Biotech 2050 Podcast

Synopsis:

Host Rahul Chaturvedi leads an insightful conversation with Dr. Kristin Yarema, President and CEO of Poseida Therapeutics. Kristin shares the inspiring journey of her career, from her roots in science to leadership roles in big pharma, culminating in her move to biotech entrepreneurship. She reflects on pivotal experiences at Novartis and Amgen, her deep-seated passion for oncology and autoimmune diseases, and the exciting leap into the field of cell therapy.

Kristin unveils Poseida’s innovative genetic engineering toolkit and the company’s advancements in allogeneic cell therapies, spotlighting their potential to revolutionize treatment for conditions like multiple myeloma. She delves into the challenges and opportunities within the cell therapy space, underscoring Poseida's strategic partnerships and commitment to transformative solutions. With candid reflections on the lessons learned as a first-time CEO, Kristin offers valuable insights on fostering cohesive company culture and shares career advice for aspiring biotech professionals.

An essential listen for anyone drawn to biotech innovation, the future of cell therapy, and leadership strategies at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and patient care.

Biography:

Dr. Yarema was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Poseida and named to the Board of Directors in January 2024. She joined Poseida as President, Cell Therapy in April 2023, bringing extensive biopharmaceutical experience in oncology and allogeneic T cell immunotherapy. Prior to Poseida she served as Chief Commercial Officer at Atara Biotherapeutics, where she led the commercialization of EBVALLO™️, which became the world’s first marketed allogeneic T cell therapy after receiving regulatory approval in Europe for the treatment of a rare lymphoma. Previously Dr. Yarema held a series of U.S. and global commercial leadership roles at Amgen, including most recently Vice President & Therapeutic Area Head for Global Product Strategy & Commercial Innovation in Hematology-Oncology. Earlier in her career, Dr. Yarema worked at Novartis and McKinsey & Company. Dr. Yarema holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Berkeley and is a graduate of Stanford University, where she earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a B.A. in English. She is an officer and member of the board of directors of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine and serves on the board of directors of the Celiac Disease Foundation.

Synopsis:

In this insightful conversation on Biotech2050, host Rahul Chaturvedi sits down with Bharatt Chowrira, CEO, and Eric Elenko, Co-Founder and President of PureTech Health. They explore the company’s pioneering R&D model and how it reshapes drug development by focusing on solving specific problems rather than pushing predefined solutions. Bharatt and Eric share their professional journeys and key insights, emphasizing the importance of simplicity and unwavering commitment to impactful ideas.

The episode delves into the story behind Karuna Therapeutics, highlighting the challenges of obtaining funding and skepticism from the industry before its success with a groundbreaking schizophrenia drug. Bharatt and Eric underline the importance of patient-centered innovation and reflect on the lessons learned, including overcoming obstacles with persistence. They also discuss the need for more efficient pathways in drug development and share a glimpse into PureTech’s upcoming projects.

Biography:

Bharatt Chowrira, PhD, JD, is the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors at PureTech. Dr. Chowrira has been a member of the PureTech management team since March 2017, leading various departments including Operations, Finance and Business Development. Dr. Chowrira plays a key role in the Founded Entity fundraisings and provide strategic guidance as a Board member to many Founded Entities, including co-founding Seaport Therapeutics. Prior to joining PureTech, he held various leadership roles including Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel in multiple biotech companies over the past 30+ years, including Auspex Pharmaceuticals Inc., which was acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals for $3.5 billion and Sirna Therapeutics that was acquired by Merck for $1.1 billion and as a Vice President at Merck & Co. Dr. Chowrira received a JD from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, an MS in molecular biology from Illinois State University and a BS in microbiology from the UAS, Bangalore, India.

Eric Elenko, PhD, is the president at PureTech where he has led the development of a number of programs, including three that have received US FDA approvals (EndeavorRx, Plenity and Cobenfy). Dr. Elenko plays a key role in the Founded Entity drug discovery and fundraisings, including co-founding Seaport Therapeutics. Prior to joining PureTech, Dr. Elenko was a consultant with McKinsey and Company where he advised senior executives of both Fortune 500 and specialty pharmaceutical companies on a range of issues such as product licensing, mergers and acquisitions, research and development strategy and marketing. Dr. Elenko received his BA in biology from Swarthmore College and his PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of California, San Diego.

