously on RefleXion’s scientific advisory board.
Heather Wolff joined Decibel in February 2018 as the head of clinical development operations for Decibel Therapeutics. Heather is responsible for Decibel’s clinical operations, regulatory operations, medical writing and data management functions, providing leadership around the company’s development programs. She has a long track record in clinical development, with a focus on building and leading data management groups. Widely recognized as a leader in the space, she has been a key member of both large and small companies including Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Millennium Pharmaceuticals (Takeda), Accenture (ACE), Synta Pharmaceuticals and Genetics Institute (Wyeth). She played a role in successfully gaining FDA approval for Wyeth’s rhBMP-2 in the U.S. and E.U., and also facilitated the acquisition of sNDAs for Millennium’s Velcade product. Heather graduated from Skidmore College with a B.A. in English.
Rachel is a co-founder of Caribou Biosciences and has been President and CEO since its inception in 2011. Rachel is an inventor on several patents and patent applications covering multiple CRISPR-based technologies, and has co-authored scientific papers in high impact journals characterizing CRISPR-Cas systems. In 2014, she was named by Forbes Magazine to the “30 Under 30” list in Science and Healthcare, and in 2016, Fortune Magazine named her to the “40 Under 40” list of the most influential young people in business. In 2018, the Association for Women in Science recognized Rachel with the annual Next Generation Award. Rachel earned an A.B. in Biological Sciences from Harvard College and received a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Ragan has been X4’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the X4 Board of Directors since July 2014. She has more than 18 years of experience building companies in the biotechnology industry. Prior to founding X4, Dr. Ragan consulted as Chief Business Officer at Lysosomal Therapeutics Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company, where she led the company’s business development activities. Prior to that, Dr. Ragan held leadership roles in corporate development and operations at Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi company, where she led strategic partnering efforts for Genzyme’s Rare Disease business and headed the supply chain planning for Genzyme’s flagship commercial products. Other professional roles include business roles at Hydra Biosciences, Oscient Corporation and Celera Corporation. Dr. Ragan received her B.S. from Tufts University and her Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed post-doctoral studies at Harvard Medical School.
Joseph Hernandez is an established leader in biotech entrepreneurship and early-stage technology development. With a strong background in biology, epidemiology, molecular genetics, marketing, and finance, Mr. Hernandez has successfully founded or led six entrepreneurial companies, including Blue Water Vaccines. These companies focus on cutting-edge biotech arenas, and he has raised over $150M in investment capital and commercialized respective products. As founder and CEO of Blue Water Vaccines, Mr. Hernandez is confident that this novel universal influenza vaccine will change the global approach to attacking influenza infection and burden. He is also the CEO of Blue Water Acquisition, a SPAC evaluating healthcare companies for acquisition. He has led the development of life-changing healthcare treatments: a COVID-19 vaccine at Noachis Terra, innovative pain medication at Ember Therapeutics, and cancer therapeutics at Microlin Bio.
Mr. Hernandez earned his BS in Neuroscience, MS in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, and MBA from the University of Florida, and will finish a MSc in Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Yale University.
Chief Medical Officer, Christopher Wright, MD, PhD, is a neurologist and neuroscientist who brings two decades of medical research and drug development experience in orphan and specialty diseases, including cystic fibrosis, dementia, hepatitis C, rheumatoid arthritis, and epilepsy. While at Vertex, Dr. Wright oversaw the development of ORKAMBI® through Phase 3, and the successful development and rapid approval of KALYDECO®, a lifechanging cystic fibrosis therapy, by the FDA, EMA and other health authorities. He also played an important role in the global development and approval of INCIVEK® for hepatitis C. Prior to joining our team, Dr. Wright led the global development organization at Ironwood, including responsibility for advancing the late stage and lifecycle gastrointestinal and sGC programs. Dr. Wright was an Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and practiced neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA for 20 years.
Caroline is a biopharmaceutical executive with over 20 years of experience successfully leading diverse, empowered, and integrated teams. She has broad experience integrating science, business, and the clinic to deliver differentiated value to patients. Most recently, she was Vice President, Head R&D Strategy, and Planning at Bristol-Myers Squibb where she led portfolio strategy and operations. This included shaping BMS’s strategy and portfolio to deliver strong competitive positioning in inmmune-oncology, immunoscience, fibrosis, and cardiovascular, together with a new fit-for-purpose operating model. Her earlier career spanned leadership roles in commercial, market access, regulatory, and drug development. An organic chemist by training, Caroline studied as an undergraduate and postgraduate at Imperial College, London.
Leen Kawas, Ph.D., has served as our chief executive officer and as a member of our board of directors since January 2014. Previously, Dr. Kawas served as our vice president. Dr. Kawas serves on multiple boards, including the Washington Governor’s Life Science Advisory Board, Scientific Review Board for the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, and Alzheimer’s Association – Washington Chapter Board. She also served as the co-chair of the International Alzheimer's Association Business Consortium.
Dr. Kawas earned a Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology from Washington State University in 2011 and a pharmacy degree from the University of Jordan in 2008.
Jim Woody has more than 25 years of pharmaceutical research and management expertise
He currently serves as Chairman of Oncomed Pharmaceuticals, where he was previously a founder and CEO; he is also a General Partner at Latterell Venture Partners, a venture capital group focusing on early-stage healthcare companies
He has served in a variety of health and management roles including as President of Roche Bioscience, and CSO and Senior Vice President of R&D for Centocor.
At Centocor, Jim was part of the team that discovered Remicade, used to treat arthritis and which is now one of the best-selling drugs in the world.
