Luis Berkane

🚀 Novartis Expands Its Radiopharmaceutical Leadership with a $745M Deal! 💊 In an exciting move, Novartis has partnered with Boston-based Ratio Therapeutics to further its commitment to cutting-edge cancer therapies. The collaboration, valued at up to $745 million in upfront and milestone payments, focuses on a somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)-targeting radiopharmaceutical for treating SSTR2-expressing tumors like neuroendocrine cancers, small cell lung carcinoma, and meningiomas. 🔬 Why Radiopharmaceuticals Matter: Radiopharmaceuticals combine radioactive isotopes with molecules that target specific proteins on cancer cells, enabling precision therapy. This approach delivers radiation directly to tumors, reducing harm to surrounding healthy tissues. 💡 Key Novartis Radiopharmaceuticals: Lutathera: Approved for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Pluvicto: A breakthrough for prostate cancer treatment. This partnership will utilize Ratio's radioligand technology, designed for tailored therapy and imaging solutions. Together, they aim to develop best-in-class treatments for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers. 📈 As radiopharmaceuticals become a cornerstone of modern oncology, Novartis is positioning itself as a global leader in this transformative field. 👏 Kudos to both Novartis and Ratio Therapeutics for advancing innovation in cancer care! #oncology #radiopharmaceuticals #healthcareinnovation #biotech

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Enjoying the COG New England conference - meeting great people. #COG #COGNewEngland #ClinicalTrials #ClinicalResearch #ClinicalOutsourcing Most interesting Panel yesterday with biotech CEOs from Massachusetts who were cautiously optimistic about the life science investment environment. Some themes: ·       The power of big pharma money currently. ·      The inflection point for further investment has shifted further along the “get great data” timeline so you have to do more with your money. ·      A natural reset has occurred – cheap money from years gone by in a low interest rate environment is no longer around and investors are looking for value now. ·      Newer technologies including gene therapy may struggle as investors seek quicker value. ·      The need for cashing out and re-cycling. We need a wave of IPOs and exits to recycle investment cash. ·      A hope for a more positive investment environment as interest rates fall but caution given no-one knows what election season will bring! ·      Hot areas include: Obesity/Cardiobetes/ADCs/Radiotherapies/Neuro/Autoimmune   In all a very impressive bunch of CEOs and some cause for hope and a rising tide this year.

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𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐏𝐎𝐬 🌱💼 The biotech landscape has experienced significant volatility over the past few years but now appears to be moving into a more normalized environment. With the exuberance of 2020 and 2021 seemingly behind us, we believe management teams should focus on delivering a clear and compelling opportunity, timelines to derisking, and differentiated data. We believe that companies that have unique assets with derisked and understood biology should continue to find favor among public investors and succeed regardless of market conditions. With a robust pipeline of innovative therapies and groundbreaking research coming to the fore, this sector is truly demonstrating its resilience and potential 👏 But what will this abundance truly mean in terms of quality and best practices? Quality over quantity will be the mantra of 2025. For potential investors and those working within the biotech sphere, focusing on companies with solid data, clear regulatory pathways, and proven leadership teams will be crucial. Best practices will include rigorous financial scrutiny, a strong grasp of market needs, and strategic partnerships. For those seeking guidance or talent in the field, aligning with experienced recruitment partners can make all the difference. At SJLife Sciences , we pride ourselves on our tailored approach to talent acquisition in the biotech sector. What biotech developments are you excited about for 2025? Share your thoughts below 👇 #Biotech #IPOs #Investment https://lnkd.in/e4SKsxYz

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Is Biotech funding making a well needed comeback?! 🎉 After a couple of tough years, North America’s biotech sector saw significant improvements in Q2 and Q3 of 2024. Life sciences VC funding hit $10.6 billion in Q2 alone—up 30% from Q1! 💰 This jump was powered by larger deal sizes, especially in AI-driven biotech and precision medicine. Q3 kept the momentum going, with $17 billion raised across healthcare and biotech. Mega-rounds ($100M+) in late-stage companies are a big sign that confidence is building again in the sector. 🚀 So, are we finally stepping out of the dark period of 22/23? With this renewed focus on innovation, it feels like biotech is lighting up again! #biotech #funding #innovation #lifesciences #biopharma

