Cut the Chat Life Science Insider Seuss+

Sabine Hutchison talks to the inspiring investor Stephanie Oestreich.
In the first episode of season 2, host Sabine Hutchison, Seuss+ CEO and Co-Founder, is joined by the inspiring Stephanie Oestreich, whose work at the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF) involves applying financial investment, scientific knowledge and valuable connections to reach a cure for every single Myeloma patient.
At MIF, Stephanie uses the investment and drug development knowledge and skills she has gained in several leadership roles in biotech and big pharma.
In this engaging conversation, Sabine talks to Stephanie about the challenges involved in running a specialty fund, and what she looks for in potential investments. Stephanie shares that MIF’s North Star is finding a cure for patients, and why it’s valuable for investors to visit clinical trial sites to see their work in action.

Stephanie Oestreich – Bio
Stephanie Oestreich is Managing Director of the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF). She serves on the boards of the German American Business Council in Boston and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women’s Network and is the chair of the McCloy Alumni Association.
She is also on the faculty of MIT, a member of the Launchpad Venture Group, an advisor at grIP Venture Studio, to Biognosys (a Bruker company), Invitris, CART company CelineTx and to the drug development and investment company OrangeGrove Bio, Additionally she works on the W20 Entrepreneurship task force, the official engagement group of the G20.
Stephanie has held several leadership roles in biotech, including Chief Business Officer at Galecto, Vice President at cell therapy company Mnemo Therapeutics, Venture Partner at RA Capital and Executive Vice President at Evotec, where she built its North American investment arm and started an incubator with Samsara BioCapital. She has worked as International Business Leader at F. Roche Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., and for Novartis in Business Development and in Commercial.
Stephanie conducted the research for her Ph.D. in biochemistry in the lab of a Nobel Prize winner at Harvard Medical School and obtained an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.
She is also a semi-professional violinist, performing with Philharmonic orchestras in Carnegie Hall and other international venues and conducting workshops with live orchestras, demonstrating the similarities between teams and leadership in music and management.
Join the discussion and listen to the full episode here.

Sabine Hutchison sits down with the incredible Viviënne van de Walle a highly respected principal investigator who brings her wealth of experience to the table, blending clinical research with patient care. As they explore the critical role of communication in successful collaborations, Viviënne shares her insights, stories, and even a bit of humor.

In Episode 4 of "Cut the Chat," host Sabine Hutchison engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Ben Osborn, a prominent figure in the biopharma industry and President of the Europe Eastern Cluster at IDM. This episode explores the dynamic interplay of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. The DE&I landscape is vast, intricate, and undeniably crucial, touching on various aspects such as gender, religion, family status, education, nationality, and work background.

Join Seuss+ CEO and Co-Founder Sabine Hutchison as she sits down with the accomplished Dr. Allison Jeynes-Ellis, a visionary leader whose journey spans medicine, oncology, and the life sciences. With over three decades of experience, Allison has held key positions in esteemed institutions and collaborated with pharmaceutical giants like Roche, AstraZeneca, and J&J. In this episode, they delve into Allison’s remarkable journey from practicing medicine to assuming the role of CEO at Avillion LLP. Renowned for its innovative life sciences investment approach, Avillion co-develops and finances late-stage pharmaceutical projects. Allison’s insights, cultivated through her extensive career, provide a unique perspective on the industry’s challenges and opportunities. Dr. Allison Jeynes-Ellis – Bio After qualifying as an MD, Dr Allison Jeynes-Ellis spent time practising medicine and specialising in oncology, working at various NHS institutions, including The Royal Marsden, London, before moving into the life sciences industry predominantly within research and development. Now with over 30 years’ experience, she has led the strategic direction of Avillion LLP as its CEO since 2014 and has a proven track record of delivering results. Avillion LLP is a boutique Life Sciences investment firm who fund and operationalise clinical trials for other companies. Avillion historically has invested in post POC Co-Development deals from $50m to $250m taking all the clinical & regulatory risk around approval but is currently evolving into early phases of development and consulting. Prior to Avillion, Allison held a range of senior roles, including Medical Director for Wyeth for 6 years and International Project Team Leader for many compounds in development, leading global Phase III programmes through to successful US and EU filings. Allison sits on the Board of Directors of Agenus and Anaveon and is the Non-Executive Chair of Oxsonics. Allison is also a Senior Advisor to Blackstone Life Sciences.Join the discussion and listen to the full episode here.

Seuss+ CEO and Co-Founder Sabine Hutchison delves into the remarkable growth strategy and remarkable journey of Agenus Bio, a standout player in the competitive Biotech industry. This unique organization chooses to be purposefully different. Jennifer reveals the story behind their success, discussing the importance of in-house capabilities, a patient-focused approach, and strategic collaborations that have set them apart in this heavily regulated field. Sabine and Jennifer explore the captivating world where science and creativity unite. Discover their secrets to success and get inspired by the boundless possibilities that emerge when these two forces intertwine. Tune in for a riveting discussion that illuminates the path to a future shaped by the transformative synergy of science and creativity in biotechnology.
Jennifer Buell – Bio
Dr. Jennifer Buell is the Chairman, Executive Council at Agenus and the President and CEO at MiNK Therapeutics, with over 27 years of biopharmaceutical experience. She has led teams through discovery to clinical development and commercialization. Previously, she served as President and COO at Agenus, overseeing research, clinical development, manufacturing, and more, transforming the company into a global biotech with strategic partnerships. Before that, she held leadership positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Harvard Clinical Research Institute (Baim), contributing to development strategies for clinical programs. Dr. Buell earned her Ph.D. in Cellular, Biochemical, and Molecular Biochemistry, along with an M.S. in Biostatistics from Tufts University.Join the discussion and listen to the full episode here.

Seuss+ CEO and Co-Founder Sabine Hutchison is joined by Alan Morgan. Alan has worked as a leader in the industry for 25 years and sits down with Sabine to discuss the importance of measuring what truly matters in clinical trials and the significance of smart Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Biotech companies.