Base to Base Biotech

This week, we have conversations with Jakob Andersson, vice president of engineering at Anaphora and founder and chairman of GAIA; Coave Therapeutics’ CEO Rodolphe Clerval; and MOBILion Systems’ CEO, Melissa Sherman.

Times:

03:13 Coave Therapeutics

24:43 GAIA Conference

36:55 MOBILion Systems

Genetic medicine for ophthalmology

Coave Therapeutics is a Paris‑based biotechnology company focused on developing genetic medicines using its ALIGATER platform. The company has pioneered ligand‑conjugated AAV vectors, enabling precision capsids that are highly tissue‑specific, safer, and more effective.

In October 2025, Coave presented data at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Congress in Seville, demonstrating the superiority of its lead suprachoroidal capsid, coAAV‑SCS‑01. The vector showed up to 26‑fold improved performance in targeting retinal cells compared to other capsids. This work supports the company’s focus on treatments for retinal vascular diseases.

Coave also recently announced the nomination of its lead gene therapy programme, CoTx‑101, for conditions such as wet age‑related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema. Delivered via an in‑office suprachoroidal procedure, CoTx‑101 aims to provide durable vision gains.

Artificial intelligence and the GAIA Conference

Jakob Andersson is the vice president of engineering at Swedish company Anaphora, a company active in artificial intelligence and complex systems.

He is also the founder and chairman of the Gothenburg Artificial Intelligence Alliance (GAIA), a non‑profit association established in 2018 to promote interest in AI, machine learning, and data science in the Gothenburg region. GAIA hosts the annual GAIA Conference, which has become a recognised event for researchers, developers, and industry leaders to share advances in artificial intelligence.

At the 2025 GAIA Conference, Andersson delivered the opening remarks, outlining the state of AI and expectations for the future. The conference continues to attract international participation, with sessions ranging from lightning talks to open discussions shaped by attendees.

Separation science

MOBILion Systems is a US‑based company specialising in separation science and advanced proteomics technologies. Its proprietary platforms, including MOBIE and BILLIE, are designed to improve ion mobility and mass spectrometry workflows, enabling deeper proteome coverage and faster analysis.

The company has gained recognition for its innovations in parallel accumulation mobility aligned fragmentation (PAMAF), a technique that enhances sensitivity and throughput in proteomics and multi‑omics research.

In November 2025, MOBILion presented transformative advances in proteomics at the HUPO World Congress in Toronto. Its CTO, Daniel DeBord, highlighted how PAMAF technology delivers near‑complete ion utilisation, improving analysis of post‑translational modifications and proteoforms.

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This week, we have conversations with Sjanna Bosma, international relations officer at Health Holland; Mark Bagnall, CEO of Phenomix; and PDS Biotechnology CEO Frank Bedu-Addo.

04:17 Phenomix

32:53 Health Holland

44:02 PDS Biotechnology

Phenomix takes on obesity

Phenomix Sciences is a biotechnology company focused on precision obesity medicine. The firm has developed the MyPhenome test, a saliva‑based assay that uses machine‑learning algorithms and genetic risk scores to classify obesity phenotypes and predict treatment outcomes.

The company positions itself as the first commercial precision obesity medicine biotech, aiming to improve patient stratification and guide therapeutic decisions for obesity management. Its work is closely tied to the Mayo Clinic, where co‑founder Andres Acosta has led much of the underlying research.

Recent studies have expanded the evidence base for MyPhenome, particularly in relation to GLP‑1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and liraglutide. At Obesity Week 2025, Phenomix presented data showing the test’s ability to predict weight‑loss response across diverse patient populations, including those who had undergone bariatric surgery.

PDS Biotechnology harnesses immune system to kill cancer cells

PDS Biotechnology is a late‑stage immunotherapy company in New Jersey. It develops novel treatments that harness the immune system to target and kill cancer cells, with its lead candidate PDS0101 designed for HPV16‑positive cancers.

