Beyond Biotech - the podcast from Labiotech

Labiotech
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Welcome to the official Labiotech.eu podcast - Beyond Biotech! Each week, we talk about what's happening in the world of biotech, with news and interviews with experts from companies around the world. Join us as we cover the latest news, breakthroughs and innovations shaping the life sciences industry.A new podcast episode is available every Friday. The host is Dylan Kissane.

  1. 3D AGO

    Nionyx Bio's kidney gene therapy wins the 2026 BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight

    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:  Lisbon is calling: the BIO-Europe Startup Spotlight returns in March 2026BIO-Europe Spring 2026: partnership event brings funding hope to biotechsBIO-Europe partnering: Australian biotech companies share their experiences

    29 min

  2. MAR 27

    HaemaLogiX - precision immunotherapy for multiple myeloma

    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. 01:15 Meet Rosanne Dunn07:52 HaemalogiX's mission and novel antigens09:53 Overview of multiple myeloma and its symptoms12:19 Targeting malignant plasma cells while sparing normal ones19:25 Recent Peer-Reviewed Research26:08 Synergy with IMiDs like Revlimid29:08 Potential patient impact and quality of life35:05 Planned IPO in 2026 and funding needsInterested 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:  5 cancers that immunotherapy can cureBIO-Europe partnering: Australian biotech companies share their experiencesHow are R&D Tax Incentives shaping Australia’s biotech future?

    43 min

  3. MAR 20

    How Leyden Labs is revolutionizing flu protection with its intranasal antibody spray

    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:  Seven biotech companies to know in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands’ biotech scene: The country sets its sights on becoming a global leader by 2040 Influenza solution deals pile up as pandemic preparedness increases

    33 min

  4. MAR 13

    How to optimize your biotech company for partnering, licensing, and business success

    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:  How biotech startups become unicornsThe ABC of biotech startup fundingBiotech’s legal storm: Why securities class action lawsuits are surging

    42 min

  5. MAR 6

    Reversing tumor immunosuppression with next-gen GPCR modulation

    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:  GPCR therapies: Eight promising biotechs hacking the cell signaling pathwayEpisode 182: Building a smart oncology pipeline with Cumulus OncologyEpisode 34: eClinical Solutions, GPCR Therapeutics, Orbsen Therapeutics

    34 min

  6. FEB 27

    Misinformation is a public health crisis - here's how to fix it

    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. 01:22           Meet Sergey Jakimov06:14           Developing a longevity focus10:47           A typical day at LongeVC13:26           The LongeVC portfolio17:28           Misinformation as health crisis26:04           The harm of bad advice33:16           The impact on biotech industry funding36:18           Strategies for addressing misinformation42:17           Optimism about trends in longevityInterested 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:  13 anti-aging startups on a mission to extend livesTurning back time with cellular reprogramming: Shift raises $16 million in seed fundingAre European biotech VCs under pressure to scale? Time to get pragmatic

    50 min

  7. FEB 20

    Accelerating rare disease cures with ASOs, gene editing, and AI

    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:  Prader Willi syndrome: five much-anticipated therapies poised for approval First-ever approval for Barth Syndrome treatment: what does this mean for ultra-rare disease therapeutics? When rare diseases are not so rare after all: A closer look at where and why this happens

    49 min

  8. FEB 13

    Using AI to crack undruggable drug targets

    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:  Seven influential women in biotech in 2026 Report: Adopting AI in biologics discoveryWebinar: How AI and LLMs are helping chemists design drugs faster and smarter

    33 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3.3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to the official Labiotech.eu podcast - Beyond Biotech! Each week, we talk about what's happening in the world of biotech, with news and interviews with experts from companies around the world. Join us as we cover the latest news, breakthroughs and innovations shaping the life sciences industry.A new podcast episode is available every Friday. The host is Dylan Kissane.

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