LifeSci Beat

by Wharton Health Care

Season 3

Dr. Barthalomew (B.A.) Sillah, COO of Avesta76 Therapeutics, on Company Creation and Driving Inclusion in Biotech

In the second episode of Season 3, we spoke with Dr. Barthalomew Sillah, COO of Avesta76 therapeutics about his experiences turning innovative science into impactful therapeutics. Our conversation touched on being open-minded to new opportunities, learning from non-biotech experiences in the healthcare ecosystem, and championing inclusion in the industry.

S3 · E2

Feb 13, 2024

32:16

Eshwar Inapuri, Former CEO & Co-Founder of InnaMed, on Founding Diagnostics Companies

In the first episode of Season 3 of LifeSci Beat, we chatted with Eshwar Inapuri, Former CEO & Co-Founder of InnaMed. Our conversation spanned diagnostics company creation, navigating challenges as a young entrepreneur, and new frontiers and trends in the diagnostics space. InnaMed is an at-home blood testing company focused on improving the monitoring and treatment of patients undergoing heart failure, kidney transplant, hypoparathyroidism and in vitro fertilization. InnaMed was acquired by Fluxergy in 2023.

S3 · E1

Jan 21, 2024

36:25

Season 2

James Mutamba, CBO of Arrakis Therapeutics, on Biotech BD and IPO financing

In this episode, we chatted with Dr. James Mutamba, CBO of Arrakis Therapeutics. Our conversation covered biotech IPO financing, the process of business development dealmaking, company creation, and the Arrakis Therapeutics platform. Arrakis Therapeutics is an preclinical private biotech developing RNA-targeted small molecules. They combine insights into RNA structure, chemistry, and biology to pioneer a new class of medicines focused on oncology and genetically validated diseases.

S2 · E10

May 4, 2023

33:45

Oriana Papin-Zoghbi on Revolutionizing Early-stage Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

In this ninth episode, we spoke with Oriana Papin-Zoghbi, co-founder and CEO of AOA Dx. We discussed her global upbringing and early career, the current standard of ovarian cancer diagnosis, and building a company from academic research.

S2 · E9

Apr 16, 2023

39:01

Alex Sapir, Former CEO of ReViral Ltd. and Dova Pharmaceuticals, on Advancing Pipeline Candidates and Financing Biotech Companies

In the eighth episode of this season, we chatted with Alex Sapir about his various experiences leading life sciences companies through commercial launches and key funding milestones. We spoke about his career beginnings at GSK, ZS Associates, and United Therapeutics. Additionally, we covered his CEO tenures at Dova Pharmaceuticals and ReViral Ltd - both of which were acquired.

S2 · E8

Apr 3, 2023

36:41

Geoff Meyerson, CEO & Co-Founder of Locust Walk, on Building a Global Biotech Advisory Firm

In this episode, we sat down with Geoff Meyerson — CEO & Co-Founder at Locust Walk. We discuss Geoff’s extensive life science career, which includes stints in investment banking, venture capital, and business development. We also dive into the founding story and journey of Locust Walk, a global investment bank that integrates corporate development strategy and execution with capital raising for innovative life science companies, and hear Geoff’s outlook on the year ahead for biotech.

S2 · E7

Feb 28, 2023

33:50

Dr. Pitou Devgon, Co-Founder of Velano Vascular, on Creating Value in a Commoditized Device Market

In the sixth episode of our second season, we sat down with Dr. Pitamber "Pitou" Devgon, co-founder of Velano Vascular, active angel investor, and Lecturer at the Wharton School of Business. We discussed the origins of Velano Vascular’s central PIVO™ technology, the importance of collecting insightful data to de-risk early ventures, innovation through acquisition, and much more. Founded in 2012, Velano Vascular set out to transform the patient experience with PIVO™, a needle-free blood collection device. After inventing this breakthrough technology, Pitou led Velano Vascular's growth through eventual acquisition by BD in 2021.

S2 · E6

Feb 13, 2023

34:13

Imogen Pryce, COO of R&D at Relay Therapeutics, on the Dynamo Platform and Portfolio Strategy

In this episode, we chatted with Dr. Imogen Pryce, COO of R&D at Relay Therapeutics. Our conversation covered Relay Therapeutics’ scientific strategy, its unique Dynamo™ platform, and its underlying commercialization strategy and scientific differentiation. Relay Therapeutics (Nasdaq: RLAY) is a clinical-stage precision medicines company that integrates disparate technologies to push drug discovery. Specifically, its Dynamo™ platform integrates leading-edge computational and experimental approaches designed to drug previously-intractable protein targets.

S2 · E5

Feb 1, 2023

30:51

Rami Elghandour, Chairman & CEO of Arcellx, on Building Great Teams & Cultures

In the fourth episode of our second season, we spoke with Rami Elghandour, Chairman & CEO of Arcellx. Our conversation focused on the importance of building a company's culture from day one and how firms can turn their cultures into a competitive advantage. Arcellx is a clinical stage biotech company reimagining cell therapy. The company recently announced a strategic collaboration with Kite.

S2 · E4

Jan 20, 2023

34:04

Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, on Leadership in Biotechnology and Innovation in Antibiotic Development

In the third episode of our second season, we spoke with Dr. Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics and former Venture Partner at Atlas Venture. Our conversation focused on the benefits of diverse exposure within the healthcare ecosystem, unique challenges of developing antibiotics, and leadership lessons learned through a prolonged career company creation. Spero Therapeutics is a public company focused on developing next-generation antibiotics for infectious diseases based in Cambridge, MA.

S2 · E3

Dec 5, 2022

43:29

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