Explore every episode of the podcast The BioHub - by Avetix

We welcomed Mandana Honu onto the BioHub podcast

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Ben is joined by Dr. Marc Hedrick, President & CEO of Cerenome, and Russell Bradley, President & General Manager of CNSide Diagnostics.

We explore why CNS cancers remain so difficult to diagnose and treat, and how Cerenome is attempting to address both sides of that problem.

Russell takes us inside CNSide®, the company’s cerebrospinal fluid-based diagnostic platform, including how it differs from traditional cytology, the importance of rare-cell characterisation, and what better diagnostic information could mean for treatment decisions.

Marc then discusses REYOBIQ™, Cerenome’s targeted radiotherapeutic platform, the challenge of delivering sufficient therapeutic intensity into the CNS while managing toxicity, and the broader opportunity to connect diagnosis, treatment and longitudinal monitoring.

A fascinating conversation at the intersection of diagnostics, therapeutics and precision CNS oncology.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Dan O’Connell, President and CEO of Acumen Pharmaceuticals.

Dan shares his journey from neuroscience investing and company creation into the CEO role, and how he has helped take Acumen from a private, preclinical biotech into a publicly traded clinical-stage company focused on Alzheimer’s disease.

We discuss the origins of Acumen, what it was like taking the company public with just nine people, navigating a difficult few years for biotech, balancing financial discipline with clinical progress, and the major readout ahead later this year.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Paul Hastings, CEO of Nkarta.

Paul has spent more than three decades in biotech, leading companies across oncology, rare disease and cell therapy, while also becoming one of the industry’s most prominent patient advocates. At Nkarta, he’s now leading the development of allogeneic NK cell therapies designed to make cell therapy safer, more scalable and more accessible.

We discuss the evolution of biotech since Paul entered the industry in 1989, the future of cell therapy, the challenges of scaling access, the US clinical and regulatory environment, the importance of patient advocacy, and the mentors and lessons that have shaped his career.

We welcomed Lei Fang the CEO of Excalipoint to the BioHub

Today we’re joined by Jay Fine, President of Research & Development at EvolveImmune Therapeutics.

Jay has spent more than 30 years working across drug discovery and development, with a career spanning immunology, immuno-oncology, inflammatory diseases and respiratory disorders. Before joining EvolveImmune, he spent many years at Boehringer Ingelheim, where he led global research efforts in immunology and respiratory diseases, with his teams playing a key role in advancing therapies including Skyrizi and Spevigo.

Earlier in his career, Jay held leadership and research positions at Roche, Schering-Plough and the National Cancer Institute, giving him experience across academia, large pharma and biotech.

Today, we’ll talk about Jay’s journey through the field, the lessons he’s learned from taking medicines from discovery into development, his experience building and leading scientific teams, and what he sees as the biggest opportunities and challenges in drug development today.

Editor’s note: At the time of recording, Alan Bash was serving as Interim CEO of Legend Biotech. He has since resumed his role as President of CARVYKTI® following the appointment of Ingrid Zhang as CEO.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Alan Bash, President of CARVYKTI® at Legend Biotech.

Alan shares what drew him to Legend, what he believes has made the company such a standout success in cell therapy, and his experience stepping into the Interim CEO role during an important period of transition.

We also discuss the journey behind CARVYKTI, the importance of global partnerships, the challenges of manufacturing and scaling cell therapy, and what the next chapter could look like for Legend as it builds beyond its first major commercial success.

Today we’re joined by Dr. Stacy Blain, Founder and CEO of Concarlo Therapeutics.

Stacy has spent more than 30 years working in cell cycle and cancer biology, including two decades as a tenured professor and NIH-funded researcher at SUNY Downstate. She then made the transition from academia into entrepreneurship, founding Concarlo to develop new approaches to treating drug-resistant cancers.

At Concarlo, Stacy and the team are focused on p27 biology and developing their LOCKTAC approach to target CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6, with an initial focus on drug-resistant breast cancer.

Today, we’ll talk about Stacy’s journey from academic scientist to biotech founder, what led her to make that transition, the science behind Concarlo, and what she’s learned from building a company around her own research.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast by Avetix, Ben O’Keefe sits down with Nick Sireau, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Serenatis Bio, to discuss the company’s mission to develop a new generation of treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Nick shares the deeply personal story behind Serenatis, from his own experience living with OCD to the loss of a close friend to the condition, and how that ultimately helped shape the company’s focus.

They explore why OCD remains a significantly underserved area of neuropsychiatry, what the biology of compulsivity can teach us more broadly, and Serenatis’ approach to developing novel mechanisms targeting glutamate, neuroinflammation and dopamine-related pathways.

Nick also discusses the company’s lead programme, plans to enter Phase 1b development, the role neuroimaging could play in demonstrating early proof of biology, and what Serenatis is aiming to achieve over the next 18 months.

A fascinating conversation on building a neuroscience company around both strong biology and a very personal mission.

On this episode we feature the CEO of Bionyra, Frederic Marrache, after closing French-biotech's largest ever Series A ($165million) this summer.

Bionyra are a Sofinnova-incubated I&I biotech advancing in-licensed monoclonal (TL1A & IL25) & bispecific (TL1AxIL-23p19) HLE antibodies for a range of autoimmune indications. In this conversation we discuss why, after a decade within Sanofi's I&I development organisation, Frederic viewed the Bionyra opportunity as 'the one' to scratch his biotech itch.

Naturally, we then discuss the promise of their technology which led to the likes of Jeito & Sanofi's CVC to participate in their record breaking Series A. Frederic also discusses indication expansion possibilities, and an upcoming 18-24 months that promise to be milestone-rich.

One to check-out for anyone interested in immunology drug-development and particularly those with an eye on company building in Europe.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Edward van Wezel, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of BioGeneration Ventures.

Edward shares his journey into venture capital and the story behind building BGV into one of Europe’s leading early-stage life sciences investors. We discuss how he evaluates companies at the earliest stages, what he looks for in founders and leadership teams, and the lessons behind standout investments such as Acerta Pharma.

We also explore the evolution of the European biotech ecosystem, the challenges of fundraising and company creation, and what Edward believes Europe needs to do to build more globally competitive biotech companies.

Today, I’m joined by Jo Lane, a senior People and HR leader currently working with COMPASS Pathways, where she plays a key role in supporting the organisation and its people as the company continues to develop and grow.

Jo has built an impressive career across the life sciences and healthcare sectors, with senior HR and organisational development roles at COMPASS Pathways, Ipsen and IQVIA. Her experience spans people strategy, organisational development, talent, leadership, change and building high-performing teams across global organisations.

Today, we’re going to talk about Jo’s journey through HR and into biotech, her experience supporting companies through periods of growth and transformation, and what she’s learned about building the right culture and teams along the way. We’ll also explore leadership, talent retention and how the role of HR continues to evolve within the biotech industry.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Tony Estrada, Co-Founder and CEO of Tenvie Therapeutics.

Tony shares his journey from Genentech and Denali Therapeutics to founding Tenvie, and why he chose to build a company focused on some of the toughest challenges in neuroscience. We discuss what it takes to launch a biotech in a difficult funding environment, why being scrappy and disciplined matters, and how Tenvie is balancing near-term clinical progress with continued investment in discovery.

We also explore the future of neuroscience, the importance of mentorship, and where Tony believes AI and machine learning can genuinely improve drug discovery.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Kristen Stants, Chief People Officer at Parabilis Medicines.

Recorded shortly after Parabilis completed its record-breaking IPO, Kristen shares what that milestone means for the company and how the people strategy changes when a biotech suddenly enters a new phase of rapid growth.

We also discuss how to protect culture while scaling, the qualities that help people thrive in biotech, what strong leadership looks like in a volatile industry, and Kristen’s advice for the next generation looking to build a career in HR.

On this episode of the podcast we feature CEO & Co-Founder of Infinimmune, Wyatt McDonnell, to discuss a hugely impressive & milestone-rich journey since founding in 2022. 

Infinimmune was founded on the belief that human disease is best treated with truly human therapeutics. Their discovery platform, developed by Wyatt and his five former 10X Genomics colleagues, has already been tapped by Merck in a partnering deal potentially worth $800million plus. The first two of their immune system-derived antibodies are heading toward the clinic in Atopic Dermatitis, and the Series A round to fund those trials attracted interest from Regeneron's venture arm.

On a more personal note, this episode also offers great insight into Wyatt's own journey into biotech and the entrepreneurial traits that lead to him going 'all-in' on Infinimmune. He also gives his advice for anyone in a similar position looking to go on that journey.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Amber is joined by Dr. Brent Richards, Founder and CEO of 5 Prime Sciences, a company helping biotech, pharma and investors use human genetics to make better drug development decisions.

