BioTech Nation ... with Dr. Moira Gunn

Dr. Chris Gibson, the co-founder and CEO of Recursion Pharmaceuticals in Salt Lake City. We talk about their efforts to map ALL of human biology, and how this mapping will lead to better drugs.

Glucose is essential for life. And the insulin we produce is designed to leave just the right of amount in our bodies for healthy functioning. Thus, when we underproduce insulin - or we overproduce it - the results can be devastating. Nevan Charles Elam, Founder and CEO of Rezolute, tells us about their work to treat the “diabetic eye condition”, DME, and a pediatric condition called Congenital hyperinsulinism.

This week on BioTech Nation, Dr. Amit Kumar, President and CEO of Anixa Biosciences, talks about their work on a breast cancer vaccine which targets a protein thought only to be expressed during breastfeeding. Building on research by the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Kumar describes ongoing human clinical trials and their potential for women with BRCA mutations.

This week on Biotech Nation, Dr. Noah Davidsohn, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Rejuvenate Bio. The discussion centers around the regulation of protein expression and its implications for aging and health. Dr. Davidsohn explains how aging disrupts the balance of protein production, leading to various diseases. Rejuvenate Bio's gene therapies aim to restore this balance by targeting specific genes.

This week of BioTech Nation, Dr. Peter Diamandis about his new book, "Longevity: Your Practical Playbook on Sleep, Diet, Exercise, Mindset, Medications, and Not Dying from Something Stupid". We explore his lifelong interest in extending human health span and discuss practical steps for a healthier, longer life, including sleep, diet, exercise, and mindset. Dr. Diamandis introduces the "longevity escape velocity" concept and the HealthSpan XPRIZE, which aims to reverse aging's functional losses.

This week on BioTech Nation, Dr. Sam Clark, CEO of Terran Biosciences, discusses prodrugs—modified drugs that improve absorption and efficacy. Also, Terran Biosciences is developing non-hallucinogenic psychedelics by blocking the serotonin 2A receptor and manufacturing psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin for research. Dr. Clark highlights Terran's innovative, tech-inspired approach to rapidly develop affordable medications.

This week on Biotech Nation, Dr. Marianne De Backer, CEO of Vir Biotechnology talks about their Phase 2 clinical trials targeting hepatitis B and D co-infections. Vir's approach uses two drugs: tobevibart (an antibody) and elebsiran (an siRNA). These drugs prevent the virus from entering liver cells and stop it from replicating. Preliminary results are promising, showing a significant reduction in viral RNA and normalization of liver enzyme levels. Dr. De Backer also highlights Vir's efforts in other infectious diseases and future plans.

What’s next after Ozempic and Wegovy and the like? How about a drug in development which releases all the relevant hormones, and not just GLP-1. And doesn’t require injecting. Dr. Steffen-Sebastian Bolz from Aphaia (ah-phi-ah) Pharma explains their approach, currently in Phase 2.

This week on BioTech Nation, Dr. Sam Blackman, Founder and Head of Research and Development from Day One Biopharmaceuticals, shares the story behind the FDA approval of a groundbreaking drug for the most common childhood brain cancer. He talks about their innovative approach to starting a biopharma company and how it led to a newly FDA approved drug that treats the most common form of brain cancer in children

This week we have a best of rerun with Dr. Mark Sumeray from Amolyt Pharma. Dr. Sumeray talks about their innovative approach to treating hormonal conditions. We’ll talk about two – when your parathyroid has been injured or removed, often during thyroid surgery, and another – when the pituitary starts overproducing growth hormone.

This week Dr. Daniel Kraft, Tech Nation Health Chief Correspondent, discusses advanced health tech. Dr. Kraft highlights his use of wearables like the Apple Watch, Oura ring, and non-invasive blood pressure monitors. He also introduces "otherables," which track health without being worn, using devices like cameras and modified WiFi. These technologies enable continuous health monitoring and personalized care.

This week on BioTech Nation, Dr. Moira Gunn and Dr. Daniel Kraft discuss how robotics, AI, and virtual reality are transforming surgery. These technologies make procedures less invasive and improve training and outcomes worldwide. Future advancements may include tiny robots performing internal procedures. Security is crucial to prevent hacking of medical devices.

Dr. Daniel Kraft, Tech Nation Health Chief Correspondent discusses the gap between medical innovation and its adoption into standard practice. He highlights that it typically takes 17 years for a medical discovery to become common practice, but big data and AI could accelerate this. He emphasizes the importance of sharing medical data and initiatives like Stuff That Works Health and EveryCure.

This week, Dr. Steve Quake from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative about their goal to tackle all human diseases in the next century. We discuss CZI's innovative approach, including building Biohubs and funding collaborative research. Dr. Quake explains the importance of something called The Virtual Cell project, aiming to use AI to model every human cell. We also address ethical concerns about AI in bioweapons research and the need for regulatory measures.