The company’s pipeline is based on its Versamune platform, which is intended to activate both CD4+ helper and CD8+ killer T cells to generate durable anti‑tumour responses. PDS Biotech has advanced multiple clinical programmes, with head and neck cancer as a primary focus.

PDS0101 could become a new immunotherapy option for patients with HPV‑related cancers, addressing a significant unmet medical need.

The Netherlands life sciences industry

The Dutch life sciences industry was represented at the Nordic Life Science Days in Gothenburg. Health Holland, the public‑private partnership that promotes the Dutch life sciences and health sector, coordinated the Dutch Lounge at the event.

This brought together biotech, medtech, and contract research organizations from the Netherlands, highlighting the country’s strengths in innovation, collaboration, and international partnerships.

The Netherlands has established itself as a hub for advanced therapies, biopharma, and medical technologies. At NLS Days, more than 30 Dutch companies emphasised their expertise in areas such as cell and gene therapy, diagnostics, and digital health. The event provided opportunities to showcase collaborations with Scandinavian partners and explore new avenues into the Nordic market.

The Netherlands continues to develop international cooperation and attract investment into the life sciences sector and continues to position itself as a leading European life sciences hub, leveraging events like NLS Days to build visibility and connect with key stakeholders across the region.

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This week, we have conversations with Jérôme Van Biervliet, chair of the board of Flanders life sciences body Biovia and managing director at VIB; Sylvain Sachot, partner at Asabys Partners; and Jonas Béal, head of science strategy, R&D, at Owkin.

03:32 Owkin

27:42 Biovia/VIB

38:06 Asabys Partners

Biovia/VIB

Biovia has emerged as a new health innovation cluster in the Belgian region of Flanders, created through the merger of flanders.bio and MEDVIA.

The organisation brings together more than 450 members across biotech, medtech, and digital health, with a focus on unmet medical needs and value‑based healthcare. It positions itself as a spearhead cluster supported by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO).

In July 2025, Biovia launched its second funding call of the year, offering €8m in non‑dilutive support for consortia projects.

Biovia’s broader vision is framed around “One Health,” emphasizing the interdependence of human and planetary health. This approach is intended to break down silos between sectors and align with EU priorities for sustainable healthcare innovation.

VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie) is a research institute founded by the Flemish government in 1995. Its main objective is to strengthen Flemish life sciences research and to turn the results into new economic growth.

Asabys Partners

Asabys Partners is a Barcelona‑based venture capital firm specialising in healthcare investments. The firm manages funds focused on biotech, medtech, and digital health, and has steadily expanded its portfolio through both direct investments and strategic partnerships.

In September 2025, Asabys led a €10m extension of SafeHeal’s oversubscribed Series C financing round. The funding is intended to accelerate commercialization of Colovac, a medical device designed as an alternative to temporary stoma in colorectal cancer surgery.

In early October, Asabys integrated Aliath Bioventures into its platform, boosting assets under management from €300m to more than €400m. The integration strengthens its position in European life sciences investment and sets a trajectory toward building a €1bn platform by 2030.

Owkin

Owkin is a French‑based biotech company focused on applying artificial intelligence to clinical research and drug development.

Founded in 2016, it has built a platform that combines machine learning with multi‑modal biomedical data, aiming to accelerate discovery and improve trial efficiency. Its work spans oncology, cardiovascular disease, and immunology, with a focus on predictive modelling and biomarker identification.

The company’s core product, Owkin K, functions as an AI copilot for biology. It is designed to integrate genomic, imaging, and clinical data to help researchers uncover mechanisms of disease and optimize trial design. By embedding AI into the research process, Owkin positions itself as a bridge between raw health data and actionable therapeutic insights.

Owkin has established partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies including Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, and Merck, as well as collaborations with European cancer centres and teaching hospitals.

