
Biotech 2050 Podcast
Next-gen immunotherapies for cancer, Andrew Scharenberg, Co-founder & CEO, Umoja Biopharma
Aug 9, 2023
Andrew Scharenberg, CEO of Umoja Biopharma, discusses next-gen immunotherapies for cancer, including in vivo CAR T-cell therapy. He talks about indication selection, team building during the pandemic, and the importance of wearing different hats in biotech. The podcast also explores the challenges in manufacturing CAR-T cells, the future of stem cell-derived cell therapies, and managing complexity in drug development.
32:42
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Quick takeaways
- The future of CAR-T therapies lies in in vivo generation, enabling off-the-shelf administration, reduced delays, lower costs, and broader applicability.
- Umoja Biopharma aims to integrate technologies for targeted small molecules, tumor tagging, and engineered T-cells, simplifying complex therapies for greater patient impact.
Deep dives
Andy's interest in biotech and career trajectory
Andy, a physician by training, got interested in biotech due to his desire to develop therapeutics for patients with pediatric immunodeficiency. He started his career at Seattle Children's Hospital, where he worked on gene editing-based therapies for inherited diseases of the immune system. This led him to spin off his first company, Progenin, which was eventually acquired by Bluebird Bio. Andy then pursued a hybrid academic biotech career, where he combined discoveries in his academic position with industrial resources and expertise in biotech companies. This experience and the desire to expand the reach of CAR-T cell therapies inspired him to co-found Umoja BioPharma.
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