In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Jonathan Rigby, MBA, CEO of Sernova, a Canadian biotech company developing innovative cell therapy-based approaches for the management of type 1 diabetes. The company’s lead innovation is an implantable bio-hybrid organ pouch, which is currently in an ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial. An estimated 537 million peo…

In this episode, Ayesha had a conversation with Lewis Bender, MBA, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Intensity Therapeutics, a biotech company developing first-in-class immune-based intratumorally injected cancer therapies. Intensity’s lead product candidate, INT230-6, is currently in human clinical studies for the treatment of refractory solid tumors, …

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with John Yu, MD, CEO of Kairos Pharma, a company advancing therapies to overcome challenges in cancer drug resistance and immune suppression. Kairos is developing therapeutics that reverse cancer drug resistance in cancers such as prostate and lung cancer. The company’s lead candidate, ENV105, is an antibody targeting…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Thomas Heineman, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer at Oncolytics Biotech, a company developing an oncolytic virus cancer therapeutic that is currently in clinical trials for indications including metastatic breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. Oncolytics is developing a first-in-class, nonpathogenic oncolytic virus a…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with AnnMarie Hipsley, DPT, PhD, CEO and founder of Ace Vision Group, an ophthalmic laser device company that is bringing touchless eye laser therapy to patients with age-related vision loss. Dr. Hipsley is a vision scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, author and speaker on ocular biomechanics and the biomechanical rejuv…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Click Therapeutics, a company focused on developing software as prescription medical treatments for people with unmet medical needs. Click Therapeutics is specifically developing Digital Therapeutics, which involve the delivery of prescription treatmen…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Brent Lucas, CEO of Envoy Medical. Envoy Medical is a medical device company focused on providing cutting-edge technologies across the hearing loss spectrum. According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 13 percent of people in the US 12 years of age and older have hearing loss…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Robert Perkins, MD, Vice President, US Medical Affairs/Renal and Cardiovascular at Bayer who spoke about recent advancements in the heart failure (HF) treatment landscape. This includes new Phase III trial data for Kerendia (finerenone) in patients with heart failure that was presented recently at this year’s Euro…

In this episode, Vera spoke with Morgan Hanger, Executive Director of the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI). CTTI is a public-private partnership dedicated to improving the quality and efficiency of clinical trials, aiming to transform the industry by 2030. Hanger shares her career journey, from her roles at PatientsLikeMe and Memori…

In this episode, Vera spoke with Dr. Sam Lee, Co-Chief Executive Officer and President of Cocrystal Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech company focusing on antiviral drug development with a unique structure-based drug discovery platform. With over 25 years of experience in anti-infective drug discovery, Dr. Lee brings a wealth of knowledge to the disc…

In this episode, Vera spoke with Tim Culp, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development at Interius BioTherapeutics, a Philadelphia-based biotech company. Their lead program focuses on an intravenous CAR therapy for B cell lymphomas. Additionally, the company is advancing a second program aimed at treating autoimmune diseases. Dr. Culp joined In…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with James E. Brown, DVM, co-founder, President and CEO of DURECT. DURECT is pioneering a therapeutic strategy by leveraging the potential of epigenetic modulation to alter the trajectory of severe and life-threatening conditions like acute organ injury and cancer. The company is specifically focused on the development…

In this episode, Vera spoke with Carsten Rudolph, PhD, CEO of Ethris. Ethris was founded by Dr. Rudolph and Professor Christian Plank with the goal of establishing messenger RNA (mRNA) as a novel drug modality for lung diseases such as asthma and rare pulmonary conditions like primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Eth…

The landscape of publicly traded food companies is constantly evolving, with consumer preferences, technological advancement and global challenges all playing a role in shaping the industry. In 2024, these factors have culminated in a diverse and competitive market where the largest publicly traded food companies dominate. In this episode of the Xt…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Kirk Brown, PhD, Vice President of Research at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Alnylam is focused on developing RNAi medicines to transform the way diseases like cardiovascular and neurological diseases are treated. Dr. Brown’s preclinical work combining stable siRNA designs with alternative conjugation strategies has en…

