

Business Of Biotech
Ben Comer
The Business of Biotech is the pod dedicated to leaders of emerging biopharma firms. SUBSCRIBE to our new newsletter at www.bioprocessonline.com/bob. We bring you insight into organizational, finance and funding, HR, clinical, manufacturing, regulatory, and commercial challenges you’ll face as you navigate your company from an idea to success in the clinic and beyond. Each episode features guest commentary and best practices from accomplished founders and biopharma industry luminaries. The Business of Biotech is produced by Life Science Connect.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 22, 2024 • 51min
Multimodal R&D Management with Incyte's Jim Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
In this podcast, Dr. Jim Lee, head of Inflammation and Autoimmunity at Incyte, discusses the company's multimodal approach to R&D. They explore the impact of a multimodal approach in drug development, specifically in dermatology. They also discuss the connection between inflammation, oncology, and dermatology, as well as their advancements in dermatology and future plans. Additionally, they touch on the role of biologics in dermatology and the impact of having a celebrity spokesperson for patient awareness. Dr. Lee concludes by discussing upcoming milestones in R&D.

Jan 15, 2024 • 55min
Building A Biotech Hub with Intellia Therapeutics' John Leonard, M.D.
Dr. John Leonard, longtime CEO at Intellia Therapeutics, discusses the foundational elements of building a biotech hub, the influence of the AIDS epidemic on his career, the importance of experience and knowledge in scientific research, and Intellia's long-term DNA editing strategy. He also provides updates on the company's clinical pipeline and future plans.

Jan 8, 2024 • 50min
Art Of The Pivot with Elevation Oncology's Joe Ferra
In this episode, the relatively new CEO of Elevation Oncology, Joseph Ferra, discusses the significant changes he has made at the company. These changes include transitioning from a monoclonal antibody candidate to a phase 1 Claudin18.2 target in the ADC space. The podcast also explores the importance of technology and being a platform company in the biotech industry, as well as the expansion of a clinical trial for gastric cancer treatment. Ferra emphasizes the need for planning and adaptability in the biotech industry to make the right decisions.

Jan 1, 2024 • 52min
CDMO Collab with Scorpius BioManufacturing's Steve Lavezoli + Fina Biosolutions' Dr. Andrew Lees
We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message. A new year marks a fresh start for biotech partnerships, and to kick off 2024, we're highlighting a good one. Fina Biosolutions' Dr. Andrew Lees recently signed on with Scorpius BioManufacturing to support his company's growth plan. On today's episode of the Business of Biotech, Lees sits down with Scorpius VP of commercial operations Steve Lavezoli for a frank conversation on the ups, downs, and expectations of a biotech + CDMO relationship. In addition to contracts and master service agreements, the pair walk us through the day-to-day execution of the partnership and responsibilities of those involved in it. If you're considering signing on with an outsourced manufacturing partner, or thinking about making a switch, you won't want to miss this episode. Access this and hundreds of episodes of the Business of Biotech videocast under the Business of Biotech tab at lifescienceleader.com. Subscribe to our monthly Business of Biotech newsletter. Get in touch with guest and topic suggestions: ben.comer@lifescienceleader.comFind Ben Comer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencomer/

Dec 25, 2023 • 1h 6min
Biotech Down Under with BiomeBank's Dr. Sam Costello
We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message. Merry Christmas, Business of Biotechers! On this Christmas Day release, we’re taking a trip to the land down under to visit with Dr. Sam Costello, a former gastroenterologist-turned managing director and co-founder at Adelaide, Australia-based BiomeBank. We covered some ground on this one, most notably the unique path BiomeBank took to chalking up the first donor-derived microbiome therapeutic approval of its kind, anywhere in the world. In a segment of biotech that’s been particularly battered of late, that’s a big, big win. We also talked about what’s behind Australia’s foray onto the global biotech scene, the public/private partnerships supporting that growth, why U.S. biotechs, in particular, are flocking there to conduct clinical trials, and whether Foster’s is really Australian for beer. Don’t miss it!Access this and hundreds of episodes of the Business of Biotech videocast under the Business of Biotech tab at lifescienceleader.com. Subscribe to our monthly Business of Biotech newsletter. Get in touch with guest and topic suggestions: ben.comer@lifescienceleader.comFind Ben Comer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencomer/

Dec 18, 2023 • 1h 9min
IL-2 Program Profits with Bonum's Drs. John Mulligan and Neela Patel
Dr. Neela Patel and Dr. John Mulligan discuss Bonum Therapeutics' transition from Good Therapeutics, the Roche acquisition, challenges faced by early-stage biotech companies, and creating a better path for women in biotech.

