Synopsis:

What does bold biotech leadership look like in 2025?

In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi sits down with Stacy Lindborg, President & CEO of Imunon, to discuss bold innovation in ovarian cancer treatment and how harnessing the immune system through targeted gene therapy is reshaping survival outcomes.

Stacy shares insights from her 30-year career—from her statistical roots at Eli Lilly to her mission-driven leadership at Imunon. She highlights the groundbreaking results from Imunon’s IL-12 plasmid platform, which is showing a remarkable 13-month overall survival advantage in ovarian cancer patients and is now entering Phase 3 trials.

They also discuss the evolving biotech landscape, how adaptive trial designs and AI are unlocking clinical potential, and why cultivating a bold, transparent company culture is key to advancing transformational science.

Biography:

Stacy R. Lindborg, PhD, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Imunon in May 2024. Dr. Lindborg has served on Imunon’s Board of Directors since June 2021. Dr. Lindborg has nearly 30 years of pharmaceutical and biotech industry experience with a particular focus on R&D, regulatory affairs, executive management and strategy development. She has designed, hired and led global teams, guiding long-term vision for growth through analytics and stimulating innovative development platforms to increase productivity. Prior to joining Imunon, Dr. Lindborg was Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Executive Officer at BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics where she will remain a member of the company’s Board of Directors. At BrainStorm she was accountable for creating and executing clinical development strategies through registration and launch and progressed its novel cell therapy for ALS through a positive Phase 3 Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) study with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She interacted frequently with investors and analysts, represented the company in the scientific community as well as with the media, and played an active role in discussions with potential business partners.

Dr. Lindborg previously was Vice President & Global Analytics and Data Sciences Head, responsible for R&D and marketed products at Biogen. She began her biopharmaceutical career at Eli Lilly and Company where over the course of 16 years she assumed positions of increasing responsibility, including Head of R&D strategy.

Dr. Lindborg received an M.A. and Ph.D. in statistics, and a B.A. in psychology and math from Baylor University. She has authored more than 200 presentations and 90 manuscripts that have been published in peer-reviewed journals, including 20 first-authored. She has held numerous positions within the International Biometric Society and American Statistical Association and was elected Fellow in 2008.

Synopsis:

What happens when a former journalist becomes one of biotech’s boldest investors? Meet Stephanie Sirota, Chief Business Officer and Partner at RTW Investments, who helped grow the firm from $27 million in assets to a global biotech force. In this engaging conversation with host Rahul Chaturvedi, Stephanie shares her unconventional path into the industry, and how a mission-driven, science-led investment strategy has guided RTW’s approach across public markets, private deals, and company creation.

Stephanie reflects on the evolution of biotech financing, why GLP-1 drugs are just getting started, and how RTW is preparing for changes in U.S. healthcare policy. She also unpacks how the firm sources opportunities, evaluates risk, and sticks to long-term conviction even in volatile markets. For Stephanie, great biotech investing starts with deep research, strong science, and a relentless focus on patient outcomes.

Whether you're an investor, operator, or simply curious about the future of medicine, this conversation is packed with insights on building bold bets—and the staying power behind them.

Biography:

Stephanie leads a team at RTW overseeing business development, strategic partnerships, communications, and investor relations.

Her background in investment banking and expertise in financial markets has helped position the firm as both a partner to life sciences companies and a steward of investors’ capital. Stephanie also manages RTW’s relationships with key partners including banks, academic institutions, corporations, investors, and NGOs. She has led the firm’s entry into the UK and European markets and serves as a director of the RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd, a publicly traded investment fund listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Prior to joining RTW, she served as director at Valhalla Capital Advisors, a macro and commodity investment manager. Stephanie also worked in the New York and London offices of Lehman Brothers, where she advised on various Merger & Acquisitions, IPOs, and capital market financing transactions with a focus on cross-border transactions for the firm’s global corporate clients.

Stephanie graduated with honors from Columbia University and also received a Master’s Degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

She serves as president of the RTW Foundation; and co-chair of Council of the New York Philharmonic.

Synopsis:

Building in biotech isn’t for the faint of heart—especially during a market downturn.