Synopsis:

Rob Williamson, CEO of Triumvira, joins Biotech 2050 host, Rahul Chaturvedi, to discuss his dynamic career from economics to biotech, tackling the volatile capital markets, and navigating high-stakes decisions in cell therapy. He shares insights on therapeutic developments in cell therapy, the pressures of solid tumor research, and the evolving biotech ecosystem. A deep dive into biotech board dynamics, funding strategies, and the potential of AI in healthcare, Rob offers invaluable lessons and forward-thinking perspectives on life sciences and patient care innovation.

Biography:

Robert F. Williamson, III has been active in building biotechnology companies and shareholder value for over two decades. He currently is the President and COO of Triumvira Immunologics. Previously, he was the CBO of OncoMyx, an oncolytic virus company, and CEO of BioTheryX, a protein degradation therapeutics company, raising a $100M crossover round and preparing the company for an IPO. Prior to BioTheryX, Mr. Williamson served as CEO of both PharmAkea and ATXCo, oncology and fibrosis companies financed through a partnership with Celgene, until PharmAkea’s acquisition by Galecto and ATXCo’s acquisition by Blade Therapeutics. Prior, Mr. Williamson was CEO of Arriva Pharmaceuticals, President and COO of Eos Biotechnology, which he sold to Protein Design Labs, and COO of DoubleTwist, Inc. through its acquisition by Merck and Hitachi.

Mr. Williamson also serves as a director and adviser for foundations, private, and public companies. Notably, Mr. Williamson served as an early Director of Pharmasset, Inc., where he helped finance, grow, and advance the company into the public markets and through its acquisition by Gilead in 2011 for $11 billion. Earlier, Mr. Williamson was a Partner with The Boston Consulting Group and a Research Assistant for the Federal Reserve Board. He received a BA in economics from Pomona College and an MBA from Stanford.

Biotech2050 Host, Rahul Chaturvedi, engages with Gene Mack, Interim CEO and CFO of Gain Therapeutics, as he shares his journey from aspiring neurosurgeon to biotech leader. Gene reflects on his career shift from clinical research to Wall Street and eventually operational roles in biotech. He details the development of Gain's lead asset, GT02287, which targets Parkinson's disease by aiming for disease modification rather than symptom management. Gene also discusses the challenges of biotech leadership, running clinical trials, and navigating the financial landscape, highlighting the dynamic intersection of science, business, and innovation in neurodegenerative diseases.

Synopsis:

Discover how Bitterroot Bio is poised to revolutionize cardiovascular health in this captivating conversation between host Rahul Chaturvedi and CEO Pavan Cheruvu. Pavan opens up about his inspiring journey from engineering to leading a biotech company at the forefront of cardio-immunology. Learn how his visionary leadership is driving innovative solutions to combat atherosclerosis—one of the world’s deadliest diseases. Delve into Bitterroot Bio's cutting-edge approach, blending scientific breakthroughs with bold strategies to create life-saving treatments while overcoming the hurdles of drug development in an ever-changing biotech landscape.

Biography:

Dr. Pavan K. Cheruvu is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Bitterroot Bio. Prior to joining Bitterroot, Dr. Cheruvu was an early member of the executive team at Roivant Sciences and served as President and CEO of Sio Gene Therapies. Over the course of his career, he has worked with multiple biotechnology and medical device companies, as well as in the public sector, with focus areas spanning neurology, oncology, women’s health, and cardiology. Dr. Cheruvu previously worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on R&D strategy and transformation for biopharmaceutical firms across North America, Asia, and Europe.

Dr. Cheruvu holds a BS in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, and chemistry from Duke University and an MSc in computer science from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He went on to earn an MD from Harvard Medical School and MIT. Dr. Cheruvu completed his residency in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital and continued his training as a clinical fellow in cardiovascular medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and daughter. He serves on the Executive Leadership Team of the American Heart Association’s Research Roundtable, and the Board of Advisors of Life Sciences Cares Bay Area.

