The BioHub - by Avetix

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix , I’m joined by Edward van Wezel , Managing Partner and Co-Founder of BioGeneration Ventures . Edward shares his journey into venture capital and the story behind building BGV into one of Europe’s leading early-stage life sciences investors. We discuss how he evaluates companies at the earliest stages, what he looks for in founders and leadership teams, and the lessons behind standout investments such as Acerta Pharma. We also explore the evolution of the European biotech ecosystem, the challenges of fundraising and company creation, and what Edward believes Europe needs to do to build more globally competitive biotech companies.

Today, I’m joined by Jo Lane, a senior People and HR leader currently working with COMPASS Pathways, where she plays a key role in supporting the organisation and its people as the company continues to develop and grow. Jo has built an impressive career across the life sciences and healthcare sectors, with senior HR and organisational development roles at COMPASS Pathways, Ipsen and IQVIA. Her experience spans people strategy, organisational development, talent, leadership, change and building high-performing teams across global organisations. Today, we’re going to talk about Jo’s journey through HR and into biotech, her experience supporting companies through periods of growth and transformation, and what she’s learned about building the right culture and teams along the way. We’ll also explore leadership, talent retention and how the role of HR continues to evolve within the biotech industry.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix , I’m joined by Tony Estrada , Co-Founder and CEO of Tenvie Therapeutics . Tony shares his journey from Genentech and Denali Therapeutics to founding Tenvie, and why he chose to build a company focused on some of the toughest challenges in neuroscience. We discuss what it takes to launch a biotech in a difficult funding environment, why being scrappy and disciplined matters, and how Tenvie is balancing near-term clinical progress with continued investment in discovery. We also explore the future of neuroscience, the importance of mentorship, and where Tony believes AI and machine learning can genuinely improve drug discovery.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix , I’m joined by Kristen Stants , Chief People Officer at Parabilis Medicines . Recorded shortly after Parabilis completed its record-breaking IPO, Kristen shares what that milestone means for the company and how the people strategy changes when a biotech suddenly enters a new phase of rapid growth. We also discuss how to protect culture while scaling, the qualities that help people thrive in biotech, what strong leadership looks like in a volatile industry, and Kristen’s advice for the next generation looking to build a career in HR.

On this episode of the podcast we feature CEO & Co-Founder of Infinimmune, Wyatt McDonnell, to discuss a hugely impressive & milestone-rich journey since founding in 2022. Infinimmune was founded on the belief that human disease is best treated with truly human therapeutics. Their discovery platform, developed by Wyatt and his five former 10X Genomics colleagues, has already been tapped by Merck in a partnering deal potentially worth $800million plus. The first two of their immune system-derived antibodies are heading toward the clinic in Atopic Dermatitis, and the Series A round to fund those trials attracted interest from Regeneron's venture arm. On a more personal note, this episode also offers great insight into Wyatt's own journey into biotech and the entrepreneurial traits that lead to him going 'all-in' on Infinimmune. He also gives his advice for anyone in a similar position looking to go on that journey.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Amber is joined by Dr. Brent Richards, Founder and CEO of 5 Prime Sciences, a company helping biotech, pharma and investors use human genetics to make better drug development decisions. Brent shares his background in clinical medicine and human genetics, the story behind 5 Prime Sciences, and how genetic evidence can help identify and validate drug targets. We explore the challenges of translating complex data into actionable insights, why understanding causal biology matters, and the opportunity to bring greater confidence to early drug discovery.

