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Xtalks Life Science Podcast

Xtalks

This Life Science focused podcast brings together Xtalks editorial staff to share insights into the latest B2B industry news. Xtalks connects professionals in the life science, medical device, and food industries with useful content like webinars, job opening, articles and virtual meetings.

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21 episodes
Avg 33 min
English

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S1 · E265
August 19 · 23 min
Why Endometriosis Can Be So Difficult to Diagnose with HerAnova’s Dr. Farideh Bischoff
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Dr. Mohammad Ali, Life Science Writer and Knowledge Translation Specialist at Xtalks, spoke with Dr. Farideh Bischoff, Chief Medical Officer at HerAnova Lifesciences, about the challenges of diagnosing endometriosis and research into non-invasive testing. Dr. Bischoff explains that symptom severity does not always reflect disease extent, and symptoms can overlap with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and adenomyosis. Ultrasound and MRI can detect some forms of endometriosis, while smaller superficial lesions and early-stage disease may be more difficult to identify. She also discusses multiomic approaches, the use of AI and machine learning to analyze multiple biomarkers and the evidence needed to validate new diagnostic tests across different patient populations. Tune in to learn more about endometriosis diagnosis, biomarker research and efforts to shorten the path to diagnosis. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E264
August 5 · 23 min
Why Gout Is Often Misunderstood: Treatment and Research with Crystalys Therapeutics’ James Mackay
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Soumya Shashikumar, Senior Life Sciences Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with James Mackay, CEO of Crystalys Therapeutics, about gout, persistent misconceptions surrounding the condition and current clinical research. Gout is often linked primarily to diet and alcohol. James explains that many patients instead have difficulty removing enough uric acid from the body, allowing crystals to accumulate in the joints and contribute to inflammation over time. The conversation examines the stigma this misunderstanding can create. James shares why some people may avoid discussing their condition or seeking care because they feel blamed for developing it. He also discusses difficult-to-treat gout, the limitations of current treatment options and how researchers are studying outcomes that may be more meaningful to patients. Tune in to learn more about why gout remains widely misunderstood, the gaps in current care and the challenges of developing treatments for patients with limited options. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E263
July 24 · 33 min
Addressing Neonatal Brain Injury: HIE Treatment Development with ReAlta Life Sciences’ Dr. Kia Motesharei
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Soumya Shashikumar, Senior Life Sciences Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Dr. Kia Motesharei, President and Chief Operating Officer of ReAlta Life Sciences, about hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and efforts to develop treatments beyond therapeutic hypothermia. HIE is a serious neonatal brain injury caused by insufficient oxygen and blood flow to the brain around the time of birth. Therapeutic hypothermia, or controlled cooling, can help limit inflammation and secondary injury, but there are currently no approved drug therapies for HIE. Dr. Motesharei explains how reperfusion injury can occur when blood flow returns to the brain after oxygen deprivation, triggering an inflammatory cascade that may contribute to further tissue damage. He also discusses why targeting more than one inflammatory pathway may be important and how ReAlta’s investigational approach is intended to address both complement- and neutrophil-driven inflammation. The conversation explores the challenges of neonatal clinical trials, where clinicians may have only hours to identify eligible newborns, explain the research and obtain informed consent from families facing an acute medical crisis. Because newborns have not yet developed the motor and cognitive abilities used to assess treatments in older patients, early MRI may help measure brain injury while longer-term follow-up evaluates developmental outcomes. Tune in to learn more about HIE, the narrow intervention window in neonatal trials and efforts to develop treatments that could reduce brain injury in newborns. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E262
July 8 · 28 min
Why Endometriosis Needs New Treatment Approaches with EndoCyclic Therapeutics’ Dr. Tanya Petrossian
