Beyond Biotech - the podcast from Labiotech

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: Life sciences in Wales: biotechs in the scene in 2025Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance with Fast Molecular DiagnosticsUltra-Fast Diagnostics Could Transform Sexual Health

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: Synthetic Biology @ LabiotechEuropean biotech: trends to watch in 2025The coming of age of European synthetic biology

Today we’re diving into the world of expression systems with Iskander Dib, of Validogen and we’ll explore the remarkable potential of Pichia pastoris, a methylotrophic yeast that’s revolutionizing pharmaceutical protein production and beyond. From industrial enzymes to biomaterials, food, feed, and diagnostics, Pichia offers a reliable, scalable, and cost-efficient platform for recombinant protein expression. Iskander explains how biotechs can unlock Pichia’s full potential through Validogen’s sophisticated tools and strategies, fine-tuning protein expression with innovative genetic approaches and robust screening systems to deliver unmatched yields and quality. 01:06 Why pichia is often overlooked or underestimated 03:29 The basics of pichia pastoris 05:25 How pichia compares to microbial hosts like E.coli 08:14 Key advantages over mammalian cell systems 10:21 Pichia as a system for secreted production 11:30 Pichia and post-translational modifications 14:30 The challenges of working with pichia 16:25 Strain optimization and genetic engineering 17:29 Meet Iskander Dib and Validogen 19:03 The UNLOCK PICHIA platform 24:00 Real-world applications of pichia pastoris in biopharma 27:19 When pichia outperforms expectations 28:25 Adapting pichia for emerging fields 30:23 Advice for those considering pichia pastoris for protein expression 33:23 Learn more about Validogen This episode is sponsored by Validogen. 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: Case Study: methanol-free bivalent VHH production in pichiaUnlocking pichia for industry

In today's episode, we welcome Clarke Futch, Chairman and CEO of HealthCare Royalty Partners, or HCRx. HCRx are pioneers in royalty-based financing, with a thirty year track record in biopharma investing. Clarke has led more than 60 royalty acquisitions totaling nearly $4 billion and raised over $8 billion across various vehicles, executing more than 165 transactions that have fueled breakthroughs in life sciences. In this interview we examine the evolution of alternative funding models, the transformative impact of alternative funding models on biotech innovation, partnerships, and M&A, and take a macro view on the financial health of the industry amid economic shifts. 02:10 Meet Clarke Futch 07:58 HCRx and its mission 18:55 Differences between a royalty firm and a venture firm 21:34 Alternative funding models in biotech 24:49 Are VCs pulling back? Are alternatives rising? 30:20 How royalty financing impacts partnerships and M&A 33:02 Do alternative financing models risk stifling innovation? 36:33 A macro look at the health of the biotech sector 41:33 What areas of biotech are underfunded right now? 46:22 Looking forward: the 6-12 months ahead? 48:10 Advice for founders navigating financial uncertainty 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: Moving with the times: biopharma royalty deals on the riseThe ABC of biotech startup funding2025 biotech deals tracker

When it comes to contraception, most of the innovation in the last century has focused on providing contraceptive alternatives for women. The contraceptive pill was approved by the FDA in 1960, the first IUD approved in 1968, and the female condom in 1993. For men, however, there has been little advancement since the invention of the rubber condom in 1855 and the first vasectomies in humans around the turn of the 20th century. Contraline is a biotechnology company that is aiming to change that record. They are currently heading into Phase II trials with a therapy that they claim is reliable, long lasting, easy to use, and reversible. This week, I talk with Kevin Eisenfrats, CEO of Contraline, about the challenges of bringing a new contraceptive to market, how to manage clinical trials on multiple continents, and what the world might look like if the contraceptive burden passes from women to men. 01:21 Kevin Eisenfrats and Contraline 07:28 Contraline’s ADAM 09:09 How ADAM works 11:39 Reversibility is a differentiator for ADAM 14:01 Hormonal gels and contraception 17:14 The phase I trial in Australia 21:47 The implantation process 25:07 Moving into phase II 27:04 The male contraception market 29:30 Fundraising for male contraception 33:06 The gendered burden of contraception 34:54 The future of male contraception 36:49 The cultural and social impact of male contraception 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: MedinCell Granted €17M to Develop Cheap Long-Acting ContraceptionReversible Male ContraceptiveCyclic Peptides as Non-hormonal Male Contraceptive Agents and Methods of Use ThereofNoninvasive Laser Vasectomy