To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]

This week, we have conversations with Robert Bunn, founder and president of Ultrasound AI; Laura MacNeill, CEO of the Charcot Marie Tooth Research Foundation; and Iris Örhn, investment advisor at Business Region Göteborg.

03:00 Ultrasound AI

30:19 Business Region Gothenburg

39:35 CMTRF

Business Region Gothenburg

Business Region Gothenburg (BRG) is the regional development agency for western Sweden, tasked with driving growth and innovation across key sectors, including life sciences. Its work spans business support, investment promotion, and cluster development.

Gothenburg has more than 600 life science companies with around 11,000 employees, creating a strong ecosystem for biotech, medtech, and pharma. This is reinforced by BRG’s efforts to attract global investors.

The recent NLS Days event, held in Gothenburg for the first time, highlighted the city’s growing influence. It featured the launch of SwedenBIO’s updated pipeline report, which tracks more than 500 active drug development projects across the country.

BRG focuses on infrastructure and innovation platforms such as GoCo Health Innovation City, aiming to strengthen the city’s role in precision medicine, digital health, and advanced therapies. These efforts reflect a long-term strategy to ensure the region remains globally competitive in life sciences.

Ultrasound AI

Ultrasound AI is a US technology company specialising in artificial intelligence solutions for ultrasound diagnostics, with a focus on improving accuracy in pregnancy-related diagnostics. Its technology is designed to predict gestational age and identify risks such as preterm birth with precision, reducing uncertainty in care for premature babies.

By analysing image data alone, the platform aims to support clinicians in making faster, more reliable decisions at the point of care.

Ultrasound AI recently expanded its portfolio, securing additional patents that cover predictive algorithms for obstetric and cardiovascular applications.

These developments build on earlier work in gestational age estimation and preterm birth prediction, areas where AI-driven tools are gaining traction in clinical practice. The company’s technology integrates into existing ultrasound systems, making adoption practical for hospitals and clinics.

As demand for point-of-care diagnostics rises, Ultrasound AI’s approach reflects a broader shift toward data-driven healthcare.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Research Foundation (CMTRF)

The Charcot-Marie-Tooth Research Foundation (CMTRF) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to accelerating the development of treatments for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a group of inherited neuropathies affecting peripheral nerves.

CMTRF focuses on funding research that moves promising therapies from the laboratory into clinical trials, bridging the gap between discovery and delivery.

It has recently advanced several projects aimed at addressing different genetic subtypes of CMT. These include preclinical studies on gene therapy and small-molecule approaches, as well as partnerships with biotech firms to support early-stage drug development.

The foundation prioritises collaboration with academic researchers and industry partners to maximise impact and shorten timelines for therapeutic breakthroughs.

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This week, we have conversations with Malin Kjällström, Gothenburg Tech Week Press and partnerships lead; Eliot Forster the CEO of Levicept; and Christophe Demaison, CEO of ENA Respiratory.

Gothenburg Tech Week

Gothenburg Tech Week is western Sweden’s largest technology event, held annually across multiple venues in the city. The 2025 edition ran from October 14–16, with a programme that includes startup and investor matchmaking, thematic forums, and partner showcases.

The event covers a wide range of topics, including AI, life sciences, and sustainable technologies. Sessions are hosted at The Yard, World of Volvo, and other partner locations, with activities designed to connect regional innovation with international networks.

Gothenburg Tech Week has established itself as a meeting place for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators in Northern Europe. The event provides a platform for new ideas, collaborations, and opportunities, reinforcing Gothenburg’s role as a hub for technology and innovation.

Levicept

Levicept is a biotechnology company based in Sandwich in the UK.

It is developing LEVI‑04, a therapy for osteoarthritis and the associated pain that targets the neurotrophin‑3 pathway. The programme is intended as a non‑opioid alternative for chronic pain management. The company originated from research at Pfizer’s former R&D site in Kent, where founder Simon Westbrook spun out the programme to continue development independently.

