Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Beyond Biotech - the podcast from Labiotech
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLP-1 muscle loss: the next battleground in obesity treatment (Part 2 of 3) | 23 oct. 2026 | 00:28:25 | |
Welcome to a special three-part series called 'The Metabolic Moment'. In just a few years, GLP-1 drugs have become a phenomenon. They’ve transformed how we treat diabetes and obesity, created one of the biggest markets in pharma, and sparked a cultural conversation that reaches far beyond the clinic. Now that market is shifting. Cheaper alternatives are coming, new mechanisms are entering trials, and some companies are aiming for something closer to a cure. So what happens next for patients, for the companies leading the field, and for the startups hoping to overtake them? Across three conversations, we’ll follow the money, the science, and the people behind this metabolic moment. In part two of our series, I’m joined by Paul Little, CEO of Atrogi. We talk about what GLP-1s leave unsolved, the science behind ATR-258, and how a small company competes in a market led by giants.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| The next big shake-up in the GLP-1 market? (Part 1 of 3) | 16 oct. 2026 | 00:36:12 | |
Welcome to a special three-part series called 'The Metabolic Moment'. In just a few years, GLP-1 drugs have become a phenomenon. They’ve transformed how we treat diabetes and obesity, created one of the biggest markets in pharma, and sparked a cultural conversation that reaches far beyond the clinic. Now that market is shifting. Cheaper alternatives are coming, new mechanisms are entering trials, and some companies are aiming for something closer to a cure. So what happens next for patients, for the companies leading the field, and for the startups hoping to overtake them? Across three conversations, we’ll follow the money, the science, and the people behind this metabolic moment. In part one of our series, I’m joined by Valeriia Simanovskaia, founder and CEO of BioBrokers, an independent capital markets and strategic advisory firm for life sciences. Trained at Harvard Medical School and based in Paris, Valeriia tracks where the money in biotech is flowing.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Saudi Arabia's biotech momentum: inside RGMBS 2026 | 09 oct. 2026 | 00:34:23 | |
Saudi Arabia has spent the last four years building one of the most ambitious biotech gatherings in the region: the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit. This September, the fourth edition brought together delegations from more than 57 countries and over 200 speakers, closing with more than 40 agreements and initiatives worth over SAR5 billion. From gene editing and genomics to AI-driven drug discovery and biomanufacturing, the Summit is positioning itself as a serious node in the global biotech map — and it's timed deliberately, arriving just weeks before BIO-Europe in Cologne. To unpack what happened in Riyadh, what it means for Saudi Arabia's biotech ambitions, and how the Summit connects to the conversations happening at BIO-Europe, I'm joined by Abdulaziz Aldayel, a nanomedicine researcher at the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center.
This episode is presented with the support of RGMBS. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How Flagship's Valo is reshaping AI drug discovery with human data | 02 oct. 2026 | 00:36:16 | |
AI has been one of the biggest buzzwords in biotech for years now — but for all the technological progress, actual R&D productivity gains have been hard to find, and the cost of developing a new drug keeps climbing. My guest today believes that's because AI alone was never going to be the answer. Valo, a biotech founded by Flagship Pioneering, is betting on a different approach: combining AI, predictive chemistry, and — crucially — real-world human data from the very start of drug discovery, using access to more than 17 million longitudinal patient records, some spanning 20 years. That approach has already attracted major partners, including a Parkinson's collaboration with EMD Serono worth up to $3 billion and a cardiometabolic disease partnership with Novo. Joining me to talk about it is Valo's CEO, Brian Alexander — a former practicing radiation oncologist whose years treating patients with aggressive brain tumors helped shape his mission to reimagine how we discover medicines. Brian, welcome to the show.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Theialife’s race to bring a childhood myopia treatment to market | 25 sept. 2026 | 00:44:11 | |
By 2050, nearly half the world's population is expected to be myopic, with around a billion people projected to progress to high myopia — a leading cause of irreversible vision loss later in life. Children face a narrow window in which to intervene, while the eye is still growing, before those structural changes become permanent. Yet despite the scale of the problem, there is still no FDA-approved drug that slows myopia progression in children, a gap underscored just last month when the FDA declined to approve an atropine eye drop for the same use. My guest today is Thomas Ruggia, President and CEO of Theialife, a late-stage biotech developing an oral therapy for pediatric myopia derived from a natural caffeine metabolite. Tom joins Theialife after 25 years in ophthalmology leadership, including roles at Johnson & Johnson, Alcon, Novartis, and most recently as CEO of Samsara Vision. We'll talk mechanism, evidence, and the road to Phase 3. 01:49 Meet Thomas Ruggia 06:50 How progressive myopia develops in children and why it's misunderstood 15:55 ND10's mechanism of action 19:51 20 years of Danish compassionate-use data vs. a randomised trial 26:44 Why no FDA-approved pharmacologic therapy exists yet 37:57 Theialife's pipeline beyond myopia Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| The best biotech conversations you missed this summer | 18 sept. 2026 | 00:40:27 | |
Summer is a busy time for everyone, guests and listeners alike, so today we're taking stock. This is our Summer Recap — a clips episode pulling together the best moments from conversations you might have missed over the past few months. We'll hear from Randy Teel of Arvinas and Per Lundin of Evox on two very different ways of getting drugs to the brain, and Laurent Lévy of Nanobiotix on outsmarting the liver altogether. We'll meet the founders behind these companies, including Andy Parker of Step Pharma and Gene Mack of Gain Therapeutics, and the unlikely paths that got them there. We'll dig into the science of nonsense mutations with Nerissa Kreher of Alltrna, circular RNA with Lu Gao of Therorna, and a cancer target hiding in human genetics. And we'll close with what these leaders think success actually looks like, years from now. So sit back, and let's revisit some of our favourite moments from the summer.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic:
| |||
| Rewriting the rules of genetic medicine with tRNA therapeutics | 11 sept. 2026 | 00:30:48 | |
Most genetic medicines are built to treat one gene, one mutation, one disease at a time. That's true even for the newest modalities — gene therapy, gene editing, mRNA — each still has to be engineered disease by disease. Alltrna is testing a different idea: that the real target isn't the gene, but the process of translation itself, where genetic instructions become protein. The company's lead approach focuses on nonsense mutations, a shared error responsible for roughly a tenth of all genetic disease diagnoses, and asks whether a single engineered molecule could address it across many conditions at once. My guest today is Dr. Nerissa Kreher, Chief Medical Officer of Alltrna. Nerissa brings two decades of rare disease drug development experience, including CMO roles at Entrada Therapeutics, Tiburio Therapeutics, and AVROBIO, to the task of turning that platform thesis into an actual clinical program. We'll talk translation, trial design, and what it takes to bring the first engineered tRNA therapy into the clinic.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How Evox Therapeutics is targeting CNS diseases with exosomes | 04 sept. 2026 | 00:31:08 | |