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Strong recommendation to listen to Acquired's episode on Novo Nordisk and the GLP-1 drug class. Beyond covering the obvious topics of the company (fascinating structure and history) and the drug class (fascinating impact) the episode steps into some of the wonkiness of how the pharma value chain currently functions and how we got here. They don't approach the topic from a healthcare first mindset, rather from an investor POV, which I think allows them to be fairly even-handed in doling out observational criticism and support for the various players. ⭐ Mostly, I think the podcast series is a fantastic reminder that every company, every person, every trend has a story. In running TEND, I'm striving to keep that front and center each day as we partner in leading remarkable executive search processes for healthcare investors and leadership teams. If you listen, share your thoughts below... Another episode worth listening to is on Costco Wholesale. Thanks Ethan Ott for originally pointing me toward the podcast!

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💥 All About Thought Leader Liaisons💥 Don't miss this weeks MSL Talk podcast with Jim Hahn, Senior Business Director, Thought Leader Engagement at EMD Serono, Inc. who discusses the role of the Thought Leader Liaison and how it fits into the pharma world. This episode is sponsored by MSL Mastery, helping Medical Science Liaisons and aspiring MSLs to excel in their careers and lives through courses, coaching, and community. For more details, please visit MSLmastery (dot) com. In this episode, Jim discusses… 👉 The role of the Thought Leader Liaison (TLL) and how it fits into an organization (as it relates to medical affairs and commercial)? 👉 The strategic objectives for TLLs 👉 How TLLs are evaluated (metrics or key performance indicators) 👉 How TLLs collaborate with MSLs, and what are the most effective ways for these roles to work together to engage KOLs and other key stakeholders 👉 What are the key skills, competencies and backgrounds that make for a successful TLL The MSL Talk Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and the MSL Talk YouTube Channel.     MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversations and medical affairs discussions.   #msl #medicalaffairs #medicalscienceliaison #thoughtleaderliaison #careers    

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💥 All About Thought Leader Liaisons💥 Don't miss this weeks MSL Talk podcast with Jim Hahn, Senior Business Director, Thought Leader Engagement at EMD Serono, Inc. who discusses the role of the Thought Leader Liaison and how it fits into the pharma world. This episode is sponsored by MSL Mastery, helping Medical Science Liaisons and aspiring MSLs to excel in their careers and lives through courses, coaching, and community. For more details, please visit MSLmastery (dot) com. In this episode, Jim discusses… 👉 The role of the Thought Leader Liaison (TLL) and how it fits into an organization (as it relates to medical affairs and commercial)? 👉 The strategic objectives for TLLs 👉 How TLLs are evaluated (metrics or key performance indicators) 👉 How TLLs collaborate with MSLs, and what are the most effective ways for these roles to work together to engage KOLs and other key stakeholders 👉 What are the key skills, competencies and backgrounds that make for a successful TLL The MSL Talk Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and the MSL Talk YouTube Channel.     MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversations and medical affairs discussions.   #msl #medicalaffairs #medicalscienceliaison #thoughtleaderliaison #careers  

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The momentum the biopharma industry showed in the fourth quarter of 2023 has continued into this year. With 18 of the industry’s top 25 companies achieving year-over-year revenue gains, the first quarter of 2024 nearly matched the final quarter of last year, when 21 of the industry's top 25 companies posted sales increases "Lilly may hold the top spot for a while. Last month, GlobalData projected Lilly’s Mounjaro will overtake Novo’s Ozempic as the top blood sugar-modulating treatment, generating staggering sales of $34 billion by 2029." Seven other companies—including three from Japan—realized double-digit growth in the first quarter, though there were asterisks next to a few of them. While revenues for Daiichi Sankyo were up by 25%, much of the boost can be attributed to the company’s sale of three antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) investigational treatments to Merck for $4.5 billion upfront. Daiichi is deferring the payments and booking them as revenue. Last year as a result of the deal, Daiichi jacked up its projection of 2024 revenue by 100 billion Japanese yen ($662 million). JCR Pharma Jessica Smith @Alexander Henderson

