Q&A
SQZ and Portal Founder Armon Sharei on Second-Time Entrepreneurship in Biotech
Armon Sharei once thought he would never start another biotech company. After experiencing the full cycle of SQZ Biotechnologies from glory to liquidation, he founded Portal Biotechnologies with new insights, shifting to providing cell delivery tools rather than developing drugs. This article is a BioPharma Dive interview with Sharei, exploring the lessons he drew from failure and his renewed understanding of industry risks.
Pharmacist at the Helm of Boehringer Ingelheim's 'Patient Excellence' Division: From Pharmacy to Strategic Frontline
Boehringer Ingelheim has established a new 'Patient Excellence' division, led by pharmacist-turned-executive Deborah Reardon, integrating patient advocacy, support, and education teams to reshape the entire patient journey.
Proteomics in Single Cells: How It Drives Better Drug Development
Proteomics provides critical insights for drug development by analyzing the 80,000 to 400,000 proteins in the human body. Bogdan Budnik, Chief Scientist at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, emphasizes that single-cell proteomics can precisely identify the cells affected by diseases, aiding the development of new drugs for cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the technical complexity, automation and robotics are driving this field toward practical applications.
GSK monopolizes the U.S. shingles vaccine market, and a vaccine with fewer side effects may change the landscape
GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) Shingrix vaccine is highly effective in preventing shingles but has notable side effects. Curevo Vaccine is developing a vaccine called amezosvatein, which in Phase 2 trials showed immune response rates comparable to Shingrix while causing fewer adverse reactions, potentially breaking the current market monopoly.
Former US Patent Chief: Drug 'March-in Rights' Would Be a 'Devastating' Mistake
The Biden administration is considering invoking federal 'march-in rights' under the Bayh-Dole Act to seize patents on taxpayer-funded drugs on the grounds of 'unreasonable pricing.' In an interview, former Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office, Andrei Iancu, stated bluntly that this proposal would not help lower drug prices but would instead have a 'devastating' impact on innovation at universities and federal laboratories, and would drive industrial capital away from the commercialization of such research.
Exploring Uncharted Territory: Tarsus CEO on Launch Strategy for a New Disease Category
In an interview, Dr. Bobak Azamian, CEO of Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, detailed the launch strategy for its first drug, Xdemvy (for treating Demodex blepharitis). Facing challenges of low diagnosis rates and a new disease category, the company drove market growth through its own sales team, multi-channel education, and data analytics tools, with Q4 2023 revenue exceeding expectations. Azamian also shared future plans, including expanding indications and exploring direct-to-consumer sales models.
Neuroscience Pioneer NeuroSense Joins Forces with Biogen in the Race to Transform ALS Treatment
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) treatment is undergoing revolutionary changes for the first time in over 20 years. Before Radicava's approval in 2017, the field had long lacked effective therapies. Now, PrimeC, advanced by NeuroSense Therapeutics in collaboration with Biogen, has shown promising efficacy in mid-stage trials and could become a new treatment option. CEO Alon Ben-Noon discusses the disease's complexity, combination therapy trends, and future regulatory pathways in an interview.
Moderna: The COVID-19 vaccine is a 'proof of concept,' and the real test is just beginning
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is seen as a 'proof of concept' for mRNA technology. The company currently has 48 mRNA projects and plans to expand to nearly 100 over the next five years. Its individualized neoantigen therapy (INT), developed in collaboration with Merck, has entered two Phase III trials. This article is an exclusive interview with a Moderna executive, covering technical challenges, competitive strategies, and future outlook.
Former BMS Executive on New CEO Role: 'Unfinished Business' in Oncology
Mural Oncology's new CEO Caroline Loew says her new role represents 'unfinished business' in oncology drug development. The company spun off from Alkermes in November, focusing on cytokine immunotherapy. Loew emphasizes that the bottleneck of approximately 30% response rates in immuno-oncology urgently needs to be overcome, and plans to drive next-generation therapies through strategic focus, science-first approach, and an inclusive culture.
"1 plus 1 equals 3" - The Co-CEO Model in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals gained significant attention with the approval of its ALS drug Relyvrio in 2022, behind which lies the partnership of co-CEOs Josh Cohen and Justin Klee. In large pharmaceutical companies, the co-CEO model is uncommon, but the two founders believe that the complexity and long-term nature of the pharmaceutical industry precisely require this kind of team-based top leadership. This article explores the operational logic of this model, how disagreements are handled, and its performance during crises through an exclusive interview.