A new cell therapy, just entering human clinical trials. It focuses on a particular type of Epilepsy - Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. I speak with Dr. Cory Nicholas, the Co-Founder and CEO of Neurona Therapeutics, about their idea, what they’ve done, and how they plan to approach testing this unprecedented treatment. 

Join us as Dr. Chris Nave, the managing director of Brandon Capital and Chair of PolyActiva, reveals groundbreaking advancements in eye treatments on this week's episode of Biotech Nation! Discover how their innovative technology is revolutionizing the way we deliver drugs to the eye, offering extended therapy periods and eliminating the need for frequent injections or daily drops. Don't miss out on this eye-opening discussion about the future of ophthalmology and the potential to transform the lives of millions affected by glaucoma and other eye diseases. 

Join Dr. Richard Austin, Founder and CEO of Reglagene, as he reveals the intense process of selecting the most promising drug candidate for treating brain cancer. Delve into the intriguing world of the "Bake Off" or "beauty contest" where molecules compete to be the breakthrough therapy in human clinical trials. Discover the challenges of penetrating the blood-brain barrier and the quest to revolutionize brain cancer treatment. 

This week we explore the commonalities among neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. Dr. Maria Macccecchini, Founder and CEO of Annovis Bio, discusses the role of sticky proteins in these diseases and how her company is developing a drug to prevent the aggregation of these proteins. The episode also touches on their ongoing clinical trials for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and their potential application in treating traumatic brain injuries.

Moira speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Ed Humes. His latest is “The Forever Witness … How DNA and Genealogy Solved a Cold Case Double Murder.” We get an object lesson in the Three Ages of DNA, and while it reads like a fast-paced Cold Case on steroids – it provides details no fiction writer would dare to make up, like the unexpected involvement of the famous true crimes writer, Ann Rule, and a person whose DNA skills are familiar to fans of the PBS documentary series, “Finding your roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.”

Dr. Hamid Khoja, Chief Scientific Officer of Fibro Biologics, discusses the potential of fibroblasts in regenerative medicine, highlighting their abundance and diverse functions in the body. He shares insights from their ongoing human clinical trials, including the use of fibroblasts for treating degenerative disc disease and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Khoja also mentions their promising findings in animal studies related to diabetic foot ulcers.

Dr. Paul Peter Tack, CEO of Candel Therapeutics, unveils their groundbreaking approach to cancer treatments using engineered viruses. Discover how these viruses are harnessed to target solid tumors, deliver therapeutic genes, and activate the patient's immune system for a powerful anti-cancer response.

Discover the limitless potential of mRNA engineering as Dr. Francois Vigneault, Co-Founder and CEO of Shape Therapeutics, discusses their groundbreaking work in using mRNA to address genetic mutations in diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, offering hope for effective treatments and prevention strategies. Join us as we delve into the world of mRNA technology and its transformative impact on healthcare.

200,000 men at diagnosed each year with Prostate cancer … beginning a journey of many successive treatments. Still, 35,000 men die as a result of prostate cancer. Convergent Therapeutics is focusing on the most advanced, intractable cases of prostate cancer. We speak with, Dr. Philip Kantoff is its Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer and CEO.

Cancer treatments which work with the immune system are making great strides, with Keytruda from Merck being perhaps the best known. Still there is much work to be done – both in developing unprecedented new treatments, as well as treatments which might combine with our existing treatments to make them even more effective. Triumvera (try-um-VEERA) Immunologics is working on both. Dr. Paul Lammers is its CEO.