BioTech Nation ... with Dr. Moira Gunn

Join us as Dr. Chris Nave, the managing director of Brandon Capital and Chair of PolyActiva, reveals groundbreaking advancements in eye treatments on this week's episode of Biotech Nation! Discover how their innovative technology is revolutionizing the way we deliver drugs to the eye, offering extended therapy periods and eliminating the need for frequent injections or daily drops. Don't miss out on this eye-opening discussion about the future of ophthalmology and the potential to transform the lives of millions affected by glaucoma and other eye diseases.

Join Dr. Richard Austin, Founder and CEO of Reglagene, as he reveals the intense process of selecting the most promising drug candidate for treating brain cancer. Delve into the intriguing world of the "Bake Off" or "beauty contest" where molecules compete to be the breakthrough therapy in human clinical trials. Discover the challenges of penetrating the blood-brain barrier and the quest to revolutionize brain cancer treatment.

This week we explore the commonalities among neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. Dr. Maria Macccecchini, Founder and CEO of Annovis Bio, discusses the role of sticky proteins in these diseases and how her company is developing a drug to prevent the aggregation of these proteins. The episode also touches on their ongoing clinical trials for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and their potential application in treating traumatic brain injuries.

Moira speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Ed Humes. His latest is “The Forever Witness … How DNA and Genealogy Solved a Cold Case Double Murder.” We get an object lesson in the Three Ages of DNA, and while it reads like a fast-paced Cold Case on steroids – it provides details no fiction writer would dare to make up, like the unexpected involvement of the famous true crimes writer, Ann Rule, and a person whose DNA skills are familiar to fans of the PBS documentary series, “Finding your roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.”

Dr. Hamid Khoja, Chief Scientific Officer of Fibro Biologics, discusses the potential of fibroblasts in regenerative medicine, highlighting their abundance and diverse functions in the body. He shares insights from their ongoing human clinical trials, including the use of fibroblasts for treating degenerative disc disease and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Khoja also mentions their promising findings in animal studies related to diabetic foot ulcers.

Dr. Paul Peter Tack, CEO of Candel Therapeutics, unveils their groundbreaking approach to cancer treatments using engineered viruses. Discover how these viruses are harnessed to target solid tumors, deliver therapeutic genes, and activate the patient's immune system for a powerful anti-cancer response.

Discover the limitless potential of mRNA engineering as Dr. Francois Vigneault, Co-Founder and CEO of Shape Therapeutics, discusses their groundbreaking work in using mRNA to address genetic mutations in diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, offering hope for effective treatments and prevention strategies. Join us as we delve into the world of mRNA technology and its transformative impact on healthcare.

200,000 men at diagnosed each year with Prostate cancer … beginning a journey of many successive treatments. Still, 35,000 men die as a result of prostate cancer. Convergent Therapeutics is focusing on the most advanced, intractable cases of prostate cancer. We speak with, Dr. Philip Kantoff is its Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer and CEO.

Cancer treatments which work with the immune system are making great strides, with Keytruda from Merck being perhaps the best known. Still there is much work to be done – both in developing unprecedented new treatments, as well as treatments which might combine with our existing treatments to make them even more effective. Triumvera (try-um-VEERA) Immunologics is working on both. Dr. Paul Lammers is its CEO.

Dr. Nolan Davidson, the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Rejuvenate Bio, discusses the importance of regulating protein expression and the role it plays in aging. He talks about the three primary genes that drive health and the need to maintain their ideal levels to avoid diseases such as heart disease, liver disease, or kidney disease.

Dr. Darren Kelly, a professor and researcher at the University of Melbourne and the Founder and CEO of Certa Therapeutics, tells us about their clinical trials addressing the skin condition: schleroderma. Their unprecedented approach and the results of their latest trial are worth noting.

Did you know that 1 in 4 Americans suffer from fatty liver disease? And that can lead to a more serious condition called Nash, which can ultimately cause cirrhosis of the liver. Hepion Pharmaceuticals is currently in clinical trials to successfully treat Nash. Learn more about how to take care of your liver on today's episode of BioTech Nation with Dr. Robert Foster, CEO of Hepion Pharmaceuticals.

A side effect of chemotherapy, where hands and feet may be raw, painful, and immobilized. With no current treatment, a new candidate has just finished Phase II clinical trials. We’ll hear from Dr. Michael McCullar, the CEO of OnQuality Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Patrice Matchaba, the President of the Novartis US Foundation, shows us how medical technology can create systemic racism, both in the medical field and in human clinical trials.