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Vera Kovacevic, Editor-in-Chief at Xtalks, spoke with Dr. Tanya Petrossian, CEO and Founder of EndoCyclic Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing a non-hormonal therapeutic approach for endometriosis. Endometriosis affects many women, but it is still often difficult to diagnose, treat and fully understand. For many patients, available treatment options have historically centered on hormone-based therapies or surgery, leaving significant unmet needs in long-term care. In this episode, Dr. Petrossian discusses the patient burden of endometriosis and why the condition has remained challenging to diagnose and treat. She also shares how her own experience with delayed diagnosis helped shape her understanding of the gaps patients face and ultimately contributed to her decision to start EndoCyclic Therapeutics. The conversation explores why innovation has lagged in endometriosis, despite the condition’s significant impact on patients’ lives. Dr. Petrossian discusses the need for new treatment options, including approaches that do not rely on hormones, and explains at a high level how EndoCyclic Therapeutics’ work is designed to target disease biology. Dr. Petrossian also discusses the broader challenges and opportunities of building a company in women’s health, including the progress being made in endometriosis research and the continued need for greater recognition, investment and clinical innovation. Tune in to learn more about endometriosis, the need for new treatment approaches and what progress in women’s health innovation could look like in the years ahead. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E261
June 24 · 25 min
Precision Oncology in Lung Cancer with Boehringer Ingelheim’s Itziar Canamasas and Volker Teichgräber
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Vera Kovacevic, Editor-in-Chief at Xtalks, spoke with two experts from Boehringer Ingelheim: Itziar Canamasas, PhD, Global Head of Oncology and Senior Vice President, and Volker Teichgräber, MD, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Experimental Medicine Oncology. The conversation focused on how precision oncology is changing the way advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is diagnosed, studied and treated. As molecular testing becomes increasingly important in lung cancer care, identifying specific genomic alterations early in the treatment journey can help inform treatment decisions and support more personalized approaches for patients. In this episode, Itziar discusses how advanced NSCLC care has evolved over the past decade and why molecular testing is central to the future of precision oncology. She also shares her perspective on the unmet needs facing patients with rare molecularly defined forms of lung cancer, including HER2-mutant NSCLC. Volker discusses the R&D considerations involved in studying rare genomic subtypes of NSCLC. He explains what researchers consider when translating early clinical findings into later-stage studies. The conversation also explores how clinical trial design is evolving in precision oncology, including the need to balance scientific rigor with the practical realities of studying rare patient groups. Itziar and Volker also discuss what may matter most for improving outcomes in advanced NSCLC and other molecularly defined cancers, from earlier testing and targeted treatment strategies to continued advances in translational medicine, biomarkers and clinical research. Tune in to learn more about precision oncology in advanced NSCLC, the role of molecular testing and the challenges of developing targeted therapies for rare genomic subtypes. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E259
June 10 · 24 min
Sustainability in Asthma and COPD Drug Development with Chiesi’s Diego Ardigò
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Vera Kovacevic, Editor-in-Chief at Xtalks, spoke with Diego Ardigò, Executive Vice President, Global R&D at Chiesi, a biopharma company focused on respiratory health, rare diseases and specialty care. Respiratory medicine presents unique drug development challenges because successful therapies depend not only on the drug itself, but also on the formulation and delivery device. As innovation continues across asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), developers must balance performance, usability, sustainability and continuity of care. In this episode, Diego discusses how Chiesi approaches innovation in respiratory disease drug development and why developing inhaled therapies requires careful integration of drug formulation, device design and patient experience. The conversation also explores the growing focus on sustainability in respiratory care. Diego discusses how the industry can transition toward more environmentally sustainable inhaler options while maintaining treatment continuity for patients who are stable on their current therapies. In addition, Diego discusses the role of inhaler technique, patient behavior and long-term treatment adherence in shaping R&D decisions. Diego also explains why respiratory medicine offers valuable lessons for the broader pharmaceutical industry in balancing innovation, sustainability and patient-centered care. Tune in to learn more about the future of asthma and COPD drug development and how respiratory medicine is evolving to meet both patient and sustainability goals. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E258
June 4 · 26 min
What’s Next in Cardiometabolic Disease Drug Development: Obesity, MASH and Beyond with MetaVia’s Hyung Heon Kim
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Vera Kovacevic, Editor-in-Chief at Xtalks, spoke with Hyung Heon Kim, CEO of MetaVia, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for cardiometabolic diseases. Mr. Kim discusses the evolving cardiometabolic disease landscape, including the connections between obesity, diabetes, liver disease and cardiovascular risk. He shares his perspective on how obesity care has changed in recent years, where unmet needs remain and how priorities such as muscle preservation, metabolic health and long-term durability are shaping the next stage of drug development. The conversation also explores MASH, a complex liver disease closely linked to metabolic dysfunction. Mr. Kim discusses why MASH remains difficult to diagnose, study and treat, and why broader treatment strategies may need to address underlying drivers such as insulin resistance, inflammation and lipid metabolism. Mr. Kim also explores the challenges of designing and conducting clinical trials in obesity and MASH. He shares his perspective on where the cardiometabolic field is headed and what biotech leaders should consider when working in fast-moving, highly competitive therapeutic areas. Tune in to learn more about the future of obesity, MASH and cardiometabolic disease treatment. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E257