Dec 11, 2023 • 1h 4min
Public Sector Forged, Private Sector Tested with Renovaro BioSciences' Mark Dybul, M.D.
We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message. During his leadership of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief during the George W. Bush administraion, Dr. Mark Dybul, M.D. shepherded programs credited with saving more than 25 million lives. For many years after that public service drew to a close, he continued the mission as executive director of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria--working in lockstep with not only the world's leading scientists, but the likes of Bono and Sir Elton John along the way. But, it wasn't all glamor and heroics. Dybul had to influence some decidedly conservative global political machines of the importance of addressing the AIDS epidemic, particularly, at the time, in Africa. He had to fight through federal and global beuracracies for every dime of funding earned. His leadership required resolve in the face of complexity and adversity. Nothing could have better prepared him for biotech leadership, which has dealt Dr. Dybul an unfair share of unique adversity that's, quite frankly, the stuff of a Dateline NBC episode. On this epsiode of the Business of Biotech podcast, Dybul, CEO at Renovaro Biosciences, gets introspective on leadership forged in the fires of public service and battle-tested in the private sector.Access this and hundreds of episodes of the Business of Biotech videocast under the Business of Biotech tab at lifescienceleader.com. Subscribe to our monthly Business of Biotech newsletter. Get in touch with guest and topic suggestions: ben.comer@lifescienceleader.comFind Ben Comer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencomer/

Dec 4, 2023 • 28min
mRNA Vaccine Platforms with Combined Therapeutics' Dr. Romain Micol
We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message. Combined Therapeutics President & CEO Dr. Romain Micol is operating his company in a very noisy space, where hundreds of new biotechs have popped up on the coattails of a COVID-driven renewal of interest in mRNA vaccines. Micol recognizes that noise and the competition it brings for capital and mindshare. He's not only aware of it — he welcomes it. On this quick episode of the Business of Biotech podcast, Micol shares the unique approach Combined Tx is taking to distinguishing itself in the mRNA infectious disease and cancer vaccine space, from the delivery, safety, efficay, and business perspectives. Access this and hundreds of episodes of the Business of Biotech videocast under the Business of Biotech tab at lifescienceleader.com. Subscribe to our monthly Business of Biotech newsletter. Get in touch with guest and topic suggestions: ben.comer@lifescienceleader.comFind Ben Comer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencomer/

Nov 27, 2023 • 1h 3min
Biotech Dealmaking with Regeneron's Nouhad Husseini
We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message. When it comes to landing and executing strategic partnerships, Regeneron puts on a clinic. Partnerships, acquisitions, licensing agreements, and other deals large and small with Intellia, Decibel Therapeutics, BARDA, Alnylam, and Sonoma Therapeutics are just a sampling of those making news this year alone. The man behind much of that dealmaking is none other than Nouhad Husseini, SVP and Head of Business Development and Corporate Strategy at Regeneron. He’s a guy who’s deftly married the art and science of biopharma dealmaking, and on this episode of the Business of Biotech podcast, we’re getting introspective with this legend in the making, who our friend Allan Shaw says “turns the deals he touches into gold.” Strategic dealmaking is central to the biotech business, and today’s episode offers a master class. Access this and hundreds of episodes of the Business of Biotech videocast under the Business of Biotech tab at lifescienceleader.com. Subscribe to our monthly Business of Biotech newsletter. Get in touch with guest and topic suggestions: ben.comer@lifescienceleader.comFind Ben Comer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencomer/

Nov 20, 2023 • 54min
Backpacks And Biotech with Luke Timmerman
We love to hear from our listeners. Send us a message. From his vantage point as an independent biotech journalist, Luke Timmerman has been watching the expansions and retractions of the industry for a couple of decades now. His unique perspective is hard to equal, and that perspective is, despite tough markets and tepid public sentiment, decidedly bullish. Luke's optimism is fed by sound logic gained from a career spent in observation mode, watching the development of purpose-built tools matched to address the fragility of human biology. Luke's tireless advocacy for the industry also stretches well beyond his professional coverage and punditry. Through his Timmerman Traverse initiative, he's figured out a way to weave his personal and professional passions into a tapestery that serves some of the philanthropic initiatives our industry cares about most. On this episode of the Business of Biotech, we'll get to know Luke personally, we'll learn about his philanthropic work, and we'll give you a healthy dose of optimism as we look ahead to the next decade in biotech. Access this and hundreds of episodes of the Business of Biotech videocast under the Business of Biotech tab at lifescienceleader.com. Subscribe to our monthly Business of Biotech newsletter. Get in touch with guest and topic suggestions: ben.comer@lifescienceleader.comFind Ben Comer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencomer/