In this episode, Stuart explores the adoption of generative AI in the pharmaceutical industry, with a special focus on cell and gene therapy. While the application of AI for drug discovery has been well documented and a source of considerable investment for the pharmaceutical sector, we are only just starting to see its impact for therapy developers. A 2024 report from McKinsey Global Institute estimates that generative AI could generate up to $100 billion in economic value for pharma and medical product companies, and therapy developers are eager to see these benefits sooner rather than later, no more so than in the complex and challenging field of cell and gene therapies. With the help of two expert guests, Stuart will uncover how AI is being used in the industry today, and where it could go in the future. 

Guests:

• Ken Harris, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of AI at OmniaBio
• Sean Bedingfield, PhD, Senior Advisor at Eli Lilly Genetic Medicine

In this episode, host Stuart explores what the sustainability goals of Big Pharma mean for those organisations, and the companies that support them. With insights from Ryan Walker, Sustainability Program Leader at Cytiva, and Wenshu Xu, Drug Discovery Tools Team Lead at TTP, we review the progress made by the industry so far and some examples where innovative thinking has had an impact on operations. Topics include the challenge of tackling Scope 3 emissions, reducing the impact of single-use plastics, and how collaboration across the ecosystem is key to meeting ambitious sustainability targets.

Guests:

• Ryan Walker, Sustainability Program Leader, Cytiva
• Wenshu Xu, Drug Discovery Tools Team Lead, TTP

In this two-part series, host Stuart Lowe examines two factors testing the resilience of the biopharma industry. As society simultaneously navigates a green transition alongside an AI revolution, so the biopharma industry faces mounting pressure to address its carbon emissions, deploy cutting-edge digital technology, while streamlining operations. Along with his guests, discover the innovative approaches that are being taken to transform drug development and manufacturing.

In Part One of this two-part series, we reflected on the progress made in the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) industry and the importance of patient-centric development. In this episode, we dive into how we can continue to move forward, broaden access, and encourage the development of new treatments. We’ll discuss the critical need to scale manufacturing, even in the early stages of development, to ensure that these therapies reach the patients who need them.

Guests:

• Emma Chan, Director of Technical Development at Orchard Therapeutics
• Matt Hewitt, Chief Technical Officer at the Manufacturing Business Division at Charles River Laboratories

The Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) industry has made remarkable strides, with significant advancements and the approval of groundbreaking technologies in recent years. However, have we become too dependent on older methods, and are we doing enough to ensure these new therapies are reaching as many patients as possible? In this episode, we tackle these questions while exploring one fundamental issue: Why? Why is it essential to continue innovating to broaden patient access, develop new therapies, and push the industry forward?

Guests:

• Tay Salimullah, Chief Access Commercial Officer at Novartis
• Jason Jones, Global Business Development Lead at Cellular Origins

Welcome back to Invent: Life Sciences, a podcast brought to you by technology and product development company TTP.

With approvals for advanced therapies on the rise, and aspirations to target larger patient populations, it’s time to take stock and reflect and on the progress made to date. In this series, we’ll be looking at the people, processes and partnerships we’ll need to continue moving forwards and delivering the best outcomes for the greatest number of patients.

Over the forthcoming two episodes, I’ll be joined by 4 expert guests to answer two fundamental questions: why do we need to continue to innovate, and how can we do it.

Throughout this series of Invent, we have brought you cutting-edge developments in the Life Sciences industry. 

We have spoken to a wide range of guests who have provided fascinating insights into the manufacture of cell and gene therapies, and what developments in drug testing mean for the future of genetic research. 

A big thank you to all our guests that featured in this series, make sure you show your appreciation to our esteemed guests by re-listening to your favorite episode and subscribing to Invent: Life Sciences from wherever you get your podcasts. 

And finally, a big thank you to you, our listeners, for tuning in each week throughout this series. What has been your favorite episode? Get in touch and let us know!

So for the last time in this series... join me, Stuart Lowe, as we dive into the best bits of Invent: Life Sciences Series 2, a podcast brought to you by technology and product development company TTP.

Throughout this series, we’ve explored different diseases we target, the sorts of cells which are under development as therapies, and how the therapies themselves are manufactured. With all this innovation, we shouldn’t be surprised by the increased focus on the means by which processes and products themselves are characterised. So, do current process analytical tools provide the insights therapy developers need? And how can new technologies be implemented in the fast-moving life sciences field?

To find out, join us on Invent: Life Sciences, a podcast brought to you by technology and product development company TTP.