May 27 · 37 min
How Real-World Evidence Is Shaping Inclusive Clinical Trials with Takeda CMO Dr. Awny Farajallah
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Awny Farajallah, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Takeda, about the growing role of real-world evidence in improving clinical trial inclusivity and diversity. Also hear Dr. Farajallah discuss innovations in diseases such as narcolepsy type 1 and polycythemia vera, and how new technologies are transforming healthcare data into actionable insights. With over two decades of experience in the healthcare industry, Dr. Farajallah has led numerous medical affairs teams and contributed to the development and commercialization of therapeutics in oncology and other disease areas, including rare disease, hematology, neuroscience and immunology. Prior to his current role, Dr. Farajallah served as the Head of Global Medical Affairs for Oncology at Takeda, and held global, regional and local roles at Ipsen and Bristol Myers Squibb. Tune in to hear about how real-world evidence is driving more inclusive clinical trials, shaping patient-centered care and accelerating access to treatments. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E256
May 20 · 38 min
Stem Cell Therapies for Degenerative Disc Disease and More with BioRestorative’s Lance Alstodt
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Lance Alstodt, CEO, BioRestorative & Francisco Silva, Chief Scientist & VP, R&D, BioRestorative Inc. (NASDAQ:BRTX), a regenerative medicine company developing stem cell-based therapies and products. The company’s clinical programs target critical healthcare needs, including degenerative disc disease and metabolic disorders. Lance Alstadt has over 25 years of experience in leading medical technology and lifesciences companies in operations, capital raising activities, strategy and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Alstodt has deep experience in the orthopedic and spine sectors. Mr. Alstodt was the Founder and CEO of MedVest Consulting Corporation an investment fund that focuses on healthcare, and previously served at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and spent seven years in M&A at JP Morgan Chase. Mr. Alstodt has a BA in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany, with a secondary concentration in Finance and Marketing. Tune in to hear about the evolving landscape of regenerative medicine and the promise and challenges of stem cell-based therapies in treating chronic conditions like degenerative disc disease. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E255
May 13 · 30 min
New Blood Test for Early Alzheimer’s Detection with FNIH’s Dr. Alessio Travaglia
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Alessio Travaglia, PhD, Neuroscientist and Director of Translational Science at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). New findings from a study published in Nature Medicine suggest that a single blood test may be able to predict the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms within a three- to four-year period. Dr. Travaglia discusses how the test works, what it reveals about the earliest stages of disease and why identifying patients before symptoms appear could transform clinical trials and therapeutic development. Dr. Travaglia has 15 years of experience in basic and translational neuroscience in academia, non-profit, management consulting and venture philanthropy. Tune in to learn more about the new test and how it could transform the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E254
May 6 · 29 min
Targeting Ischemic Disease with DiaMedica CEO Rick Pauls
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke Rick Pauls, President and CEO of DiaMedica Therapeutics (Nasdaq: DMAC), a company advancing multiple programs in challenging vascular conditions driven by ischemia, including preeclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). DiaMedica’s therapeutic approach in ischemia-based diseases centers on a recombinant form of the KLK1 protein, which plays a key role in regulating blood flow, reducing inflammation and supporting vascular health. Rick Pauls has served as President and CEO of DiaMedica since 2009 and has been a board member since 2005, including as Chair from 2008 to 2014. Previously, he co-founded and led CentreStone Ventures, an early-stage life sciences venture capital fund, worked as an analyst at Centara Corporation and specialized in asset-backed securitization and structured finance at General Motors Acceptance Corporation. He has also served on the boards of several public and private companies. Rick received his BA in Economics from the University of Manitoba and his MBA in Finance from the University of North Dakota. Tune in to hear about a novel therapeutic approach to treating ischemia-driven diseases like stroke and preeclampsia. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E253
April 29 · 54 min
Why Copyright Matters in Life Sciences in the Age of AI: Featuring Neal Dunkinson of Copyright Clearance Center
