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. 5d ago

    How Cancer Research Horizons is building the future of childhood cancer medicines

    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. 01:25 Meet Tony Hickson05:21 What sets Cancer Research Horizons apart from tech transfer offices12:17 Myrix Bio's exit to Novartis, a standout story15:54 Can patient benefit and commercial success align28:53 Inside C-Further's first two therapeutic programs41:19 How researchers and partners can get involvedInterested 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 32: Cancer Research Horizons, Enterome, OncoHost, TrakCel, TurbineCancer Research UK Deploys €700M to Foster Oncology StartupsCancer vaccines: 11 biotechs to keep an eye out for

  2. Aug 7

    Why Western pharma is sleeping on China's circular RNA revolution

    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. CircRNA is more stable than linear mRNA, longer-lasting in the body, and potentially re-dosable. And one company has quietly built what may be the most advanced independent circRNA platform in the world — and with barely a single line of English-language press coverage, until now. My guest today is Dr. Lu Gao, CEO of Therorna Inc., a clinical-stage biotech headquartered in Beijing and Shanghai. The company recently presented three posters at ASGCT in Boston, and their lead program has just entered a first-in-human trial. We're going to talk about the science, the clinical strategy, and why Western pharma hasn't paid enough attention to what's being built in China. 01:33 Meet Lu Gao and Therorna 09:29 How Therorna's approach differs 15:42 How TI-0032 reprograms T cells in the body 21:22 Off-the-shelf and re-dosable: what it means for patients 24:38 Why no Chinese biotech has landed a major in vivo deal 31:27 What a successful US IND clearance would mean 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 therapeutic potential of circular RNA: Could it soon trump mRNA technology?mRNA, RNAi, circRNA, ASOs: A comparative guide to RNA therapeuticsTherorna funding to accelerate circRNA-based platform

  3. Jul 31

    Gain Therapeutics: a first-in-class, disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson's

    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:  Promising biotechs in Maryland right nowBeyond amyloid and dopamine: emerging technologies reshaping neurology  Neurological diseases R&D trends and breakthrough innovations

  4. Jul 24

    This nonprofit is building the ecosystem to cure epidermolysis bullosa

    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:  Gene therapy for skin diseases: A field still finding its footingSix exosome therapy companies driving development in the fieldExtracellular vesicles: a growing pipeline still searching for validation

  5. Jul 17

    How BIO-Europe is expanding beyond dealmaking in 2026

    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:  How to succeed at BIO-Europe: DISCO Pharma takes us behind the scenesMeet Fusix Biotech: 2025 BIO-Europe Startup Spotlight champion revolutionizing oncologyLisbon is calling: the BIO-Europe Startup Spotlight returns in March 2026

  6. Jul 10

    Turning cancer cell dependencies into targeted therapies

    Today I’m delighted to welcome Andy Parker, CEO of Step Pharma. With over 25 years of experience across AstraZeneca, Shire, Zealand Pharma, and venture capital, Andy has led Step Pharma since 2019. The company is pioneering a targeted approach to cancer and blood disorders by inhibiting the enzyme CTPS1. Their lead candidate, dencatistat, blocks this pathway that certain cancer cells and activated immune cells rely on, while sparing healthy cells that use the related CTPS2 enzyme. In this episode, we’ll dive into the science behind this mechanism, explore Step Pharma’s expanding pipeline from lymphomas and solid tumours to essential thrombocythaemia, and discuss their recent €38 million Series C financing. We’ll also look ahead to the future of precision oncology. 01:17 Meet Andy Parker06:12 The biotech ecosystem around Geneva07:51 The CTPS1 enzyme and why cancer cells depend on it14:08 Pipeline-in-a-product strategy across three indications20:14 The series C: €38 million raise25:41 Partnering with big pharma: possibilities and limits28:11 The future of precision oncology and metabolic targetingInterested 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:  Step Pharma and Concr to partner on cancer treatmentStep Pharma moves into oncology clinical trialsStep Pharma announces promising pre-clinical cancer data

  7. Jul 3

    The first PROTAC is here. What comes next in protein degradation?

    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. 01:19     Meet Randy Teel 03:41     Stepping into the CEO role in February 2026 13:17     What is a PROTAC and how it works 17:37     Vepdegestrant and the first PROTAC approval 23:43     Balancing partnerships versus keeping control of assets 31:57     Key milestones to watch in the next 12–18 monthsInterested 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:  From undruggable to oral therapy: The rise of STAT6 degradersBig Pharma Strikes Megadeals In Targeted Protein DegradationThis Biotech Destroys Cancer Proteins by Introducing Them to ‘Executioner’ Proteins

  8. Jun 26

    De-risking neurology drug development with better mouse models

    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.  00:00 Welcome Brandy Wilkinson and Rikki Feng03:17 GemPharmatech's mission06:26 Why mouse models matter in neurology11:11 Common translation gaps in neurology18:09 Designing proprietary neurological disease models25:45 Building stronger CRO strategic partnerships33:58 An optimistic future of neuroscience researchThis 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:  Neurological diseases R&D trends and breakthrough innovationsBrain Awareness Week: could ongoing R&D spur neuroscience breakthroughs?11 neuroscience biotech companies you should know about

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3.3
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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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