Xtalks Life Science Podcast

In this episode, Vera interviews Dr. Kristin Yarema, President of Cell Therapy at Poseida Therapeutics, about Poseida’s cell therapy approach and technologies.In April 2023, Dr. Yarema became the President of Cell Therapy at Poseida. She brings a wealth of knowledge from the biopharmaceutical realm, with expertise in oncology and allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy.Poseida is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm that utilizes its unique non-viral gene engineering methods to develop innovative cell and gene therapies. With their extensive genetic engineering capabilities, they are paving the way for potentially better and safer treatments for conditions including blood cancers such as multiple myeloma, solid tumors like breast and ovarian cancer, and rare genetic liver diseases.In this episode, Dr. Yarema talks about the advantages of “off the shelf” or allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy vs. autologous cell therapy — and what makes Poseida’s approach unique.Dr. Yarema discusses Poseida’s two Phase I programs in collaboration with Roche, highlighting the strategic partnership's significance for Poseida.She shares what Poseida is looking forward to with the Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance for the first dual CAR program targeting CD19 and CD20 for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Dr. Yarema also discusses how the recent $50 million strategic investment from Astellas Pharma in Poseida signifies a notable endorsement and potential growth trajectory for the company.The episode concludes with Dr. Yarema sharing her thoughts about the promise of allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy for patients.For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @Xtalks Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

This episode features an interview with Dr. Tania Kamphaus and Tony Villiotti about new research on the utility and promise of blood-based biomarker tests for the diagnosis of liver diseases like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).The research is particularly timely because the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently called for liver disease screening for all adults with type 2 diabetes.The research, published in Nature Medicine, presents results from a study that evaluated blood-based biomarker tests for the diagnosis of NASH.The study’s co-author, Dr. Tania Kamphaus, Director of Translational Science, Metabolic Disorders, as well as Director of Patient Engagement, at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), shared results from the study in this podcast episode. She discussed the potential of non-invasive tests to become the standard of care for liver disease diagnosis and the ongoing work her group is doing in this area.Tony Villiotti is the founder of the nonprofit, NASH Knowledge, and a patient whose NASH led to liver cancer and subsequent liver transplant. He spoke about the impact this research will have on the patient community. Tony believes that his liver cancer could have been prevented had a non-invasive test for NASH been available to him.Hear more about Dr. Kamphaus' group’s research in liver disease and Tony’s patient advocacy work to help improve awareness around NASH and help bring new diagnostics and treatments to light.For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @Xtalks Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

This episode features an interview with Ram Mukunda and Claudia Grimaldi from IGC Pharma, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on improving the health and well-being of patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease and bringing therapies for it to market. The company is currently conducting a Phase II study with IGC-AD1, an investigational low-dose tetrahydrocannabinol-(THC) based formulation that reduces neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation in dementia due to Alzheimer’s. The drug is the only natural THC-based investigational drug undergoing FDA trials. Ram and Claudia spoke about the compound, including clinical data from the ongoing trials evaluating it.Ram Mukunda is the founder and CEO of IGC Pharma. Previously, he served as Chairman and CEO of Startec Global Communications Corp., Council Member at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Council Member at Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs. Ram Mukunda has an undergraduate and a graduate degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Maryland.Claudia Grimaldi is currently Vice President, Principal Finance Officer, and Chief Compliance Officer at IGC. She has been with the company for almost 12 years with increasing responsibilities including managing SEC and NYSE filings, regulatory compliance and disclosures. She is also the Managing Director of IGC Pharma Columbia, a director of the company’s subsidiary in India and a director of the board at IGC. Ms. Grimaldi is a psychologist by training, is certified as a public director by the NACD and has an MBA from Meredith College in North Carolina.Tune into this episode to hear from the team at IGC about the company’s commitment to discovering new treatments for Alzheimer’s to help improve the lives of patients and their caregivers.For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @Xtalks Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

This episode features an interview with Dr. David Young, founder and President R&D at Processa Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing personalized approaches to cancer treatments with a focus on next generation chemotherapy drugs with improved safety and efficacy. Processa recently released an update on its clinical cancer program, which Dr. Young discussed with Xtalks in this podcast episode.Dr. Young is Processa’s initial founder, President of R&D and former President and CEO. He has over 30 years of pharmaceutical research, drug development and corporate experience. He served on the Board of Directors and as Chief Scientific Officer of Questcor Pharmaceuticals from 2009 to 2014. He has also served on FDA Advisory Committees and has been a key team member on more than 30 NDA/supplemental NDA approvals. Dr. Young received his Pharm D-PhD with emphasis in Pharmacokinetics and Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Southern California.Tune into this episode to hear from Dr. Young about Processa’s developmental pipeline and the promise of personalized, next generation chemotherapies. Learn about Processa’s regulatory science approach to drug development and the changing landscape of cancer treatment.For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @Xtalks Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha talked about how three more US states have filed a lawsuit against Eli Lilly over its proposed $13.5 million insulin pricing settlement. The states join six others who have been fighting Eli Lilly in court since 2017, claiming that the company hiked prices of its insulin product Humalog. The states say the $13.5 million settlement offer from Eli Lilly doesn’t come close to the $1 billion worth of claims the company is facing. Hear more about the insulin pricing controversy in this episode.Ayesha also talked about the FDA approval of Regeneron’s high dose Eylea (HD Eylea) for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Hear about how high dose Eylea offers less frequent dosing regiments, and how it will be facing Roche’s blockbuster eye injection Vabysmo.Read the full articles here:More US States Take on Eli Lilly in Court Over Proposed $13.5 Million Insulin Pricing SettlementRegeneron’s High Dose Eylea Gets FDA Nod for Wet AMD and DMEFor more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @Xtalks Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