In this special episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, part of our Breakthrough with Dr. Corey Stanton series, host Dr. Corey Stanton speaks with Neal Dunkinson, Sr. Director of Solution Sales at Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), about why copyright and licensing are becoming mission-critical in modern life sciences research, particularly in the era of AI. Life sciences teams both generate and consume vast amounts of scientific literature, clinical data and third-party content. As Neal explains, copyright and licensing are no longer back-office considerations; they are central to enabling compliant collaboration, reducing information silos and supporting confident decision-making across R&D, medical affairs and regulatory teams. In this episode, Neal discusses the most common challenges organizations face when managing scientific literature and internal knowledge workflows, and how those challenges evolve as companies grow from early-stage biotechs into global enterprises. He highlights where compliance risks and information silos typically emerge in real-world research environments and how structured licensing strategies can help mitigate them. The conversation also explores how CCC’s approach to “making copyright work” translates into practical value for scientists and knowledge workers: removing friction from access to content while ensuring proper rights management behind the scenes. As AI-driven analytics and generative tools become embedded in life sciences workflows, new copyright considerations are emerging. Neal explains how CCC supports responsible AI development by enabling lawful access to high-quality content while ensuring that publishers and creators are fairly compensated. He shares his perspective on what “responsible AI” means in scientific research and how licensing frameworks will likely evolve as AI adoption accelerates. Neal joined CCC in January 2025 and brings 20 years of experience in informatics solutions for the life sciences R&D market. Over the course of his career, he has held roles at Thomson Reuters, Accelrys/Biovia and SciBite/Elsevier, where he helped scale SciBite from a four-person startup through its acquisition and integration into Elsevier. At CCC, he focuses on licensing and content workflow solutions tailored to the needs of life sciences organizations, aligning product capabilities with complex research and compliance requirements. Tune in to learn how forward-looking content and licensing strategies can help life sciences organizations future-proof their research operations while advancing compliant, AI-enabled discovery. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E252
April 22 · 42 min
Neuromodulation and Nerve Ablation for Chronic Pain with NeuroOne CEO Dave Rosa
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Dave Rosa, CEO, NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation, a company developing minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic electrodes employed in nerve ablation as well as neuromodulation devices to treat conditions such as epilepsy and chronic pain and enable drug delivery into the brain. Mr. Rosa is an entrepreneur with three decades of experience in the medical device industry spanning a variety of technologies and products. In addition to CEO roles with early-stage medical device companies, Mr. Rosa’s background also includes senior roles with C.R. Bard Inc., Boston Scientific Inc. and St. Jude Medical, where his responsibilities included marketing, product development and business development. He has been named as an inventor on multiple medical device patents, serves on seven corporate boards and has raised more than $200M in the capital markets. Mr. Rosa holds an MBA from Duquesne University and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University. Tune in to learn about advancements in neuromodulation and nerve ablation for chronic pain. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E251
April 15 · 37 min
Off the Shelf Cell Therapies for Bone Marrow Transplantation with Ossium Health’s Kevin Caldwell
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Kevin Caldwell, CEO, Co-Founder & President of Ossium Health, a biotechnology company advancing the first off-the-shelf bone marrow therapy derived from deceased organ donors. The treatment is designed to address longstanding clinical and logistical challenges in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Kevin Caldwell has led Ossium Health in building more than 50 strategic partnerships with biopharmaceutical companies and helped secure a transformative federal contract with BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority). Prior to founding Ossium, Kevin served as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey’s San Francisco office where he advised clients in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, and prior to that, served as a Senior Investment Associate at Bridgewater Associates where he did quantitative research for the firm’s global macro investments. Kevin holds degrees in Physics and Economics from MIT and a JD from Harvard Law School. Tune in to learn about how about the landscape of cell therapy and allogeneic transplantation, including the translation of off-the-shelf cellular therapies into clinical practice and how emerging models could reshape bone marrow transplantation workflows. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E250
April 8 · 28 min
Scalable Biologics Production Trends: Featuring Omar Wahab of Lonza