Gene therapy has largely stayed out of the brain, and the blood-brain barrier has been the reason why — it protects the brain from harm, but it also blocks most advanced medicines from ever reaching it. That's now beginning to change. The recent FDA approval of a brain-penetrant enzyme therapy for Hunter syndrome showed that biologics can cross that barrier and work. The next question is whether gene editing can do the same. My guest today is Dr. Per Lundin, Co-Founder and CEO of Evox Therapeutics, a UK biotech using engineered exosomes to deliver genetic medicines directly into the brain. Evox is now extending that platform from RNA and biologics into gene editing, targeting the genetic drivers of diseases like Huntington's and ALS, where treatment options remain extremely limited. Per also brings a background as a European Patent Attorney and repeat biotech founder. We'll talk delivery, pipeline, and what a commercially scalable genetic medicine for the brain might actually look like.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| BIOSPAIN 2026: partnering, policy, and the rise of Spanish biotech | 28 août 2026 | 00:34:11 | |
Today we’re thrilled to bring you a special episode highlighting one of Europe’s premier biotechnology events: BIOSPAIN 2026. Joining us is Stuart Medina of Asebio, who will take us inside this landmark gathering. For the first time and in response to strong sector demand and growing interest, BIOSPAIN moves to an annual format. Hosted this year in vibrant Bilbao in Spain’s dynamic Basque Country, the event runs from 29 September to 1 October at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre. In this episode we explore the BIOSPAIN program, the partnering opportunities on offer, the new Talent Day on the final day, and all the practical and logistical details for attendees.
This episode is presented with the support of Asebio and BIOSPAIN. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Beyond biology: Nanobiotix's physics-first approach to cancer | 21 août 2026 | 00:31:21 | |
What if the key to beating cancer wasn't a new drug, but a new way of thinking about matter itself? That's the question Laurent Lévy asked when he co-founded Nanobiotix over twenty years ago — and it's a question that is now producing some genuinely compelling answers in the clinic. Nanobiotix is a Paris-based biotech pioneering what they call physics-based nanomedicine. Their lead asset is a radioenhancer made of hafnium oxide nanoparticles, designed to be injected directly into a tumor and amplify the destructive power of radiotherapy from within — without increasing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. It is currently in Phase 3 trials in head and neck cancer. But that's only half the story. The company's Nanoprimer platform is now emerging as a potential new engine for growth — with the promise of making an entirely new class of genetic medicines work better.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How Cancer Research Horizons is building the future of childhood cancer medicines | 14 août 2026 | 00:43:01 | |
Cancer is still the leading cause of death by disease in children and young people — yet in the last twenty years, only a handful of drugs have been approved specifically to treat it. Most paediatric cancer treatments are simply adult drugs, repurposed, often at real long-term cost to the children who survive. Today's guest is working to change that, and much more besides. Tony Hickson is Chief Business Officer for Cancer Research Horizons, Cancer Research UK's innovation engine, responsible for turning early-stage science into new treatments, diagnostics, and start-up companies. Tony's career spans big pharma, university tech transfer, and now the translational front line of cancer research, and he's helped build dozens of spinouts along the way. We'll talk about why charity and pharma need each other more than ever, and about C-Further, a bold new push to finally build medicines made for children, not borrowed from adults.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Why Western pharma is sleeping on China's circular RNA revolution | 07 août 2026 | 00:36:12 | |
RNA therapeutics has had its defining moments. Antisense oligonucleotides. siRNA. And then, of course, mRNA — which went from a niche academic curiosity to the backbone of a global vaccine program in a matter of months. The next chapter may be circular RNA.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Gain Therapeutics: a first-in-class, disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson's | 31 juil. 2026 | 00:42:03 | |
Today we welcome Gene Mack, President and CEO of Gain Therapeutics. With over 25 years of experience spanning biochemistry, Wall Street analysis, and biotech leadership, Gene brings deep expertise in capital markets, strategy, and drug development. He joined Gain in 2024 and stepped into the CEO role in early 2025. Gain Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech pioneering next-generation allosteric small molecule therapies. Using its proprietary Magellan platform, which combines 3D structural biology and physics-based modeling, the company is unlocking novel treatments for challenging disorders. Their lead candidate is advancing toward Phase 2 as a potential first-in-class disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s disease, with promising Phase 1b data showing biomarker improvements and functional benefits. In this episode, we’ll explore Gene’s journey, Gain’s innovative strategy, the Parkinson’s landscape, and the future of AI in biotech. · 01:28 Meet Gene Mack · 11:15 GAIN's mission: disease modification over symptom relief · 17:07 Why existing Parkinson's therapies fall short · 22:39 Origins and evolution of the Magellan platform · 26:16 How AI changes drug discovery beyond just speed · 28:13 Phase 1b study design and open-label extension results · 32:09 Partnership strategy and path to Phase 2 · 35:29 Advice for leaders in neurodegeneration Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| This nonprofit is building the ecosystem to cure epidermolysis bullosa | 24 juil. 2026 | 00:40:12 | |
Epidermolysis bullosa, or EB, is one of those diseases that stops you in your tracks the moment you understand it. Skin so fragile that the gentlest touch can cause blisters and open wounds. No cure. And for most of its history, very little serious drug development attention. That's where today's guest comes in. Martin Steiner is Managing Director of DEBRA Research, a non-profit organization with a single-minded mission: to make EB curable. But DEBRA Research isn't a lab. It doesn't run clinical trials or make drugs. What it does is something arguably harder: it builds the ecosystem that makes drug development possible. Funding research, investing in biotech companies, building shared infrastructure, and connecting the right people at the right time. And the results are starting to show. They have a growing portfolio of investments, dedicated clinical trial infrastructure, and a seat at the table in deals that are moving the needle for patients who have waited long enough. · 01:46 Meet Martin Steiner · 03:32 What is DEBRA Research · 04:55 What it means to live with EB · 07:43 DEBRA Research's role in the drug development ecosystem · 12:03 Why DEBRA Research invests in infrastructure · 20:26 Why DEBRA Research makes equity investments in biotech · 24:50 The Replay and LEO Pharma deal: how it came together · 30:33 Obstacles to enabling collaboration in rare disease · 34:50 Gene therapy and read-through molecules as therapeutic approaches · 37:36 Is the DEBRA Research model replicable for other rare diseases Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How BIO-Europe is expanding beyond dealmaking in 2026 | 17 juil. 2026 | 00:25:16 | |