In June 2025, Levicept presented new data from its large‑scale phase II trial at the European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) in Barcelona. The study enrolled more than 500 patients with knee osteoarthritis and demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function.

Levicept is advancing preparations for late‑stage clinical trials.

ENA Respiratory

ENA Respiratory is a clinical‑stage pharmaceutical company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It develops antiviral host defence enhancers for the prevention of complications from respiratory viral infections. Its lead product, INNA‑051, is a nasal spray designed for weekly self‑administration.

INNA‑051 works by priming innate immune responses at the entry site of respiratory viruses in the upper airways. This mechanism accelerates viral clearance and reduces dissemination to the lungs. The product is being evaluated in clinical studies for safety and efficacy.

Last month, ENA Respiratory raised $34m in a Series B funding round to support the development of INNA‑051.

To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]

It’s World Immunization Day on Monday, so we had a chat with Geovax chairman, president and CEO David Dodd, and in our other conversation, we talked about infertility, with Igyxos Biotherapeutics’ chief medical officer Elke Bestel.

Challenging infertility

Igyxos Biotherapeutics is a French biotechnology company founded in 2017 and based in Nouzilly, France. The company focuses exclusively on infertility, developing monoclonal antibody‑based therapeutics designed to enhance the activity of gonadotropins, the hormones central to reproduction.

Its lead program involves a first‑in‑class antibody that potentiates follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), aiming to improve the effectiveness of fertility treatments for both men and women. Igyxos brings together a small team of scientific experts and has raised venture capital to support its research.

The company’s approach is intended to overcome limitations of current infertility treatments, which often have modest success rates. By targeting hormonal pathways directly, Igyxos aims to deliver more reliable outcomes for patients.

In October 2025, Igyxos announced it had secured a €5.7m grant from the French government under the France 2030 program. The non‑dilutive funding will support phase 2 clinical trials of its lead antibody, IGX12, across France and Europe.

World Immunization Day

World Immunization Day is observed annually on November 10 to raise awareness of the importance of vaccines in preventing disease and protecting public health. The day emphasizes that immunization is one of the most effective and cost‑efficient health interventions, preventing millions of deaths each year.

The observance highlights both the successes of global vaccination campaigns and the challenges that remain, including plateaued coverage rates and disruptions caused by the covid‑19 pandemic. It underscores the role of vaccines in combating infectious diseases, reducing antibiotic resistance, and strengthening community health worldwide.

GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a US‑based, clinical‑stage biotechnology company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company develops vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancers, using proprietary Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector technology to generate virus‑like particles in vivo.

GeoVax’s pipeline includes candidates for covid‑19, Mpox, Ebola, Zika, malaria, and haemorrhagic fever viruses, as well as immunotherapies for solid tumours. Its lead clinical programme, GEO‑CM04S1, is a next‑generation covid‑19 vaccine designed to provide broader and more durable protection, particularly for immunocompromised patients.

In late October 2025, GeoVax highlighted phase 2 clinical data for GEO‑CM04S1, showing robust T‑cell responses and cross‑variant durability. The company linked these findings to new Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidance emphasising the need for tailored vaccines for immunocompromised populations.

To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]

This week, we have conversations with Cosmo Feilding Mellen, CEO of Beckley Psytech; Sirli Rosenvald, CEO of Estonian company Funki, and Per von Mentzer, CEO of Swedish company PharmNovo. We spoke with Funki at Life Sciences Baltics in Vilnius, Lithuania, recently, and with von Mentzer at NLS Days in Gothenburg.

Taking on pain

PharmNovo AB is a biotechnology company headquartered at Medicon Village in Lund, Sweden. Founded in 2008, it specialises in the development of novel treatments for neuropathic pain, a condition that affects millions of patients worldwide and remains difficult to manage.

The company’s lead candidate, PN6047, is a selective delta opioid receptor agonist. Preclinical studies have indicated analgesic effects without the tolerance and dependency risks associated with traditional opioids. PN6047 has progressed into Phase II clinical trials, marking a significant step in evaluating its safety and efficacy in patients.