He served as Commanding Officer and Director at the US Naval Medical Research and Development Command in Bethesda, Maryland
In this role he was responsible for the surveillance, detection and therapy for all biologic warfare agents and infectious diseases in the First Gulf War; he was awarded the US Navy Legion of Merit for his service
He holds an MD from Loma Linda University, and trained in pediatric immunology at Duke University and Boston Children’s Hospital (Harvard)
He further holds a PhD in Immunology from the University of London, and has co-authored more than 140 publications
William J. Newell has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors since January 2009. Previously, he served as the President of Aerovance, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on respiratory diseases, from 2006 to 2007. Mr. Newell has also served as the Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President at QLT Inc., in several senior management positions at Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and has experience as a corporate lawyer. He currently serves on the boards of directors of a private biotechnology company, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s Health Section and Emerging Company Section and the California Life Sciences Association, where he also serves as a member of the executive committee. Mr. Newell received an A.B. in Government from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. We believe that Mr. Newell is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of his experience with various biotechnology companies, including working with and serving in various executive positions in life sciences companies.
Adam Crystal, M.D., Ph.D. joined C4 Therapeutics in February 2019 as our Chief Medical Officer. Previously, Adam was at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, most recently as Senior Director, where he led several early clinical development programs. Before transitioning to industry, Adam was a medical oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital where he researched resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies. Adam was also a laboratory-based researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital where his work on resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies was recognized with the American Society of Clinical Oncology Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award and was also published in Science. He trained at Massachusetts General Hospital in internal medicine, and in medical oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Adam holds an M.D., as well as a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Stew Fisher, Ph.D. joined C4 Therapeutics in May 2016 and has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since May 2018. Between May 2016 and May 2018, Stew served as our Senior Director of Discovery Sciences. Prior to joining C4 Therapeutics, Stew held senior leadership roles at the Broad Institute, including Director of Quantitative of Biochemistry and Enzymology, where he developed and implemented biochemical plans for therapeutic projects. He previously spent fifteen years at AstraZeneca in roles of increasing responsibility across target validation, drug discovery and clinical candidate support, including Executive Director of Infection Bioscience. Stew started his career at Hoffmann-La Roche as a Research Scientist after completing an NIH Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Stew holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology, and a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Vermont.
Mr. Culley joined Lineage as Chief Executive Officer in September 2018. Prior to joining Lineage, Mr. Culley served from August 2017 to September 2018 as interim Chief Executive Officer at Artemis Therapeutics, Inc. (ATMS). Mr. Culley previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Mast Therapeutics, Inc. (MSTX), from 2010, and was also a member of its board of directors from 2011, until Mast’s merger with Savara, Inc. (SVRA) in April 2017. Mr. Culley served from 2007 to 2010 as Mast’s Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President, from 2006 to 2007 as Mast’s Senior Vice President, Business Development, and from 2004 to 2006 as Mast’s Vice President, Business Development. From 2002 until 2004, Mr. Culley was Director of Business Development and Marketing for Immusol, Inc. From 1999 until 2000, he worked at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Department of Technology Transfer & Intellectual Property Services and from 1996 to 1999 he conducted drug development research for Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NBIX). Mr. Culley has also served on the Board of Orphagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since May 2017. Mr. Culley has more than 25 years of business and scientific experience in the life sciences industry. He received a B.S. in biology from Boston College, a masters in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an M.B.A. from The Johnson School of Business at Cornell University. Mr. Culley brings to our Board significant knowledge of the biotechnology industry and extensive experience as an executive and board member of publicly traded pharmaceutical companies.
Kevin is a scientist-entrepreneur with 30 years of research experience in academia and pharma. He co-founded Scientist.com in 2007. In 2001, he co-founded Kalypsys, a small pharmaceutical company. He was Director of Lead Discovery at Tularik from 1997-2001. He carried out postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School after receiving a PhD degree from Marc Kirschner’s laboratory at UC-San Francisco and an A.B. degree, magna cum laude, from Cornell University.
Dr. Javitt has played leadership roles in seven successful healthcare IT and biopharma startups with public exits. He has additionally led drug-development engagements for Merck, Allergan, Pharmacia, Novartis, and Pfizer. He was appointed to healthcare leadership roles under Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush. In the latter role he was commissioned to lead the White House policy for universal adoption of Health IT and establishment of the Office of the National Coordinator. He is a graduate of Princeton University, Cornell University Medical College, Harvard School of Public Health, the Wills Eye Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Medical School. Dr. Javitt has published more than 200 scientific works in the areas of health outcomes and pharmacoeconomics that have been cited by more than 16,000 people.
Mei Mei Hu: Mei Mei is also CEO of United Neuroscience and a member of the executive committee of United Biomedical, Inc. She oversaw the launch of one of the first endobody vaccines in the world and the successful spin-out of three companies. Mei Mei was formerly a consultant at McKinsey & Company where she advised pharmaceutical companies on strategic, operational and organizational issues.
Prior to that, Mei Mei was in the Securities group at Cravath, Swaine and Moore. Mei Mei is also co-founder of an investment and advisory group with active investments in real estate, energy and life sciences. She was named to Time 100 Next list, Fortune 40 under 40, and Young Global Leaders of World Economic Forum. She holds a B.A. from University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Recently named by Fortune as one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Peter H. Diamandis is the founder and executive chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, which leads the world in designing and operating large-scale incentive competitions. He is also the executive founder of Singularity University, a graduate-level Silicon Valley institution that counsels the world's leaders on exponentially growing technologies.
Peter Diamandis: As an entrepreneur, Diamandis has started over 20 companies in the areas of longevity, space, venture capital and education. He is cofounder of BOLD Capital Partners, a venture fund with $250M investing in exponential technologies, and co-founder and Vice Chairman of Celularity, Inc., a cellular therapeutics company.
Diamandis is a New York Times Bestselling author of two books: Abundance – The Future Is Better Than You Think and BOLD – How to go Big, Create Wealth & Impact the World. His newest book in this series of exponential technologies—The Future is Faster Than You Think—was released in 2020.
He earned degrees in molecular genetics and aerospace engineering from the MIT and holds an M.D. from Harvard Medical School.
Diamandis’ favorite saying is “the best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.”