Raising money in the gene therapy space can be tough right now but, for the right company and with the right team, there is still cash to be found. But how do you connect with investors, how do you get your science in front of the right people, and how do you move from ‘I’m interested’ to ‘I’m signing on the dotted line’? This week I talk with Gerard Caelles, Chief Business Office of Splice Bio, a company that just closed a $135 million series B fundraising round. I quiz him on the practical steps that biotechs need to take to move from a series A to a series B, the key members of the team that pulled the deal together, how to keep existing investors engaged while bringing new money on-board, and how it feels when it is all done. 01:14 Meet Gerard Caelles 04:34 The Splice Bio platform 12:34 Raising $135 million in uncertain times 15:31 Laying the groundwork for a series B 18:15 Building a fundraising team 20:45 Identifying and approaching new investors 22:38 Fundraising challenges in 2025 26:37 Refining the strategy and pitch 29:00 Choosing lead investors 31:59 Keeping existing investors on board 34:12 A look behind the scenes 37:52 What’s next for Splice Bio 42:10 Learn more about Splice Bio 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 2025 Biotech Funding TrackerThe ABC of biotech startup fundingBudget blues: where are cell and gene therapies heading?

Immunology and inflammation are hot topics in biotech and biopharma, and innovations are emerging that can change the game for patients suffering from autoimmune, gastrointestinal, and metabolic disease. For top pharma companies, identifying these innovations early is essential and, for university labs, spinouts and startups, getting their science in front of the right industry partners is key. So how does science meet industry, and how can top pharma and venture investors find the next blockbuster? This week I sat down with Joseph Ferner of Inpart, the author of a new R&D Trends Report on Immunology and Inflammation. He explained the shape of the research landscape, the areas that are generating the most interest amongst industry and investors, and the ways in which digital platforms are helping innovative scientists connect with those who have the experience and finance to bring their technologies and therapies to market. Download the Immunology & Inflammation R&D Trends ReportCreate a free Inpart Connect accountSpeak with the Inpart team02:18 The 2025 Immunology and Inflammation R&D Trends Report 08:30 Priorities and challenges in immunology and inflammation research 10:18 The impact of immune system complexity on drug development 13:12 The challenge of clinical heterogeneity 15:33 The role of organoids in immunology and inflammation R&D 17:10 Comparing organoid models to animal models 19:51 The R&D landscape in 2025 22:40 Popular modalities in immunology and inflammation research 24:45 The top innovations in the 2025 R&D Trends Report 28:56 How to score and rank innovations in a rapidly evolving market 33:22 Engagement trends between researchers and industry partners 37:09 Why companies decline to engage with academic researchers 43:36 The Inpart Connect platform and how it works 48:49 Looking forward to the next R&D Trends Report 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 is the immunology and inflammation market suddenly attracting a wave of investment?

Partnering conferences are where many deals in the biotech industry get made. With investors and top pharma companies on hand to meet with founders, learn about new science, and put money on the table for promising biotech, it’s little wonder that the biggest partnering events attract hundreds of innovators and thousands of attendees. One of the largest industry partnering events in Europe is BIOSPAIN. This year BIOSPAIN will take place in Barcelona, and the Catalan city will welcome participants from more than 40 countries for three days of exhibitions, partnering meetings, and presentations from industry leaders. Labiotech will be on the ground reporting from BIOSPAIN this year, and so we sat down with Stewart Medina fromBIOSPAIN to find out exactly what’s in store. 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: Catalonia: A biotech hub going from strength to strength, with Barcelona at its core10 biotech companies you should know about in Spain20 years of BIOSPAIN – The evolution of an international biotech event