The life sciences industry has always had one great meeting place, a few days in November where the deals get done, the partnerships form, and the direction of the industry quietly shifts. For more than three decades, that place has been BIO-Europe. But this year, something is changing. BIO-Europe has always been the destination for BD professionals and dealmakers. In 2026, it's expanding — broadening its scope to become what the organisers are calling the epicenter of biotech, with new content tracks covering regulatory strategy, clinical development, and manufacturing, new registration options, and a deliberate push to bring the entire biopharma C-suite into the BIO-Europe room. · 01:39 BIO-Europe's 32nd edition: what has kept it relevant · 05:28 The "epicenter of biotech" · 11:06 From three content tracks to seven · 13:31 Three new tracks: regulatory, clinical, and biomanufacturing · 15:45 The new content-only registration pass · 18:12 Why Cologne and what the city offers the event · 19:48 The social program at BIO-Europe · 24:54 Where to register and find more information This episode is presented with the support of the EBD Group. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Turning cancer cell dependencies into targeted therapies | 10 juil. 2026 | 00:31:19 | |
Today I’m delighted to welcome Andy Parker, CEO of Step Pharma. With over 25 years of experience across AstraZeneca, Shire, Zealand Pharma, and In this episode, we’ll dive into the science behind this mechanism, explore Step
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| The first PROTAC is here. What comes next in protein degradation? | 03 juil. 2026 | 00:35:31 | |
Today I'm sitting down with Randy Teel, Ph.D., President and CEO of Arvinas, a clinical-stage biotech based in New Haven, Connecticut, that is doing something genuinely new in medicine. Arvinas is pioneering a technology called PROTAC protein degradation. It's a platform that doesn't just block disease-causing proteins, but eliminates them entirely using the body's own disposal system to do it. It's a fundamental shift in how we think about drug design, and it's now reached a historic milestone: the first PROTAC ever to succeed in a Phase 3 clinical trial, with a regulatory filing now in front of the FDA.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| De-risking neurology drug development with better mouse models | 26 juin 2026 | 00:40:32 | |
Today we welcome Brandy Wilkinson, CEO of GemPharmatech, and Rikki Feng, the company’s Neuroscience Pipeline Leader. Our discussion focuses on a persistent challenge in drug development: neurology’s stubbornly high clinical failure rates. GemPharmatech is tackling this head-on with proprietary models for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and blood-brain barrier transport that better mirror human disease biology. We explore why mouse models matter more in neurology than in other fields, the design principles behind these next-generation tools, and how smarter preclinical partnerships can help therapeutic developers de-risk programs earlier.
This episode was produced with the support of GemPharmatech. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| BIO International Convention 2026: practical advice from former Evotec CEO Werner Lanthaler | 19 juin 2026 | 00:40:49 | |
This week we preview the BIO International Convention, starting next week in San Diego. This is the key partnering event of the year where biotechs connect with pharmaceutical companies and investors in partnering meetings, all to advance and fund innovative therapies. My guest is Werner Lanthaler, Founder and CEO of WLAN Holding. Werner spent 15 years as CEO of Evotec SE, scaling the company from 200 employees and €40 million revenue to over 5,000 staff and €800 million. He previously served as CFO of Intercell AG, overseeing its IPO and vaccine launch and today he leads investments and advisory in high-tech life sciences. Werner explains why partnering events like BIO are critical to advancing science in biopharma. He shares practical advice on how biotechs can prepare before the event, succeed on site, and follow up to turn meetings into partnerships. He offers clear, actionable strategies to optimize your BIO experience.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Advancing corticosteroids and hormonal therapies for supply and scale | 12 juin 2026 | 00:27:03 | |
Today we’re diving into the world of corticosteroids and hormonal therapies — essential APIs that treat everything from asthma and autoimmune diseases to diabetes and endocrine disorders. These molecules may be decades old, but their manufacturing remains highly complex and critical to patients worldwide. Our guest is Olivier Roux, a Senior Director at Curia. He shares how Curia partners with both startups and big pharma to simplify steroid API challenges, solve supply issues, and prepare for next-generation innovations. If you want to understand what it really takes to bring these life-changing therapies to patients, stay tuned — this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
This episode was produced with the support of Curia. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Episode 200 Special: Joachim Eeckhout on building Labiotech and the future of biotech media | 05 juin 2026 | 00:43:33 | |
Welcome to episode 200! Today I’m delighted to welcome back a very special guest: Joachim Eeckhout, the co-founder of Labiotech, co-owner of Knowbio, and founder of The Science Marketer. Joachim tells the Labiotech story, one of vision, persistence, and a deep belief that the European life-sciences sector deserved better storytelling. We go back to the very beginning with someone who was there: the frustrations, a bike tour of France that became legendary, the leap to Berlin, the fundraising rounds, the acquisition, and the launch of this very podcast. We’ll also hear where Joachim is today with his new ventures, his candid take on the current biotech media landscape in Europe, and what he sees coming next for science communication and media in our industry.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| World MS Day Special: Immunic reveals new hope for progressive MS | 29 mai 2026 | 00:27:30 | |
Today we welcome Dr. Daniel Vitt, CEO of Immunic Therapeutics. With World MS Day being tomorrow, the 30th of May, this is the perfect moment to focus on multiple sclerosis — a disease that affects nearly three million people worldwide and still leaves many patients searching for better options. In today’s episode Daniel shares his own journey into biotechnology, walk us through what life with MS really looks like for patients, and explain the science behind Immunic’s most advanced program, IMU-838. We discuss what makes Immunic’s oral therapy different from today’s treatments, uncover the latest data from the CALLIPER and ENSURE trials, and talk about what the future of MS care could look like.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| The problem at the heart of drug discovery: Lexogen & Ochre Bio on the power of AI on human data | 22 mai 2026 | 00:38:49 | |
Today I am welcoming two guests: Quin Wills, CEO of Ochre Bio, a biotech developing RNA therapies for chronic liver disease using AI models, and Stéphane Barges, CEO of Lexogen, an RNA transcriptomics company and NGS service provider. It’s a deep dive into cutting edge transcriptomics, human-first data, and artificial intelligence. 00:55: The challenges of liver disease 04:44: How Lexogen supports NGS drug discovery 07:29: Major transcriptomics developments 10:05: Designing high quality AI data 15:47: How the Ochre-Lexogen partnership began 17:17: Why a specialist partner is essential for scale 18:21: Lexogen delivers on the massive sequencing project 21:50: Why high quality data is crucial 27:02: Lexogen's role in AI discovery 34:51: Future plans and directions This episode was produced with the support of Lexogen. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Freeze variability, not progress: strengthen your cell therapy supply chain from the start | 15 mai 2026 | 00:30:25 | |
Today, we're digging into a topic that's getting a lot more attention lately, how early decisions in cell therapy end up shaping or complicating everything that comes later. Our episode today is Freeze Variability, Not Progress, How to Strengthen Your Cell Therapy Supply Chain from the Start, and we're going to challenge a few long-held beliefs about how starting material should be handled. My guest today is Dominic Clarke, Vice President of Technical Operations for IntegriCell at Cryoport Systems. Dominic has spent years in the trenches building and scaling cell therapy processes from early development through commercialization. So, he's seen where things break and what actually works. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dominic Clark.