But that’s exactly when Steve Tregay, Managing Partner at Mission BioCapital, thrives. A seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Forma Therapeutics, Steven has navigated biotech’s toughest cycles—and emerged stronger each time.

Hosted by Rahul Chaturvedi, this conversation dives into what it really takes to launch and scale biotech companies: from mastering the evolution of the CEO role to raising nearly $900M through strategic partnerships, to knowing when it’s time to pass the torch.

Steve also shares how Mission BioCapital is rewriting the playbook for early-stage innovation through its Platinum Program, offering $500K and lab access to science founders ready to launch bold new ideas.

Real talk, real strategies, and a blueprint for building lasting biotech companies—especially when its hardest.

Biography:

Steve Tregay, PhD is a Managing General Partner based in our Cambridge office. He focuses on new therapeutics investments with a particular emphasis on company creation opportunities as well as on overall management of the firm. Within the Mission BioCapital portfolio, he is currently founding CEO and board member of Arclight Therapeutics, LLC, a founding board member at Jupiter BioVentures LLC, and has board roles at Vedere Bio and Nocion Therapeutics. In addition, Steve serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at LabCentral. He is a Harvard Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator Advisory Committee member and is a member of the board of advisors for the non-profit Life Sciences Cares.

Previously, Steve was the Founder and CEO of FORMA Therapeutics. Additional roles held prior to his engagement at FORMA include Managing Director for the Novartis Venture Fund and Executive Director & Head of Strategic Alliances for Oncology, Ophthalmology and Technologies at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. Prior to Novartis, he held roles in research and business development at Array BioPharma.

Steve received his doctoral and Master’s degrees in organic chemistry from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s from Davidson College.

Synopsis:

In this episode of Biotech2050, host Rahul Chaturvedi sits down with Neil F. McFarlane, President and CEO of Zevra Therapeutics, to explore his unique leadership journey from military nurse to biotech executive. Neil shares reflections from his time at Genzyme and UCB, insights on running a rare disease-focused biotech, and the art of mission-driven leadership. He dives into Zevra’s recent therapeutic milestones, regulatory strategies, and the importance of reflection in high-stakes environments. This conversation offers powerful takeaways for anyone navigating biotech leadership, board management, or rare disease innovation.

Biography:

Neil F. McFarlane took the reins as President and CEO of Zevra Therapeutics, a commercial-stage rare disease therapeutics company, in October 2023, bringing with him a wealth of experience in the biopharma industry and specific expertise in neurological and rare diseases. Before joining Zevra, he served on the board of Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc. from 2022 to 2024 and was the CEO of Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for neurological diseases, from 2019 until its acquisition by Supernus Pharmaceuticals in 2021.

Prior to Adamas, Mr. McFarlane was Chief Operating Officer at Retrophin, Inc. (now Travere Therapeutics, Inc.), from 2016 to 2019, where he managed day-to-day operations. He also held roles of increasing responsibility at UCB, Inc., Genzyme Corporation (now Sanofi), and Sangstat Medical Corporation, which was acquired by Genzyme.

Synopsis:

How do you build a biotech company that disrupts drug discovery and delivers real impact? In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Rahul Chaturvedi speaks with Raj Devraj, President & CEO of Rectify Pharmaceuticals and Venture Partner at Atlas Venture.

Raj shares his journey from big pharma to biotech entrepreneurship, the science behind Rectify’s groundbreaking approach to drugging membrane proteins, and how his team is tackling rare hepatobiliary diseases with small-molecule therapies.

He also dives deep into biotech innovation, smart capital strategy, M&A trends, and the power of hiring the right talent. Whether you’re a biotech founder, investor, or science enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on building, funding, and scaling a biotech startup in today’s competitive landscape.

Biography:

Rajesh (Raj) Devraj, Ph.D., is President and Chief Executive Officer of Rectify Pharma and a Venture Partner at Atlas Venture. Throughout his career, he has been focused on creating and building groundbreaking biotech companies. Prior to Rectify, Raj co-founded Disarm Therapeutics with Atlas and served as its Chief Scientific Officer prior to its acquisition. Before Disarm, he served as Chief Scientific Officer of Atlas-founded Padlock Therapeutics. Prior to his tenure at Atlas, Raj served in senior executive roles at Euclises & Deciphera Pharmaceuticals and at Jubilant Life Sciences. In addition, Raj spent 14 years in positions of increasing responsibility with Pfizer Global R&D and the legacy Pharmacia and Searle companies. Raj also serves on the boards of directors for several biotech companies. Over a 25-year career in large pharma and biotech, Raj has led discovery, early clinical development, and strategic planning teams that have advanced multiple candidates into clinical trials for refractory cancers, autoimmune diseases, IPF, diabetic nephropathy, COPD, and pain. Raj received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Mumbai, and Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from Duquesne University.