In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, part of the Breakthrough with Dr. Corey Stanton series, host Dr. Corey Stanton sits down with Dr. Omar Wahab, Vice President of Bioprocessing at Lonza, to explore the increasingly strategic role of cell culture media in enabling scalable biologics manufacturing. As biologics pipelines continue to expand across therapeutic areas such as oncology, immunology and advanced therapies, upstream development decisions are taking on new importance in determining manufacturing readiness, supply resilience and long-term commercial viability. Drawing on more than two decades of experience spanning research, manufacturing, MSAT and commercial leadership, Dr. Wahab discusses how early formulation choices can shape downstream productivity, influence product quality attributes and ultimately impact cost of goods. He underscores why media development should be viewed not as a routine procurement decision but as a core element of process design. This is particularly important as intensified production platforms and higher cell densities increase sensitivity to raw material variability and operational conditions. The conversation examines the operational pressures facing today’s bioprocessing teams, including the need to advance clinical programs rapidly while maintaining confidence in scalability and regulatory expectations. Dr. Wahab highlights how structured experimentation frameworks, such as Design of Experiments, are helping organizations generate more actionable data and move beyond traditional trial-and-error approaches. He also points to the importance of aligning upstream innovation with real-world manufacturing considerations, from large-scale process feasibility to globally sustainable material sourcing strategies. Listeners will also gain insight into how non-GMP and GMP manufacturing stages function as critical transition points between early development insights and regulated commercial production. When formulation strategies are developed with downstream execution in mind, companies can reduce late-stage comparability challenges and strengthen supply continuity across global manufacturing networks. Dr. Wahab further discusses the growing role of digital tools and structured data environments in improving process visibility and enabling more coordinated decision-making across development and production teams. Looking ahead, Dr. Wahab shares his perspective on the trends set to define the next phase of upstream bioprocessing, including tighter integration between development and manufacturing functions and the rising strategic significance of regional biologics hubs such as Singapore. He notes that future success in biologics manufacturing will depend not only on scientific excellence but also on cross-functional alignment and a systems-level understanding of how early upstream decisions influence performance at commercial scale. Tune in to learn how structured media development strategies help life sciences organizations accelerate timelines, reduce technical risk and strengthen confidence as programs move toward commercial biologics production. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E249
April 1 · 40 min
Novel Therapeutic and Trial Approaches for Lysosomal Storage Disorders with Polaryx’s Alex Yang
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Alex Yang, JD, LLM, CEO of Polaryx, a company focused on developing disease-modifying small molecule therapies for rare, pediatric lysosomal storage disorders. Alex is a biotech executive and investor with over 25 years of experience spanning law, private equity, cross-border fund formation and strategic leadership across the biopharmaceutical sector. He currently serves investment and risk committee member roles for various regional and country-focused private equity funds. Alex was formerly a managing partner at Kim & Chang and a partner at the Ernst & Young Hong Kong office leading regional financial services practice, including banking and capital markets, asset management and insurance. Alex graduated from New York University School of Law with both Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees and a bar with the State of New York and received an undergraduate degree from Binghamton University in Economics. Tune in to learn about how Polaryx is aiming to accelerate treatment options for patients with urgent unmet needs using robust therapeutic and flexible clinical trial designs. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E248
March 25 · 21 min
Psilocybin Treatments for Treatment-Resistant Depression with Compass Pathways’ Dr. Steve Levine
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Steve Levine, MD, Chief Patient Officer at Compass Pathways, a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. One of the areas that Compass Pathways is working in is the development of psilocybin-based treatments for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Dr. Levine is a board-certified psychiatrist who has spent his career working across multiple facets of the healthcare system to improve people’s lives through creating access to innovation. Dr. Levine completed an internship and residency in psychiatry at New York – Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, followed by fellowship subspecialty training in psychosomatic medicine/psycho-oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/New York – Presbyterian Hospital. Prior to Compass Pathways, Dr. Levine led Actify Neurotherapies, a company he founded in 2010 that built new models of care delivery across the US for interventional psychiatry treatments. He has published extensively in both peer-reviewed journals and popular media, presented to both professional and lay audiences around the world, served in leadership roles for professional societies and not-for-profit entities and received numerous awards for leadership and service. Tune in to hear about innovations and unmet needs in the mental health space and the development of science-driven psilocybin-based treatments for depression. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E247