How do you do science, how do you build biotechs, and how can you drive innovation in a country that’s almost always under threat? These are questions that this week’s guest, Mati Gill, CEO of AION Labs in Israel, is perfectly positioned to answer. AION Labs has an innovative company creation process that empowers scientists and startups to tackle high-impact pharma challenges with AI, backed by top-tier data, funding, and expertise from global pharma partners. In the middle of a transformative decade for AI-driven drug discovery, and with Israel poised to play an increasingly significant part, Mati explains how venture studios are helping to foster groundbreaking solutions for global health challenges. 01:07 Meet Mati Gill 07:19 The biotech industry in Israel 09:38 How the Israeli biotech industry is changing with AI and other technologies 13:01 The biggest challenges facing Israeli biotechs and biopharma 16:05 Geopolitical threats to Israel and Iranian missile attacks on labs 18:07 AION Labs and its mission 20:27 AION Building and AION Seeding 24:03 Why top pharma wants to partner with AION Labs startups 27:53 Workshopping startup ideas with top pharma companies 32:04 The future of venture studios like AION Labs 36:33 At the intersection of AI, biotech, and Israel’s innovation ecosystem 39:24 Advice for entrepreneurs and 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: AION Labs launches AI startup to improve drug trialsThe 5 hottest biotech companies making waves in IsraelWhat to look for in a biotech incubator

Lonza is one of the world’s largest contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), dedicated to serving the healthcare industry. They work alongside a broad range of customers – from emerging biotechs to top global pharmaceutical companies – to transform therapeutic discoveries into life-saving and life-enhancing treatments for their patients. Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, Lonza has embraced innovation and kept pace with a fast-changing world for more than 125 years. They are a leader in both established and emerging technologies and today their 19,000 employees across more than 30 sites on five continents generate annual sales of more than $4.4 billion. We sat down with Alice Harrison, Global Technical Director (CMC and Analytics), and Megan Mason, Global Process Development Implementation Manager, to learn more about how Lonza is helping innovators large and small develop and scale their therapies and deliver better outcomes for patients worldwide. _____ The information in this podcast is believed to be correct at the time of recording, and is for information only. While we make reasonable efforts to ensure that the content is accurate, we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding its accuracy, completeness, reliability, suitability or the results to be obtained from the use of such information. Lonza disclaims any liability for the use of this information and the reliance of the information contained herein is at your own risk. _____ 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 Set up Manufacturing for Biotech StartupsAccelerating the path to clinical filing applications with rapid toxicology material deliveryLarge molecule manufacturing: addressing challenges with strategies for success

Parkinsons disease impacts some 10 million people worldwide and current approaches to treating the condition almost exclusively focus on addressing symptoms – there is, as of yet, no cure. One Finnish biotech, however, is not focused on alleviating symptoms but on modifying the course of the disease itself. Their hope is to be able to stop and even reverseneurodegenerative diseases like Parkinsons, and they have the backing of significant players, such as the Michael J Fox Foundation, to do just that. This week I spoke to Antti Vuolanto, CEO of Herantis Pharma, about the work his company is doing, the science behind their approach, and the advantages and challenges of working in biotech in the Nordics. 01:10 Meet Antti Vuolanto 05:10 The biotech landscape in the Nordics 07:07 Herantis Pharma and its mission 09:38 Treating symptoms versus disease modification 13:31 Herantis in relation to other Parkinson’s disease companies 15:47 HER-096 26:24 The global burden of Parkinson’s disease and the unmet need 28:56 The role of patient and advocacy groups 30:11 The future of Parkinson’s disease treatment 31:52 How the Nordics can develop and expand their biotech sector 36:33 Stay up to date on Herantis and their work 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: Finland: Pushing biotech forward in the land of a thousand lakesParkinson’s disease: biotech’s pursuit for more therapies The stem cell race for Parkinson’s disease: Recent studies show significant promise