This episode is brought to you with the support of Cryoport Systems. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Making labs smarter for scientific breakthroughs | 07 mai 2026 | 00:30:48 | |
Today, we dive into the future of lab management with Ryan Cawood, CEO and co-founder of Lab Thread. Ryan's journey spans groundbreaking work in virotherapy and gene delivery during his D.Phil at Oxford, to founding OXGENE, a cell and gene therapy innovator acquired by WuXi Advanced Therapies in 2021. We'll explore the frustrations of fragmented lab tools that inspired Lab Thread's integrated digital solution—combining ELN, LIMS, molecular biology, and collaboration in one seamless platform. We’ll uncover how it boosts reproducibility, ensures compliance, and frees scientists for innovation, with accessible pricing for academics and biotechs. I hope you enjoy Ryan’s insights on evolving digital workflows and accelerating breakthroughs in the lab. 01:51: Meet Ryan Cawood 02:31: Frustrations with early digital tools. 03:19: Daily lab organization challenges. 06:50: Time lost to admin tasks. 11:09: Genesis of the Lab Thread concept. 13:53: Integrated workflow functionality explained. 17:23: Enhancing experiment reproducibility methods. 20:37: Achieving compliance standards easily. 26:10: The future of digital lab management. 28:33: Accelerating scientific breakthroughs. This episode is brought to you with the support of Lab Thread. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How Epicrispr is leveraging CRISPR without cutting DNA | 30 avr. 2026 | 00:33:03 | |
This week we dive into the Beyond Biotech archive to bring you a discussion with Dr Stanley Qi, the founder of Epicrispr. Epicrispr is an epigenetic editing company, leveraging the power of CRISPR without cutting DNA. The company’s proprietary Gene Expression Modulation System (GEMS) includes the smallest Cas protein known to work in human cells, enabling in vivo or ex vivo delivery via a single viral vector. In this episode we discuss epigenetic editing, why it’s reversible, and how it can treat FSHD and other conditions.
This episode is brought to you with the support of MedChemExpress. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Diagonal Therapeutics’ innovative clustering antibodies for vascular diseases | 24 avr. 2026 | 00:31:10 | |
Today we’re joined by Patrick Andre, Chief Scientific Officer at Diagonal Therapeutics. A trained vascular biologist, Patrick’s career spans groundbreaking work at Pfizer, Acceleron, Pliant Therapeutics, and earlier companies, where he focused on TGF-β superfamily signaling and receptor pathways that keep blood vessels healthy. Now at Diagonal, he’s leading a bold mission: developing clustering antibodies that correct the root cause of serious genetic vasculopathies, rather than just managing symptoms. In this episode, Patrick walks us through his personal journey into science, the company’s DIAGONAL platform, and their lead program DIAG723, which recently received Orphan Drug Designation for the rare disease HHT, and is advancing toward the clinic. We also discuss Diagonal’s oversubscribed $125 million Series B financing that closed in January 2026, and what clustering antibodies could mean for patients with HHT, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and beyond.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Argobio: the venture model building Europe’s next biotech champions | 17 avr. 2026 | 00:42:00 | |
Our guest today is Thierry Laugel, Managing Partner of Kurma & Chairman of Argobio. With a PharmD, PhD in pharmacology, and an INSEAD MBA, Thierry has spent more than two decades bridging cutting-edge science and commercial success—first in pharma R&D, then as co-founder of Kurma Partners, and now leading Argobio’s unique venture-builder model. Since raising €50 million in 2021, Argobio has co-founded and accelerated several companies from top European academic labs. Three of them—Enodia, Laigo Bio, and Elkedonia—have already closed seed rounds totaling more than €43 million, advancing novel platforms in targeted protein degradation, precision membrane protein degraders, and non-hallucinogenic neuroplasticity enhancers for depression. Thierry shares how Argobio reduces execution risk, embeds operational expertise, and turns promising science into investable companies that can compete worldwide.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Multi-agent AI delivers reliable and scalable insights for single-cell omics | 10 avr. 2026 | 00:43:42 | |
Today, we're exploring the transformative potential of AI in biopharma—separating hype from reality, and zooming in on the complexities of single-cell omics data. Our guest is Parashar Dhapola, co-founder and CEO of Nygen Analytics, a Lund-based startup spun out from Sweden's vibrant single-cell genomics ecosystem. With a PhD in computational genomics from Lund University, Parashar has pioneered efficient algorithms for analyzing millions of cells, turning raw data into actionable insights for drug discovery. Join us as we discuss where AI truly delivers in biopharma, the persistent gaps in exploratory data analytics, and the critical bottlenecks in single-cell annotation. In a world abounding in AI hype, Parashar helps us cut through the noise and point out paths to data driven success.