Shawn Singh has served as our Chief Executive Officer since August 2009; he joined our Board of Directors in 2000. Mr. Singh has nearly 30 years of experience working with private and public biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies, a venture capital firm, and a profitable contract research and development organization (CRO), serving in numerous senior management roles. Prior to joining us as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Singh served as President of Artemis Neuroscience, prior to our acquisition of that company, Managing Principal of Cato BioVentures, a healthcare-focused venture capital firm, and as Chief Business Officer and General Counsel of Cato Research Ltd, a global CRO. Earlier, Mr. Singh assisted with the IPO of SciClone Pharmaceuticals (formerly NASDAQ: SCLN), a revenue-generating, China-focused specialty pharmaceutical company, and served as its Chief Business Officer before departing to form Cato BioVentures with the founders of Cato Research. He began his career as a corporate finance attorney in the Silicon Valley offices of Morrison & Foerster LLP, with a transaction-focused practice involving both emerging biotechnology and high technology companies. Mr. Singh earned a B.A. degree, with honors, from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. Mr. Singh is a member of the State Bar of California.
Dr. Salter-Cid brings to Gossamer Bio over 20 years of drug discovery experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries and spent the last 13 years at Bristol Myers Squibb (“BMS”) in increasing positions of responsibility, including Vice President and Head of Immunology, small molecule Immuno-Oncology and Genomics Discovery. In this position, she oversaw several biology groups that focused on target validation and development of innovative biologic and small-molecule therapeutics to address significant unmet needs in autoimmune diseases and cancer. During her time at BMS, Dr. Salter-Cid led teams that advanced more than 20 compounds into clinical development. She was also Chair of the Immunoscience Target Science Team (TST) and a core member of Early Development, Strategy and Licensing teams for both Immunology and Immuno-Oncology. Additionally, she was the scientific lead on several of BMS’ acquisitions and licensing deals and sat on multiple Joint Research Committees and Scientific Advisory Boards. Prior to joining BMS, she was a Senior Project Leader at La Jolla Pharmaceuticals where she led discovery projects. Dr. Salter-Cid also held positions at Genset Corp and Johnson & Johnson. She is an author of over 70 publications and patents and holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Miami.
Thank you for your support for Season 1! We reflect and look forward to Season 2 on this episode! Learn more about our co-hosts below!
Alok Tayi is the Vice President of Life Sciences at Egnyte where he is responsible for building and executing the company's strategy for the life sciences market segment. Alok works across the organization to verticalize our marketing, sales, product, compliance, and account management practices for this domain. Before joining Egnyte, Alok was a YCombinator-backed entrepreneur and started two vertical software-as-a-service companies. Prior to his career in software, Alok spent over 15 years as a scientist: he took part in postdoctoral work at Harvard University with George Whitesides, and has published papers in Nature and Nature Chemistry. Alok holds a PhD from Northwestern University and BS from Cornell University.
Rahul Chaturvedi is the Founder and CEO of Clora, the leading marketplace where people go to discover, build, and manage on-demand life science teams. Prior to founding Clora in 2017, Rahul was the head of clinical development at several biopharma companies, such as Kaleido Biosciences (NSDQ: KLDO) and Avedro (acquired by Glaukos). Rahul has successfully led the development activities for 20+ Phase II/III programs that have resulted in 6 product approvals to date.
Rahul holds a bachelor of science degree from Brandeis University.
As Executive Vice President and General Manager of Ancestry.com, a 1.6 billion dollar technology company, Ken led the launch of AncestryDNA, a large-scale e-commerce genetic genealogy test with revenues of > $500M. In 2019, Ken led the launch AncestryHealth, an e-commerce LDT genetic health product on a next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform. Prior to Ancestry, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer at Avigen, a biopharmaceutical company that develops drugs for chronic neurological disorders, where he led the company in its mission to acquire, develop and commercialize innovative gene therapeutics. Dr. Chahine is a patent attorney and on the faculty at the University of Utah’s College of Law currently teaching new venture development, intellectual property and licensing. He earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan, a J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law, and a B.A. in Chemistry from Florida State University.
Ibraheem Mahmood has an extensive life science and finance background that spans more than 20 years. His experience includes previous roles in Lifescience M&A and Fundraising at Nomura, Lifescience Equity Research at Investec and Business Development and Corporate Venture Capital at Shire Pharmaceuticals. He was co-founder, President and CEO of the clinical operations services company DrugDev, in which he raised over $50m in financing and he sold the business to IQVIA in 2017. Ibraheem studied medicine at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Raymond J. Tesi has been President, Chief Executive Officer and acting Chief Medical Officer since the formation of INmune Bio in September 2015. From November 2011 to May 2015, Dr. Tesi was CEO, President and Acting Chief Medical Officer of FPRT Bio Inc., a development-stage biotech company formed to develop XPro1595 for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease and other inflammatory diseases.
From November 2010 to October 2011, Dr. Tesi was Chief Medical Officer of Adienne SRL, an emerging biotech company in Bergamo, Italy focused on products to treat patients with hematologic malignancy. From June 2007 to September 2010, Dr. Tesi was CEO and President of Coronado Biosciences, a company he founded.
Dr. Tesi received his M.D. from Washington University School of Medicine in 1982. Dr. Tesi has been a licensed physician since 1982 and Fellow of the American College of Surgery since 1991.
Dr. Matthew Bio is President & CEO at Snapdragon Chemistry. Matthew began his career in chemistry more than 20 years ago developing continuous processes for the manufacture and purification of acrylates at the former Rohm & Haas company. Matthew then moved to Columbia University and earned a PhD in Chemistry. Upon graduating, Matthew returned to industry as a process development chemist at Merck Research Laboratories. In 2006 Matthew moved to Amgen where he worked on the development of both batch and continuous processes, and drove innovation in technologies for the manufacture of synthetic – biologic hybrid molecules. In 2015, Matthew joined Snapdragon Chemistry, Inc., a contract development firm specialized in the design of continuous manufacturing technology. Throughout his career, Matthew has been involved in the development of more than 50 clinical candidates and the launch of three new drugs to the market. He is author or inventor on more than 30 peer reviewed publications and patents and numerous regulatory filings. Matthew is driven by a passion for the development of new technologies in organic synthesis to enable safer, more efficient processes and providing access to new chemical architectures.