Brent shares his background in clinical medicine and human genetics, the story behind 5 Prime Sciences, and how genetic evidence can help identify and validate drug targets. We explore the challenges of translating complex data into actionable insights, why understanding causal biology matters, and the opportunity to bring greater confidence to early drug discovery.

Today I’m joined by Frédéric Sweeney, President and CEO of VedaBio.

Fred has spent his career at the intersection of healthcare, diagnostics, venture capital and company building. He’s also been involved with a number of companies as an investor, board member and advisor.

Today, Fred is leading VedaBio, which is developing a new approach to molecular diagnostics using CRISPR. The company’s technology is designed to deliver highly accurate molecular detection much faster and closer to the point of care, with the goal of making sophisticated molecular testing much more accessible.

I’m really looking forward to hearing about Fred’s journey through the industry, what he’s learned from working across startups, large diagnostics companies and venture capital, and then diving into what VedaBio is building and where he sees the future of molecular diagnostics going.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Steve Tregay, Managing General Partner at Mission BioCapital.

Steve shares his journey across research, pharma, biotech company building and venture capital, including the story behind founding FORMA Therapeutics and the lessons that experience taught him about creating successful biotech companies.

We also discuss how Mission BioCapital approaches early-stage company creation, what Steve looks for in founders and new opportunities, the role big pharma plays in the biotech ecosystem, and what he believes separates the companies that ultimately succeed from those that don’t.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Hans Schambye, CEO of BOOST Pharma.

Hans shares what drew him to BOOST and the opportunity to develop what could become the first disease-modifying treatment for osteogenesis imperfecta. We discuss the challenge of taking a novel cell therapy from early clinical success towards Phase III, and what it takes to build the company around that journey.

We also explore the lessons Hans has learned from leading and scaling multiple biotech companies, how the CEO role changes through different stages of growth, and where he sees the cell and gene therapy landscape heading next.

We were delighted to be joined by Prakash Raman, Ph.D., CEO of InduPro Therapeutics.

Prakash brings more than two decades of experience across the biopharmaceutical industry, spanning business development, licensing, portfolio strategy, venture creation and executive leadership. Before joining InduPro, he was President and CEO of Ribon Therapeutics, following a period as Senior Partner and Chief Business Development Officer at Flagship Pioneering. Prior to that, he spent almost 14 years at Novartis, ultimately becoming Global Head of Business Development and Licensing for NIBR, where he was involved in a number of significant partnerships and acquisitions.

Today at InduPro, Prakash is helping build a company around a differentiated proximity biology platform, using an understanding of how proteins interact and are spatially organised to develop new therapeutics across oncology and immunology. The company has recently announced a $77 million Series B, entered into collaborations with companies including Lilly, Sanofi and Lonza, and has moved its lead programme, IDP-001, into the clinic.

So today, we’re going to talk about Prakash’s journey through biotech, what he learned from operating inside big pharma and venture, how he thinks about building companies and platforms, the opportunity around proximity biology, and what it takes to translate a differentiated scientific idea into a successful biotech business.

On this episode we're joined by Palisade Bio's CEO & CMO, JD Finley & Mitch Jones.

In Q2 2026, Palisade released promising ph1 data for their lead asset - PALI2108 - a PDE4 inhibitor. With recent IND clearance for their ph2 ASCENTRA-UC study, we discuss that data, and what real success looks like clinically & commercially for the business & asset moving forward, in an increasingly busy IBD market.

We hope you enjoy the episode.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Kristen Wong of Altitude Life Science Ventures.

Kristen shares her journey into venture capital and how she thinks about identifying the people and companies worth backing at the earliest stages. We discuss why the investments you pass on can be just as valuable as the ones you make, the importance of founder emotional intelligence, and what the SVB crisis taught her about supporting companies through uncertainty.

We also explore where AI is genuinely changing biotech and investing, why Kristen writes about the industry, and the lessons she has learned from working closely with founders and company builders.

In this episode we meet Tom Ciulla, CEO of Ikarovec, one of the most exciting gene therapy biotechs in The UK and the ophthalmology scene more broadly.

