Welcome to the Optimum Perspectives Podcast
Regular episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.
Episode 27 – DISCO Pharmaceuticals looks to unlock new drugs with “surfaceome” technology
In this podcast to mark Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Optimum’s Richard Staines speaks to Roman Thomas, CEO and founder of DISCO Pharmaceuticals, on breakthroughs that have improved patient outcomes, and the company’s efforts to help develop new therapies with its “surfaceome” technology.
Roman ThomasDISCO Pharmaceuticals |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 26 – SpliceBio: Celebrating progress in ophthalmology research on World Sight Day
Optimum’s Richard Staines talks to Feride Sahin, Senior Director of Clinical Development at Splice Bio about the importance of World Sight Day, which takes place this week.
Feride SahinSpliceBio |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 25- Heidelberg Pharma: turning deadly mushroom toxin into cancer medicine
It’s time to talk about mushrooms! Or rather the deadly toxin amanitin found in the death cap mushroom, which Heidelberg Pharma is using as a cancer drug with the help of a tumour-targeting antibody, featuring Heidelberg Pharma’s CEO, Andreas Pahl.
Andreas PahlHeidelberg Pharma |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 24- Resolution Therapeutics: pioneering macrophage therapies for liver diseases
Check out Optimum’s latest podcast episode profiling our client Resolution Therapeutics. Lara Campana, VP of Research Operations outlines the company’s technology based around pro-regenerative macrophages and its potential to treat liver disease.
Lara CampanaResolution Therapeutics |
Nick BastinOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 23 – Q&A with Dr Ruth McKernan CBE: Neuroscientist, businesswoman and innovation leader
Dr Ruth McKernan CBE is the richly deserved winner of the 2024 Mediscience Award for ‘Most Significant Contribution to the Mediscience Sector’. In this episode Optimum’s Eva Haas discusses the highlights of Ruth’s incredible career, the skills needed for success as a company founder and the heartening advancements in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s in recent years.
Ruth McKernanCBE |
Eva HaasOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 22- How AI is revolutionising drug research
Listen to expert discussion on the role of AI in drug development, featuring Tushar Pandey, CEO and Co-founder of SimBioSys, and Jeremy Skillington, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma.
Jeremy SkillingtonPoolbeg Pharma |
Tushar PandeySimBioSys |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 21 – Curve Therapeutics – Addressing challenging drug targets
Southampton-based Curve Therapeutics recently raised a hefty £40m in a Series A financing round.
In this in-depth podcast, CEO Simon Kerry describes how investors fell in love with Curve’s “Microcycle” based discovery platform, which gives the company “the ability to potentially identify drugs against very difficult, challenging targets”.
He explains how Curve’s platform enables them to spot drugs with a higher chance of working in real-world conditions. He also outlines the firm’s lead programme – which aims to block two cancer targets called Hypoxia Inducible Factors, or “HIFs”, which enable solid tumours to survive in low-oxygen conditions.
Speaking to Optimum’s Stephen Adams, Simon ponders the role of luck in securing investment, both “the kind you deserve because you turn over a lot of stones”, and the more fortuitous variety.
Simon KerryCurve Therapeutics |
Stephen AdamsOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 20- Biotech IPOs make a comeback in 2024
Listen to the latest insights from Gil Bar-Nahum, Managing Director in the Global Healthcare Investment Banking Group, Jefferies International, on how to succeed in the new wave of biotech IPOs in the Optimum Perspectives podcast.
Gil Bar-NahumJefferies International |
Nick BastinOptimum Strategic Communications |
Eva HaasOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 19- Anglonordic Life Science Conference strikes optimistic note for ‘24
Check out Optimum’s latest Optimum Perspectives Podcast episode featuring the stars of the 20th Anglonordic Life Science Conference in London. Hear industry leaders give their thoughts on trends within the life science industry and the optimistic mood of the markets in 2024!
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 18- The challenges of recruitment for clinical trials
Diverse recruitment for clinical trials is a huge issue – but what can drug developers do to overcome this challenge? Join Optimum’s Richard Staines as he discuses this thorny issue with Ariceum Therapeutic’s CMO, Germo Gericke, Leucid Bio’s CSO, John Maher and Non-Executive Director & Thought Leader Annalisa Jenkins.
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Annalisa JenkinsNon-Executive Director |
Germo GerickeAriceum Therapeutics |
John MaherLeucid Bio |
Episode 17 – Lytix Biopharma – Innovations in Killing Cancer
Following recent encouraging interim clinical results, hear Øystein Rekdal, CEO of Lytix Biopharma, discuss with Optimum’s Nick Bastin how the company’s lead candidate LTX-315 has a unique approach to killing cancer.