This episode is produced with the support of Nygen Analytics. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Nionyx Bio's kidney gene therapy wins the 2026 BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight | 02 avr. 2026 | 00:28:35 | |
This week we welcome Magdalena Tyrpien, CEO, Co-Founder and President of Nionyx Bio, just days after the company took first place in the BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight competition in Lisbon. With a background that includes leading Forge Biologics through its $620 million acquisition, Magdalena is now steering Nionyx toward a bold new chapter in gene therapy for kidney disease. In this episode we explore her journey into biotech, the science behind Nionyx’s proprietary AAV capsid platform and Kidney Atlas, what it took to win the Startup Spotlight, and what the victory means for the young company’s future. · 01:25 – Meet Magdalena Tyrpien · 07:10 – The Nionyx mission · 15:29 – The 2026 BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight · 22:23 – Looking forward and future milestones Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| HaemaLogiX - precision immunotherapy for multiple myeloma | 27 mars 2026 | 00:43:13 | |
Today, we welcome Dr Rosanne Dunn, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of HaemaLogiX, an Australian clinical-stage biotech company that's developing next-generation immunotherapies for multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders. HaemaLogiX is taking a precision approach by targeting novel antigens that are expressed exclusively on malignant plasma cells, sparing healthy ones. Recent peer-reviewed research has validated KMA and LMA as high-value targets, reinforcing the company's unique positioning in the field. Rosanne shares her journey from antibody engineering to building HaemaLogiX, the science behind their differentiated targets, the latest clinical and preclinical progress, and her perspectives on the future of immunotherapy for blood cancers as the company gears up for key milestones, including a planned IPO later this year.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How Leyden Labs is revolutionizing flu protection with its intranasal antibody spray | 20 mars 2026 | 00:32:30 | |
Today we welcome Koenraad Wiedhaup, Co-Founder and CEO of Leyden Labs, and Clarissa Koch, the company's Chief Scientific Officer. Leyden Labs is pioneering a revolutionary non-vaccine approach to combat respiratory viruses like influenza and coronaviruses. Recently, they published groundbreaking data in Science Translational Medicine, demonstrating that their intranasal antibody spray is safe, well-tolerated, and delivers sustained protection right at the virus's entry point: the nose. This innovation addresses the shortcomings of traditional flu vaccines, which average just 13% effectiveness against infection and provide even less for vulnerable groups like the elderly and immunocompromised. We'll dive into the science, the company's journey since its 2020 founding, and their recent €50 million European funding boost amid U.S. biotech challenges. 01:33: Meet Koenraad Wiedhaup 03:13: Meet Clarissa Koch 04:16: Leyden Labs' origin story 06:21: Mucosal protection platform explained 08:57: Complementing existing vaccines 11:47: Science of mucosal immunity 13:24: PanFlu lead candidate overview 16:42: Key findings from recent publication 22:02: Funding and future preparedness Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How to optimize your biotech company for partnering, licensing, and business success | 13 mars 2026 | 00:42:23 | |
Today, we welcome Janita Good, a Partner at Fieldfisher with nearly two decades of experience advising top organizations in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices. With a D.Phil. in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford, Janita brings a unique blend of scientific insight and legal expertise to her work on venture investments, joint ventures, partnerships, and M&A deals. She's advised on landmark transactions, including funding rounds for Phynova and MedAnnex, and collaborations like Intelligent Ultrasound's AI imaging partnerships. In this episode, Janita shares practical guidance for biotech leaders on timing partnerships with larger pharma companies, planning for commercialization from the start, balancing optimistic fundraising with realistic deal projections, and avoiding common legal pitfalls in M&A. We'll also look ahead to emerging trends in the sector and talk through the best way to structure a company for tax effective partnering and licensing. 01:29: Meet Janita Good 04:42: Fieldfisher's life sciences focus 07:20: Fieldfisher’s differentiated approach 09:41: Timing early partnering discussions 17:26: Structuring for efficient deals 21:36: Planning commercialization from start 25:22: Key early legal considerations 30:00: Balancing fundraising and realism 36:25: Optimism in the biotech industry Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Reversing tumor immunosuppression with next-gen GPCR modulation | 06 mars 2026 | 00:34:14 | |
Today we’re joined by Sean MacDonald, CEO of Kainova Therapeutics. With more than twenty years of biotech leadership and deep expertise in strategy and development, Sean is guiding the company through an exciting new chapter. We’ll dive into Kainova’s innovative GPCR-modulating platform, its promising pipeline, the science behind reversing tumor immunosuppression and targeting inflammation, and the reasons behind the recent rebrand from Domain Therapeutics to Kainova Therapeutics. We’ll also be taking a look at the broader oncology landscape—what’s hot, who’s investing big, and where the biggest opportunities and challenges lie. 01:09 – Meet Sean Macdonald 05:40 – Kainova's GPCR platform and therapeutic focus 08:57 – The story and meaning behind the Kainova rebrand 10:25 – Series B funding and pipeline programs 16:43 – Exciting trends and innovations in oncology 29:17 – Upcoming milestones and future plans Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Misinformation is a public health crisis - here's how to fix it | 27 févr. 2026 | 00:50:03 | |
Our guest is Sergey Jakimov, the Founding and Managing Partner of LongeVC, a venture capital firm dedicated to backing early-stage biotech and longevity startups. A serial entrepreneur, Sergey has co-founded ventures like Longenesis, a medical tech startup unlocking biomedical data for drug discovery, and the Longevity Science Foundation, a non-profit advancing healthy human lifespan. He’s been named to Forbes Latvia's 30 Under 30 in technology and healthcare, and via LongeVC, he invests in innovation in areas including therapeutics, diagnostics, and personalized medicine. In this episode, Sergey warns about the rising danger of misinformation disguised as health advice—where influencers and hype outpace evidence-based science. I hope you enjoy our discussion as we unpack this public health challenge and explore solutions for a more credible biotech landscape.