Alexander Titus is the Founder of Bioeconomy.XYZ and the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), where his career focuses on the intersection of technology and public benefit, with experience spanning the private and public sectors, as well as non-profits and academia.
In previous roles, Alexander was the inaugural Assistant Director (AD) for Biotechnology within the Office of the CTO at the Department of Defense (DoD). As the AD for Biotechnology, Alexander was the DASD-level senior executive in charge of the DoD’s enterprise strategy for biotechnology, where he led the team developing the biotechnology modernization roadmap for the DoD.
Alexander joined the DoD from McKinsey & Company, where he was a management consultant and a member of the inaugural cohort of Defense & Security Specialists working with the national security community on high-priority issues related to organization effectiveness, leadership, and analytics.
On the technical side, Alexander is a trained data scientist with an expertise at the intersection of AI and biology. Prior to consulting, Alexander was a data scientist at the venture capital firm In-Q-Tel, as a member of their B. Next group, as well as a data scientist at Amazon on the Alexa AI team and at Dartmouth in the Geisel School of Medicine.
Alexander holds a PhD in Quantitative Biomedical Sciences from the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies at Dartmouth, as well as a BS and BA in biochemistry and biology (respectively) from the University of Puget Sound.
James Burns, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Locanabio
James (Jim) Burns, Ph.D., joined Locanabio in December 2019 as CEO and Board member. Prior to joining Locanabio, Dr. Burns served as the CEO of Casebia Therapeutics and led the team in discovering and developing new CRISPR/Cas9-based breakthrough therapeutics to treat blood disorders, blindness and auto-immune disease. Prior to Casebia, Dr. Burns spent the bulk of his career at Sanofi-Genzyme, where he held several leadership roles with increasing responsibility, including North America Site Head for R&D where he coordinated R&D operations across key therapeutic areas, and head of Sanofi-Genzyme R&D. Dr. Burns is a former board member of MassBio, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a member of the External Advisory Committee for the BioMedical Engineering Department at Boston University. He also served as the industry representative for the Food and Drug Administration General Plastic Surgery Panel. Dr. Burns earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Purdue University and Master of Science and Doctorate degrees in bioengineering from the University of Illinois-Chicago, where his thesis work focused on drug delivery. Following his graduate studies, he was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Florida.
Kathie Bishop, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Locanabio
Kathie M. Bishop, Ph.D., joined Locanabio in August 2019 as CSO. Dr. Bishop has 20 years’ experience in leading translational research and drug development, with a focus on novel therapeutics in neurological and rare diseases. She was previously CSO at Otonomy, where she led preclinical and clinical development of a pipeline of neurotology programs. Before that, she was CSO of Tioga Pharmaceuticals. From 2009 to 2015, Dr. Bishop served in various product development management roles at Ionis Pharmaceuticals including Vice President, Clinical Development. At Ionis, she led translation and development of multiple programs in the neurology franchise including leading the development and clinical trials for SPINRAZA™ (nusinersen), the first approved treatment for patients with spinal muscular atrophy and winner of the 2017 Prix Galien Award. Dr. Bishop also served in research and development leadership roles from to 2001 to 2009 at Ceregene, a company focused on the development of AAV-based gene therapy products for the treatment of neurodegenerative and retinal disorders. She conducted post-doctoral work at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Alberta.
Seth Lederman is a physician, scientist and founder and executive officer of innovative biopharmaceuticals companies. Prior to founding Tonix, among the companies Dr. Lederman founded was Targent Pharmaceuticals, which developed late-stage oncology drugs, including pure-isomer levofolinic acid (levoleucovorin). Targent’s assets were sold to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, which marketed levoleucovorin as Fusilev® for advanced colorectal cancer, where it gained significant market acceptance.
Dr. Lederman served as an Associate Professor at Columbia University from 1996 until April 13, 2017. He joined the faculty of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1985, became Assistant Professor of Medicine in 1988, and Associate Professor with tenure in 1996 and Director of the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology in 1997. From 1988 to 2002, Dr. Lederman directed basic science research at Columbia in molecular immunology, infectious diseases and the development of therapeutics for autoimmune diseases. Dr. Lederman is author of numerous scientific articles, and inventor of technologies recognized by a number of issued patents. His fundamental work on the CD40-Ligand (CD154) elucidated the molecular basis of T cell helper function and has led to the development of therapeutic candidates for autoimmune diseases and organ transplant rejection in collaboration with Biogen and UCB. The successful defense of his CD154 patents has led to important precedents in defining the relationship of therapeutics and molecular targets. In collaboration with Prof. David Baltimore (then at Rockefeller University and later MIT), Dr. Lederman identified and functionally characterized the CD40 signaling molecule, TRAF-3. His early work on HIV contributed to the understanding of how the V3 loop of HIV gp120 was involved in fusion with CD4 cell membranes, an early and essential event in viral entry and infection. In addition to his research, Dr. Lederman served as attending physician in the Edward Daniels Arthritis and Autoimmunity Clinic on the Medical Service at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital from 1988-1996.
Dr. Lederman represented U.S. Biotechnology at a Beijing Summit in September 2015 with China’s President Xi Jinping. The Summit was organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and involved a delegation of U.S. CEOs, former U.S. Cabinet officials and leading academic experts.
Dr. Lederman earned an AB from Princeton in Chemistry cum laude in 1979 and an MD from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1983. Dr. Lederman trained in internal medicine and rheumatology at Columbia's Presbyterian Hospital. He was an NIH Physician-Scientist 1985-1990 at Columbia.
Victor Hanson-Smith is the Head of Computational Biology at Verge Genomics and is one of the world's leaders in mathematical modeling of eukaryotic genome evolution and function. He has co-authored 13 publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Nature and Science, and his work has been featured in the NYTimes and The Washington Post. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Oregon, and completed an NIH post-doctoral research fellowship in Evolutionary Genomics at UCSF. Additionally, he is a full-stack software engineer with 17 years experience building web applications, supercomputing simulations, and genomics pipelines.
