Beyond Biotech - the podcast from Labiotech

Today, we're thrilled to have Tim Opler, a leading voice in biotech investment banking. Tim's career spans academia, Credit Suisse, and co-founding Torreya Partners, which Stifel acquired in 2023. As Managing Director in Stifel's Global Healthcare Group, he's advised on over 150 deals totaling more than $100 billion, shaping major M&A, licensing, and financings in life sciences.Tim is renowned for his insightful Biopharma Market Updates, and in this episode, we'll dive into his December 2025 edition, where he outlines five transformative trends set to drive biopharma for the next decade: M&A booms, giant markets like obesity and aging drugs, China's rising innovation, AI's reshape of healthcare, and incredible scientific advances.01:22 - Meet Tim Opler03:12 - Stifel and the Biopharma Market Updates05:50 - Trend 1: M&A Booms10:06 - Trend 2: Giant Markets17:05 - Trend 3: China's Innovation22:29 - Trend 4: AI Reshaping Healthcare28:42 - Trend 5: Incredible Science34:18 - Looking forwardInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: 10 biotech companies in China you should know aboutWhen AI isn’t enough: How physics is shaping the next wave of drug discovery JPM 2026: what’s the outlook like this year? 

Roohi Peter, Labiotech reporter covering neuroscience and gene therapy. Willow Shah-Neville, Labiotech reporter tracking clinical-stage biotech and cardio/metabolic trials. Jules Adam, Labiotech reporter known for oncology and immunology analysis. They spotlight 15 biopharma companies to watch in 2026. Topics include gene and cell therapies, radiopharma and isotopes, microbiome commercialisation, GLP-1 rivalry, base editing, psychedelics trials, and novel neuroscience drugs.

Welcome to our first episode for 2026.Today, we're joined by Hakan Goker, Managing Director at M Ventures, the strategic corporate venture capital arm of Merck KGaA. With over two decades in biotech investing, Hakan has driven transformative deals in oncology, autoimmune diseases, and beyond, including standout 2025 investments like FoRx Therapeutics and portfolio milestones such as Artios' FDA Fast Track designation. As we kick off 2026 at Beyond Biotech, Hakan shares insights on corporate VC advantages, emerging therapeutic priorities, and the industry's evolving landscape amid rising M&A and AI innovation. 1:10                 Meet Hakan Goka4:37                 About M Ventures and pharma CVC8:14                 Sourcing innovative biotechs12:52                How M Ventures works with Merck KGaA16:54              M Ventures in 202524:46                Areas to watch in the new year29:19                Looking forward to 202632:20                The next big thing in biotech?33:08                Advice for biotechs pitching CVCInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: The ABC of biotech startup fundingSeven genome sequencing companies to look out forLabiotech's 2025 biotech funding tracker

In this discussion, Ester in t'Groen, the Medical Affairs Head for Hematology at Johnson & Johnson, shares her expertise following the ASH Annual Meeting. She dives into their robust hematology portfolio, highlighting the evolution of daratumumab and the exciting results of the MajesTEC-3 trial. Ester discusses how CAR-T therapies are transforming patient care and presents compelling real-world evidence that shows significant benefits for blood cancer patients. She also previews what's on the horizon for 2026, including next-gen therapies and combination strategies.

In this discussion, Martin Beck, Senior Vice President at Boehringer Ingelheim, delves into the complexities of idiopathic and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, emphasizing its often-overlooked symptoms. He reveals insights on why many patients discontinue current treatments and shares how Boehringer's innovative AI tool, eLung, may revolutionize earlier diagnoses. Martin also introduces a new oral therapy that shows promise in improving patient adherence. The conversation sheds light on the company's commitment to tackling this fatal condition and the need for better awareness.

Cancer is one of the biggest health challenges worldwide. While progress has been made, millions of patients are still in need of new treatment options that better address the complexities of their disease.BeOne Medicines is creating the world’s next-generation cancer treatments with relentless innovation, aiming to deliver therapies to more people around the globe. This week, I'm sitting down with Mark Lanasa, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Solid Tumors, at BeOne Medicines, to learn more about how their novel cancer models and unique in-house R&D approach is pushing them closer to cracking the cancer code.This episode is sponsored by BeOne Medicines.01:06              Meet Mark Lanasa04:56              Cancer as a differentiated and adaptative disease07:35              BeOne’s approach to cancer research and development10:30              Accelerating cancer research by bringing it all in-house15:24              Making progress and signs of success17:41              Exciting investigational stage programs23:51              The advantage of hierarchical thinking in R&D28:13              Keep up with new research from BeOneInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here!Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter.To dive deeper into the topic:How can treatment strategies evolve to address the challenges in chronic lymphocytic leukemia?