PharmNovo conducts its clinical programme across European trial sites, with a focus on peripheral neuropathic pain indications such as diabetic neuropathy and post‑surgical nerve injury. Data from these studies will inform the design of later‑stage trials and determine the potential pathway toward regulatory approval.

Funki fungi

Funki is an Estonian food biotech company developing fungi‑based proteins as alternatives to meat and fish. The company combines food science with product development to create sustainable foods that replicate the taste and texture of conventional protein sources.

Its work gained international recognition as a finalist in the XPrize “Feed the Next Billion” competition, where it presented a salmon analogue made from pea protein and fungi. This project highlighted both technical capability and consumer‑oriented design.

Funki’s research and production efforts are part of a wider European movement to diversify protein supply chains and reduce the environmental impact of food systems.

Psychedelics take a leap forward

Beckley Psytech is a UK‑based biotechnology company developing psychedelic‑derived medicines for serious mental health conditions. Its lead programme, BPL‑003, is an intranasal formulation of 5‑MeO‑DMT designed for the treatment of treatment‑resistant depression (TRD). The company is also advancing ELE‑101, an intravenous psilocin candidate, for major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.

Clinical progress has been significant. Phase IIb trials of BPL‑003 met primary and secondary endpoints, showing rapid and durable reductions in depressive symptoms. On the back of these results, the U.S. FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation in October 2025, expediting the path toward phase III trials. ELE‑101 is in earlier‑stage studies, with recruitment completed for initial safety and efficacy assessments.

By targeting conditions such as TRD — where existing therapies often fail — Beckley Psytech is addressing one of the most urgent gaps in psychiatry. Its strategy combines short‑acting psychedelic compounds with controlled delivery methods, aiming to make treatments both clinically effective and practical within healthcare systems.

To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]

This week, we have conversations on data integration with Lithuanian company Vugene, and we talk protein degradation with Amphista Therapeutics.

Multi-omics

Vugene is a Lithuanian bioinformatics company focused on multi-omics data integration. Founded in 2021 by CTO Juozas Gordevičius, the company is headquartered in Kaunas.

Its core offering is a software platform designed to help researchers make sense of complex biological datasets — including transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics — without requiring deep coding expertise.

The platform is a flexible, modular tool for academic and commercial labs that need to process high-throughput data but lack in-house bioinformatics capacity. Rather than offering a fixed pipeline, Vugene provides a semi-automated interface that allows users to upload raw data, select relevant analysis modules, and receive interpretable outputs.

The emphasis is on speed, reproducibility, and transparency.

Their early traction has come from collaborations with research groups in Europe and North America, particularly in oncology and neurodegeneration. While still early-stage, the company is positioning itself as a pragmatic alternative to both DIY bioinformatics and expensive consultancy models.

We had a conversation with Gordevičius and the company’s CEO, Gražina Mykolaitytė.

Protein degradation

Amphista Therapeutics, based in the UK, recently announced first data from its SMARCA2 degrader programme, marking significant progress in the targeted protein degradation field.

Amphista’s Targeted Glues achieved potent, selective degradation of SMARCA2 within four hours, with CNS penetration in vivo, avoiding off-target effects on the closely related SMARCA4 protein, a key challenge in the field.

Building on SMARCA2 data, Amphista also unveiled its TEAD oncology programme, introducing a novel mechanism of action via F-Box Protein 22, distinct from cereblon- or VHL-based PROTACs. This marks the company’s second new MOA this year, reinforcing its leadership in the TPD space and expanding on the BRD9 MOA announced in 2024. Amphista has made significant progress across its pipeline.

Their chemistry doesn’t depend on known ligase recruitment, which opens up targets that are inaccessible to conventional TPD platforms.

This week, our guest is Louise Modis, chief scientific officer of Amphista.