Dr. Maria Soloveychik is the co-founder and CEO of SyntheX, a therapeutics company focused on accelerating drug discovery using synthetic biology. The company’s core technologies, ToRPPIDO and ToRNeDO, rely on genetic engineering and evolutionary selection to synthesize and identify compounds that disrupt protein-protein interactions or lead to selective target degradation. SyntheX was founded in 2016 and is located in San Francisco.
Maria has obtained her PhD from the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, where she discovered novel pathways linking metabolism and epigenetic signaling. Maria was previously a research scientist at a structural genomics consortium at the University Health Network in Toronto, where her work led to the determination of numerous structures and identification of several drug candidates.
Bob has been President of Imagion Biosystems since February 2015 and has led the company through the recent restructuring and recapitalization efforts. Previous employment experience includes Pres/GM for Silicon Biosystems and a career in marketing and sales management with more than 25 years experience in the computer, life science and medical diagnostics industries, e.g. Vice President Marketing and Sales for Nanogen, Inc., Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Gene Logic, and General Manager, Life Sciences at IGEN International, Inc. Mr. Proulx holds an M.A. and B.A. from The State University of New York at Albany and an Executive MBA from the Penn State Smeal College of Business.
Nick Damiano is a serial entrepreneur with broad experience in medical devices and digital health. He has 15 years of experience as a healthcare entrepreneur, engineer, and leader. He is currently Co-Founder & CEO of Zenflow, which is developing a novel office-based therapy to relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which affects over 500 million men globally. The company has raised over $40 million in funding and conducted successful clinical trials in four countries. Zenflow is backed by leading venture firms including Invus and F-Prime and was one of the first medical device companies funded by Y Combinator, the world’s leading startup accelerator.
Prior to Zenflow, Nick was an Innovation Fellow at Stanford University. Before Biodesign, he co-founded Nurep (now called Avail MedSystems), a company developing telemedicine solutions for medical device procedures. In this role, Nick led the successful technical development effort to bring the company's product to market and also played key roles in strategy, sales, and fundraising. Prior to Nurep, he worked in engineering roles for several small medical device companies, including developing critical algorithms for the world’s first leadless cardiac pacing system at EBR Systems.
Outside of Zenflow, Nick plays an active role in mentoring and advising medtech and healthcare entrepreneurs and startups. He has served as an advisor in various capacities at StartX, Y Combinator Startup School, Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign, and the Rosenman Institute. He is also a Venture Partner at Pioneer Fund, a venture fund led by Y Combinator alumni.
Nick grew up on the east coast and earned his M.S. and B.S. with Distinction in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University.
Colleen Cutcliffe is the CEO and Co-Founder of Pendulum. She has over 15 years of experience leading and managing biology teams in academia, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Prior to starting Pendulum, Colleen was the Senior Manager of Biology at Pacific Biosciences and a Scientist at Elan Pharmaceuticals. Colleen received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University and her B.A. in Biochemistry from Wellesley College.
Dr. Paul R. Billings is a board-certified internist and clinical geneticist, who also holds a PhD in Immunology, from Harvard University. He worked there with Dr. Baruj Benacerraf, who subsequently received the Nobel Prize in Medicine. In 2018, Dr. Billings became the Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs at Natera. Dr Billings recently has been a Partner in the diagnostic medicine consultancy the Bethesda Group, and the Managing Director of the Bethesda Group Fund. He is Chairman of PlumCare, LLc and Synergenz Biosciences Limited. He has held academic and research appointments at Harvard University, UC San Francisco, Stanford University and UC Berkeley. He co-founded the stem cell company, CBR Systems, was a Director at Ancestry.com and Signature Genomics Inc, and is co-founder and senior advisor of Fabric Genomics, Inc., a leading genome informatics firm. Until 2018, Dr. Billings was the Chairman of Biological Dynamics, a revolutionary molecular measurement platform based in San Diego, CA.
Andy Protter, PhD. joined Auransa in January 2017 as Chief Scientific Officer with 35 years of pharmaceutical industry research and development experience. At Auransa, Dr. Protter has led preclinical R&D which uses AI technology to discover novel drug candidates. Auransa’s lead project for hepatocellular carcinoma has completed all IND-supporting preclinical safety studies.
Prior to joining Auransa, Dr. Protter was a Vice President at Medivation where he was responsible for preclinical pharmacology and toxicology of Enzalutamide, a prostate cancer drug that was approved by the FDA.
Prior to Medivation, Dr. Protter worked at Scios, a biotechnology company where he also lead preclinical development. Dr. Protter initiated the Natrecor development program and was responsible for all preclinical activities. Natrecor was approved by the FDA for acute decompensated congestive heart failure. In addition Dr. Protter led preclinical efforts selecting a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor drug candidate that was tested in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and surgical pain. In 2004 Johnson and Johnson awarded Dr. Protter the Johnson Medal for his work on Natrecor.
Trained as a biochemist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Dr. Protter led the first successful cloning of apolipoprotein B, the primary protein on LDL. He has participated in work described in over 84 published papers, 4 book chapters and 28 patents.
When not doing science, Andy enjoys hobbies including biking, skiing, sailing, photography and reading.
JoyL is the General Manager of Pfizer CentreOne, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and a leading supplier of specialty APIs embedded within Pfizer. In 2019, under her leadership, Pfizer CentreOne contributed $810M in revenue with a growth rate of 9% while advancing Pfizer’s purpose of delivering breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. In 2020 Pfizer CentreOne received the Life Science Leader and Outsourced Pharma CMO Leadership Award for the fourth consecutive year, recognizing the strong partnerships built with customers.
