Xtalks Life Science Podcast Xtalks

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Howard Berman, PhD, Founder and CEO of Coya Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company developing regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies targeting neurodegenerative, autoimmune and metabolic diseases. Dr. Berman founded Coya Therapeutics in 2021. 
Dr. Berman has over 18 years of entrepreneurial and industry experience working at the interplay of science and business. His experience offers him a unique combination of business acumen and scientific credibility with the ability to assess, quantify and bridge both disciplines.
Dr. Berman gained corporate experience with increasing responsibilities and positions as a Medical Science Liaison at AbbVie where he spent 7.5 years launching Venetoclax in CLL and later, supporting numerous solid tumor assets. He also served in leadership roles at Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly.
Dr. Berman received a Bachelor in Biology from the University of Michigan and a Masters and PhD in Neuroscience and Pharmacology from Weill Cornell Medical School.
Tune into the episode to learn more about Coya Therapeutics and its Treg-targeted therapies program. The company’s current pipeline includes its lead candidate product COYA 302, which is currently being evaluated in a clinical study for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

 For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/
 
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In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Margaret Froh, President of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO). Margaret is also a lawyer by training.
 
 The Métis are a distinct Indigenous people recognized in s.35 of Canada’s Constitution. Métis communities have their own shared customs, traditions and collective identities that are rooted in kinship, their special aboriginal relationship to the land and a distinctive Indigenous culture and way of life that persists to the present day.
 
 Cancer is a significant concern among Métis people in Ontario and across the Métis Nation Homeland, including women, as they experience higher cancer rates and lower cancer screening uptake than the non-Indigenous population.
 
 Cancer Prevention Action Week, which took place during the third week of February, focuses on supporting and empowering people to make changes to their lifestyle and promoting routine cancer screening to reduce the risk of preventable cancers.
 
 To help uncover and address cancer disparities among the Métis, Margaret has helped lead Métis-specific health research in collaboration with organizations like Ontario Health (formerly Cancer Care Ontario) and the Sunnybrook Research Institute.
 
 Margaret is also a recent breast cancer survivor and by sharing her personal cancer story, is helping raise awareness about the importance of routine cancer screening among the Métis.
 
 Tune into the episode to learn about the disproportionate impact of cancer on Métis communities and how Margaret’s leadership at the MNO is helping to drive changes to help improve cancer screening rates and better health outcomes.
 
 For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/
 
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This episode features an interview with Bruce Culleton, MD, CEO, ProKidney, a late clinical-stage biotech company focused on the development of a pioneering cell therapy candidate that aims to transform the treatment landscape for chronic kidney disease.

Prior to joining ProKidney in 2023, Dr. Culleton served as Vice President and General Manager at CVS Kidney Care and also worked in leadership roles at Becton Dickinson and Baxter healthcare. Before beginning his career in industry in 2007, Dr. Culleton was a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

ProKidney’s lead product candidate, REACT, is an investigational cell therapy designed to stabilize or improve kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease with diabetes as the primary cause. The candidate is currently being evaluated in Phase II and Phase III clinical trials.

To hear more about ProKidney’s cell therapy for chronic kidney disease, including developmental, manufacturing and regulatory considerations, tune into the episode.

For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/

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In marking National Kidney Month, this episode features an interview with Robert Perkins, MD, Vice President, US Medical Affairs (Renal) at Bayer who spoke about kidney health and diabetes-inflicted chronic kidney disease.

National Kidney Month is observed every March in the US to raise awareness about kidney health and promote preventive action. It aims to educate the public about the importance of kidneys to overall health and the risk factors for kidney disease, a major one being diabetes.

At Bayer, Dr. Perkins is the strategic lead for a team of 8 HQ-based medical directors and a 40-member field medical team. He is responsible for evidence portfolio across two therapeutic indications, chronic kidney disease and heart failure, encompassing seven active trials and studies and more than 3,000 US patients. Dr. Perkins has also led the development and implementation of innovative digital educational outreach campaigns for primary care physicians. In previous roles, Dr. Perkins helped build and develop medical teams at Novartis and AstraZeneca.

Last year, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) updated their standards of care guidelines for 2024, which outline strategies for diagnosing and treating diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) and outline methods of preventing and delaying type 2 diabetes as well as associated comorbidities like cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

Tune into the episode to hear Dr. Perkins’ insights about current advancements and challenges in tackling chronic kidney disease, the updated ADA guidelines and how a comprehensive approach to treating diabetes is necessary for reducing the risk of kidney complications.

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In this featured episode of Xtalks People in Life Sciences, Ayesha spoke with Ashish Jain, Senior Director of Clinical Safety and Pharmacovigilance (PV) at Curis, a pioneering biotech company specializing in cutting-edge cancer therapies.

Jain shared his journey into clinical safety and PV, highlighting key milestones along the way. Delving into his daily routine at Curis, he revealed his strategies for prioritizing tasks and staying informed of the latest developments in PV.

Throughout the interview, Jain offered invaluable insights into career advancement in clinical safety and PV. He emphasized the indispensable skills and competencies vital for success in the field. Jain also discussed common challenges faced by PV professionals and suggested practical solutions.

Aspiring professionals seeking to kickstart their careers in clinical safety and PV will find Jain’s insights informative. He provides actionable recommendations for gaining hands-on experience and navigating the PV landscape.

Furthermore, Jain shares his expertise in establishing a PV department, particularly for emerging biotech firms. He outlines critical considerations for setting up an efficient PV system, especially in resource-limited environments.

Listeners can also hear Jain’s thoughts on emerging trends in PV and his insights on how PV professionals can proactively prepare for the future.

Tune in to this episode for a glimpse into the field of clinical safety and PV with Ashish Jain.

For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.

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In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Jordyn Playne, President of the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council, a group of youth representatives from across Ontario who advocate on behalf of the concerns and interests of Métis youth at the provincial level.

Jordyn is also a Clinical Consultant and Trainer at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, as well as an advocate for cancer prevention. Jordyn has a Master’s degree in social work and licenses/certifications in cognitive behavioral therapy.

To mark Cancer Prevention Action Week, which took place during the third week of February, Jordyn also shared a personal story to help raise awareness about the importance of cancer prevention, particularly among Indigenous communities like the Métis.

Cancer is a significant concern among Métis people, including women, as they face higher cancer rates than the non-Indigenous population. Jordyn describes herself as a cancer “previvor,” as she took preventative action to reduce her risk of breast cancer.

Tune into the episode to learn more about Jordyn’s story and her work in helping to improve health awareness and health outcomes among Métis youth and the greater Métis Nation.

For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.

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