BioSpace

September has been a rough month already for Novo Nordisk, which canned two more late-stage trials of its embattled IL-6 inhibitor, and Novartis, which took Phase 3 hits in both cardiovascular and muscular dystrophy indications; Ultragenyx’s big bet in Angelman syndrome failed to yield benefit in Phase 3 but Ionis’ Pharmaceuticals nabbed the first targeted approval for Alexander disease; and on the business side, biopharma investment is back in a big way. 

In this episode of Denatured, you’ll listen to Christina Takke, managing partner at V-Bio Ventures and Mariette van der Velden-Roesink, founding partner at Curie Capital. We examine why Benelux delivers world‑class science yet remains an investment patchwork, and what it will take to knit the region into a truly unified biotech investment corridor.

Host

⁠Jennifer C. Smith-Parker, Director of Insights, BioSpace

Guests

Christina Takke, Managing Partner, V-Bio Ventures

Mariette van der Velden-Roesink, Founding Partner, Curie Capital

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this discussion by guests are their own and do not represent those of their organizations.

Novartis hits pause on several CAR T trials after three patient deaths, followed by Bristol Myers Squibb after separate safety signals; Revolution Medicines scores early FDA approval for groundbreaking pancreatic cancer drug; BioNTech suspends a mid-stage trial of its mRNA cancer immunotherapy after a futility analysis; and nine mid-sized biopharma companies join their big pharma peers in President Donald Trump’s Most Favored Nation drug pricing scheme.

In this episode of Denatured, you’ll hear from Hilary Rosselot, executive director at the National Fragile X Foundation and Jordi Fàbrega, co-founder & CEO at CONNECTA Therapeutics. From trial endpoints and placebo effects to neuroplasticity modulation, we explore what it will take to build a sustainable path to the first approved therapy.

Host

Jennifer C. Smith-Parker, Director of Insights, BioSpace

Guests

Hilary Rosselot, Executive Director, National Fragile X Foundation

Jordi Fàbrega, Co-Founder & CEO, CONNECTA Therapeutics

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this discussion by guests are their own and do not represent those of their organizations.

FDA extends its review of Capricor Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy cell therapy as an unhappy shareholder advocates for change; Merck and Moderna tout positive data for their mRNA-based cancer vaccine; Trump nominates White House aide Heidi Overton as FDA commissioner; and the oral obesity market heats up with rivals Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk going head-to-head.

In this episode of Denatured, you’ll hear from Ian McGowan, Chief Medical Officer at Synklino and James Hunter, associate professor of transplantation at Oxford University. We explore transplantation and antiviral innovation and why CMV remains one of the most persistent and consequential challenges facing transplant patients today.

Host

Jennifer C. Smith-Parker, Director of Insights, BioSpace

Guests

Ian McGowan, CMO, Synklino

James Hunter, Associate Professor of Transplantation, Oxford University

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this discussion by guests are their own and do not represent those of their organizations.

Amylyx shares good news for its investigational GLP-1 blocker; Definium announces positive data for its LSD-based therapy in anxiety; Summit/Akeso’s ivonescimab shows degrading survival benefits; patients treated with Neurocrine’s Prader-Willi drug experience serious adverse events; and Eli Lilly cracks down on the black market for next-gen obesity asset retatrutide.

In this episode of Denatured, you’ll hear from Diana Saraceni, founder and managing partner at Panakès Partners and Fabrizio Calisti, medical director at Angelini Ventures. We explore how Italy’s life sciences ecosystem has evolved over the last decade—from stronger tech transfer and growing venture capital to the gaps that still keep it from matching the UK, Germany or France in company creation and scale.

Host

Jennifer C. Smith-Parker, Director of Insights, BioSpace

Guests

Diana Saraceni, Founder and Managing Partner, Panakès Partners

Fabrizio Calisti, Medical Director, Angelini Ventures

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this discussion by guests are their own and do not represent those of their organizations.

After two rejections, Replimune has made it across the regulatory finish line with its twice-rejected therapy for advanced melanoma. Meanwhile, the last of the major pharmas, including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, reported second quarter earnings, and psychedelics made headlines once again.

The industry has been abuzz since the weekend when talks of a potential mega-merger between Bristol Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca were reported. Meanwhile, Pfizer, Merck and others release second quarter earnings, with some disclosing pipeline discontinuations and cost-cutting measures. Finally, all eyes turn to the FDA in the wake of heated advisory committee meetings for Capricor Therapeutics and Replimune.