Ikarovec isn't Tom's first rodeo - playing a role in the rise of Iveric, Spark, Viridian, and Nanoscope - but as a first-time CEO, tune in to hear what excited him the most about Ikarovec's bicistronic platform, their plans for clinical trials in GA & RP, and the latest on their Series A.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Michael Engsig, CEO of Nykode Therapeutics, and Agnete Fredriksen, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer.

Michael and Agnete share the story behind Nykode, how the company’s technology has evolved, and what they’ve learned from building a biotech around a novel approach to immunotherapy.

We also discuss the balance between scientific ambition and commercial execution, the challenges of developing new cancer treatments, how the CEO and CSO roles work together, and where they see the future of cancer immunotherapy heading.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast by Avetix, Ben sits down with Dr. David Crean, Chief Business Officer at MediciNova, to explore a career spanning biotechnology, investment, M&A and strategic partnering.

The conversation explores David’s journey into biotech, how he evaluates opportunities and partnerships, and the decisions that shape the development of emerging therapeutics. We also discuss MediciNova’s work in neurological disease, including the development of MN-166 (ibudilast), and the challenges of advancing therapies in areas such as ALS and other complex CNS disorders.

David also shares his perspective on business development in today’s biotech market, what makes an asset attractive to potential partners, how smaller companies can position themselves effectively, and how the relationship between science, financing and deal-making has evolved throughout his career.

We were delighted to be joined by Kathleen Gallagher, CEO of Atrium Therapeutics.

Kathleen has built a fascinating career across the biotech industry, with experience spanning corporate communications, investor relations, clinical development and executive leadership. Before founding Atrium, she spent time at companies including Merrimack Pharmaceuticals and Akcea Therapeutics, before joining Avidity Biosciences, where she ultimately became Chief Program Officer.

At Avidity, Kathleen was closely involved in the company’s evolution and the development of its RNA therapeutics platform, including its work in myotonic dystrophy. The company’s journey ultimately culminated in its landmark acquisition by Novartis for up to $12 billion, one of the largest transactions in the biotech sector.

Following that experience, Kathleen took on the CEO of Atrium Therapeutics. Atrium is developing targeted RNA therapies for genetically driven cardiovascular diseases, with the ambition of addressing serious rare diseases where patients currently have limited treatment options.

Today, we’re going to talk about Kathleen’s journey through biotech, how her career evolved from communications and investor relations into drug development and ultimately the CEO role, what she learned from helping build Avidity, and what it was like to go through such a significant company transaction.

We’ll also explore the opportunity in RNA therapeutics, the decision to start Atrium, what it takes to build a biotech from the ground up, and Kathleen’s perspective on leadership, culture and what makes an early-stage biotech successful.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Fred Aslan, President and CEO of Artiva Biotherapeutics.

Fred shares his journey across venture capital, business development and biotech leadership, including his time at Venrock and Vividion, and how those experiences shaped the way he now leads Artiva.

We discuss what it takes to build and scale a biotech, how investor experience changes the way you make decisions as a CEO, the opportunity for off-the-shelf cell therapies, and where Fred sees the future of the cell therapy space heading.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Luis Peña, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Evommune.

Luis shares his journey from scientist to biotech founder, including the story behind building Dermira and the lessons he took from its acquisition by Eli Lilly. We discuss why he decided to start again with Evommune and the company’s ambition to develop new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases.

We also explore what it takes to build and finance a biotech, the transition into the CEO role, how Luis approaches leadership, and what he believes separates companies that successfully turn strong science into meaningful medicines.

In Q1 of this year, I sat down with Meredith, CFO at Corsera Health, to discuss the future of cardiovascular health and why prediction and prevention are becoming increasingly important in improving outcomes long before a CVD diagnosis.We explored what it takes to build a company at the intersection of science, data and healthcare, how finance and strategy support innovation.A really insightful conversation with Meredith on the opportunities and challenges of building a company focused on tackling one of the world's leading causes of death.

In this episode of the BioHub by Avetix, we’re joined by Dana Watt, Partner at Breakout Ventures, to explore how she evaluates ambitious science-led businesses at the earliest stages.

Dana discusses her journey from neuroscience and company building into venture capital, what separates an exciting technology from an investable company, and the signals she looks for in scientific founders. We also explore how Breakout supports companies beyond capital, the changing investment environment for biotech and deep tech, and where Dana sees the greatest opportunities emerging across biology and technology.