RNAi has changed the way that rare diseases are treated - is it about to do the same for more common conditions? Alnylam was the very first company to translate RNAi from Nobel Prize winning science into a commercially scalable platform. Founded in 2002, the company today has five different RNAi therapies on the market and a pipeline that continues to expand. While their early focus was on rare disease, today they are expanding into more common conditions, partnering with top pharma companies to bring next-generation therapies to market. This week I sat down with Paul Nioi, Senior Vice President of Research at Alnylam. Paul has more than 20 year’s experience in biotech and biopharma, and he walked me through Alnylam’s mission and place in the biotech ecosystem, the science of RNAi, the early success treating metabolic disease, and exactly where their platform is expanding into now and in the near future. Paul explains the capacity of RNAi to address neurological and infectious disease, the value of large-scale genomic initiatives, and how he sees drug discovery evolving in the years ahead. 01:29 Meet Paul Nioi 08:56 Alnylam, its mission, and its science 14:35 Two types of partnerships: top pharma, and genomic initiatives 22:34 RNAi therapies on the market for rare disease 27:29 Expanding into more common conditions 32:17 INHBE mutations and cardiometabolic disease 35:01 Working with Roche to target hypertension 38:58 Looking forward: Alnylam’s platform in the near future 41:49 What role for national genomic initiatives? 45:16 RNAi’s place in a future of precision medicine 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: mRNA, RNAi, circRNA, ASOs: A comparative guide to RNA therapeuticsSix biotech companies leading the charge in hemophilia treatmentEpisode 159: Day One DNA - How and why the UK is betting on whole genome sequencing for every newborn

Nearly 1 billion people around the world suffer from mental health disorders, with the global economic cost of those disorders expected to reach $6 trillion by 2030. One of the most common of those mental health disorders is depressive disorder, commonly called depression, with some 280 million people suffering from either mild, moderate or severe depression. Conventional treatments for depression such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, can work for many people but for some suffering from treatment resistant depression, options can be limited, but some new therapies are in the clinic and might offer some hope. Beckley PsyTech is a UK biotech that is working with next-generation psychedelic-based compounds administered in a short clinic visit once every two months. With positive results from their recent Phase 2B study and a partnership with atai Life Sciences, Beckley believes they are on their way to redefining how depression is treated. 01:38 Meet Cosmo Fielding 03:04 Beckley PsyTech, its mission and its focus 08:36 BPL-003 and next generation psychedelics 11:16 Intranasal delivery and its advantages 14:26 Psychedelics in the clinic and Phase IIb trial results 18:32 Safety: suicide signals and adverse events 21:02 Applications for psychedelics outside of depression 24:11 The global economic costs of mental health disorders 27:40 Comparing Beckley PsyTech to Compass Pathways and GH Research 35:26 Regulatory hurdles and the stigma around psychedelics 38:14 Partnering with atai Life Sciences and the future of Beckley PsyTech 43:16 Milestones ahead for Beckley PsyTech 45:44 A future vision for patients suffering from depression 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: New antidepressants: tackling treatment resistant depressionPsychedelics sans side effects: neuroplastogens gain groundFrom LSD to healing minds: Where are we standing in psychedelic drug development?

The UK is preparing to change the game for healthcare - but why, how, and what will it cost? Recently the UK government announced plans to sequence the DNA of every baby born in that country. A part of the country’s 10 Year Health Plan, the program aims to identify rare genetic diseases early, prevent harms from delayed treatment and reduce future healthcare costs for the NHS. Yet along with those potential upsides come a range of ethical and practical questions, too: who guards the sequenced data, who can access it, how can consent be informed, managed and withdrawn years later, and what is the best way to gather the genetic material required to fully sequence the DNA of 700,000 infants each year? This week, I spoke to Neil Ward of PacBio to understand more about this program, compare it to other national genome sequencing programs in Europe and Asia, and discuss the promise of unlocking the ‘language of life’. 02:02 Meet Neil Ward 09:10 PacBio, its mission, and its current focus 17:13 The UK national newborn gene sequencing effort 21:20 Ethical and practical challenges for national newborn sequencing 24:34 Short-read versus long-read sequencing 30:48 Dried blood spots versus cord blood 35:57 Lessons for the UK from Thailand 38:58 Trends in national newborn screening programs worldwide 41:46 What parents and policymakers must know 45:20 Exciting things in the genomics space on the horizon This episode is brought to you by 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: The past, present, and future of genome sequencingThe next frontier in genomic technologies for rare diseasesSeven genome sequencing companies to look out for