Today I’m joined by Frédéric Sweeney, President and CEO of VedaBio. Fred has spent his career at the intersection of healthcare, diagnostics, venture capital and company building. He’s also been involved with a number of companies as an investor, board member and advisor. Today, Fred is leading VedaBio, which is developing a new approach to molecular diagnostics using CRISPR. The company’s technology is designed to deliver highly accurate molecular detection much faster and closer to the point of care, with the goal of making sophisticated molecular testing much more accessible. I’m really looking forward to hearing about Fred’s journey through the industry, what he’s learned from working across startups, large diagnostics companies and venture capital, and then diving into what VedaBio is building and where he sees the future of molecular diagnostics going.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix , I’m joined by Steve Tregay , Managing General Partner at Mission BioCapital . Steve shares his journey across research, pharma, biotech company building and venture capital, including the story behind founding FORMA Therapeutics and the lessons that experience taught him about creating successful biotech companies. We also discuss how Mission BioCapital approaches early-stage company creation, what Steve looks for in founders and new opportunities, the role big pharma plays in the biotech ecosystem, and what he believes separates the companies that ultimately succeed from those that don’t.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix , I’m joined by Hans Schambye , CEO of BOOST Pharma . Hans shares what drew him to BOOST and the opportunity to develop what could become the first disease-modifying treatment for osteogenesis imperfecta. We discuss the challenge of taking a novel cell therapy from early clinical success towards Phase III, and what it takes to build the company around that journey. We also explore the lessons Hans has learned from leading and scaling multiple biotech companies, how the CEO role changes through different stages of growth, and where he sees the cell and gene therapy landscape heading next.

We were delighted to be joined by Prakash Raman, Ph.D., CEO of InduPro Therapeutics . Prakash brings more than two decades of experience across the biopharmaceutical industry, spanning business development, licensing, portfolio strategy, venture creation and executive leadership. Before joining InduPro, he was President and CEO of Ribon Therapeutics, following a period as Senior Partner and Chief Business Development Officer at Flagship Pioneering. Prior to that, he spent almost 14 years at Novartis, ultimately becoming Global Head of Business Development and Licensing for NIBR, where he was involved in a number of significant partnerships and acquisitions. Today at InduPro, Prakash is helping build a company around a differentiated proximity biology platform , using an understanding of how proteins interact and are spatially organised to develop new therapeutics across oncology and immunology. The company has recently announced a $77 million Series B, entered into collaborations with companies including Lilly, Sanofi and Lonza, and has moved its lead programme, IDP-001, into the clinic. So today, we’re going to talk about Prakash’s journey through biotech, what he learned from operating inside big pharma and venture, how he thinks about building companies and platforms, the opportunity around proximity biology, and what it takes to translate a differentiated scientific idea into a successful biotech business.

On this episode we're joined by Palisade Bio's CEO & CMO, JD Finley & Mitch Jones. In Q2 2026, Palisade released promising ph1 data for their lead asset - PALI2108 - a PDE4 inhibitor. With recent IND clearance for their ph2 ASCENTRA-UC study, we discuss that data, and what real success looks like clinically & commercially for the business & asset moving forward, in an increasingly busy IBD market. We hope you enjoy the episode.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix , I’m joined by Kristen Wong of Altitude Life Science Ventures . Kristen shares her journey into venture capital and how she thinks about identifying the people and companies worth backing at the earliest stages. We discuss why the investments you pass on can be just as valuable as the ones you make, the importance of founder emotional intelligence, and what the SVB crisis taught her about supporting companies through uncertainty. We also explore where AI is genuinely changing biotech and investing, why Kristen writes about the industry, and the lessons she has learned from working closely with founders and company builders.

In this episode we meet Tom Ciulla, CEO of Ikarovec, one of the most exciting gene therapy biotechs in The UK and the ophthalmology scene more broadly. Ikarovec isn't Tom's first rodeo - playing a role in the rise of Iveric, Spark, Viridian, and Nanoscope - but as a first-time CEO, tune in to hear what excited him the most about Ikarovec's bicistronic platform, their plans for clinical trials in GA & RP, and the latest on their Series A.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix , I’m joined by Michael Engsig , CEO of Nykode Therapeutics , and Agnete Fredriksen , Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer. Michael and Agnete share the story behind Nykode, how the company’s technology has evolved, and what they’ve learned from building a biotech around a novel approach to immunotherapy. We also discuss the balance between scientific ambition and commercial execution, the challenges of developing new cancer treatments, how the CEO and CSO roles work together, and where they see the future of cancer immunotherapy heading.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast by Avetix, Ben sits down with Dr. David Crean, Chief Business Officer at MediciNova, to explore a career spanning biotechnology, investment, M&A and strategic partnering. The conversation explores David’s journey into biotech, how he evaluates opportunities and partnerships, and the decisions that shape the development of emerging therapeutics. We also discuss MediciNova’s work in neurological disease, including the development of MN-166 (ibudilast), and the challenges of advancing therapies in areas such as ALS and other complex CNS disorders. David also shares his perspective on business development in today’s biotech market, what makes an asset attractive to potential partners, how smaller companies can position themselves effectively, and how the relationship between science, financing and deal-making has evolved throughout his career.