A brilliant conversation for scientists, founders and anyone interested in how transformative ideas make the leap from the lab into the market.

Dana is currently a Partner at Breakout Ventures and has a background spanning cellular and molecular neuroscience, company formation and early-stage life-science investment.

Todays episode we welcomed Pam Stetkiewicz from Lyora Therapeutics on the BioHub Podcast.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Handol Kim, Co-Founder and CEO of Variational AI.

Recorded at BIO 2026, Handol shares his unconventional journey from more than two decades in technology into biotech, and why he chose to apply generative AI to one of science’s most difficult challenges: discovering new medicines. Variational AI’s Enki platform is purpose-built to generate novel, synthesizable small molecules designed around a specific target product profile.

We discuss the realities behind the AI hype, where the technology can genuinely improve drug discovery, the challenge of building credibility at the intersection of technology and biology, and the lessons Handol has learned from building companies throughout his career.

We were delighted to be joined by Ola Włodek, a biotech executive and the CEO of Constructive Bio, a company at the forefront of synthetic biology and the development of new ways to engineer biology and create novel molecules.

Ola brings a wealth of experience across the life sciences industry, with a background spanning strategy, operations, and business leadership. At Constructive Bio, she is part of the team working to translate cutting-edge synthetic biology into a platform capable of creating entirely new possibilities for drug discovery and development.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore Ola’s career journey, and the potential of the company’s technology to fundamentally change how we think about designing and developing new medicines. We’ll also discuss the challenges of scaling a highly innovative biotech, the next major inflection points for the business, and Ola’s perspective on where the industry is heading.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I'm joined by Valerie Vanhooren, CEO and Co-Founder of Ona Therapeutics.

Recorded shortly after Ona Therapeutics announced its $85 million Series B, Valerie shares the journey behind building the company, the challenges of fundraising in today's biotech market, and the opportunity to develop next-generation precision oncology therapies that improve outcomes for patients with cancer.

We also discuss the evolution of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), what it takes to build a biotech from the ground up, the importance of company culture, and Valerie's vision for the future of precision oncology.

Paul didn't stumble into biotech, he was pulled in by a diagnosis. When a doctor told his daughter to prepare for a life without her sight due to retinitis pigmentosa, he went all in on finding the best science out there to give patients like her new hope.

Today he leads Ray Therapeutics, who're developing optogenetic gene therapies designed to restore vision, not just slow its loss, for patients who are already out of other options. We talk about the science, the personal mission, and what's coming next.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I'm joined by Samir Ounzain, CEO and Co-Founder of HAYA Therapeutics.

Samir shares the journey from pioneering research into the so-called "dark genome" to building one of biotech's most exciting RNA therapeutics companies. We discuss why long non-coding RNAs could unlock an entirely new class of precision medicines, the challenge of turning groundbreaking science into a business, and how HAYA is approaching diseases with significant unmet need.

We also explore the importance of resilience in biotech, the evolution from scientist to CEO, the role AI is beginning to play in drug discovery, and what the future holds for RNA therapeutics and precision medicine.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Ben is joined by Tim Noyes, President and CEO of Newleos Therapeutics.

Tim reflects on more than 35 years across the life sciences industry, from beginning his career at Merck to building and leading emerging biotechnology companies. He shares why he has consistently been drawn to smaller organisations, where leadership teams can remain close to the science, the patients and the people driving the company forward.

The conversation explores Newleos’ mission to rethink the treatment of anxiety and other neuropsychiatric conditions through a pipeline of differentiated GABA-A receptor modulators originally licensed from Roche. Tim discusses the opportunity to retain the therapeutic benefits associated with GABA modulation while overcoming the limitations of traditional benzodiazepines, including the company’s clinical programmes in generalised anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder.

They also discuss the importance of patient access, the challenges of reimbursement in the US healthcare system, and why humility, appreciation and a people-focused culture are central to Tim’s approach to leadership.

Today we're joined by Ben Swanson, Founder and CEO of Skeletalis, a biotechnology company developing a new generation of precision medicines for bone disease.

Ben's path into biotech is anything but conventional. Trained as both a dentist and a scientist, he founded Skeletalis to tackle one of the biggest unmet challenges in musculoskeletal health: how to deliver treatments directly to the parts of the skeleton that need them most, while minimizing effects on the rest of the body.