Is cultivated meat the future of pet food? And is there a place for cultivated meat on human dinner tables, too? Traditional agricultural methods are slow, require large tracts of land, significant energy and environmental inputs, and – somewhat obviously – the slaughter of hundreds of millions of animals every year. Cultivated meat – that is meat that is grown in a lab – requires little land, less energy, and in the case of Meatly, nothing more than a single cell from a single chicken egg, once. This week I sat down with Owen Ensor, CEO of UK biotech startup Meatly, to talk all things cultivated meat. He explains the science behind his company’s cultivated meat process, the significant cost savings that Meatly has made to bring down prices for their product, and how his company became the very first in Europe to have a cultivated meat product approved for sale, in the hands of consumers, and in the bellies of beloved cats and dogs. 01:29 Meet Owen Ensor 05:10 Meatly and its mission 10:12 The science of cultivated meat 19:41 Common criticisms of cultivated meat 25:33 Regulation, and geographical diversity in regulation 32:24 Looking forward: from pets to human consumption? 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: Cultured Meat Is Coming Soon: Here’s What You Need to Know10 cultured meat companies driving sustainable food in 2025The future of food: what’s behind the cell-cultured meat industry regulations?

With supply chain management and optimization, risk management, and the capacity to address global markets efficiently and effectively top of mind for all growing biotechs, I'm excited to be joined by Alison Pritchard, Vice President, Business Development at Cryoport Systems, to learn more about how they support life science innovators worldwide. Cryoport Systems evolved alongside the life science industry and expanded its capabilities into full-scale supply chain management solutions that support the critical journeys of the biopharmaceutical, reproductive medicine, and animal health markets. In this episode we look at the ATMP market, the regulatory landscape in EMEA, and the importance of supply chain resilience for cutting edge therapies, whether from established pharmaceutical companies or emerging biotechs and startups. 00:02:14 The state of the ATMP market in 2025 00:07:20 Regulatory trends in EMEA 00:13:53 Operational and supply chain challenges 00:22:13 Lessons in supply chain resilience 00:28:56 Outsourcing trends in biotech 00:37:34 Geopolitical influences on the ATMP supply chain 00:40:39 Cryoport Systems' plans for the future 00:45:53 Final word 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 the code: Delivering biotherapeutics successfully across EMEAUnlocking consistency in ATMP development: How cryopreservation strengthens Europe’s cell therapy supply chain

Inflammatory diseases involve excessive or ongoing inflammation that damages tissues and affects many different human systems, including digestion, immunity, circulation, breathing, and the nervous system. The demand for anti-inflammatory treatments is growing quickly and is tipped to top a quarter of a trillion dollars within the decade as cases increase and new approaches to address inflammation emerge. This week, I had the chance to talk to Niels Riedemann, CEO and Founder of InflaRx, about his company’s first-in-class approach to fighting inflammation, and what the future might hold for his “pipeline in a product”. 01:26 Introducing Niels Riedemann 04:28 InflaRx and its mission 06:37 The competitive landscape in anti-inflammatory therapeutics 07:21 The market for anti-inflammatories 08:40 The challenge of taking a drug from R&D to commercialization 11:06 The science behind the C5a and C5aR approach 14:37 Why is InflaRx the first to focus on these selective inhibitors? 19:18 The importance of the MAC formation 21:05 InflaRx and its disease targets 25:46 Applications beyond anti-inflammatories 27:50 Lessons learned from the clinic 29:54 Growth forecasts for InflaRx 31:48 Different approaches to addressing inflammation 33:51 The role of academia in breakthrough therapies 36:11 Beyond Europe and North America, addressing the global demand for therapeutics 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 is the immunology and inflammation market suddenly attracting a wave of investment?Let’s Take a Closer Look at 7 Autoimmune Diseases Biotechs are Fighting to TreatJAK inhibitors: Are they a good option for treating inflammatory diseases and cancer?

Ros Deegan is an industry leader and the CEO of OMass Therapeutics, an Oxford-based biotechnology company discovering medicines against highly-validated target ecosystems, such as membrane proteins or intracellular complexes. OMass’s MC2 program targeting Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, or CAH, is set to enter the clinic this year and in our interview today she walks me through how the company is preparing for their trials, how their approach differs to existing treatment options, and the impact on patient lives they hope to have. A leader in the UK biopharma industry, she also explains the strengths of the UK industry and how it can maintain an edge in the face of competition from Europe and the US. 01:07 Meet Ros Deegan 02:36 Cambridge and INSEAD 04:24 Building industry experience 05:16 Biotech in the US vs Biotech in the UK 06:19 OMass: mission and ambition 07:16 Funding the mission 08:18 The importance of partnerships 09:17 Industry and government 10:37 OMass and CAH 13:11 The differentiator for patient outcomes 14:49 Into the clinic in 2025 16:31 CAH patients and patient groups 19:29 The importance of hiring the right people 20:55 The Oxford ‘brand’ in biotechnology 22:17 Preparing for the clinic 23:43 Regulation and manufacturing 26:17 Partnering with top pharma 27:35 The importance of building value 28:41 How the UK can compete on a global scale 30:39 What’s next for OMass 32:59 The future of targeting rare disease 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: 10 biotech companies making a difference in rare diseasesRare Disease Day: seven drugs awaiting approval in 2025

The World Health Organization reports that more than 600 million people suffer from lower back pain globally, making it the leading cause of disability worldwide. Chronic lower back pain – where the pain persists for more than 3 months – develops in between 5 and 10% of all lower back pain cases, with life-altering impacts for patients. And that’s where today’s guest, Steve Ruston, of Persica Pharmaceuticals comes in. Persica is developing a groundbreaking and transformative treatment for chronic Low Back Pain. Persica is targeting the cause of chronic lower back pain: the underlying bacterial infection. Unlike conventional approaches that manage symptoms, Persica’s drug enables the infection to clear, reducing inflammation, pain and disability at the source. 1:20 Introducing Steve Ruston of Persica Pharmaceuticals 3:53 Lessons learnt from developing blockbuster drugs 6:35 Global experiences in the biopharma industry 8:32 Persica Pharmaceuticals and its mission 10:26 Collaborations with a network of partners 11:48 A non-opioid approach to addressing lower back pain 13:35 Treating the cause, not the symptoms 15:05 How Persica’s treatment work 18:59 Practical impacts of Persica’s treatment 21:07 Identifying patients for cLBP treatment 23:24 How Persica is changing the treatment landscape 28:10 Regulatory hurdles to overcome 34:37 Securing funding for Persica’s innovation 36:16 The future of treating pain 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: New non-opioid pain medication: How is the biotech industry fighting pain after the opioid crisis?Developing non-opioid pain drugsRedefining chronic pain treatment

Trauma surgeons in Ukraine operating theaters saved lives and limbs thanks to the innovative lab-grown blood vessels from US biotech, Humacyte. Humacyte is pioneering a platform that enables the investigation, development, and manufacture of bioengineered human tissues and organs that are designed to be universally implantable, off-the-shelf, and regenerative, with the goal of treating a wide variety of diseases, injuries, and chronic conditions. This week I had the chance to speak to Humacyte founder, Preisdent and Chief Executive Laura Niklason about the company she has built, the science she is driving forward, and the real-world applications for Humacyte’s lab-grown blood vessels in some of the most devastating and dangerous conflicts. 1:00 Introducing Laura Niklason 4:50 Humacyte and its mission 6:27 Competitive landscape 7:45 Partnering for scale 9:49 How to grow blood vessels in the lab 11:47 Implanting the vessels 13:32 Human vessels vs synthetic vessels 15:10 The manufacturing process 16:23 Overcoming skepticism, demonstrating value 19:01 Navigating the regulatory approval process 21:17 The role of the Department of Defense in innovative biotech 22:30 Using Humacyte vessels in the field 23:20 Humacyte vessels in the Ukraine War 28:22 Lessons from the Ukraine War 30:09 Goals for the coming years 33:35 Scaling manufacturing 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: Current trends & innovations in 3D organoidsThe future of organ transplants: Xenotransplantation, 3D bioprinting and stem cells