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic:
| |||
| Accelerating rare disease cures with ASOs, gene editing, and AI | 20 févr. 2026 | 00:48:53 | |
Today, we're joined by Professor Matthew Wood, a leading figure in neuroscience and RNA-based therapeutics. He is Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Oxford, Deputy Head of the Medical Sciences Division, and Director of both the MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre and the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre, a groundbreaking partnership between the University of Oxford and Harrington Discovery Institute dedicated to accelerating therapies for rare genetic diseases affecting millions worldwide. In today’s episode we discuss his vision for making antisense oligonucleotides (or ASOs) and gene editing more modular, more scalable, and faster by collaborating with regulators, scientists, and patient groups to bring hope to those with rare neuromuscular and genetic conditions. With rare disease day coming up just next week, I hope you enjoy the insights that Professor Wood shares on the future of the fight against rare disease. 01:23 – Meet Matthew Wood 07:26 – The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre 10:33 – Collaborations, philanthropy, and industry partnerships 13:55 – Key challenges in rare disease therapy development 20:00 – Modular and scalable platforms for ASOs 28:08 – Scaling gene editing like CRISPR for rare diseases 32:38 – Role of AI and computational tools in acceleration 37:28 – Future breakthroughs in rare disease treatments 44:07 – Advice for new researchers in the field Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Using AI to crack undruggable drug targets | 13 févr. 2026 | 00:32:58 | |
As we mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we welcome Avital Sharir-Ivry, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ProPhet, an innovative Israeli startup launched in late 2024 from the AION Labs venture studio. With a PhD in computational biology and drug research, Avital brings deep expertise in structural biology, enzyme design, and evolutionary bioinformatics to her role leading ProPhet's scientific efforts. ProPhet itself is changing small molecule drug discovery by using advanced AI and machine learning to map proteins and compounds into a shared interaction space. This enables rapid, scalable screening of billions of molecules—even for so-called "undruggable" targets—without relying on solved structures or massive datasets, speeding up hit-finding and expanding the reachable therapeutic landscape. 01:36 Meet Avital Sharir-Ivry 08:55 How ProPhet emerged from AION Labs challenge 12:12 Core AI technology for hit-finding at scale 15:00 Benchmarks and collaborations 17:54 ProPhet’s differentiation from traditional drug discovery 19:45 Importance of scaling small molecule exploration 24:19 Pharma AI investments and emerging trends 26:11 Future AI breakthroughs in drug discovery 27:04 Challenges and progress for women in science 31:15 Keep up with ProPhet Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How Eli Lilly's biotech collaboration model is rewriting early-stage innovation | 06 févr. 2026 | 00:35:46 | |
Today, we're joined by Thomas Hopkins, Vice President and Head of ExploR&D at Eli Lilly. With a background as a physician-scientist in oncology, Thomas has spent his career bridging bold discovery science with rigorous development, first in academia and clinical practice, then at Lilly since 2015. Lilly ExploR&D represents new thinking in the pharma-biotech collaboration model: a shared-risk, deep scientific partnership designed specifically for early-stage biotechs. It provides full-stack R&D capabilities helping companies overcome the toughest hurdles in moving from molecule creation to clinical proof-of-concept, all while staying lean in a challenging funding environment. In this episode, Thomas dives into his journey shaping ExploR&D, how the program works in practice, current priorities in modalities and therapeutic areas, and offers some practical advice for biotechs seeking to partner with Eli Lilly. 01:30 — Meet Tom Hopkins 05:11 — What makes ExploR&D biotech-friendly 07:46 — How collaborations work in practice 09:40 — Shared risk models 14:25 — Engaging bold science early 28:16 — Success stories and advice for biotechs Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Building a smart oncology pipeline with Cumulus Oncology | 30 janv. 2026 | 00:34:42 | |
Today, my guest is Dr. Clare Wareing, Founder and CEO of Cumulus Oncology, who joins us from Edinburgh. With over 25 years of expertise in oncology drug development, Clare has built a remarkable career translating scientific breakthroughs into life-changing therapies. Cumulus Oncology is curating a risk-adjusted portfolio of preclinical assets focused on high unmet needs in oncology. Their platform-agnostic, approach prioritizes patient subgroups and precision medicine to boost success rates and drive value creation. In this conversation, we explore Clare's journey to and through biotech, Cumulus and the current state of oncology in biotech, the vibrant Scottish biotech ecosystem, and her vision for the future for 2026 and beyond. 01:17: Meet Clare Wareing 03:57: Inspiration for founding Cumulus Oncology. 05:38: Cumulus's unique drug development model. 09:53: Overview of Cumulus's asset portfolio. 13:05: Importance of the patient subgroup strategy. 17:41: Trends in oncology drug discovery. 21:09: Drivers of oncology deal-making activity. 24:22: Challenges in accessing venture capital. 30:06: Future milestones for Cumulus Oncology. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Top 5 trends that will drive biopharma in the next decade with Tim Opler | 23 janv. 2026 | 00:36:25 | |
Today, we're thrilled to have Tim Opler, a leading voice in biotech investment banking. Tim's career spans academia, Credit Suisse, and co-founding Torreya Partners, which Stifel acquired in 2023. As Managing Director in Stifel's Global Healthcare Group, he's advised on over 150 deals totaling more than $100 billion, shaping major M&A, licensing, and financings in life sciences. Tim is renowned for his insightful Biopharma Market Updates, and in this episode, we'll dive into his December 2025 edition, where he outlines five transformative trends set to drive biopharma for the next decade: M&A booms, giant markets like obesity and aging drugs, China's rising innovation, AI's reshape of healthcare, and incredible scientific advances. 01:22 - Meet Tim Opler 03:12 - Stifel and the Biopharma Market Updates 05:50 - Trend 1: M&A Booms 10:06 - Trend 2: Giant Markets 17:05 - Trend 3: China's Innovation 22:29 - Trend 4: AI Reshaping Healthcare 28:42 - Trend 5: Incredible Science 34:18 - Looking forward Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Labiotech's 15 biopharma companies to watch in 2026 | 16 janv. 2026 | 00:41:28 | |