Øystein RekdalLytix Biopharma |
Nick BastinOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 16 - Tackling Rare Diseases in 2024
To mark Rare Disease Day on 29 February, Optimum Perspectives podcast interviews a panel of experts who discuss the opportunities and challenges for developers of therapies for rare diseases in 2024.
Giusy Di ConzaiOnctura |
Miquel Vila-PerellóSpliceBio |
Ahmed MousaVicore Pharma |
Jean-Philippe CombalVivet Therapeutics |
Episode 15 – International Day of Women & Girls in Science: Breaking barriers and channeling your inner cavewoman
In this Optimum Perspectives celebratory episode for International Day of Women & Girls in Science, hear from five influential women on how they broke down gender barriers to succeed in the life science industry.
Chaired by esteemed journalist Lisa Urquhart, hear guest speakers Renee Aguiar-Lucander of Calliditas, Lene Gerlach of EIR Ventures & WiLD, Bita Sehat of Trill Impact, and Ninna Struck Rossen of Metsystem, share their stories on being women in life sciences, and how to succeed in the industry.
Lisa UrquhartChair, International Journalist |
Renée Aguiar-LucanderCalliditas Therapeutics |
Lene GerlachEIR Ventures & WiLD Network |
Bita SehatTrill Impact |
Ninna Struck RossenMetsystem |
Episode 14- Optimum’s European Life Sciences Investor Survey 2024
Happy 1st birthday to the Optimum Perspectives Podcast! Since launching, 1000s of listens have grown the show into an excellent hub of intel from top tier life science guests. Listen now to our anniversary special, where Optimum’s Mary Clark, Nick Bastin and Eva Haas discuss the findings of our insightful European Life Sciences Investor survey!
Read the full report here.
Mary Clark |
Nick Bastin |
Eva Haas |
Episode 13- Vicore Pharma: Restoring lung function for IPF patients
Hear Vicore Pharma’s CEO, Ahmed Mousa speak to Optimum’s Richard Staines on their new treatment for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), C21. It aims to improve available treatments for patients of IPF by halting the progression of fibrosis and has the aim of restoring lung function.
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Episode 12- Optimum’s christmas charity special featuring Ariana Smiles
In this insightful and emotional podcast episode, the co-founder of Ariana Smiles – a Special Named Fund at CCLG UK, Stephanie Seales Gabbitas shares her mission to improve the lives of children diagnosed with Leukaemia by raising funds for research into precision oncology medicine.
This Christmas, if you can, please join us in donating to this lifechanging charity here.
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Episode 11- 4SC: Creating a new treatment paradigm for CTCL
There is a lack of effective treatments for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) – in this podcast episode Jason Loveridge, CEO of 4SC, talked to Optimum Strategic Communications’ Eva Haas about the Company’s potential new maintenance therapy Kinselby (resminostat).
4SC is a late-stage biotech improving lives for patients suffering with advanced-stage Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL).
It has developed Kinselby (resminostat), a novel, oral, maintenance treatment targeting advanced-CTCL, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin. There are no drugs in development or on the market as maintenance therapy for CTCL.
Kinselby (resminostat) is an orally administered histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that has produced supportive results in the pivotal RESMAIN trial, where it postponed disease progression in patients – a new treatment paradigm in CTCL.
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Episode 10 – Optimum’s 15th Annual Healthcare Investor Conference Special
Optimum celebrated its 15th Annual Healthcare Investor Conference – marking its crystal anniversary – and what a sparkler it was! In the latest episode of Optimum Perspectives Podcast, Richard Staines talks through the top takeaways from the October event with special testimonials from our guests.
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read our Insights from the day here: Insights from Optimum’s 15th Annual Healthcare Investor Conference 2023
Episode 9 – Investor Perspectives: biopharma‘s market trends in 2023
Episode 9 of Optimum Perspectives Podcast features Optimum’s Richard Staines and Eva Haas, who discuss the hot areas for investment in the shifting biotech market – including antibody-drug conjugates, smart radiotherapies, mRNA and immune-oncology.
Want us to explore a topic further? Let us know!
Eva HaasOptimum Strategic Communications |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read our insight here: Investor Perspectives: Eva Haas gives her views on biopharma market trends in 2023
Episode 8 – Alchemab: The UK biotech that is revolutionising drug discovery
Alchemab aims to revolutionise drug discovery with a novel alternative to the classic “choose a target” approach.
Alchemab specifically looks to identify shared antibodies from people who have shown resilience to disease – the unexpectedly well. The company then uses its proprietary technology to identify which targets these antibodies are binding to, and what diseases these targets are associated with.
Optimum Strategic Communications’ Richard Staines caught up with Alchemab’s CEO, Young Kwon, to find out more.
Young KwonAlchemab Therapeutics |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read our insight here: Alchemab: The UK biotech revolutionising drug discovery.
Episode 7 – Poolbeg Pharma: Using AI to prepare for the next pandemic
No-one is likely to forget the tragic events of 2020 and one company leading efforts to prepare for the next pandemic is Poolbeg Pharma.
Optimum Strategic Communications’ Richard Staines interviewed CEO Jeremy Skillington to find out how Poolbeg is using AI to expedite discovery of new flu drugs.
Poolbeg is working on a drug that aims to block some of the worst effects of influenza, neutralising the over-reaction from the body’s immune system known as a “cytokine storm” that produces many of the ill effects following a flu infection.
Jeremy SkillingtonPoolbeg Pharma |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read the insight piece here: Poolbeg Pharma: Using AI to prepare for the next pandemic
Episode 6 – Verona Pharma: Preparing a potentially novel COPD medicine for market
A much-anticipated new potential drug for COPD moved a step closer to the market after Verona Pharma submitted its New Drug Application to the U.S. FDA, seeking approval of ensifentrine as a maintenance therapy. In its latest podcast, Optimum Strategic Communications caught up with Chris Martin, Senior Vice President of Commercial, who discussed how the company plans to launch this potential novel COPD medicine.
Chris MartinVerona Pharma |
Eva HaasOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read the insight piece here: Verona Pharma: Preparing a potentially novel COPD medicine for market
Episode 5 - Søren Møller of Novo Holdings Seed Investments – Helping small biotechs weather the storm
Today’s funding environment for small biotechs is tough. Valuations are down and money is tighter than it used to be – both for publicly listed and privately held firms.
In these circumstances, obtaining the right backing – both in terms of finance and managerial advice – is more important than ever.
In the fifth Optimum Perspectives podcast experienced investor Søren Møller talks to Optimum’s Stephen Adams about Novo Holdings Seed Investments’ approach to working with biotechs and what early-stage companies should look for in a financing partner.
Søren MøllerNovo Holdings Seed Investments |
Stephen AdamsOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read the insight piece here: An in-depth interview with Søren Møller, Head of Novo Holdings Seed Investments
Episode 4 – Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics: Blazing a trail in rare diseases
How do you take a tiny private Swedish biotech and turn it into a successful, publicly-listed company operating on both sides of the Atlantic, in just six years?
Listen to Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics, tell Optimum’s Richard Staines how they brought TARPEYO, the first FDA-approved drug for the rare kidney disease primary IgA nephropathy, to market.
She describes her ‘incredible journey’ growing the firm from less than 10 staff to more than 200, taking it public in Europe and the US, running a global Phase III trial, and how Tarpeyo can help people with IgA nephropathy live more normal lives.
Renee Aguair-LucanderCalliditas Therapeutics |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read the insight piece here: Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics: Blazing a trail in rare diseases
Episode 3 – An interview with Dan Mahony, UK Government Life Sciences Envoy by Optimum’s Eva Haas
In this episode of Optimum Perspectives Podcast, our in-house IR expert, ex-Fund Manager Eva Haas interviewed Dan Mahony, Chairman of the BioIndustry Association (BIA), following his appointment as UK Life Sciences Investment Envoy to hear his plans for championing the UK’s Life Sciences industry.
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Read the insight piece here: An interview with Dan Mahony, UK Government Life Sciences Envoy by Optimum’s Eva Haas
Episode 2 – Versameb: Revolutionizing SUI therapy with mRNA technology
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common and debilitating problem for many women, particularly after childbirth or in later years.
Yet, despite this, treatment options are limited, held back by a lack of research into medical products focused on women’s health.
Versameb, hopes to change this with a novel mRNA therapy that rebuilds the urinary sphincter and is about to enter clinical trials. In this podcast, Optimum Communications’s Richard Staines caught up with the Versameb team to find out more.
Klaas ZuideveldVersameb |
Isabel FerreiraVersameb |
Roger DmochowskiVersameb |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 1 – CellCentric’s new oral cancer therapy inobrodib
Our host Richard Staines, Account Director at Optimum, discusses the latest clinical findings from inobrodib, an oral cancer therapy developed by the UK biotech CellCentric.
In our first episode, we hear from Jan Ross, a patient who discusses the pressing need for new therapies for multiple myeloma with fewer side effects. We also talk to top cancer experts – Tim Somervaille, Consultant in Haematology , at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, Karen Knudsen, Chief Executive of the American Cancer Society, Dr Leif Bergsagel, Consultant in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and Will West, Chief Executive Officer of CellCentric.
Will WestCellcentric |
Karen KnudsenAmerican Cancer Society |
Tim SomervailleThe Christie, CRUK |
Leif BergsagelMayo Clinic |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