To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]

This week, we have one interview, covering enzymes and AI with Biomatter Designs, from our visit to Life Sciences Baltics in Vilnius, Lithuania recently. And from the trip to Dublin in Ireland we talked about technology that can be useful in neurological condition diagnosis, and much more, with Danu Sports.

Enzymes and AI

Biomatter Designs is a Lithuania‑based biotech working at the frontier of protein design. Since its launch in 2018, the company has concentrated on building tools that use artificial intelligence to generate new enzymes and proteins from the ground up.

The idea is to move beyond tweaking what nature already provides and instead create molecules with tailor‑made properties for medicine and industry.

Its Intelligent Architecture platform is designed to cut through the slow, trial‑and‑error cycles that usually dominate protein engineering. By training generative models on structural and functional data, Biomatter aims to give researchers a way to specify what they need—a catalyst, a therapeutic, a material—and have the system propose viable candidates that can be tested in the lab.

We had a conversation with the company’s CEO, Laurynas Karpus.

Learning through gait

Founded in 2017, Danu Sports develops wearable technology designed to help athletes train smarter and reduce injuries.

The company’s flagship product is a “smart sock” system that uses embedded sensors to capture gait and movement data in real time. Coaches, physiotherapists, and athletes can use the analytics platform to monitor performance, identify risks, and support rehabilitation.

Backed by venture funding and based in Dublin, Danu Sports is part of a new wave of sports‑tech companies blending biomechanics, data science, and everyday usability to make high‑level performance insights available outside the lab.

In September 2025, the company announced a partnership with Hoka at the Ultra‑Trail du Mont Blanc, showcasing its smart sock technology with elite athletes, while also expanding into medical applications.

Our conversation is with Oisín Lennon, CEO of DANU Sports.

To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]

This week, we have three interviews done during Life Sciences Baltics, which was held in Vilnius, Lithuania recently.

While we have more still to come, this week on the podcast we have conversations with Justinas Mačiulaitis, Keli Therapeutics’ founder and CEO; Arnas Karužas, CEO of Ligence; and Emilė Radytė, CEO and co-founder of Samphire Neuroscience.

Ligence

Ligence is a health‑tech startup using artificial intelligence to automate echocardiography.

Founded in 2019 by a team of medical doctors and engineers, the company’s flagship product, Ligence Heart, applies deep learning to 2D ultrasound images, automatically recognising views and performing cardiac measurements. This reduces the manual workload for clinicians and improves diagnostic consistency in heart disease monitoring.

Headquartered in Vilnius, Ligence has raised seed funding from European investors including Simpact VC and the EIC Fund, and is working to expand its AI‑driven cardiac diagnostics platform into hospitals and clinics across Europe.

Samphire Neuroscience

Samphire Neuroscience is a femtech and digital health company developing non‑invasive neurotechnology to support women’s health.

Founded in 2021, the company’s first product is a wearable headband, Nettle, that uses gentle electrical neuromodulation to alleviate symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle, such as pain, fatigue, and mood changes.

With offices in Vilnius and London, Samphire has attracted international venture backing and accelerator support, positioning itself at the intersection of neuroscience, wearables, and women’s health innovation. Its mission is to provide accessible, science‑based tools that improve quality of life for women worldwide.

Keli Therapeutics

Keli Therapeutics is advancing next‑generation cell therapies for acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Its lead candidate, KELI‑101, is designed to prevent acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac bypass surgery — a complication that often progresses to chronic kidney disease. In September 2025, Keli announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with Bramble Bio to scale production of KELI‑101, pairing its activated perinatal‑origin mesenchymal stromal cells with Bramble’s cGMP expertise.

Earlier this year, the company also secured a €2.5m European Innovation Council grant to launch clinical trials in AKI. With a platform up to 20 times more potent than standard MSCs, Keli is positioning itself as a leader in regenerative medicine with broad potential across inflammatory and degenerative diseases.

To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]