Today I’m joined by not one, not two, but three guests with their takes on the biotech year ahead. In December we tasked Labiotech journalists Jules Adam, Roohi Peter, and Willow Shah-Neville with the task of identifying the five biotech players that they thought would be the ones to watch in 2026. Now you can read that article at Labiotech-dot-EU, and we’ve linked it in the show notes here in your podcast player, too, but on today’s episode I’m joined by Jules, Roohi, and Willow who explain a little more about the companies that caught their eye and what might be expected of those companies in the year ahead. 15 companies, three journalists, all in one special podcast as we uncover the companies to watch in 2026. 1:18 Meet Jules Adam 2:30 Abivax 4:04 AAVantgarde Bio 6:10 Isotope Technologies Munich (ITM) 8:16 MaaT Pharma 9:55 Novo Nordisk 13:15 Meet Willow Shah-Neville 14:29 Kardigan 18:23 Braveheart Bio 21:16 Beam Therapeutics 24:34 MindMed 27:39 Kailera Therapeutics 32:36 Meet Roohi Peter 33:30 Aspen Neuroscience 34:45 Reunion Neuroscience 36:14 MapLight Therapeutiucs 37:41 Hope Medicine 38:59 Regenxbio Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| M Ventures: pharma CVC and biotech innovation in 2026 | 09 janv. 2026 | 00:35:43 | |
Welcome to our first episode for 2026. Today, we're joined by Hakan Goker, Managing Director at M Ventures, the strategic corporate venture capital arm of Merck KGaA. With over two decades in biotech investing, Hakan has driven transformative deals in oncology, autoimmune diseases, and beyond, including standout 2025 investments like FoRx Therapeutics and portfolio milestones such as Artios' FDA Fast Track designation. As we kick off 2026 at Beyond Biotech, Hakan shares insights on corporate VC advantages, emerging therapeutic priorities, and the industry's evolving landscape amid rising M&A and AI innovation. 1:10 Meet Hakan Goka 4:37 About M Ventures and pharma CVC 8:14 Sourcing innovative biotechs 12:52 How M Ventures works with Merck KGaA 16:54 M Ventures in 2025 24:46 Areas to watch in the new year 29:19 Looking forward to 2026 32:20 The next big thing in biotech? 33:08 Advice for biotechs pitching CVC Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Johnson & Johnson’s hematology portfolio: breakthroughs to watch | 19 déc. 2025 | 00:34:25 | |
Welcome to our final episode for 2025. We’re taking a little break for the holidays but we’ll be back again on Friday 9th of January to kick off our year with the Managing Director of Merck KGaA’s M Ventures, Hakan Goker. Today, though, I’m joined by Ester in t’Groen of Johnson & Johnson. Fresh off the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in Orlando, where J&J presented over 60 abstracts, Ester shares insights into the company's portfolio and the advances that the company has made over recent years in the hematology space. She walks us through the real-world evidence for some pretty significant results from the thousands of patients in their clinical trials, and explain what's next for J&J in hematology in 2026—including some exciting readouts. 01:14 - Meet Ester in t'Groen 02:37 - Winning the Kilmer Medal 06:32 - J&J's key focus areas 07:32 - The hematology portfolio 19:07 - All about ASH 2025 23:49 - The MajesTEC-3 data 27:43 - The value of real-world datasets 32:06 - Looking forward into 2026 Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Tackling pulmonary fibrosis: Boehringer Ingelheim’s new drug + AI approach | 12 déc. 2025 | 00:38:47 | |
In this episode we sit down with Martin Beck, Senior Vice President and Head of the Inflammation Business Unit at Boehringer Ingelheim. Martin grew up just down the road from the company’s headquarters in Germany, joined as a scholarship student more than 20 years ago, and never really left – and you’ll hear why he still loves it. We spend most of the episode focused on a disease that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: idiopathic and progressive pulmonary fibrosis. These are rare, fatal lung-scarring conditions that kill faster than many cancers, yet patients often shrug off the first symptoms as “just aging.” Martin walks us through why half the people on today’s treatments stop taking them, how BI just brought the first new medicine in over a decade to the U.S. market, and why an AI tool that spots microscopic changes on lung scans might finally help doctors diagnose and treat these patients’ years earlier. 01:24 Meet Martin Beck 04:21 About Boehringer Ingelheim 07:12 Understanding idiopathic & progressive pulmonary fibrosis 10:16 Current treatments & high discontinuation rates 12:25 BI’s long-term investment in PF 16:02 eLung AI tool for earlier diagnosis 22:16 A new oral PDE4B inhibitor 28:13 Key data highlights from the recent ERS congress 30:31 FDA approval & global rollout plans Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Cracking Cancer’s Code: Transforming Research with Novel Cancer Models | 05 déc. 2025 | 00:29:47 | |
Cancer is one of the biggest health challenges worldwide. While progress has been made, millions of patients are still in need of new treatment options that better address the complexities of their disease. BeOne Medicines is creating the world’s next-generation cancer treatments with relentless innovation, aiming to deliver therapies to more people around the globe. This week, I'm sitting down with Mark Lanasa, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Solid Tumors, at BeOne Medicines, to learn more about how their novel cancer models and unique in-house R&D approach is pushing them closer to cracking the cancer code. This episode is sponsored by BeOne Medicines. 01:06 Meet Mark Lanasa 04:56 Cancer as a differentiated and adaptative disease 07:35 BeOne’s approach to cancer research and development 10:30 Accelerating cancer research by bringing it all in-house 15:24 Making progress and signs of success 17:41 Exciting investigational stage programs 23:51 The advantage of hierarchical thinking in R&D 28:13 Keep up with new research from BeOne Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter. To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Curing cancer: Daiichi Sankyo's ambitious ADC approach | 28 nov. 2025 | 00:39:42 | |
