Biotech 2050 Podcast

Cary Claiborne, biotech CEO who shifted from finance to addiction medicine after a personal loss. He discusses a genetically targeted, low-dose repurposed therapy to curb alcohol cravings. They cover a simple cheek‑swab diagnostic, AI-led trial design, market and reimbursement implications, and potential expansion into other impulse-driven disorders.

Sheila Gujrathi, MD, physician-scientist and biotech founder with 25 years across Genentech, BMS and multiple startups. She recounts moving from medicine into biotech, building and exiting companies, and navigating today's deal landscape. She explores the inspiration for The Mirror Effect, leadership frameworks for women, overcoming fear and imposter feelings, and building supportive networks like the CEO Sisterhood.

Fred Aslan, Artiva CEO and physician-entrepreneur with stints in VC and biotech leadership, shares his non-linear career and why curiosity guided him. He talks about CAR-T bottlenecks and how off-the-shelf NK cells could simplify and scale cell therapy. He explains why rheumatoid arthritis is the lead indication and previews registrational plans and an autoimmune basket approach.

Michelle Werner, CEO of Alltrna and longtime pharma leader, discusses engineered tRNA therapeutics inspired by her child's rare-disease diagnosis. She explains how tRNAs can read through premature stop codons, reframes nonsense mutations as a shared disease class, and covers delivery strategies, basket-trial approaches, CNS and muscle ambitions, and AI-driven design for a platform aiming to treat many genetic disorders.

Brian Hilberdink, President of U.S. Human Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim with 25+ years in commercial leadership. He recalls an unconventional path from sales to pharma leadership. They explore Boehringer’s private, R&D-first model and its pipeline in obesity, CKD, ILD and oncology. The conversation covers modern commercial moves like DTC, digital engagement, AI-driven launches, and China’s role in innovation.

Synopsis: Fresh from the JPM 2026 in San Francisco, Alok Tayi welcomes Johan Luthman, Executive Vice President of R&D at Lundbeck, for a sweeping, deeply personal conversation on the future of neuroscience drug development. From his early days as a Swedish clinician-scientist to leading breakthrough Alzheimer’s programs and rebuilding Lundbeck’s pipeline from the ground up, Johan shares the pivotal moments—and phone calls—that shaped a 30-year career across AstraZeneca, Merck, Serono, and now Denmark’s neuroscience powerhouse. The discussion dives into Lundbeck’s bold strategic reset: letting biology lead, de-risking early in patients, embracing rare disease and sleep medicine, and making disciplined bets on monoclonal antibodies, migraine prevention, epilepsy, and neuroendocrine disorders. Johan explains how the company shifted capital toward innovation, rebuilt its portfolio through targeted acquisitions, and built one of the most advanced neuroscience pipelines in pharma today. In one of the episode’s most powerful moments, Johan opens up about his personal motivation—caring for family members with Alzheimer’s and dedicating his career to diseases of the brain. From AI-driven R&D productivity and adaptive trials to Denmark’s unique foundation-owned pharma model, this conversation is a masterclass in scientific rigor, decision-making under uncertainty, and keeping patients at the center of everything. Biography: In 1991, Johan Luthman began his career in the pharmaceutical industry in Astra, later AstraZeneca. In 2005, Johan joined Serono as Head of Neuroscience & Immunology Research, and subsequently, in MerckSerono, as Therapy Area Head, Neurology & Immunology. In 2009, he became CEO of biotech start-up GeNeuro. In late 2009, Johan joined Merck as VP & Franchise Integrator for Neuroscience and Ophthalmology. In 2014, he came to Eisai where he was Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Development. Johan joined Lundbeck as Executive Vice President, R&D in March 2019. Johan is a Swedish national and is trained as a Doctor of Dental Sciences from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. He also holds a PhD in Neurobiology and Histology as well as an Associate Professor title from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. Johan is a Member of the Board of Directors of Brain+.

Christophe Bourdon, CEO of LEO Pharma, shares insights from his 30 years in the industry, emphasizing that innovation should genuinely impact patients' lives. He discusses LEO's focus on dermatology, revealing advancements in treatments for atopic dermatitis and chronic hand eczema. Christophe also highlights the significance of 'white-glove' patient support for rare diseases and the role of AI in enhancing patient detection. With sharp observations on the booming innovation from China, he champions the importance of aiming for real clinical breakthroughs over 'me-too' products.

Matt Gline, CEO of Roivant Sciences, shares insights from his journey in biotech leadership. He discusses the transformative $7B deal with Roche, emphasizing disciplined execution and their decentralized 'Vant' model that allows multiple CEOs to thrive. Gline reveals the importance of tailored clinical trial designs, particularly in challenging conditions like dermatomyositis. He reflects on cultivating a creative team and adapting to the evolving biotech financing landscape. Authenticity and lessons learned from both successes and failures play a key role in his leadership philosophy.

Synopsis: This episode is proudly sponsored by Quartzy. What happens when engineering discipline, business pragmatism, and breakthrough immunology collide? In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi sits down with Jay Hartenbach, President & COO of Diakonos Oncology, to unpack one of the most unconventional—and promising—approaches in cancer immunotherapy today. Jay traces his journey from biomedical engineering into biotech operations, sharing how Diakonos was built outside the traditional venture playbook and why the company chose to tackle two of the most punishing cancers first: glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer. He reveals how Diakonos’ dual-loading dendritic cell platform creates an exponentially stronger immune response—essentially tricking the body into launching a viral-level attack against cancer. From capital-efficient clinical execution to nontraditional fundraising and early signs of durable patient responses, this conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how bold science, disciplined operations, and relentless persistence can reshape what’s possible in oncology. Biography: Jay Hartenbach is a distinguished leader in the biotechnology and wellness sectors, known for his passionate commitment to advancing innovative healthcare solutions and transforming patient outcomes. He currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer at Diakonos Oncology, where he is leading the team through the development and clinical advancement of pioneering immunotherapies targeting some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers, including glioblastoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.​ Since joining Diakonos Oncology, Jay has been instrumental in achieving significant milestones such as attaining FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designation for the company’s lead candidate, DOC1021, securing greater than $30 million in financing, and establishing research collaborations with leading cancer centers to advance the clinical trials of the company’s novel dendritic cell vaccine platform. Before his role at Diakonos, Jay co-founded Medterra, a globally recognized wellness company that set industry standards for quality and innovation, and where he continues to serve as Chairman of the Board, shaping high-level strategic direction. He also co-founded Perland Pharmaceuticals, an early-stage biotech firm focused on developing therapies for arthritis conditions, and has held leadership and board advisory roles across several life sciences ventures.​ Jay holds a degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Miami and a Master of Engineering Management from Duke University, grounding his entrepreneurial leadership with scientific expertise.

In this engaging discussion, John Lepore, a physician-scientist and CEO of ProFound Therapeutics, shares insights from his remarkable career in biotech. He reveals how he transitioned from academia to leading drug discovery at GSK and discusses the challenges of creating first-in-class medicines. John emphasizes the significance of uncovering thousands of previously unrecognized human proteins and how AI can accelerate drug discovery. He also offers valuable advice on biotech leadership, hiring, and the importance of building solid pharma partnerships to pursue groundbreaking therapies.