Coca-Cola and OREO have joined forces in a new partnership that’s sure to excite fans of both brands. For a limited time, the Coca-Cola and OREO collab introduces two unique products: Oreo Coca-Cola Sandwich Cookies and Coca-Cola OREO Zero Sugar Limited Edition soda. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the new collab, dub…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Jennifer Gudeman, Pharm D, Senior Vice President, Medical and Clinical Affairs, Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, a biopharmaceutical company working on innovative solutions to the development of medications that disrupt treatment paradigms and address unmet needs. The company is currently focused on developing treatmen…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Steffen-Sebastian Bolz, MD, PhD, a scientist, physician and entrepreneur. He is a Co-Founder of Aphaia Pharma AG and Founder and Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at Qanatpharma AG. Dr. Bolz holds a full professorship at the University of Toronto, is a Principal Investigator at the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart R…

The presence of lead in food remains a critical concern for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lead, a toxic metal, can enter the food supply through environmental contamination during the growing, raising or processing of foods. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about how lead contamination in food can arise and what…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Alessio Travaglia, PhD, neuroscientist and Director Neuroscience at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) and Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Washington University. Results from a head-to-head study led by the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium, with data analysis led …

Macroplastics and microplastics are growing concerns within the food industry. These tiny particles, primarily from environmental contamination, can infiltrate the food supply. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about how microplastics and nanoplastics primarily contaminate food through environmental exposure where crops and l…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Matthew Martinez, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and nationally recognized expert in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). He serves as director of Atlantic Health System Sports Cardiology and the director of the Chanin T. Mast Center for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Dr. Martinez is the Chair of ACC online “LEARN…

This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with Angie Westbrock, CEO of Standard AI, which is at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence and computer vision to physical retail spaces. Angie starts off by elaborating on how Standard AI is leveraging real-time shopper data to create personalized in-store promotions and ad…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Lawreen Asuncion, a patient advocate who works to raise awareness for the rare disease Usher syndrome. Lawreen has worked professionally in the biotech and life science markets for over 25 years. She provides input and perspectives for rare genetic disease programs and clinical trials sponsored by biotech and phar…

The food industry is slowly moving away from chemical preservatives, like nitrites in meats, due to health concerns. This has prompted researchers in Spain and the US to explore yeast and nitric oxide (NO), respectively, as natural preservatives to extend meat shelf life. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the potential …

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Moreno Perugini, President of Active & Medical Nutrition, US & President of Global Pharmaceutical Therapies at Nestlé Health Science US. As President of Global Pharmaceutical Therapies, Moreno and his team actively shape the healthcare system through innovative approaches and a strong commitment to delivering phar…

This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with with Danny O’Malley, founder of Before the Butcher, an award-winning producer of plant-based proteins for both retail and food service customers. Danny begins by talking about his career in the food industry, from his days at Beyond Meat to founding Before the Butcher. He points out…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Jerry McLaughlin, chief executive officer and board member of Life Biosciences, a company advancing innovative cellular rejuvenation platforms to reverse diseases of aging. Life Biosciences is developing a gene therapy for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAI…

This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with with Matt Brown, CEO of Wherefour, a cloud-based ERP (enterprise resource planning) platform that helps food and beverage companies, large and small, solve production and compliance issues. Matt discusses his background and what led him to lead Wherefour. He talks about why ERP plat…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Karen S. Ho, PhD, Vice President, Translational Medicine at Clene Nanomedicine, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases to restore and protect neuronal health and function. Clene Nanomedicine is developing nanotherapeutics that target cellular energy impairments …

The European Union (EU) recently introduced a ban on eight artificial smoke flavorings used in various food products. This move is part of an effort to protect public health from potential cancer risks associated with these additives. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the ban, which was endorsed by member states in Apri…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Marci English, Vice President and Head of BioPharma Development at Astellas Pharma about a groundbreaking new treatment that addresses the underlying mechanisms of menopause symptoms. In May 2023, Astellas received FDA approval for fezolinetant (commercial name Veozah) for the treatment of moderate to severe vasom…