This week on Biotech Nation, I speak with Dr. Neal Kassell about focused ultrasound technology. We discuss its noninvasive approach, its diverse applications in treating various medical conditions, and its potential to revolutionize treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cancer. Dr. Kassell also shares insights into ongoing clinical trials and the rapid growth of focused ultrasound as a global standard of care.

This week on BioTech Nation, we explore new efforts in treating cancer with Dr. Sean Bohen, President and CEO of Olema Oncology. We discuss progress in treating breast cancer, particularly ER+/HER2- breast cancer, which accounts for 70% of diagnoses this year. They examine the biology behind these cancers and how Olema's lead compound, palazestrant, works to antagonize the estrogen receptor, halting cancer cell growth. They also touch on the ongoing Phase 3 trial, OPERA-01, and the potential for combining palazestrant with other treatments.

This week - Dr. Sanjay Shukla, CEO of Atyr Pharma, discusses the revolutionary potential of mRNA technology in creating new medicines. They explore Atyr's pioneering approach to leveraging tRNA fragments for treating pulmonary sarcoidosis and other organ-specific conditions, aiming to improve patient outcomes while minimizing reliance on conventional therapies like steroids.

In this week's episode, Dr. Moira Gunn interviews Dr. Chris Pirie from HDT Bio about their novel approach to cancer prevention through vaccines. They discuss leveraging mRNA technology to target specific tumor mutations and prime the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. Dr. Pirie highlights ongoing efforts to develop vaccines for prostate, pancreatic, and breast cancers, emphasizing the importance of monitoring immune responses in clinical trials. They also explore the potential for broad-spectrum cancer vaccines and the need to shift towards preventive measures in cancer treatment.

This week I speak with Dr. Robert Ang from Vor Biopharma about their innovative approach to treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow, leading to the overgrowth of cancerous cells. Dr. Ang explains that traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, have limitations and risks. Dr. Ang emphasizes the potential of their treatment to revolutionize AML therapy and improve patient outcomes.

Tech Nation Health, Chief Correspondent Dr. Daniel Kraft discusses the concept of "food as medicine." Dr. Kraft emphasizes the evolving understanding of nutrition and its profound impact on health, advocating for a shift towards personalized nutrition using cutting-edge technologies. From continuous glucose monitors to AI-powered apps and sensor toilets, we explore how these innovations enable individuals to measure and optimize their dietary choices.

Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases continue to be challenging, but now new science has led to a better understanding of the natural repair mechanisms in the brain. This, in turn, has generated new options for innovative treatments, and one such approach has entered late-stage human clinical trials. Dr. Mark Litton is the President and CEO of Athira Pharma.

This week, Dr. Daniel Bloomfield from Anthos Therapeutics discusses the prevalence and dangers of blood clots, particularly in patients with cancer. Dr. Bloomfield explains the difference between normal and abnormal blood clotting, the risks associated with blood clots in arteries and veins, and the challenges in balancing clot prevention with the risk of bleeding.

Dr. Lishan Aklog from Lucid Diagnostics tells us about the path from GERD to, unfortunately, esophageal cancer, and about Lucid’s two-minute diagnostic test which can detect precancerous cells.

Dr. Eric Merle from GenoSkin talks about how they are transforming drug discovery using discarded human skin from surgeries like tummy tucks, revolutionizing the process and accelerating drug development timelines.

Tech Nation Health Chief Correspondent Dr. Daniel Kraft talks about the newest XPrize worth an unprecedented $101 Million.

Dr. Nik Sopko, the Chief Scientific Officer of PolarityTE talks about their design for wound healing. Their first treatment candidate is diabetic foot ulcers.

Dr. Eric Vivier from Innate Pharma in Marseilles tells us about the next wave of immunotherapy treatments – harnessing Natural Killer cells.

Dr. Ray Stevens, CEO of ShouTi Pharma, talks about their approach in turning IV drugs into pills. Current projects include Diabetes and obesity, and two Pulmonary and Cardiovascular disorders. And these are just their first candidates …

Dr. Stewart Campbell, CEO of Axial Therapeutics, about their groundbreaking work in Autism–related irritability in teenagers, in Parkinson’s, and in complementing the latest cancer treatments.

On this week’s BioTech Nation University of Chicago professor Dr. Neil Shubin talks about his book “Some Assembly required … Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA.” Ancient viruses in our DNA? And what about “jumping genes”?

This week we visit the brain, and look at what a flexible brain implant might do – from sensing how your brain is working to actual treatment. Nicolas Vachicouras from Neurosoft Bioelectronics in Geneva, Switzerland talks about the target for their first treatment: severe tinnitus.

What’s next after Ozempic and Wegovy and the like? How about a drug in development which releases all the relevant hormones, and not just GLP-1. And doesn’t require injecting. Dr. Steffen-Sebastian Bolz from Aphaia (ah-phi-ah) Pharma explains their approach, currently in Phase 2.