We were delighted to be joined by Kathleen Gallagher, CEO of Atrium Therapeutics. Kathleen has built a fascinating career across the biotech industry, with experience spanning corporate communications, investor relations, clinical development and executive leadership. Before founding Atrium, she spent time at companies including Merrimack Pharmaceuticals and Akcea Therapeutics, before joining Avidity Biosciences, where she ultimately became Chief Program Officer. At Avidity, Kathleen was closely involved in the company’s evolution and the development of its RNA therapeutics platform, including its work in myotonic dystrophy. The company’s journey ultimately culminated in its landmark acquisition by Novartis for up to $12 billion, one of the largest transactions in the biotech sector. Following that experience, Kathleen took on the CEO of Atrium Therapeutics. Atrium is developing targeted RNA therapies for genetically driven cardiovascular diseases, with the ambition of addressing serious rare diseases where patients currently have limited treatment options. Today, we’re going to talk about Kathleen’s journey through biotech, how her career evolved from communications and investor relations into drug development and ultimately the CEO role, what she learned from helping build Avidity, and what it was like to go through such a significant company transaction. We’ll also explore the opportunity in RNA therapeutics, the decision to start Atrium, what it takes to build a biotech from the ground up, and Kathleen’s perspective on leadership, culture and what makes an early-stage biotech successful.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix , I’m joined by Fred Aslan , President and CEO of Artiva Biotherapeutics . Fred shares his journey across venture capital, business development and biotech leadership, including his time at Venrock and Vividion, and how those experiences shaped the way he now leads Artiva. We discuss what it takes to build and scale a biotech, how investor experience changes the way you make decisions as a CEO, the opportunity for off-the-shelf cell therapies, and where Fred sees the future of the cell therapy space heading.

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix , I’m joined by Luis Peña , Co-Founder, President and CEO of Evommune . Luis shares his journey from scientist to biotech founder, including the story behind building Dermira and the lessons he took from its acquisition by Eli Lilly. We discuss why he decided to start again with Evommune and the company’s ambition to develop new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases. We also explore what it takes to build and finance a biotech, the transition into the CEO role, how Luis approaches leadership, and what he believes separates companies that successfully turn strong science into meaningful medicines.

In Q1 of this year, I sat down with Meredith, CFO at Corsera Health, to discuss the future of cardiovascular health and why prediction and prevention are becoming increasingly important in improving outcomes long before a CVD diagnosis.We explored what it takes to build a company at the intersection of science, data and healthcare, how finance and strategy support innovation.A really insightful conversation with Meredith on the opportunities and challenges of building a company focused on tackling one of the world's leading causes of death.

In this episode of the BioHub by Avetix, we’re joined by Dana Watt, Partner at Breakout Ventures, to explore how she evaluates ambitious science-led businesses at the earliest stages. Dana discusses her journey from neuroscience and company building into venture capital, what separates an exciting technology from an investable company, and the signals she looks for in scientific founders. We also explore how Breakout supports companies beyond capital, the changing investment environment for biotech and deep tech, and where Dana sees the greatest opportunities emerging across biology and technology. A brilliant conversation for scientists, founders and anyone interested in how transformative ideas make the leap from the lab into the market. Dana is currently a Partner at Breakout Ventures and has a background spanning cellular and molecular neuroscience, company formation and early-stage life-science investment.