This Week's Guests

Davide Danovi
Davide Danovi leads the cellular pheotyping department at bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology enterprise with a mission to code cells for health through applying the principles of computation to biology. In his role at bit.bio, Davide's responsibilities emcompass three key areas. Firstly, Infrastructure and training, overseeing the maintenance of essential instruments, conducts staff training, and establishes data analysis infrastructure for imaging and flow cytometry. Secondly, Cell characterisation, verifying the identities of cells, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of experimental results. And finally, Cell type identification, developing modules to precisely identify specific cell types by screening transcription factors, offering innovative solutions for cell identification.

James Kusena
James Kusena is the Vice President of Operations at MicrofluidX. MicrofluidX is industrialising cell and gene therapy manufacturing through it's latest technology, the Cyto Engine, a unified bioreactor and data platform for cell and gene therapy research, development, and manufacturing. James' career began with a focus on bioprocessing and applications, now as VP of Operations, this focus is now shaping the company's technology to align with industry needs. With demonstrated experience in various sectors of the Cell and Gene therapy industry, including: Process Development, Process Translation, Process Transfer, Research & Development and Commercialisation; James' career reflects a fusion of technical expertise and leadership with a commitment to advancing cell therapy manufacturing industry standards and product quality.

Across the life sciences industry, there is much excitement over the potential impact of stem cells in medicine. And it is clear why; these cells, which can be differentiated into any other cell type, could rewrite the playbook in terms of sourcing cellular material for advanced therapies manufacture. So how might therapy developers benefit from the unique abilities of stem cells? And will they live up to their expectations?

To find out, join us on Invent: Life Sciences, a podcast brought to you by technology and product development company TTP.

This Week's Guests

Marinna Madrid
Marinna Madrid is a co-founder at Cellino, a venture capital-backed biotech company building the next generation of cell-based tissues and therapies with a proprietary platform technology. Marinna earned her PhD and MA in Applied Physics from Harvard University, where she played a significant role in co-inventing laser-based intracellular delivery techniques. Prior to her graduate studies, she completed her BSc in Biophysics at the University of California, Los Angeles, having initially started her academic journey at Riverside Community College. In addition to receiving honors for her achievevements, including the Harvard Graduate Prize Fellowship, she also earned a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Healthcare in 2019. 

Adil Duru
Adil Duru is a Senior Research Manager at Glycostem Therapeutics. Glycostem Therapeutics is a Dutch biotech company established in 2007 that focuses on the development of Natural Killer cells (NK cells) as a medicinal asset in the fight against cancer. Adil's main research and development interest is exploring novel NK cell and T cell based cancer immunotherapy approaches including genetically engineered NK cells and T cells.

Throughout almost all of medical history, it was assumed that the average white male response to drug trials could be extrapolated to all potential recipients. But when we look at the poorer health outcomes for women and minorities, could the underlying assumptions in medical research be a contributing factor? If so, what is being done to solve them?

To find out, join us on Invent: Life Sciences, a podcast brought to you by technology and product development company TTP.

This Week's Guests
Diana Torgersen
Diana Torgersen is the Executive Director for External Innovation & Emerging Science at Organon. Organon is a global healthcare company with a portfolio of therapies and product's in women's health, biosimilars, and established medicines across a wide array of conditions and diseases.

Shirin Heidari
Shirin Heidari is the Founding President of GENDRO, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to advance equity through sex and gender senstive-research across discplines by creating public awareness about the implications of lack of sex and gender considerations in research and innovation.

Deana Mohr
Deana Mohr is CEO of MUVON Therapeutics. MUVON Therapeutics is a clinical stage Life Science spin-off from the University of Zurich developing a therapeutic platform for the regeneration of skeletal muscle tissue based on autologous cells, not only repairing damaged tissue but also increasing the regenerative potential of weakened muscles. 

Pharmaceutical companies undertake rigorous clinical trials in order to find out which drugs are safe. But in order to better protect the people volunteering for these tests, regulators decreed that data from studies on animals would be the primary evidence needed before approving a clinical trial in humans. Testing drugs on animals has many ethical and practical issues, and so scientists are looking towards different types of in-vitro models as a solution. But what are these models? How can they move us towards safer, better trials?

To find out, join us on Invent: Life Sciences, a podcast brought to you by technology and product development company TTP.

This Week's Guests

Sylvia Boj
Sylvia Boj is an accomplished scientist and the current Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Hub Organoid. Sylvia's journey in the world of organoids began during her postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Hans Clevers - now, at Hub Organoid, Sylvia leads the charge in harnessing the potential of organoids for the pharmaceutical industry. Her mission is to translate the remarkable capabilities of organoids into a vital preclinical platform for drug development and discovery.

Bas Trietsch
Bas Trietsch is a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Mimetas in the Netherlands. For the past decade, Bas has been using his expertise in drug development and microfluidics to advance "organ on a chip" technology. This technology creates tiny versions of organs and tissues on a chip, allowing scientists to see how they react to different things and is more accurate than traditional methods.