JoyL began her 20+ year career at Pfizer as a healthcare representative and progressed through a series of sales, operational, and strategic leadership roles. Her roles as U.S. Regional Business Director and Commercial Enablement Lead included managing people leaders and demonstrating commercial excellence. Growing in both partnership and organizational management skills, JoyL then became the Global Integration Lead for the Pfizer/Merck KGaA Immuno-Oncology Alliance and Global Operations Lead for Pfizer Essential Health.
JoyL was recently named on the Medicine Maker Power List and Putnam Media Top 20 Influential Women in Manufacturing List. She has also received a Rising Star Award by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association and the Scrip Best Partnership Alliance Award.
JoyL has several industry publications, is a frequent speaker at professional forums and is a board member for the non-profit Pharma & Biopharma Outsourcing Association. A strong proponent of diversity, she is a sought-out mentor and sponsor.
JoyL is a graduate of the South Carolina Honors College at the University of South Carolina where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Medical Humanities.
Nicole is Pfizer CentreOne’s Pipeline Development and Innovation Lead. In this role, Nicole has responsibility for assessing competitive intelligence to identify growth opportunities across the Pfizer CentreOne businesses, lead technical and regulatory assessments of pipeline projects and provide development services to meet customer needs. Nicole brings a wide range of expertise to this role, including a background which covers contract manufacturing operations, procurement, business development, and sourcing strategies.
Nicole joined Pfizer in 2001 as Pharmaceutical Supply Manager supporting the Parenteral Site in Carolina, Puerto Rico. In 2002, she was promoted to Category Manager in Global Procurement responsible for the identification and selection of contract manufacturers and packagers for pharmaceutical products. She joined External Supply (ES) in 2005 supporting the Divestitures and Business Development Group, and later on moved to manage contractors as an Operations Director. In 2010, Nicole was promoted to ES Strategy and Operations Management Director which included site divestiture support, sourcing, and leading the Americas Virtual Site governance. Nicole’s most recent assignment in Global External Supply included leading the implementation of SAP and partnering with tax and network strategy teams to roll out initiatives aligned with tax efficient system strategies and the standardizing/streamlining supply chain processes across the Global External Supply Virtual Sites.
Nicole holds a B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from The University of Delaware.
Abbas Kazimi is the Vice President, Head of Business Development at Nimbus Therapeutics, a biotechnology company harnessing quantum mechanics and computational approaches to structural biology to design breakthroughs in medicine. Abbas joined Nimbus in 2014 as Director of Business Development and has driven several of the company’s key transactions that have brought over $775M into Nimbus through financings and transactions, including the exclusive licensing agreement with Genentech, the sale of Nimbus’ clinical NASH program to Gilead in and the multiple strategic alliances with Celgene. Prior to joining Nimbus, Abbas spent a decade in planning, advising, and executing strategic transactions for life sciences clients with industry partners and financial investors across the globe, most recently at Extera Partners, LLC. He earned his M.A. from Harvard University and his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Randy Schatzman, Ph.D., is the chief executive officer and a board member of Bolt Biotherapeutics since 2019. He has over 30 years of biotechnology experience. Prior to Bolt, Dr. Schatzman was president and CEO, co-founder and board member of Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALDR), from 2004 to 2018. Dr. Schatzman and his scientific team co-founded Alder in 2004 and led the company through the discovery and patenting of two monoclonal antibody therapeutics: eptinezumab, now in registration at FDA for migraine prevention and clazakizumab, being developed by Vitaeris for treatment of antibody-mediated kidney allograft failure. Prior to co-founding Alder, Dr. Schatzman was senior vice president of discovery research at Celltech R&D where the team discovered romosozumab which was subsequently licensed to Amgen in a 50/50 partnership. Prior to joining Celltech, he was at Syntex/Roche Bioscience where he served as preclinical team leader for Cytovene and team leader for Valcyte, both of which are currently marketed drugs. Dr. Schatzman received his Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology from Emory University before completing an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of J. Michael Bishop at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Schatzman is an inventor on over 30 issued patents and is an author on more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Dr. Glenn Rosen has spent the bulk of his career engaged in basic and translational research in cancer and fibrosis. From 1993-2014, Dr. Rosen held a tenured faculty position in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University. He led a basic and translational research laboratory-his research focused on the study of dysregulated signaling in fibrosis and mechanisms of apoptosis resistance in solid tumors. He also led the clinical Interstitial Lung Disease Program at Stanford. Dr. Rosen joined Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) in September 2014 as a Medical Director in the Early Clinical and Translational Research Group, where he led the Phase 2 program of a lysophosphatidic acid receptor antagonist for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. This was followed by appointment as Therapeutic Area Head of Fibrosis and Genetically Defined Diseases. In 2016 he was selected as Head, Discovery Fibrosis Biology at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he led the early discovery and development, and translation of pre-clinical compounds, with a disease concentration in liver and lung fibrosis. Dr. Rosen joined Coherus Biosciences, Redwood City, CA, in April, 2019, where he leads the pre-clinical and translational sciences small molecule program, which is focused on development of a novel selective PPARγ modulator for the treatment of NASH.
Diego is currently the Head of Research & Development of Global Rare Diseases at the Chiesi Group. Before this role, he was leading Chiesi’s development projects in rare diseases and advanced therapies and has more than 10 years experience in drug development, spanning from pre-clinical to commercial phase.
Diego is an MD with a specialization in Internal Medicine. He obtained a PhD at the University of Parma (Italy) in cardiovascular pathophysiology and a post-doctoral fellowship in cardiovascular genomics at Stanford University (California, US).
Before joining the industry, he worked at the University of Parma (Italy) in the field of cardiovascular and metabolic genomics, and as free-lance consultant for various academic institutions.
He joined Chiesi in 2010, where he acted as Clinical Lead in the registration of the first stem cell therapy in EU and led the cross-company team (with uniQure BV) treating the first patient with a commercial gene therapy in EU. He also built an internal unit for the technical assessment of new in-licensing opportunities and the R&D infrastructure for due diligences.