Synopsis:

In this episode of Biotech 2050, Alex Martin, CEO of Abcuro, sits down with host Rahul Chaturvedi to share his inspiring journey from aspiring actor to biotech trailblazer. Alex reveals how his unique background shaped his leadership approach as he drives Abcuro’s groundbreaking work on Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM), a rare muscle disease with no current treatments. He offers valuable insights for biotech CEOs on navigating the complexities of fundraising, building mission-driven teams, and fostering productive relationships with boards. Tune in to discover how Alex is leading Abcuro to the forefront of biotech innovation and making a profound impact on patient lives.

Biography:

Alex Martin brings over 30 years of experience building companies and closing transactions in the biopharmaceutical industry. He was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Palladio Biosciences, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company which was acquired by Centessa Pharmaceuticals (CNTA), and previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Realm Therapeutics (RLM) which was acquired by ESSA Pharma (EPIX). He was also Chief Operating Officer of Intercept Pharmaceuticals (ICPT), and Chief Finance Officer of BioXell (BXLN) which was acquired by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals (COPN). He began his career at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals where he held roles of increasing responsibility in marketing and business development and later joined Novartis as Vice President, Global Business Development & Licensing. Alex is an active coach and mentor to other senior executives, and a guest lecturer at Wharton and Columbia Business School on biotech, entrepreneurship, and raising capital. He holds a BA from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard.

Synopsis:

Abe Ceesay, CEO of Rapport Therapeutics, sits down with host Rahul Chaturvedi to reveal how precision neuroscience is driving revolutionary treatments for neurological disorders. They explore Rapport’s cutting-edge lead program targeting focal epilepsy and discuss the groundbreaking advancements that are reshaping the landscape of drug development. Abe also shares his dynamic leadership journey, offering insights into the biotech industry’s future and how innovative approaches are delivering life-changing treatments. Don’t miss this powerful discussion on the future of precision medicine and the hope it brings to patients with neurological conditions.

Biography:

Abe brings nearly two decades of biopharmaceutical industry experience to Rapport. He served as President of Cerevel Therapeutics from May 2021 through February 2023, and was previously CEO of Tiburio Therapeutics, where he built a fully integrated company that led to the investigational new drug enablement for a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Prior to joining Tiburio, Mr. Ceesay held positions including Chief Operating Officer at scPharmaceuticals, Head of Commercial at Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Vice President of Marketing at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, and roles of increasing responsibility at Sanofi, formerly Genzyme. Mr. Ceesay serves as Chairman of the Board for Life Science Cares and on the Board of Trustees at The Museum of Science in Boston. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and Master of Business Administration from Suffolk University’s Sawyer School of Management.

Synopsis:

Explore the forefront of biotech innovation as host Rahul Chaturvedi interviews Dr. Dave Bearss, Co-Founder & CEO of Halia Therapeutics, in this engaging episode of Biotech 2050. Dr. Bearss shares the story behind Halia’s pioneering genetic discoveries and their mission to tackle Alzheimer’s disease. Learn about the science driving breakthrough therapies that target neuroinflammation, offering hope in the fight against neurodegenerative disorders. Packed with insights and inspiration, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of healthcare and biotech innovation.

Biography:

Dr. David J. Bearss, a serial entrepreneur and pharmaceutical innovator, has over two decades of experience spanning academic and industrial roles. His expertise lies at the intersection of structure-based small-molecule drug discovery and the utilization of genetic model systems for drug discovery. Dr. Bearss's career is marked by significant achievements, with a strong foundation in translational research focused on drug advancement to the clinic and using genetic markers for predictive drug sensitivity.

Notably, Dr. Bearss has discovered 16 compounds that have successfully navigated from discovery in the lab to IND into clinical development. His entrepreneurial experience is evident through his roles as the co-founder of eight biotechnology companies. More importantly, his unwavering commitment to advancing novel drug development truly sets him apart.