The next generation of pain relief – non-opioid pain relief - with the goal of being equally powerful pain relief without addiction. Dr Hernan Bazan is the Co-Founder & CEO of South Rampart Pharma in New Orleans.

Dr. Seth Lederman, Co-Founder and CEO of Tonix Pharmaceuticals, tells us that Long Covid may be related to Fibromyalgia. Now recruiting in advanced Human Clinical Trials ... www.tonixpharma.com

Even Saturday Night Live couldn’t resist the story of a “genetics engineering company” trying to de-extinct the dodo bird. Blue Water Vaccines, founder and CEO Joe Hernandez tells us about his early quest to develop a universal flu vaccine, bringing him face-to-face – so to speak – with the Oxford Dodo. And of course, he funds decoding its DNA.

Bolt Biotherapeutics’ Dr. Randy Schatzman talks about the role of myeloid cells in teaching our immune systems to recognize tumors in our own bodies and then eliminate them. Nearly two dozen forms of HER2-related cancers are being studied. (16 mins)

Dr. Robert Coleman, the Co-Founder and CEO of Codagenix, shows us how to precisely engineer viruses to be effective vaccines, which can be delivered nasally – you heard that right – no needle.

Surface Oncology's strategy to improve on the first generation of immuno-oncology drugs. Their Phase 2 trials in lung cancer and liver cancer are underway and recruiting.

Prothena's 1-2-3 punch for Alzheimer’s + their work in Parkinson’s, ALS, and the role of Amyloids in Down Syndrome

In a long-form feature from Tech Nation, it’s Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Edward Humes, with “The Forever Witness … How DNA and Genealogy Solved a Cold Case Double Murder.” We get an object lesson in the Three Ages of DNA from a forensic investigation standpoint, and while it reads like a fast-paced Cold Case on steroids – it provides details no fiction writer would dare to make up, including the unexpected involvement of the famous true crimes writer, Ann Rule, and a person whose DNA skills are familiar to fans of the PBS documentary series, “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.”

A new global company with 64 products, many of which are for women? Kevin Ali is the CEO of Organon.

Cancer is a hijacker, hijacking cells for its own purposes. And that’s where eFFECTOR Therapeutics is determined to intervene. Dr. Steve Worland, the Co-Founder & CEO, talks about just two of the candidates in its pipeline: One is for Non-small cell lung cancer and another for ER+ breast cancer, with these and other clinical trials enrolling now.

Like the idea of replacing some of your DNA with DNA that works better? And what if you want that new DNA to stop? Dr. Alexandria Forbes, the President & CEO of MeiraGTx, tells us about their work in retinitis pigmentosa and Parkinson’s – two of many clinical trials enrolling right now.

Vor Biopharma has a unique approach to a particular kind of cancer – Acute Myeloid Leukemia – perhaps better known to you, as AML. Dr. Robert Ang is Vor's President & CEO.

Too much of a good thing spells trouble - in this case, that would be neutrophils – the white blood cells that act as our immune system’s first line of defense. It's called PPP, or Palmoplantar Pustulosis. Dr. James Mackay is the President & CEO of Aristea Therapeutics.

Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, among others, are often grouped as Neurodegenerative Disorders. While they each present a different profile of symptoms, what do they have in common? Dr. Maria Maccecchini, the Founder, President & CEO of Annovis Bio, says, "Sticky proteins".

Anixa is pioneering a new approach to preventing the truly aggressive triple-negative form of breast cancer. Based on research from Cleveland Clinic, this approach has the potential to treat other breast cancers as well as ovarian cancer. Dr. Amit Kumar is the President & CEO. More information is available at anixa.com.

Dr. George Yancopoulosis is the President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron. Regeneron is successful on many levels but is perhaps best known for its Covid treatment, directly infusing antibodies. This, of course, requires innovative science … but how do get students to become scientists? Dr. Yancopoulos has an answer.

Blood clots of any sort are dangerous. So dangerous in fact, that 1 in 4 people die from blood clots - independent of medical condition, medicines they take, or medical procedures they undergo. Dr. Daniel Bloomfield, the Chief Medical Officer of Anthos Therapeutics, describes their approach to preventing bleeding while avoiding blood clotting.

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.