The Allogeneic Future with Poseida's Kristin Yarema, Ph.D.
Aug 5, 2024
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Kristin Yarema, Ph.D., the newly-appointed CEO of Poseida Therapeutics, dives into the transformative world of CAR T therapeutics. She envisions a future where allogeneic therapies make life-saving treatments widely accessible. Kristin shares her journey from academia to biotech, emphasizing the benefits of strategic collaborations with companies like Astellas and Roche. The conversation highlights the innovative convertible CAR T approach and the ongoing challenges in scalable production for autoimmune diseases, underscoring the critical role of partnerships in advancing cancer treatment.
The shift from autologous to allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies aims to enhance treatment accessibility and scalability for patients.
Dr. Kristin Yarema's diverse career in biopharma equips her with the necessary skills to innovate and lead Poseida Therapeutics effectively.
Strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical giants like Roche and Astellas are crucial in advancing Poseida's clinical pipeline and operational sustainability.
Deep dives
Autologous vs. Allogeneic CAR T Cell Therapies
The focus of current cell therapy advancements is shifting from autologous CAR T cell therapies to allogeneic approaches, which aim to improve accessibility and scalability of treatments. Poseida Therapeutics is prioritizing this allogeneic method by utilizing healthy donor-derived CAR T cells, allowing for off-the-shelf therapies that can be manufactured at scale. This transition seeks to address the challenges of individualized treatment timelines and costs inherent in autologous therapies. By leveraging this innovative approach, Poseida aims to transform the accessibility paradigm of cell therapies for patients in need.
Dr. Kristin Urema's Career Path and Leadership Style
Dr. Kristin Urema’s career has transitioned from engineering and consulting roles to significant positions within major biopharma firms, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the industry. Her experience at McKinsey fostered a solid analytical mindset applicable to business problems, while her time in large corporations like Novartis and Amgen shaped her leadership and operational skills. Through her dual background in science and the arts, Dr. Urema emphasizes creativity in drug development, recognizing the importance of innovative thinking in advancing medical therapies. Under her leadership, Poseida aims to harness these skills to streamline operations and enhance research and development processes.
Pipeline Advancements at Poseida Therapeutics
Poseida Therapeutics has made notable advancements across its clinical pipeline, particularly in the realms of hematological and solid tumor therapies. Data from the myeloma program revealed competitive response rates, challenging skepticism regarding allogeneic CAR T therapies and their efficacy compared to autologous counterparts. The ongoing development of dual CAR T therapies and solid tumor targeting approaches signifies the company's commitment to addressing diverse cancer types with innovative strategies. Continuous data updates are anticipated throughout the year, fostering excitement within the scientific community and among investors regarding the potential impact of these therapies.
Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations
Strategic collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies like Roche and Estellas are central to Poseida's strategy for advancing its clinical programs and sustaining operations. The recent partnership with Estellas revolves around a novel convertible CAR T technology, merging Poseida's CAR T cells with Estellas' interchangeable components to enhance treatment adaptability and effectiveness. Active collaboration encourages seamless communication and ideation between the respective scientific teams, optimizing the potential for breakthrough innovations. These partnerships enhance the credibility of Poseida's initiatives and help secure funding necessary for ongoing research and development.
Future Goals and Market Impact
Looking forward, Poseida is positioned for a transformative impact on the cell therapy market by addressing the significant challenges of treatment accessibility and efficiency. Dr. Urema envisions a future where allogeneic therapies can cater to broader patient populations, particularly in both oncology and autoimmune disease sectors. The company's drive to deliver affordable, scalable CAR T therapies is seen not only as a potential market differentiator but also as a crucial step towards improving patient outcomes. The pipeline's progress, alongside new collaborations, signals a proactive approach to expand availability and positive results in cell therapy treatments.
Kristin Yarema, Ph.D. thinks the progress of CAR T therapeutics is allogeneic. In fact, she says CAR T-cell therapies have to become a one-to-many proposition, if their early autologous success can possibly live up to the promise of offering widespread accessibility to life-saving treatments. Dr. Yarema is the newly-appointed CEO at Poseida Therapeutics, a company we first covered with founding CEO Eric Ostertag, Ph.D. On this episode of the Business of Biotech, we'll learn about Dr. Yarema, how she earned the company's reins, how Poseida is positioning itself to crack the allogeneic CAR T code, and how strategic collaborations with the likes of Astellas and Roche are fueling the effort.
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