Synopsis:

Host Rahul Chaturvedi welcomes back Rachel Haurwitz, President & CEO of Caribou Biosciences, for a deep dive into the future of CRISPR-based genome editing and its transformative impact on cell therapy. As a pioneer in the field, Rachel shares the evolution of off-the-shelf CAR T therapies and how Caribou Biosciences is tackling some of the biggest challenges in biotech.

With four ongoing Phase 1 trials in lymphoma, multiple myeloma, AML, and lupus, Caribou is leading the charge in making CAR T therapies more scalable, accessible, and cost-effective. Rachel also discusses Caribou’s journey from a private startup to a publicly traded company, the role of strategic partnerships like Pfizer’s equity investment, and how biotech companies can navigate today’s uncertain funding landscape.

She reflects on lessons from co-founding Caribou at just 26, the evolution of biotech entrepreneurship, and why raising more capital than you think you need is crucial. Plus, she shares her perspective on leadership, industry trends, and the importance of diversity in biotech, as seen during JPMorgan’s ‘Pink Tuesday’ movement.

From cutting-edge science to strategic decision-making, this episode is packed with insights for biotech professionals, investors, and anyone fascinated by the future of gene editing and cell therapy.

Biography:

Rachel is a co-founder of Caribou Biosciences and has been its president and chief executive officer and a director since the company’s inception in 2011. Rachel is an inventor on patents and patent applications covering multiple CRISPR-based technologies, and has co-authored several scientific papers in high-impact journals characterizing CRISPR-Cas systems. In 2014, she was named by Forbes Magazine to the “30 Under 30” list in Science and Healthcare, and in 2016, Fortune Magazine named her to the “40 Under 40” list of the most influential young people in business. In 2018, the Association for Women in Science recognized Rachel with the annual Next Generation Award. She serves on the board of directors for Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). Rachel earned an AB in biological sciences from Harvard College and a PhD in molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Synopsis:

In this thought-provoking episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi sits down with Liam Killingstad, Member at Finiam Investments, to unpack the growing influence of family offices in biotech. Driven by his own family's experience with rare cancers, Liam shares how that journey sparked Finiam's deep dive into biotech investing and the co-creation of companies like Khora Therapeutics.

From the untapped power of family offices to the strategies they use to enter high-stakes sectors like biotech, Liam offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how mission-driven capital is shaping the future of healthcare innovation.

Biography:

Liam Killingstad is an experienced finance and operations professional in the biopharma, healthcare, and investment sectors. As Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations at KHORA Therapeutics, Liam works closely with the C-suite to drive strategic initiatives, including the development of multi-asset portfolio construction and complex financial model building in support of executing oncology-focused asset acquisitions across global markets.

Prior to KHORA, Liam served as Chief of Staff at SHEPHERD Health, a precision oncology diagnostics company where he played a pivotal role in securing bridge financing, managing investor relations, and establishing strategic partnerships, including joint ventures that expanded SHEPHERD's precision diagnostics capabilities. He was also instrumental in advocating for federal legislation to improve access to molecular diagnostics for cancer patients.

Liam's financial expertise was honed during his time as an investment banking associate at Goldman Sachs, where he managed transactions exceeding $2 billion in the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors. He has a proven track record of structuring complex financial models, leading investor roadshows, and crafting innovative financing solutions for high-impact projects.

In addition, Liam serves as Operating Partner at Finiam Investments, a European-based family office. He leads due diligence efforts for investments across biotech, digital health, cleantech, and media, supporting the portfolio with strategic planning, financial modeling, and capital formation.

Liam holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics, graduating magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University, where he was a varsity baseball captain and recognized for academic excellence. Born and raised in Germany and various other European cities, Liam brings a global perspective to his work and leadership in life sciences and finance.