Daiichi Sankyo has been pioneering ADCs since 2010, with a pipeline targeting over 30 indications and potentially reaching 400,000 patients.In today’s episode I’m joined by Dr. Markus Kosch, Head of the EU Oncology Business Division at Daiichi Sankyo. A physician by training with a deep academic background in oncology, Markus has spent over two decades advancing cancer care, from clinical practice to leadership roles shaping strategy across Europe and Canada. Since joining Daiichi Sankyo in 2021, he has been at the forefront of one of the industry’s most ambitious ADC pipelines, overseeing more than 60 clinical trials across 24 countries and driving landmark approvals that are redefining treatment in breast, lung, and gastric cancers.This week's episode is brought to you with the support of Kadans. Looking for the perfect space to grow your Life Sciences company? Kadans Science Partner is Europe’s leading provider of cutting-edge lab and offices spaces, tailored to your needs. Kadans puts you at the centre of innovation, giving you the chance to connect with top researchers, universities, and investors through its international network. Here, you’ll join a vibrant community of innovators driving real change. Are you ready to take your research to the next level? Learn more at kadans.com – where innovation thrives. 01:45.         Meet Markus Kosch03:12.         Clinical background shaping an industry role04:46.         Daiichi Sankyo’s 40-year oncology legacy06:19.         European investments and Munich hub10:34.         ADC platform strengths explained14:20.         Key ESMO 2025 trial dataClarification: The reference to ‘TB01’ at 16:24 refers to the TROPION-Breast02 clinical trial, not TB01.19:43.         Managing risks and partnerships23:35.         Patient advocacy in trial design33:59.         Future of oncology and ADCsInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: 10 oncology deals in 2025 spotlight where industry leaders are betting bigAstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu recommended for approvalTen drugs to watch in 2025: will these therapies become blockbusters?

Two weeks ago, the biopharma industry gathered in Vienna, Austria, for BIO-Europe. Tens of thousands of one-on-one meetings were organized between innovators and out-licensors with top pharma companies and venture capitalists eager to partner and invest. For the large pharma firms, it’s a chance to learn about new science and keep tabs on evolving assets. For smaller biotechs, though, it can be three-days of high-pressure networking where a lot is riding on making the right pitch to the right company at just the right time. Get it right, and you walk away with a clear path forward and the cash to fund it. But get unlucky and you might find yourself with few options in the New Year.This year, we decided to follow one biotech heading into their first BIO-Europe partnering conference. We met with DISCO Pharma three times over the last month to follow their BIO-Europe journey:Before the event to learn about the science behind DISCO and understand what their goals were heading into BIO-Europe. At the event itself to talk about how the partnering meetings had been going and how the event had shaped up for DISCO. A week after BIO-Europe had closed, diving into the follow-up activities and learning about the next steps for this German biotech.I hope you enjoy my conversations with Ajla Hrle, Chief Business Officer at DISCO, and this behind the scenes look at BIO-Europe from an innovator’s perspective.02:25          Preparing for BIO-Europe16:51           On the floor at BIO-Europe22:23          Following up from BIO-EuropeInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: BIO-Europe partnering: Australian biotech companies share their experiencesPractical partnering at BIOSPAIN: on the ground with biotech innovators ready to take the next stepBiotech in Vienna: a budding life science hub 

Last week saw more than 5,900 people from 3,200 companies gather in Vienna, Austria, for the continent’s largest biopharma partnering conference, BIO-Europe. Over three days the world’s top pharma companies, most innovative biotechs, and life science professionals from 60 countries took more than 32,000 one-on-one meetings, made the connections, and sealed deals that will drive the industry forward into 2026 and beyond.Among the highlights of BIO-Europe this year was the Startup Spotlight contest. This exciting competition offers biotech entrepreneurs an affordable opportunity to engage with top-tier investors and other important players in the biotech industry and to take their business to the next level. Eight finalists made their pitches at BIO Europe and one, Fusix Biotech from Germany, came out on top.This week on Beyond Biotech I’m joined by Fusix Biotech’s Managing Director and co-founder, Jennifer Altomonte, who tells me about her journey through the industry, Fusix’s InFUSE platform, and what it’s like to pitch – and win – one of the most important biopharma startup competitions of the year.01:34               Meet Jennifer Altomonte05:12               Co-founding Fusix Biotech10:37               Fusix Biotech and the InFUSE platform18:50               Intellectual property for a young company20:04               The BIO-Europe Startup Spotlight23:47               The impact of the competition win29:05               The milestones ahead30:33               What does a successful 2026 look like for Fusix Biotech?31:56               Learn more about Fusix BiotechThis episode is supported by EBD Group.Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: BIO-Europe partnering: Australian biotech companies share their experiencesFour New Technologies That Will Change Cancer TreatmentWhy is the immunology and inflammation market suddenly attracting a wave of investment?

Urinary Tract infections, or UTIs, affect millions worldwide, driving sepsis, antibiotic overuse, and microbial resistance. Current diagnostics rely on either slow lab cultures or unreliable dipsticks, and often lead to delayed or unnecessary treatment. Llusern’s Lodestar DX changes that: a point-of-care test that detects 96% of key UTI pathogens in just 35 minutes, no lab required.In this episode I’m joined by Emma Hayhurst who shares her journey into diagnostics, Llusern’s mission, and the emergence of Wales as a biotech hub with a growing life sciences sector fueling local innovation. We discuss UTI prevalence, diagnostic gaps, and how rapid, accurate testing can transform patient care and antimicrobial stewardship. 02:14               Meet Emma Hayhurst04:37               Introducing Llusern Scientific07:21               Collaboration between Llusern and the academy08:50               The life science ecosystem in Wales12:10               Urinary tract infections (UTIs)15:45               UTI patient demographics16:54               Health impacts of UTIs: sepsis, antibiotic resistance, and more19:01               Existing UTI diagnostic options and their shortcomings24:41               Llusern’s Lodestar DX29:03               A point-of-care test, not a lab test31:44               Applications beyond UTIs36:03               Looking forward at LlusernInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: Life sciences in Wales: biotechs in the scene in 2025Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance with Fast Molecular DiagnosticsUltra-Fast Diagnostics Could Transform Sexual Health