We honor Sir Ian Wilmut, the Scottish embryologist who gained worldwide renown as the leader of the scientific research group that cloned the equally famous Dolly. With his recent passing, we air our 2007 BioTech Nation interview, when David Ewing Duncan and I spoke with Dr. Wilmut on the 10th anniversary of Dolly’s birth.

Dr. Mark Sumeray from Amolyt Pharma talks about their innovative approach to treating hormonal conditions. We’ll talk about two – when yourparathyroid has been injured or removed, often during thyroid surgery, and another – when the pituitary starts overproducing growth hormone.

This week on BioTech Nation, Andrew Allen, President, CEO and Co-Founder of Gritstone Bio – a full spectrum look at how cancer starts and cancer treatments have developed … and what next-generation treatment means today with Gritstone’s work in colorectal cancer. And wait for it … the next generation of Covid vaccines.

Tech Nation Health Chief Correspondent Dr. Daniel Kraft talks about how Medical Schools decide what to teach. You might be surprised that it’s based on the Flexner Report … written in … 1910. Is it time for a do-over? And what might that be?

Tech Nation Health Chief Correspondent Dr. Daniel Kraft talks about your Digital Twin … your Digital Twin … yes, you have one.

Dr. Anthony Japour, President and CEO from iTolerance in Miami, Florida tells us about implanting insulin-producing cells in your pancreas – it’s been tried before, but they have a new approach which just might work.

Tech Nation Health Chief Correspondent Dr. Daniel Kraft tells us about the explosion of digital health.

It’s the 25th anniversary of the founding of Google … and 23 years ago, Google founders - Larry Page and Sergey Brin – came to the Tech Nation studios to do their very first radio interview. There’s lots to learn there, including they believed what humans demanded of search, and why they did what they did.

Dr. Robert Ladner, the Founder of CV6 Therapeutics in Belfast, Northern Ireland, tells us about their work to make a cornerstone cancer chemotherapy, even more effective. First trials are in colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers...

Science journalist Tom Ireland tells us about a burgeoning field of science, which is changing the fight to successfully treat antibiotic infections. His book is “The Good Virus: The Amazing Story and Forgotten Promise of the Phage”.

Osteoarthritis – mostly in the knee, but pick a joint. Dr. Diem (Zem) Nguyen (N’Win) is the CEO of Xalud (Za-lood) Therapeutics. We’ll talk about their work to reduce the inflammation that drives pain. It’s now in human clinical trials.

Why use one AI approach when you can use 25? CEO Dr. Ben Thomas and Chief Commercial Officer Dermot Tierney from Amply Discovery talks about how their novel approach to AI in drug discovery.

Modern cannabis products, with higher potency than those from the past, can lead to acute cannabis intoxication. Anebulo Pharmaceuticals, led by Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Ken Cundy, is working on an antidote that counteracts the negative effects of THC overdose, potentially benefiting both adults and children.

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, and progress in treating Glioblastoma has been elusive. Now, Toronto-based Medicenna has completed a successful Phase 2 with its innovative drug, and is now deep into planning the Phase 3 Trial. Also of interest, the FDA agreed to an unprecedented approach in Phase 2, which not only yields better science, but reduces the cost of the clinical trials themselves. To be sure, this approach will be carried forward into Phase 3. Dr. Fahar Merchant is the President & CEO of Medicenna Therapeutics.

In this week's BioTech Nation, we discuss Geovax, a company working on a novel approach to treat head and neck cancers, which are often difficult to treat after standard options have been exhausted. Geovax is developing A2 component therapy, using an enzyme delivered directly to the tumor by a needle injection, followed by an infusion of an inactive form of a chemotherapeutic drug, which becomes toxic to the tumors when processed by the enzyme. The treatment aims to localize the effects, reduce side effects, and potentially activate the immune system to target other tumor cells in the body. Phase two trials are underway, with promising results so far.

In this week's episode of Biotech Nation, Dr. Jeffrey Cleland, the President and CEO of Ashvattha Therapeutics, discusses their drug development efforts to address long COVID. They discuss the definition of long COVID by the World Health Organization, the prevalence of the condition, and the chronic inflammation that occurs in the body, including the brain. Dr. Cleland explains how their nanomedicine approach aims to selectively target and turn off reactive inflammatory cells, potentially offering a treatment for long haul COVID and other diseases.

In this week's episode of Biotech Nation, Dr. Greg Frost, CEO of Exuma Biotech, discusses their innovative approaches to cancer treatment. They are working on a method to shorten the time and eliminate hospital stays for CAR-T therapy, while also developing a new technology called G-car that combines T cells and NK cells to create a more gentle and effective cancer therapy.

A new cell therapy, just entering human clinical trials. It focuses on a particular type of Epilepsy - Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. I speak with Dr. Cory Nicholas, the Co-Founder and CEO of Neurona Therapeutics, about their idea, what they’ve done, and how they plan to approach testing this unprecedented treatment.