Synopsis:

Host Alok Tayi sits down with Clare Terlouw, Head of Ventures at LifeArc Ventures, to explore biotech investing from an LP perspective. Clare shares her unique journey—from physiotherapy to investment banking and, ultimately, leading venture investments at a medical charity. The conversation delves into LifeArc’s role in bridging the funding gap for biotech innovation, the challenges of attracting LP capital, and the future of biotech investing. If you're curious about how a medical charity strategically deploys capital while fueling scientific breakthroughs, this episode is a must-listen!

Biography:

Clare Terlouw is Head of LifeArc Ventures, responsible for LifeArc’s portfolio of direct and LP investments across the life sciences sector. The venture investment fund focuses on early stage life sciences companies at seed to Series A, with significant follow-on investment reserved for successful portfolio companies.

Clare has significant expertise in funding innovative life sciences companies in the private and public markets. She was previously Head of Corporate Development at Syncona Investment Management Ltd, a FTSE250 healthcare investment trust which builds and invests in life science companies, and has more than 15 years of biotech and healthcare financing experience as a UK investment banker at Nomura, Numis Securities and Peel Hunt. Clare was a physiotherapist in Canada prior to moving into finance.

Clare is a board member of the UK Biotechnology Industry Association and director of a number of venture-backed companies.

Synopsis:

Venture capital is evolving, and so is biotech. In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi, CEO and co-founder of VibeBio, sits down with Alex Bangash, Founder of Transpose, an investment firm backing both startups and funds.

With over 20 years of experience in venture investing, Alex shares his unconventional journey from engineering to investing and how his unique perspective has shaped his approach to funding. He breaks down the shifting startup landscape, the critical role of LPs in biotech, and why AI is a game-changer for both tech and life sciences.

Alex also offers sharp insights into what it takes to build a successful venture fund today and the structural shifts that are redefining the industry. Whether you're a founder, investor, or biotech enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on navigating the future of venture capital.

Biography:

Alex Bangash is the Founder of Transpose Platform, an anchor fund for the most disruptive venture funds of this decade. He is also the co-founder and former CEO of Trusted Insight, a machine learning–driven platform that hosts the world’s largest network of institutional investors. Prior to TI Platform, Alex managed capital for clients at premier endowments, foundations, family offices, insurance firms, sovereign wealth funds, and pension funds since 2003. He has helped invest over $2 billion in 50 funds with a track record of investing over $1 billion in 50+ funds for institutional investors with an IRR of 30%+ and a 2x NAV. He advised the first checks in Accel, First Round Capital, Founders Fund, Emergence, Y Combinator, Khosla, SaaStr, Initialized, Crystal Towers, and Baseline. Earlier in his career, Alex was an engineer and executive at AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Bell Labs, and GE. Alex holds an MBA from the Wharton School (where he is a frequent guest lecturer); an M.Eng. in Operations Research from Cornell, and a BS in Computer Science, English, and Economics from Cornell.

Synopsis:

In this special episode of Biotech 2050, Host Alok Tayi, CEO and Co-Founder of VibeBio, delves into the world of neurodivergent entrepreneurship and impact investing with guest Chad Belinsky, founder of AtypicalPath.org. Chad shares his inspiring journey from running a transformative B2B materials company to establishing Atypical Path—a nonprofit dedicated to supporting neurodiverse individuals, fostering mentorship, and creating impact-driven investment opportunities. Together, they explore the unique perspectives neurodivergent individuals bring to innovation, the importance of self-awareness, and how capital can drive meaningful societal change. A must-listen for those interested in mission-oriented investment, entrepreneurship, and the untapped potential of neurodivergent talent.

Biography:

“Dumb” dyslexic, awkward aspie kid, empowered by love & tech, transformed himself and a bootstrapped family material science B2B into a 20 year overnight success with PE platform exit.

Now stewarding the proceeds & sharing forward learnings through developing AtypicalPath.org , an entrepreneurial nonprofit community where accomplished neuro-atypical earnest entrepreneurs inspire each other to compound social & economic good, while sharing forward opportunity for the next generation to thrive, through shared wisdom, contacts, grants & impact investment.