March 18 · 39 min
First Surrogate Endpoint in Osteoporosis Drug Trials with FNIH’s Dr. Tania Kamphaus
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Tania Nayak Kamphaus, PhD, Associate VP of Science Partnerships at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). In December 2025, the FDA qualified bone density DXA scans as the first surrogate endpoint for bone fractures in clinical trials of anti-osteoporosis drugs in post-menopausal women at risk for osteoporosis fracture. The surrogate endpoint will allow for measuring change in bone mineral density, rather than fracture occurrence, promising to speed the development of new drugs to treat osteoporosis. The decision was based on FNIH’s request for qualification through the work of the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium. Dr. Kamphaus leads patient engagement at FNIH and oversees programs across its Metabolic Disorders, Inflammation and Immunity and Women’s Health portfolios. She develops multi-stakeholder public-private partnerships involving NIH, FDA, non-profits and life sciences companies, and oversees target validation efforts within the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP), as well as biomarker qualification initiatives in areas including preeclampsia and osteoporosis. Dr. Kamphaus conducted her postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University and has a PhD in Molecular Genetics from The Ohio State University. Tune in to hear Dr. Kamphaus discuss the FDA’s decision on the new surrogate endpoint for bone fractures, the science behind the biomarker and the real-world impact it will have on the speed and cost of osteoporosis drug development. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E246
March 11 · 43 min
From Insights to Impact: Rare Disease Therapies with UCB’s Dr. Kim Moran
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Kim Moran, PhD, Senior Vice President & Head, Rare Diseases US, UCB, a company focused on neurological and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, as well as developing therapies for rare genetic disorders such as the mitochondrial disease thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d). Dr. Moran has been at UCB for over 17 years where she has led US digital business transformation and most recently served as Head of Insights to Impact, a role she originated to translate patient insights into strategic and operational impact. She has held multiple leadership roles across neurology and epilepsy strategy, and led lifecycle and medical affairs initiatives for key products. Dr. Moran has received multiple leadership awards, including HBA Rising Star, a PM360 Pharma Choice Award and recognition by Medical Marketing + Media as a Woman to Watch (2019) and Woman of Distinction (2024). She is a CHIEF member, a Women in Bio Boardroom Ready alumna and serves on the board of Nile AI. She holds an Executive Global MBA from INSEAD, a PhD in Neuroscience and Physiology from New York University and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Penn State University. Tune in to hear Dr. Moran discuss the evolving rare disease landscape, how patient insights are shaping strategy and what it takes to bring innovative therapies to underserved populations. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured
S1 · E244
March 4 · 36 min
Rare Disease Day Insight: Epilepsy Care Gaps in Pregnancy with UCB’s Andrea Wilkinson
In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Ayesha Rashid, Senior Life Science Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Andrea Wilkinson, Global Head of Patient Engagement & Advocacy, Epilepsy & Neuromuscular at UCB, a company dedicated to developing solutions for autoimmune and neurological conditions, including epilepsy. The company has a growing commitment to addressing unmet needs in rare neurological diseases and underserved patient populations. With fewer than 5% of clinical trials including pregnant women, major knowledge gaps persist, particularly for women with epilepsy. In this episode, we look at new research that used social media listening across several countries to uncover treatment fears, uncertainty and barriers women face during pregnancy and motherhood, and what must change to better support informed decision-making. While epilepsy is not considered a rare disease, epilepsy in pregnancy represents a small, clinically complex population that faces unique risks and persistent care gaps. Andrea is a biotech and health tech executive who has led strategic product launches for over 30 breakthrough biopharmaceutical therapies. Focused on improving outcomes for patients, particularly in rare diseases, she has worked with early- to late-stage launch teams at AstraZeneca/MedImmune, Takeda and Sanofi Pasteur. She develops platform tools, stakeholder roadmaps and patient-centered advocacy campaigns to support first-in-class medicines and address access, reimbursement, regulatory and commercial barriers. Andrea is also an angel investor with Pipeline Angels and serves on the boards of Project Open Hand and the HBA Pacific Region. She holds a BA from Louisiana Tech University. Tune in to learn more about the unmet needs, challenges and advancements in the rare disease and epilepsy spaces. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

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