Diego is serving as chairman of the Therapies Scientific Committee of IRDiRC (International Rare Diseases Research Consortium) and board member of the European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (EUCOPE). He is the author of 50+ indexed papers and a frequent speaker at international medical and industrial congresses.
Dr. Clayman is a co-founder of Flexion Therapeutics and has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and as one of our directors since our inception in 2007. Dr. Clayman also serves as the Chairman of the board of directors of both Anokion SA and Ribometrix. Previously, Dr. Clayman had a lengthy career at Eli Lilly and Company, where he was most recently Vice President, Lilly Research Laboratories, and General Manager of Chorus, Lilly’s early-phase development accelerator. During his career at Lilly, Dr. Clayman also led its Global Regulatory Affairs division, the Cardiovascular Discovery Research and Clinical Investigation, Research and Development at Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, a medical device subsidiary of Lilly, the Internal Medicine Division, the Lilly Clinic, Lilly’s dedicated Phase 1 unit, and served as Chair of Lilly’s Bioethics Committee. Prior to his tenure at Lilly, Dr. Clayman was an Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where his research centered on the immunopathogenesis of renal disease. Dr. Clayman is the recipient of the Physician Scientist Award from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Clayman earned a B.A., cum laude, from Yale University and an M.D. from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Following an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco Moffitt Hospitals, Dr. Clayman completed clinical and research fellowships in Nephrology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Colón brings over 25 years of experience in biopharma, genomics, healthcare and industrial biotechnology. In addition to her role at InCarda, she is Executive Chairman (formerly CEO) of ProterixBio, and serves on the boards of CareDx (NASDAQ:CDNA) and Cocoon Biotech and on the Advisory Board of the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University. Formerly, she was a partner at New Science Ventures, a New York based venture capital firm with over $700M under management, and served on the boards of Paradigm Diagnostics and PerceptiMed.
Previously, she co-founded Pyranose Biotherapeutics, a biologics discovery platform company. She was also founding President of the Industrial Products Division at Intrexon Corporation, where she established a new division focused on leveraging synthetic biology for bioindustrial applications such as biofuels and renewable chemicals. Prior to Intrexon, she was head of Clinical Operations for Gilead Sciences, where she was responsible for global execution of clinical trials. She also created and led both the Alliance Management and Commercial Strategic Planning groups. Prior to Gilead, she was VP, Corporate Planning at Affymetrix, where she was responsible for strategic planning and project management and where she also served as COO for the International Genomics Consortium, a non-profit medical research organization focused on cancer genomics. Earlier in her career she was a consultant with McKinsey & Co., where she served clients in healthcare, biotech, high tech and venture capital. She was also an engineer with Merck & Co. in France and in Rahway, NJ.
Dr. Colón received her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was an NSF Fellow. She also holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar.
Recorded in January 2020, we spoke with Sachin Chandran, who is currently Executive Director and Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Boston. Sachin’s responsibilities include oversight of CMC, Tech-Ops and supply chain along with matrixed interactions with regulatory, quality, biology, clinical and commercial. Working in a lean organization and a virtual environment, Sachin brings a strategic mindset while operationalizing with a can-do attitude with the goal to aid in the successful development and commercialization of edasalonexent.
Previously, Sachin has been at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bristol Myers Squibb Co. in roles of increasing responsibility, courtesy of which he is well-versed in the development of oral dosage forms, biologics and injectables, and inhalation. Over the course of his career, Sachin has been involved in the advancement of new therapies for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and rare diseases like Cystic Fibrosis and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Sachin holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University where his graduate work was focused on new modalities in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Mike Novotny is the founder and CEO of Medrio. Mr. Novotny applies 20 years of experience in research and software to his eClinical SaaS vision. Prior to founding Medrio, Mr. Novotny was president of Ninaza, an EDC software company, and had previously held roles as a research associate at the U.N. and a manager of the fraud database at VISA. He holds a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from Columbia University. Mr. Novotny founded Medrio in 2005 in San Francisco.
David Mace is the Co-founder & CEO of SwiftScale Biologics, a life sciences startup based in San Francisco, California. SwiftScale Biologics accelerates time to market for protein drugs by turning a labor-intensive drug production scale-up challenge into a computational challenge. Previously David was an Entrepreneur in Residence at 8VC, where he focused on the intersection of biology & computer science. He is a graduate of the California Institute of Technology.
David Bates is a scientist, inventor, investor, and entrepreneur. He has co-founded several companies including Linus Health and Bode. He is a founding partner of Tamarisc Ventures and serves on the board of several high-growth technology companies. He is on the board of directors of TMCity Foundation and is Strategic Advisor to the Digital Medicine Society. He previously worked at Morningside Ventures where he focused on biotech, healthcare, and cleantech investments.
David was also the Chief Strategy Officer for F-Wave, a building technology company and Morningside portfolio company He helped with the acquisition of Fuji Solar in Japan and the company’s expansion from New Zealand into the United States.
David has held various positions as a research scientist at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital/Shriners Burns Hospital, University of Louisville School of Medicine, and the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has published in several high-impact journals and is a co-inventor on multiple technology and biotechnology patents. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the University of Auckland and a B.S. and M.Sc. in Applied Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Stephan is a co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Anokion, bringing more than 15 years of research expertise in the fields of immunology, protein engineering, and platform technologies to the company. He earned his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne. During his thesis work, Stephan co-invented and developed the immune tolerance technology platform that inspired the founding of Anokion and its spin-off company Kanyos Bio. As a founding member of the executive leadership team, he has played a leading role in company creation, including raising equity capital, establishing transformative partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, and building teams and sites in the US and Switzerland. Stephan is an inventor of over 20 granted patents in the field of immune tolerance and continues to lead scientific innovation as head of Anokion's talented Research team.
Robert J. Gould joined Fulcrum as president and CEO at the time of the company’s launch in 2016, bringing over 30 years of experience to the role. Previously, he served as president and CEO of Epizyme from 2010 to 2015. Prior to joining Epizyme, Robert served as director of novel therapeutics at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard from 2006 to 2010. Robert spent 23 years at Merck where he held a variety of leadership positions, culminating in the role of vice president, licensing and external research. During his time at Merck, Robert was instrumental in advancing more than 20 compounds from discovery into clinical development in multiple therapeutic areas. Robert received a bachelor’s from Spring Arbor University and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and completed postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University.