At Skeletalis, Ben and his team have developed the OASIS platform—a targeted drug delivery approach designed to direct therapies to sites of active bone remodeling. Their lead focus is osteoporosis, a disease affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide, with the potential to transform how bone diseases are treated in the future.

In this conversation, we'll explore Ben's journey from academia to entrepreneurship, what it takes to build a biotech company from groundbreaking research, the future of precision medicine, and why solving bone health could have a profound impact on healthy aging

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Max sits down with Bennett Smith, Senior Vice President of Commercial at Beren Therapeutics.

Bennett has spent more than two decades building commercial organisations and bringing innovative medicines to patients, holding leadership roles at Novo Nordisk, Regeneron, Akebia, and Orchard Therapeutics, where he helped launch one of the world's most expensive gene therapies.

Today, he's leading commercial strategy at Beren Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech taking a different approach to developing treatments for rare diseases.

In this conversation, we discuss Bennett's journey through biotech, why commercial thinking should begin long before launch, the story behind Beren's emergence from stealth, and what it takes to build a successful commercial organisation from the ground up.

We also explore the future of rare disease innovation and why aligning science and commercial strategy from day one can make all the difference.

What's the right team to build a precision cardiovascular biopharma company?

In this episode Tassos Gianakakos CEO and Chief People Officer Liz Nguyen discuss how Kardigan is thinking about talent, culture, and the capabilities required to bring precision medicine to cardiovascular disease.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Ben sits down with Miles Gerson, Partner at SV Health Investors and Co-Lead of the Dementia Discovery Fund.

Miles shares his perspective on investing in neuroscience, building companies around emerging biology and identifying approaches with the potential to change the treatment landscape in dementia and neurodegenerative disease.

The conversation explores how the Dementia Discovery Fund assesses scientific risk, what makes a neuroscience company investable, where the strongest opportunities are emerging, and how investors can help translate promising research into viable therapeutic companies.

Miles also discusses the evolution of dementia drug development, the role of company creation and what the next generation of successful neuroscience businesses will need to get right.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Max sits down with Andrew Obenshain, CEO of Inventiva.

Andrew brings more than 20 years of experience across global drug development, regulatory strategy, and commercialization. Before joining Inventiva, he led bluebird bio through its transformation into a global commercial-stage gene therapy company and previously held senior leadership roles at Shire and Genzyme.

Inventiva is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company developing oral therapies for patients with significant unmet medical needs, with its lead program focused on MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis).

In this conversation, we discuss Andrew's journey through global biotech leadership, why he chose to lead a French biotech company, the challenges of running a late-stage clinical business, and what makes Inventiva's approach so exciting.

We also explore the strengths of the European biotech ecosystem, the milestones ahead for Inventiva, and the leadership lessons Andrew has learned throughout his career.

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Eduardo, CEO of Citryll Therapeutics. Eduardo has built his career at the intersection of science, innovation, and business, leading the development of transformative therapies designed to address serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

With extensive experience in the biotechnology industry, Eduardo has played a key role in guiding companies from scientific discovery through clinical development and strategic growth. As CEO of Citryll Therapeutics, he is leading a team focused on pioneering treatments that target novel mechanisms of disease, with the ambition of improving outcomes for patients who currently have limited therapeutic options.

In today's conversation, we'll explore Eduardo's career journey, what inspired him to pursue leadership in biotech, the science behind Citryll's approach, and the opportunities and challenges involved in bringing breakthrough therapies from the lab to the clinic

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast by Avetix, Ben is joined by Michael Rome, Managing Director at Foresite Capital.

Michael brings a unique perspective across biotech investing, company formation, therapeutics strategy, and public markets. The conversation explores how great biotech companies are built, what separates strong science from a fundable opportunity, and how investors think about timing, team, differentiation, and value creation.

We also discuss the current biotech market, the evolving relationship between capital and innovation, and what founders need to understand when building companies in today’s environment.

A wide-ranging conversation on biotech investing, company creation, and the future of therapeutics.

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Luke Henry, Chief Business Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Quell Therapeutics, a company at the forefront of engineering the next generation of regulatory T cell, or Treg, therapies for immune-mediated diseases.

