Xtalks Life Science Podcast

Treg Cell Therapy for Neurodegenerative Diseases – Interview with Dr. Howard Berman, CEO, Coya Therapeutics

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/  Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

Improving Cancer Screening Among Métis Communities: Interview with Margaret Froh, President, Métis Nation of Ontario

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/  Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

Cell Therapies for Chronic Kidney Disease: Featuring Bruce Culleton, CEO, ProKidney

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/Follow Us on Social MediaTwitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

Tackling Diabetic Kidney Disease: Featuring Robert Perkins, VP, US Medical Affairs (Renal), Bayer

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.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

People in Life Sciences Series: Day-in-the-Life of a Pharmacovigilance Professional – Interview with Ashish Jain, Senior Director of Clinical Safety a...

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.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

Building Cancer Awareness and Empowering Métis Youth: Featuring Jordyn Playne, President, Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council

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.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

Transforming Eye Care: Innovating New Glaucoma and Dry Eye Disease Treatments

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with H. B. Pierre Simon Jr., MBA, Vice President, Global Head of Marketing, Sight Sciences, about the evolving field of eye care. Sight Sciences is focused on developing and commercializing innovative solutions for eye diseases like glaucoma and dry eye disease to transform care and improve patients’ lives.Among some of Sight Sciences devices and technologies include the OMNI® Surgical System, a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) device indicated to reduce intraocular pressure in adult patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the world’s leading cause of irreversible blindness. The company’s other notable product is the TearCare® System, which has FDA clearance for localized heat therapy in adult patients with evaporative dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), the leading cause of dry eye disease.Pierre has been in the eye care industry for almost two decades. Prior to Sight Sciences, he was at Alcon for 15 years in roles with increasing responsibility, including Senior Product Manager, Global Franchise. Pierre is also a life influencer and two-time best-selling author. His latest book is entitled ‘Down Thru Love,’ a story about the journey of a young man born with Down syndrome.In the episode, Pierre discusses some important considerations in the development of innovative new treatments for eye conditions like glaucoma and dry eye, such as working with patients and doctors and having an awareness of both current and future needs. Hear more about Pierre’s work at Sight Sciences and also as an author and speaker. 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

Rare Disease Day 2024: Highlighting Patient Stories and Advancements in Rare Disease Research

In this episode, Ayesha talked about Rare Disease Day 2024, a global movement held on the last day of February each year that focuses on raising awareness about rare diseases including their impact on patients’ lives. This year, Rare Disease Day falls on February 29, the rarest day in a leap year, making it even more special.Ayesha spoke about how the Rare Disease Day campaign helps increase awareness about rare diseases, promotes research and development, supports advocacy for policies supporting patients and their families and brings together a global rare disease community.Advancements in rare disease research are leading to innovative new treatments for various rare conditions, including genetic disorders, which make up just over 70 percent of all rare diseases. Hear more about new rare disease drugs approved by the FDA in the past couple of years. Also hear about some of the latest trends in rare disease research, including innovative trial designs, patient-centric approaches, the use of cutting-edge technologies like AI and international collaborations.Read the full articles here:Rare Disease Day 2024: Highlighting Statistics and Patient StoriesNew Rare Disease Drugs and Research AdvancementsFor 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

Biologics Development in Immunology and Inflammation — Featuring Amir Reichman, CEO of Scinai Immunotherapeutics

This episode features an interview with Amir Reichman, CEO of Scinai Immunotherapeutics, a biopharma company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing cutting-edge biological treatments within the inflammation and immunology (I&I) sector, with a primary focus on addressing autoimmune and infectious diseases.Scinai Immunotherapeutics is working on developing nanosized antibodies from alpacas, known as VHH-antibodies or NanoAbs, which show promise as improved biological therapies for various illnesses. These NanoAbs are being tailored to treat conditions with significant unmet medical requirements and promising market prospects, including psoriasis and asthma.Prior to being appointed as Scinai’s CEO in 2021, Mr. Reichman recently held the position of Head of Global Vaccines Engineering Core Technologies and Asset Management at the GSK Vaccines headquarters in Belgium. Before that, he was the Senior Director of the Global GSK Vaccines Supply Chain. He became part of GSK in 2015 following its acquisition of Novartis Vaccines, where he had various leadership positions with growing responsibilities within the Global Vaccines Supply Chain Management team, based in Holly Springs, NC, USA.Tune into the episode to hear more about the development of new, cutting-edge inflammation and immunology therapies. Mr. Reichman also shares insights into the most significant trends currently shaping the inflammation and immunology sector.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

Novel Approaches in Cancer Immunotherapy — Featuring OncoC4 founder, CEO and CSO Dr. Yang Liu and CFO Abid Ansari

This episode features an interview with Yang Liu, PhD, founder, chairman, CEO and chief scientific officer; and Abid Ansari, MBA, chief financial officer at OncoC4, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for cancer. This includes first-in-class immunotherapy products such as novel antibodies and CAR T-cell treatments targeting CTLA-4.OncoC4 is a spinout of OncoImmune, which was acquired by Merck in December 2020. OncoImmune was founded in 2000 based on the scientific discoveries of the company’s founders who moved their lead product from a basic concept into clinical trials for multiple indications.Dr. Liu is recognized internationally for his research on immune recognition of cancer and activation of lymphocytes. He has received several academic and research awards including the Snyder Award for Cancer Research in 2015, and was elected to the rank of fellow at the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2004 for his pioneering contribution to innate immunity, T cell costimulation and cancer immunology. Prior to serving full-time as OncoC4’s CEO, Dr. Liu was a faculty member at multiple academic institutions, including New York University and the Ohio State University.Abid Ansari is a finance executive with a more 20-year track record in the life sciences industry encompassing corporate finance, fundraising, business development and investor relations experiences for public and private life science companies. Previously, he served as CFO of Artios, a UK-based DNA damage response company where he led the company’s $153 million Series C fundraising. Earlier in his career, Abid held positions at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in deal finance and portfolio management. Tune into the episode to hear more about the development of new, cutting-edge cancer treatments, including current challenges in oncology and immunotherapies. Also hear about OncoC4’s collaborations including a co-development commercialization partnership with BioNTech on its lead product and a collaboration with Merck. 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