Welcome to the Optimum Perspectives Podcast
Regular episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.
Episode 12- Optimum’s christmas charity special featuring Ariana Smiles
In this insightful and emotional podcast episode, the co-founder of Ariana Smiles – a Special Named Fund at CCLG UK, Stephanie Seales Gabbitas shares her mission to improve the lives of children diagnosed with Leukaemia by raising funds for research into precision oncology medicine.
This Christmas, if you can, please join us in donating to this lifechanging charity here.
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Episode 11- 4SC: Creating a new treatment paradigm for CTCL
There is a lack of effective treatments for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) – in this podcast episode Jason Loveridge, CEO of 4SC, talked to Optimum Strategic Communications’ Eva Haas about the Company’s potential new maintenance therapy Kinselby (resminostat).
4SC is a late-stage biotech improving lives for patients suffering with advanced-stage Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL).
It has developed Kinselby (resminostat), a novel, oral, maintenance treatment targeting advanced-CTCL, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin. There are no drugs in development or on the market as maintenance therapy for CTCL.
Kinselby (resminostat) is an orally administered histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that has produced supportive results in the pivotal RESMAIN trial, where it postponed disease progression in patients – a new treatment paradigm in CTCL.
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Episode 10 – Optimum’s 15th Annual Healthcare Investor Conference Special
Optimum celebrated its 15th Annual Healthcare Investor Conference – marking its crystal anniversary – and what a sparkler it was! In the latest episode of Optimum Perspectives Podcast, Richard Staines talks through the top takeaways from the October event with special testimonials from our guests.
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read our Insights from the day here: Insights from Optimum’s 15th Annual Healthcare Investor Conference 2023
Episode 9 – Investor Perspectives: biopharma‘s market trends in 2023
Episode 9 of Optimum Perspectives Podcast features Optimum’s Richard Staines and Eva Haas, who discuss the hot areas for investment in the shifting biotech market – including antibody-drug conjugates, smart radiotherapies, mRNA and immune-oncology.
Want us to explore a topic further? Let us know!
Eva HaasOptimum Strategic Communications |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read our insight here: Investor Perspectives: Eva Haas gives her views on biopharma market trends in 2023
Episode 8 – Alchemab: The UK biotech that is revolutionising drug discovery
Alchemab aims to revolutionise drug discovery with a novel alternative to the classic “choose a target” approach.
Alchemab specifically looks to identify shared antibodies from people who have shown resilience to disease – the unexpectedly well. The company then uses its proprietary technology to identify which targets these antibodies are binding to, and what diseases these targets are associated with.
Optimum Strategic Communications’ Richard Staines caught up with Alchemab’s CEO, Young Kwon, to find out more.
Young KwonAlchemab Therapeutics |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read our insight here: Alchemab: The UK biotech revolutionising drug discovery.
Episode 7 – Poolbeg Pharma: Using AI to prepare for the next pandemic
No-one is likely to forget the tragic events of 2020 and one company leading efforts to prepare for the next pandemic is Poolbeg Pharma.
Optimum Strategic Communications’ Richard Staines interviewed CEO Jeremy Skillington to find out how Poolbeg is using AI to expedite discovery of new flu drugs.
Poolbeg is working on a drug that aims to block some of the worst effects of influenza, neutralising the over-reaction from the body’s immune system known as a “cytokine storm” that produces many of the ill effects following a flu infection.
Jeremy SkillingtonPoolbeg Pharma |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read the insight piece here: Poolbeg Pharma: Using AI to prepare for the next pandemic
Episode 6 – Verona Pharma: Preparing a potentially novel COPD medicine for market
A much-anticipated new potential drug for COPD moved a step closer to the market after Verona Pharma submitted its New Drug Application to the U.S. FDA, seeking approval of ensifentrine as a maintenance therapy. In its latest podcast, Optimum Strategic Communications caught up with Chris Martin, Senior Vice President of Commercial, who discussed how the company plans to launch this potential novel COPD medicine.
Chris MartinVerona Pharma |
Eva HaasOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read the insight piece here: Verona Pharma: Preparing a potentially novel COPD medicine for market
Episode 5 - Søren Møller of Novo Holdings Seed Investments – Helping small biotechs weather the storm
Today’s funding environment for small biotechs is tough. Valuations are down and money is tighter than it used to be – both for publicly listed and privately held firms.
In these circumstances, obtaining the right backing – both in terms of finance and managerial advice – is more important than ever.
In the fifth Optimum Perspectives podcast experienced investor Søren Møller talks to Optimum’s Stephen Adams about Novo Holdings Seed Investments’ approach to working with biotechs and what early-stage companies should look for in a financing partner.
Søren MøllerNovo Holdings Seed Investments |
Stephen AdamsOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read the insight piece here: An in-depth interview with Søren Møller, Head of Novo Holdings Seed Investments
Episode 4 – Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics: Blazing a trail in rare diseases
How do you take a tiny private Swedish biotech and turn it into a successful, publicly-listed company operating on both sides of the Atlantic, in just six years?
Listen to Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics, tell Optimum’s Richard Staines how they brought TARPEYO, the first FDA-approved drug for the rare kidney disease primary IgA nephropathy, to market.
She describes her ‘incredible journey’ growing the firm from less than 10 staff to more than 200, taking it public in Europe and the US, running a global Phase III trial, and how Tarpeyo can help people with IgA nephropathy live more normal lives.
Renee Aguair-LucanderCalliditas Therapeutics |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Read the insight piece here: Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics: Blazing a trail in rare diseases
Episode 3 – An interview with Dan Mahony, UK Government Life Sciences Envoy by Optimum’s Eva Haas
In this episode of Optimum Perspectives Podcast, our in-house IR expert, ex-Fund Manager Eva Haas interviewed Dan Mahony, Chairman of the BioIndustry Association (BIA), following his appointment as UK Life Sciences Investment Envoy to hear his plans for championing the UK’s Life Sciences industry.
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Read the insight piece here: An interview with Dan Mahony, UK Government Life Sciences Envoy by Optimum’s Eva Haas
Episode 2 – Versameb: Revolutionizing SUI therapy with mRNA technology
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common and debilitating problem for many women, particularly after childbirth or in later years.
Yet, despite this, treatment options are limited, held back by a lack of research into medical products focused on women’s health.
Versameb, hopes to change this with a novel mRNA therapy that rebuilds the urinary sphincter and is about to enter clinical trials. In this podcast, Optimum Communications’s Richard Staines caught up with the Versameb team to find out more.
Klaas ZuideveldVersameb |
Isabel FerreiraVersameb |
Roger DmochowskiVersameb |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
Episode 1 – CellCentric’s new oral cancer therapy inobrodib
Our host Richard Staines, Account Director at Optimum, discusses the latest clinical findings from inobrodib, an oral cancer therapy developed by the UK biotech CellCentric.
In our first episode, we hear from Jan Ross, a patient who discusses the pressing need for new therapies for multiple myeloma with fewer side effects. We also talk to top cancer experts – Tim Somervaille, Consultant in Haematology , at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, Karen Knudsen, Chief Executive of the American Cancer Society, Dr Leif Bergsagel, Consultant in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and Will West, Chief Executive Officer of CellCentric.
Will WestCellcentric |
Karen KnudsenAmerican Cancer Society |
Tim SomervailleThe Christie, CRUK |
Leif BergsagelMayo Clinic |
Richard StainesOptimum Strategic Communications |