Nestlé Health Science recently introduced an innovative platform, GLP-1 Nutrition. The newly launched website is designed to provide comprehensive nutritional support for individuals on their weight management journey, including those using glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about t…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Lawrence Blatt, PhD, MBA, Chairman and CEO of Aligos Therapeutics, a company developing targeted therapies for liver diseases like MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) and viral diseases to address important unmet medical needs. Prior to co-founding Aligos Therapeutics, Dr. Blatt served as the G…

This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with with Sheelagh Daly, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) manager at Enterprise Ireland, the government organization responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. Sheelagh begins by talking about her role as FDI manager and discusses some of the lat…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Alessio Travaglia, PhD, Director Neuroscience at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) who also manages FNIH’s new Accelerating Medicines Partnership in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AMP ALS) program, and Nadia Sethi, DDS, an ALS patient advocate who formerly served as Director of Community …

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is no longer just about getting the right mix of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein and fat. Now, it’s also about balancing one’s needs with the needs of the planet. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the top 10 best foods for the environment, which boast low carbon footprints, sup…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Joshua Cohen and Justin Klee, co-CEOs and co-founders of Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, a company developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Josh and Justin co-founded Amylyx Pharmaceuticals in 2013. Josh co-invented the oral, fixed-dose combination AMX0035 (known com…

The market for hemp beverages has been growing rapidly in recent years. The passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp production, boosted the market, allowing companies to explore hemp as a primary ingredient. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the hemp beverage market, which has seen a steady influx of new pro…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Howard McLeod, PharmD, Director of the Center for Precision Medicine and Functional Genomics, Professor of Pharmacy and Medicine at Utah Tech University and Precision Medicine Advisor at the Geriatric Oncology Consortium; and Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, Chief Strategy and Science Officer at DoseMe, which is the world’s …

This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with with Annie Simmons, Field Application Scientist at Neogen, an international food safety company that provides test kits and relevant products to detect dangerous substances in food. Annie starts by discussing her educational background and professional journey that led her to specia…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Brian Atwood, Chairman and CEO of CERo Therapeutics, a company pioneering a new generation of autologous T-cell-based therapies for both hematologic and solid tumor cancers. Prior to joining CERo, Brian Atwood served as Chairman of the board of directors of Phoenix Biotech Acquisition Corp., which merged with CERo…

Lab-grown meat bans are becoming more common as governments worldwide react to the burgeoning cultivated meat industry. Recent bans in Florida, Alabama and Italy highlight the growing resistance to these products. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the current state of lab-grown meat bans. Lab-grown meat has existed sinc…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Sam Lee, PhD, Co-Chief Executive Officer and President of Cocrystal Pharma, a company developing novel antiviral therapeutics against COVID-19 and other coronaviruses, influenza viruses and noroviruses. Cocrystal Pharma leverages a unique structure-based drug discovery platform, complemented by Nobel Prize-winning…

This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with with Dirk Herdes, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Sales at Crisp, a platform that connects CPGs to real-time POS and inventory data from 40+ retailers and distributors. Dirk gives an overview of Crisp's platform and discusses how it integrates with retailers and distrib…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with John Finn, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Tome Biosciences, a company developing programmable gene insertion (PGI) technology. PGI is a cutting-edge gene editing technology that allows for the insertion of large sequences of DNA with site-specific precision. PGI is a revolutionary approach for the development of…

Last year, the American fast-food industry experienced significant transformations. Several chains expanded their market reach and others innovated to adapt to evolving consumer preferences. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the top 10 restaurant chains in America, ranked by their 2023 revenue. She not only highlights t…

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with Jeremy Levin, D. Phil, MB BChir, CEO and Chairman of Ovid Therapeutics Inc., and Meg Alexander, Chief Strategy Officer at Ovid. Ovid Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of medicines for epilepsies and seizure-related neurological disorders. Prior to founding Ovid, Dr. Levin was p…

This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with with Cally Edgren, a PFAS expert and the Senior Director of Sustainability at Assent, a leader in supply chain sustainability management solutions. Cally starts off by explaining what PFAS chemicals are and why they are so prevalent in the food industry. She delves into the details …

In this episode, Ayesha spoke with William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine Health Policy and Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University; and Kelly Moore, MD, MPH, President and CEO at Immunize.org and Associate Professor of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Schaffner and Dr. Moore discussed t…