Quell is pioneering a new approach to treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, as well as improving outcomes in organ transplantation. Rather than suppressing the entire immune system, the company's engineered Treg therapies are designed to restore immune tolerance by precisely targeting the underlying immune dysfunction. Its platform combines advanced cell engineering, proprietary technologies to enhance Treg stability and function, and integrated manufacturing capabilities to develop potentially transformative, one-time treatments for diseases that today require lifelong immunosuppression.

Luke has played a central role in Quell's journey since joining shortly after the company was founded in 2019. As Chief Business Officer and Chief Operating Officer, he oversees corporate strategy, business development, operations, and portfolio management, helping guide the company through rapid growth, major financings, strategic partnerships, and the advancement of its clinical pipeline.

Before Quell, Luke was Senior Director of Business Development and Strategy at Neon Therapeutics, where he helped shape the company's neoantigen T cell therapy strategy, led business development initiatives, and supported multiple financings, including the company's IPO. Earlier in his career, he was a Principal at Boston Consulting Group, advising leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on R&D strategy and immuno-oncology portfolios. He also brings a strong scientific foundation, holding an MSci in Natural Sciences with a focus on Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Oncology from the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London.

Today, we'll explore the promise of engineered Treg therapies, the challenges of building a pioneering cell therapy company, the evolving investment and partnership landscape in biotech, and what it takes to translate breakthrough science into medicines that could fundamentally change how immune-mediated diseases are treated.

Rick Batycky, CEO of Nocion Therapeutics, joins The BioHub Podcast by Avetix to discuss the company’s work in chronic cough and neurogenic inflammation.

Rick talks about the scale of the unmet need in chronic cough, why the condition remains so difficult to treat, and how Nocion is approaching the biology differently. He also shares insight into the company’s lead programme, its upcoming pivotal-stage development, and what successful execution could mean for patients who currently have limited treatment options.

The conversation also explores Rick’s perspective on building a focused biotech, operating as a lean virtual organisation, working with regulators, and leading a team through late-stage clinical development.

Welcome back to another episode of the BioHub Podcast.

Today, we're delighted to be joined by Patrick Mooney, CEO of SpyGlass Pharma.

Patrick has built an impressive career in ophthalmology, beginning in sales and progressing through a variety of leadership roles to become one of the industry's most respected executives.

At SpyGlass Pharma, the mission is simple: put patients first. The company is developing innovative technology designed to transform the treatment of eye diseases, with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Their groundbreaking drug-delivering lens platform represents an exciting advancement in ophthalmic care.

In today's conversation, we'll explore Patrick's career journey, the vision behind SpyGlass Pharma, and how the company is working to shape the future of eye care.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Max sits down with Dr. Sandeep Kulkarni, Co-Founder and CEO of Zura Bio.

Sandeep's career has spanned consulting, investing, and operating roles across biotech, including positions at BCG, Roivant, and Immunovant, before going on to co-found Tourmaline Bio and now lead Zura Bio.

Zura is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases through a differentiated multi-asset strategy.

In this conversation, we discuss Sandeep's journey into the CEO role, the thinking behind Zura's strategy, the lessons he's learned from building companies, and how founders should navigate today's biotech environment.

We also explore company culture, portfolio building, and when founders should think about strategic exits versus building independently.

In this episode of The BioHub, Amber is joined by Trevor Martin, Co-Founder and CEO of Mammoth Biosciences.

Mammoth Biosciences is developing next-generation CRISPR technologies with the goal of unlocking the full potential of programmable medicine. Founded alongside Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, the company has built a platform focused on discovering and engineering novel CRISPR systems for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

During the conversation, Trevor shares the story behind Mammoth's founding, the evolution of the CRISPR field, and why delivery remains one of the biggest challenges in gene editing today. We also discuss the transition from platform innovation to therapeutic development, the role of AI and computational biology in advancing gene editing technologies, and what the future of programmable medicine may look like.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Max sits down with Sean MacDonald, CEO of Kainova Therapeutics.

Sean has spent more than two decades in biotech, helping build companies through strategy, fundraising, business development, and corporate leadership. Today, he leads Kainova Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company focused on unlocking the potential of GPCR biology in immuno-oncology and inflammatory diseases.

In this conversation, we discuss the evolution of Kainova from Domain Therapeutics, the thinking behind the company's rebrand, and why GPCR drug discovery is generating renewed excitement across the industry.

We also explore leadership, company culture across international teams, the lessons Sean has learned from decades of partnerships and dealmaking, and what's next for Kainova as the company advances its pipeline.