This episode features an interview with Dr. William Williams, CEO of Briacell Therapeutics, a biotech company based in Philadelphia that is dedicated to developing novel immunotherapies to fight cancer and improve patient lives.Dr. Williams is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with over 35 years of industry and academic expertise, including significant clinical management in multinational pharmaceutical companies like Incyte Corporation and GlaxoSmithKline. Dr. Williams has facilitated the entry of over 20 compounds into the clinic, including approvals for ruxolitinib (Jakafi) and baricitinib (Olumiant).BriaCell is developing cell therapies for the treatment of advanced breast cancer and has promising compounds, including Bria-IMT, that are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. BriaCell recently received FDA approval for its Bria-IMT Combination pivotal study design in advanced metastatic breast cancer.Tune into this episode to hear from Dr. Williams about BriaCell’s novel cell therapies for cancer and what the future of immunotherapy and personalized treatments may look like.For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @Xtalks Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha talked about the FDA approval of Zurzuvae (zuranolone) the first oral tablet for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD). While the approval is a major win in PPD, as current treatments involve administration by infusion or use of general antidepressants, Zurzuvae developers Biogen and Sage Biotech were banking on getting approval for it in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the FDA rejected it in MDD and only handed the approval in PPD. Hear more about the drug and the approval/rejection in this episode. Ayesha also talked about Johnson & Johnson’s latest bankruptcy attempt related to its talc baby powder cases that was shot down by a US Bankruptcy Court. The company said it will appeal the decision as it continues to offer talc claimants a $8.9 billion settlement, which it says is the best way to resolve the cases in a timely and financially equitable manner. This is the company’s second bankruptcy attempt, both of which have been turned down so far. Listen to the full episode to learn more about Johnson & Johnson’s ongoing legal saga.Read the full articles here:Zurzuvae Earns Win for Postpartum Depression, Faces Challenges in MDDTalc Litigation Saga Continues: Court Rejects J&J’s Latest Bankruptcy AttemptFor more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @XtalksInstagram: @XtalksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferencesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this episode, Ayesha talked about the FDA clearance of the world’s smallest insulin pump from Tandem Diabetes Care. The insulin pump, called the Tandem Mobi, features an automated insulin delivery system with options for manual delivery as well. The device is small enough to fit into the coin pocket of a pair of jeans and offers several wearable options. It can be operated through an app and also features technology compatible with continuous glucose monitoring systems. Ayesha and the team also discussed the FDA clearance of the first FDA cleared NMR-based test from Numares Health. The company’s AXINON test system measures levels of low density lipoprotein particle (LDL-p), which the company touts as being a more robust biomarker than LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) for evaluating cardiovascular disease risk. Hear more about the test, including some of its other disease applications, in this episode.  Read the full articles here:Tandem Mobi Becomes World’s Smallest Insulin Pump with FDA ClearanceNew Cardiac Biomarker Test Gets FDA ClearanceFor more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @Xtalks Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

This episode features an interview with Dr. Lawrence Eichenfield, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, and professor of dermatology and pediatrics and vice-chair of the department of dermatology at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Dr. Eichenfield serves on Verrica Pharmaceuticals’ Board of Directors and spoke to Xtalks about the company’s recent approval of YCANTH (cantharidin) topical solution as the first FDA approved treatment for pediatric and adult patients with molluscum contagiosum, a highly contagious viral skin infection that primarily affects children. Dr. Eichenfield was also the principal investigator on clinical trials evaluating YCANTH.Verrica Pharmaceuticals is a dermatology therapeutics company developing medications for skin diseases that require medical interventions. Tune into this episode to learn more about YCANTH and its approval, as well as the changing landscape of dermatology, from Dr. Eichenfield.For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @Xtalks Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

This episode features an interview with Jeremy Stackawitz, CEO at Senzo, a London-based MedTech company that has developed a new lateral flow technology for infectious diseases with the same accuracy as central labs testing. Jeremy, who was formerly at companies like Quotient and Johnson & Johnson, discussed how the development of this technology can unlock new models of care such as personalized, preventative and remote healthcare.Senzo’s products and systems bring testing to the patient, allowing for the generation of results that are as accurate as traditional central-lab testing, but faster and at the point-of-care. Senzo says it has started off by targeting diseases with some of the highest global impacts, such as TB, HIV, Flu, Covid, Hep-C and C. diff and plans to move to other viruses and biomarkers.Hear more about how Senzo is working towards its goal to make lab testing accuracy readily available at the point-of-care, real-time, accessible and affordable. Insights generated at the point-of-care will allow patients and healthcare professionals to make better and faster decisions, improving treatment outcomes and saving lives.For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: @Xtalks Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured