Optimum Perspectives

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.https://www.optimumcomms.com/podcastFollow us and subscribe for new episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.Available on all major platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Tune In, Castbox, Deezer and more! Follow and Subscribe today. #optimumperspectivespodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our in-house IR expert, and 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. Read the insight piece here: An interview with Dan Mahony, UK Government Life Sciences Envoy by Optimum’s Eva Haashttps://www.optimumcomms.com/podcastFollow us and subscribe for new episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.Available on all major platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Tune In, Castbox, Deezer and more! Follow and Subscribe today. #optimumperspectivespodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, Richard Staines from Optimum Strategic Communications caught up with the Versameb team to find out more. Read the insight piece here: Versameb: Revolutionizing SUI therapy with mRNA technologyhttps://www.optimumcomms.com/podcast / https://versameb.com/Follow us and subscribe for new episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.Available on all major platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Tune In, Castbox, Deezer and more! Follow and Subscribe today. #optimumperspectivespodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 talked to top cancer experts – Tim Somervaille of 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, CEO of CellCentric.Despite recent medical advances, treating haematological cancer remains a considerable challenge. CAR-T cell therapies have shown incredible efficacy against some forms of blood cancer, but side-effects are fearsome, and they don’t always work. Conventional therapies may require injections and regular inconvenient visits to the hospital. And CAR-T cell therapies are hugely expensive for healthcare systems to buy and administer to patients because of the workload for staff monitoring side effects. A UK biotech, CellCentric has seen an opening for an oral therapy, based on a small molecule drug, that could treat multiple myeloma and could be taken by patients in their own home.https://www.optimumcomms.com/podcast / www.cellcentric.comFollow us and subscribe for new episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.Available on all major platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Tune In, Castbox, Deezer and more! Follow and Subscribe today. #optimumperspectivespodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.