Before taking on his role as chief scientific officer at Halia in January 2021 and assuming the CEO position in March 2022, Dr. Bearss served as the CEO of Tolero Pharmaceuticals, an organization later acquired by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma in 2017. His tenure as chief scientific officer at Montigen Pharmaceuticals, followed by its acquisition by SuperGen Inc., demonstrates his dedication to driving early-stage drug discovery and development. At SuperGen, he continued to develop his expertise in these critical areas.

Dr. Bearss's academic career is equally impressive. It led to his founding role as the Center for Investigational Therapeutics Co-Director at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He also held academic positions as an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah and as an Associate Professor of Physiology and Developmental Biology at Brigham Young University, demonstrating his deep knowledge and expertise in these fields.

Dr. Bearss's academic career began with a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute for Drug Development at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center also in Texas. He has won several awards for his entrepreneurial and scientific achievements, including the Utah Governor's Medal of Science and BIO Utah Entrepreneur of the Year.

Synopsis:

In this episode, host Rahul Chaturvedi interviews Sarah Boyce, President & CEO of Avidity Biosciences, as she shares her dynamic journey from big pharma to leading groundbreaking advancements in RNA therapeutics. Sarah delves into overcoming drug delivery challenges, the transformative potential of genetic medicine, and Avidity’s mission to redefine rare disease treatments. She also offers candid insights on leadership, the importance of cultivating a strong company culture, and balancing personal well-being for long-term success. This episode is essential for those eager to explore the future of biotech and the next wave of medical innovation.

Biography:

Sarah Boyce joined Avidity as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors in October 2019. She has more than 25 years of global leadership experience in both pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. Sarah’s tenure at Avidity has been marked by transformative leadership, starting with the company's successful Series C funding round and IPO. She continues to drive the company’s evolution from a research and development entity to a biopharmaceutical company through the advancement of three therapies into clinical development and the expansion of the broad utility of the company’s proprietary RNA technology. Prior to joining Avidity, Sarah held the position of president and a member of the board of directors of Akcea Therapeutics. She previously held executive roles in business development and global operations for leading life sciences companies including Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Forest Laboratories, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Oncology and Roche. Sarah was named a Healthcare Technology Report Top 25 Biotech CEO in 2022 and has been named one of Fiercest Women in Life Sciences. Sarah currently serves as a member of the board of directors at OmniAb, Inc., Contineum Therapeutics, Inc., and Abcuro, Inc. Sarah holds a BSc (Hons) degree in microbiology from the University of Manchester, England.

Synopsis:

Step into the future of biotech as host Rahul Chaturvedi delves into an exclusive conversation with Fabrice Chouraqui, CEO of Cellarity, as he unveils the groundbreaking ways AI is revolutionizing drug discovery. Fabrice will take you behind the scenes of Cellarity’s trailblazing approach, revealing how their pioneering technology is accelerating drug development and creating a synergy-driven powerhouse. Tune in for a front-row seat to the next era of biotech innovation and gain exclusive insights from a leader at the cutting edge of the industry.

Biography:

Fabrice Chouraqui is CEO-partner of Flagship Pioneering and CEO of Cellarity. Cellarity is a Flagship-backed company developing game-changing medicines that are unreachable with traditional methods of drug discovery. By harnessing the power of AI and single-cell omics data, Cellarity’s approach allows them to see disease biology others can’t. The Cellarity platform links biology and chemistry to multi-omics data and enables the design of medicines against cellular dysfunction – an approach applicable to a vast array of diseases to offer new hope to patients in need.

Fabrice is an experienced global pharmaceutical executive with a passion for driving the progress of medical sciences and bringing innovation to patients. He has deep experience across the business spectrum, from R&D to commercial leadership, business development and investor communications. Fabrice has led the launch of breakthrough treatments in a number of areas, including oncology, immunology, neuroscience and cardiovascular. Prior to Cellarity, Fabrice was president of the U.S. Pharmaceuticals business for Novartis, where he was credited with transforming the organization to adapt to a new market environment and turning around its performance. He also represented Novartis on the board of BIO.

Fabrice earned an MBA from INSEAD in France and a Doctorate in Pharmacy, a Post-Graduate Degree in Quality Assurance of Medicines, and a MSc in Biological and Medicinal Sciences from University of Paris V. Born in Paris, France, he is fluent in English and French.