The BioHub - by Avetix

Today’s guest is Ashley Zehnder, the co-founder and CEO of Fauna Bio—a pioneering biotech company unlocking insights from the natural world to transform human health.With a background in genomics and a passion for translating cutting-edge science into real-world therapies, Ashley is leading a new frontier in drug discovery—one that looks to nature’s own evolutionary experiments to uncover novel treatments for disease.Under her leadership, Fauna Bio is redefining how we approach medicine by combining comparative biology, machine learning, and massive genomic datasets to identify breakthroughs that traditional methods might miss.In this episode, we’ll explore Ashley’s journey from scientist to CEO, the bold vision behind Fauna Bio, and how studying the biology of extraordinary animals could reshape the future of healthcare.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Max sits down with Robert Jacks, President and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals.Robert brings more than 25 years of experience in biotech, having founded or co-founded multiple companies and raised over $300 million across his career. From roles in corporate development at Pfizer to leading companies through development, approval, and exit, he’s seen the industry from every angle.In this conversation, Robert shares his journey into biotech leadership, the story behind Sparrow, and what it takes to build and scale companies while staying lean and focused.They also discuss raising capital in today’s market, navigating the challenges of biotech, and where the industry is heading next.

Jenny Yang, Founder and CEO of Outpost Bio, builds an AI-driven platform to decode human microbiology. She discusses why the microbiome can explain varied drug responses. She explains combining high-throughput wet lab work with machine learning. She highlights the need for diverse human samples and gold-standard data to make microbiome insights actionable.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Max sits down with Cary Claiborne, CEO of Adial Pharmaceuticals.Cary’s career spans finance, M&A, and leadership across multiple public biotech companies before stepping into the CEO role at Adial. The company is focused on developing genetically targeted therapies for addiction, starting with alcohol use disorder.In this conversation, Cary shares his transition into biotech leadership, what it’s like running a micro-cap clinical-stage company, and how Adial is approaching one of the most complex and underserved areas in medicine.They also discuss leadership, resilience, and the realities of building and financing biotech companies in today’s market.

Today’s guest brings one of the broadest and most thoughtful perspectives in neuroscience, spanning clinical practice, drug development, investing, and company building.Dr. Spyros Papapetropoulos is a neurologist, neuroscientist, and biotech leader who has spent his career at the intersection of science, medicine, and innovation. With deep experience across both large pharma and emerging biotech, he has built a reputation for translating complex neuroscience into clear strategic direction - helping shape how new therapies move from idea to impact.Over the years, Spyros has worked across multiple dimensions of the CNS ecosystem, from research and development through to leadership, investing, and advising. His work has given him a unique vantage point on what it really takes to build successful neuroscience companies, where the field is heading, and why progress in CNS demands a different kind of thinking.He is also the author of Mind Odyssey, a book that reflects on neuroscience, innovation, and the future of brain health - themes that closely mirror the work he continues to do across the biotech landscape today.In this conversation, we explore Spyros’ journey through neuroscience, his view on the current state of the CNS biotech ecosystem, where drug development is heading next, and what it takes to build companies, teams, and ideas that can genuinely move the field forward.

Today’s guest brings a rare blend of medicine, science, and strategy to the frontlines of biotech innovation.Dr. Megan McGill is a physician-scientist and biotech leader with over two decades of experience spanning clinical medicine, neuroscience research, and drug development. Trained as both an MD and PhD, her work has focused deeply on understanding the brain—particularly the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.But Megan didn’t stop at the lab or the clinic. She’s also worked at the highest levels of strategy consulting with McKinsey & Company, and held leadership roles at cutting-edge biotech firms like Regenxbio and BridgeBio, helping translate scientific breakthroughs into real therapies for patients.Today, she serves as CEO of Brenig Therapeutics, where she’s leading efforts to develop next-generation, AI-enabled treatments targeting the underlying biology of neurological disease.In this conversation, we’ll explore her journey from medicine to biotech leadership, the future of drug development, women in leadership positions and what it takes to turn scientific insight into life-changing innovation.

In this episode of The Biohub Podcast, Amber sits down with Tess Bevers CEO and Founder of Novogaia, a company combining AI and mass spectrometry to discover new drug molecules from fungi.We explore why fungi remain one of the most underexplored sources of chemistry in nature, the historical bottlenecks in natural product drug discovery, and how new advances in AI are helping researchers prioritise which molecules could actually become viable drugs.Tess also shares how Novogaia is building its discovery platform, why focus matters in biotech, and what’s driving the company’s move from London to San Francisco.

Welcome to another episode of The BioHub.Today I’m joined by Jason Tardio —COO of Immunic Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotech for oral small molecule therapies for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In this episode we explore Jason's awesome background, from starting as a sales rep and climbing the ladder into his position today, as COO.

Welcome to another episode of The BioHub.Today I’m joined by Steffen-Sebastian Bolz — scientist, physician, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of Aphaia Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech developing precision-targeted drug formulations to treat and prevent metabolic disorders like obesity and prediabetes.We’ll be talking about the science behind Aphaia, why they’re not building with an exit in mind, and how staying lean and under the radar has helped them advance to Phase 2.

In this episode of The BioHub Podcast, Max sits down with Dr. Philippe Chambon, CEO and Co-Founder of EG 427.After more than 30 years in pharma and venture capital — raising over $1 billion to back life science companies — Philippe has made the move from investor to operator, now leading EG 427.The company is pioneering a new approach to neurological disease with pinpoint DNA medicine, designed for precise and durable delivery.In this conversation, Philippe shares his journey into the CEO seat, the inspiration behind EG 427, and why he believes Europe — and France in particular — are entering a new era for biotech innovation.