Owen Wallace joined Fulcrum in April 2017. He has more than two decades of experience in drug discovery and development across multiple therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, endocrine, infectious, respiratory and rare diseases. He is the co-inventor of seven clinical candidates and has overseen teams who have progressed more than 30 compounds into clinical development. Prior to joining Fulcrum, Owen served as head, global discovery chemistry at Novartis, where he was responsible for teams and projects across multiple sites in several disease areas and the chemical genetics field. Prior to Novartis, he was the site scientific leader with Eli Lilly & Company in the United Kingdom, leading a cross-functional team focusing on Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Before that, he held research positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he co-initiated a program on a novel mechanism for inhibiting HIV infection that is now in Phase 3 clinical trials. Owen earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Yale University.
Dr. Paul K. Wotton is the Chief Executive Officer at Obsidian Therapeutics. Obsidian is a biotechnology company pioneering controllable cell and gene therapies to deliver transformative outcomes for patients with intractable diseases. Obsidian’s proprietary cytoDRiVE™ technology provides a way to control protein degradation using FDA-approved small molecules, permitting precise control of the timing and level of protein expression. The cytoDRiVE™ platform can be applied to design controllable intracellular, membrane and secreted proteins for cell and gene therapies as well as other applications. The Company’s initial applications focus on developing novel cell therapies for the treatment of cancer.
Paul has over 30 years of experience in scientific research, product development and corporate growth in the life science industry. Previously, Paul served as Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Sigilon Therapeutics, Inc. Prior to Sigilon, Dr. Wotton served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ocata Therapeutics until its acquisition by Astellas Pharma where he was also Co-Chairman of the Office of Integration.
In previous roles, Paul has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Antares Pharma (NASDAQ:ATRS) as well as Chief Executive Officer of Topigen Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Wotton is a named inventor on numerous patents and was the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Regional (NJ) Winner Life Sciences in 2014. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ: VCEL) and Cynata Therapeutics (ASX: CYP) as its Chairman. Until recently Paul was a board member at Veloxis Pharmaceuticals A/S (Copenhagen: VELO) which was recently acquired by Asahi. Dr. Wotton holds a B.Pharm (Honors) from UCL, London’s global university, and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from University of Nottingham.
Chris is Sr. Vice President, Technical Operations at Blueprint Medicines. He has over 25 years of commercial and clinical manufacturing experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and has been fortunate to help develop and commercialize numerous oncology medicines. He has been in his current role since October 2017.
Carl P. Decicco is a biopharmaceutical veteran with over 30+ years of experience in the industry. Over the course of his career, Carl has played a central role in the advancement of more than 200 compounds into clinical trials and the approval of more than 20 drugs across multiple therapeutic areas. He’s authored/Co-Authored more than 100 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals and is listed as an inventor on 26 patents.
Dr. Florian Wegener is the co-founder and CEO of ZAGENO, an award-winning online marketplace serving the needs of research scientists. He is also a board-certified physician.
Raman is the founder and global president of ramarketing - an international design, digital and PR agency that's in the business of helping ambitious contract service companies operating in the global biotech and pharmaceutical outsourcing sector get noticed.
In this episode, guest Kevin Bittorf, founder of the Advancing Drug Development Forum and Don Dickerson sat down with host Alok Tayi to discuss trends in modern manufacturing and pharmaceutical environments.
Kevin Bittorf is an accomplished Senior Executive and Consultant with demonstrated success and a proven track record in pharmaceutical development, technical Innovation, and IoT.
Jon Hennek co-leads the Systems Innovation Team at Indigo Ag. He co-founded the team—whose mission is to create a vision for what agriculture could look like in the distant future and develop a strategy for the Indigo model to dramatically accelerate its adoption—in 2017 while at Flagship Pioneering.
Sven Karlsson is the co-founder, chief operating officer and chief business officer of Platelet BioGenesis. In this episode of Biotech2050, Sven talks about his background, how he came to founding Platelet BioGenesis and the problems he and his team are trying to solve with the world's only method of producing clinical-grade human platelets from induced pluripotent stem cells.
Dr. Jo Viney is an entrepreneurial scientist and experienced biotech executive. A self-described “drug-hunter”, she has successfully advanced a number of programs into the clinic.
She is Co-Founder, President and CSO of Pandion Therapeutics, a startup company in Cambridge, MA focused on developing new therapies for treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
On this episode of Biotech2050, Jo talked about her journey to the biotech industry and how she came to founding Pandion Therapeutics, successfully bringing a drug to market, women in leadership, and the importance of diversity in biotech.
John Keilty is the Chief Data Sciences Officer at Decibel Therapeutics and a Strategic advisor at Third Rock Ventures. He is a biologist and bioinformatics guy by training and has been active in the biotech space for over two decades. In his career, John has been responsible for building out genomix, and genetics capabilities for early stage biotech companies.
In this episode of Biotech 2050, John goes through his journey into the biotech industry and the work he’s doing at Decibel Therapeutics and Third Rock Ventures.
In this inaugural episode of Biotech2050, hosts Alok Tayi and Rahul Chatuverdi sits down with Lee Cooper, a seasoned biotech entrepreneur, lawyer, patient advocate, founder of Enlight Bio and the nonprofit Institute for Genetic Disease Prevention to talk about the importance of patient centricity in today’s modern biotech.
Cooper writes and speaks on health innovation and bioethics. He has a JD and MBA from Columbia University, and a BA in Religion and Public Policy from Dartmouth College.
Today, he talked about his journey to the Biotech industry and how he came to founding Enlight Bio.
This episode is a trailer launching our highly anticipated podcast, Biotech 2050. A think tank chronicling the disruptions changing the biotech industry over the next 50 years.