Daiichi Sankyo has been pioneering ADCs since 2010, with a pipeline targeting over 30 indications and potentially reaching 400,000 patients. In today’s episode I’m joined by Dr. Markus Kosch, Head of the EU Oncology Business Division at Daiichi Sankyo. A physician by training with a deep academic background in oncology, Markus has spent over two decades advancing cancer care, from clinical practice to leadership roles shaping strategy across Europe and Canada. Since joining Daiichi Sankyo in 2021, he has been at the forefront of one of the industry’s most ambitious ADC pipelines, overseeing more than 60 clinical trials across 24 countries and driving landmark approvals that are redefining treatment in breast, lung, and gastric cancers. This week's episode is brought to you with the support of Kadans. Looking for the perfect space to grow your Life Sciences company? Kadans Science Partner is Europe’s leading provider of cutting-edge lab and offices spaces, tailored to your needs. Kadans puts you at the centre of innovation, giving you the chance to connect with top researchers, universities, and investors through its international network. Here, you’ll join a vibrant community of innovators driving real change. Are you ready to take your research to the next level? Learn more at kadans.com – where innovation thrives. 01:45. Meet Markus Kosch 03:12. Clinical background shaping an industry role 04:46. Daiichi Sankyo’s 40-year oncology legacy 06:19. European investments and Munich hub 10:34. ADC platform strengths explained 14:20. Key ESMO 2025 trial data Clarification: The reference to ‘TB01’ at 16:24 refers to the TROPION-Breast02 clinical trial, not TB01. 19:43. Managing risks and partnerships 23:35. Patient advocacy in trial design 33:59. Future of oncology and ADCs Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How to succeed at BIO-Europe: DISCO Pharma takes us behind the scenes | 21 nov. 2025 | 00:28:23 | |
Two weeks ago, the biopharma industry gathered in Vienna, Austria, for BIO-Europe. Tens of thousands of one-on-one meetings were organized between innovators and out-licensors with top pharma companies and venture capitalists eager to partner and invest. For the large pharma firms, it’s a chance to learn about new science and keep tabs on evolving assets. For smaller biotechs, though, it can be three-days of high-pressure networking where a lot is riding on making the right pitch to the right company at just the right time. Get it right, and you walk away with a clear path forward and the cash to fund it. But get unlucky and you might find yourself with few options in the New Year. This year, we decided to follow one biotech heading into their first BIO-Europe partnering conference. We met with DISCO Pharma three times over the last month to follow their BIO-Europe journey:
I hope you enjoy my conversations with Ajla Hrle, Chief Business Officer at DISCO, and this behind the scenes look at BIO-Europe from an innovator’s perspective. 02:25 Preparing for BIO-Europe 16:51 On the floor at BIO-Europe 22:23 Following up from BIO-Europe Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Meet Fusix Biotech: 2025 BIO-Europe Startup Spotlight champion revolutionizing oncology | 14 nov. 2025 | 00:32:42 | |
Last week saw more than 5,900 people from 3,200 companies gather in Vienna, Austria, for the continent’s largest biopharma partnering conference, BIO-Europe. Over three days the world’s top pharma companies, most innovative biotechs, and life science professionals from 60 countries took more than 32,000 one-on-one meetings, made the connections, and sealed deals that will drive the industry forward into 2026 and beyond. Among the highlights of BIO-Europe this year was the Startup Spotlight contest. This exciting competition offers biotech entrepreneurs an affordable opportunity to engage with top-tier investors and other important players in the biotech industry and to take their business to the next level. Eight finalists made their pitches at BIO Europe and one, Fusix Biotech from Germany, came out on top. This week on Beyond Biotech I’m joined by Fusix Biotech’s Managing Director and co-founder, Jennifer Altomonte, who tells me about her journey through the industry, Fusix’s InFUSE platform, and what it’s like to pitch – and win – one of the most important biopharma startup competitions of the year. 01:34 Meet Jennifer Altomonte 05:12 Co-founding Fusix Biotech 10:37 Fusix Biotech and the InFUSE platform 18:50 Intellectual property for a young company 20:04 The BIO-Europe Startup Spotlight 23:47 The impact of the competition win 29:05 The milestones ahead 30:33 What does a successful 2026 look like for Fusix Biotech? 31:56 Learn more about Fusix Biotech This episode is supported by EBD Group. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| Next‑generation UTI diagnostics: delivering results in just 35 minutes | 07 nov. 2025 | 00:39:22 | |
Urinary Tract infections, or UTIs, affect millions worldwide, driving sepsis, antibiotic overuse, and microbial resistance. Current diagnostics rely on either slow lab cultures or unreliable dipsticks, and often lead to delayed or unnecessary treatment. Llusern’s Lodestar DX changes that: a point-of-care test that detects 96% of key UTI pathogens in just 35 minutes, no lab required. In this episode I’m joined by Emma Hayhurst who shares her journey into diagnostics, Llusern’s mission, and the emergence of Wales as a biotech hub with a growing life sciences sector fueling local innovation. We discuss UTI prevalence, diagnostic gaps, and how rapid, accurate testing can transform patient care and antimicrobial stewardship. 02:14 Meet Emma Hayhurst 04:37 Introducing Llusern Scientific 07:21 Collaboration between Llusern and the academy 08:50 The life science ecosystem in Wales 12:10 Urinary tract infections (UTIs) 15:45 UTI patient demographics 16:54 Health impacts of UTIs: sepsis, antibiotic resistance, and more 19:01 Existing UTI diagnostic options and their shortcomings 24:41 Llusern’s Lodestar DX 29:03 A point-of-care test, not a lab test 31:44 Applications beyond UTIs 36:03 Looking forward at Llusern Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||
| How AI Is revolutionizing synthetic biology and biomanufacturing | 31 oct. 2025 | 00:38:27 | |
Today, I’m joined by Héctor García Martín, a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. A pioneer in metabolic engineering and computational biology, Héctor has spent over a decade decoding microbial systems, everything from termite guts to genome-scale flux models, to unlock sustainable biomanufacturing. Now, he’s leading the charge in self-driving labs: AI-powered, robotic systems that automate experiments, predict biological behavior, and accelerate the design of microbes that produce fuels, medicines, and materials. In this episode, we’ll dive into why biology has traditionally proven so hard to engineer, how AI and robotics are changing that, and where this revolution is headed next. I hope you enjoy my discussion with Hector Garcia Martin. 01:12 Meet Hector Garcia Martin 12:47 Introduction to the Berkeley National Laboratory 14:42 Challenges in synthetic biology 17:21 How unpredictability complicates biomanufacturing 19:30 Self-driving labs at the nexus of AI, robotics, and biomanufacturing 22:23 How is AI integrated into optimize enzyme expression 28:01 Where is the market for self-driving labs? 28:47 The future of synthetic biology 32:24 The most exciting trends in AI-driven biomanufacturing 34:10 The expected impacts of self-driving labs on everyday life 35:28 Advice for aspiring scientists Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter To dive deeper into the topic: | |||