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Happy Friday network, Following on from my post last week, wanted to share some more articles I have seen throughout this week. Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca ramp up awareness of ENHERTU during Thursday night football. : https://lnkd.in/eTf6rh4T Eli Lilly and Company gained third FDA approval of immunology product, three years since establishing the speciality area. : https://lnkd.in/e5HbkxB4 10 Clinical trials to keep an eye keep an eye on during the second half of 2024. : https://lnkd.in/egM9iRPf Bristol Myers Squibb terminate partnership with Immatics on Bispecific molceule it picked up in 2021 for $150 million, leaving behind $770 million in milestones. : https://lnkd.in/e4SahhUq ADC developed by Daiichi Sankyo, Merck outperforms chemo in lung cancer trial. : https://lnkd.in/eyisAnXX #pharma #biotech #clinicaltrials #ADC

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Hiring Alert 🚀: Biotech Market Heats Up! As we approach January, hiring in the biotech sector is ramping up. 🧬 Companies are making moves now to secure top talent for 2025 and beyond. If you're looking to make a fast-track hire before the new year, now is the time to act. With a dynamic market and competitive candidates, let’s ensure your team is set up for success as the new year kicks off. Need help navigating the market? Get in touch with me, and let’s make it happen. #BiotechHiring #TalentStrategy #LeadershipRecruitment

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💚 Celebrating the Life Science Industry and the Incredible People Driving It Forward 💚 Here is a sneak peak into what motivates us as recruiters.   Life sciences represent purpose in action, and that's what we love most about this industry.   At Black Swans Exist, we’re not just filling roles—we’re supporting the visionaries and innovators pushing forward cures, life-saving solutions, and groundbreaking technologies that will shape the future.   ✨ Imagine this: the next hire we help place could contribute to treatments that change lives. This is the impact tied to every role we fill, and it's what makes our work so meaningful. Here are just a few examples of the transformative work we support: ·        Helping companies develop groundbreaking cancer treatments, boosting survival rates and improving quality of life. ·        Supporting biotech innovations that redefine food, energy, and materials for a sustainable future. ·        Contributing to dreams as big as helping parents bring new life into the world through scientific advancements.   While we may not be the ones creating these breakthroughs ourselves, it’s a privilege to play a part in connecting the people and companies who are driving these changes. Every day, we’re reminded of the immense value and pride in being part of a journey that is so much bigger than ourselves. 💡 In short, working as recruiters in the life sciences means fostering tomorrow's innovations and instilling hope for a brighter future. We are truly grateful to all our partners, past, present, and future, for allowing us to be part of this incredible journey.   Thank you to everyone in the life sciences industry for the life-changing work you do. You inspire us daily. Let’s continue to make an impact together. 🌟 #LifeSciences #Innovation #PurposeDriven #LifeScienceRecruiter #LifeScienceRecruitment #LifeScienceTalent #Denmark #Germany #biotech #Pharma #medicaldevice #Healthtech

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🚀 Imagine Cutting Drug Development Time in Half – AI is Making It Happen.. 🧬💡   The integration of Artificial Intelligence in drug discovery is creating a paradigm shift, reducing timelines, and significantly boosting success rates across clinical trials. Here’s what you need to know about recent breakthroughs:   1️⃣ Generative AI in Drug Design: Companies like Eli Lilly and Company are leveraging generative AI to design new molecules at an unprecedented pace. This approach enables the creation of thousands of molecular designs in minutes, paving the way for novel drug candidates and accelerating the early stages of R&D.   2️⃣ Higher Success Rates in Clinical Trials: AI-discovered drug candidates are yielding impressive results. Recent data shows a success rate of 80-90% in Phase 1 trials, nearly doubling the historical averages. This indicates a strong potential for AI to enhance early-phase productivity and streamline the overall drug development process.   3️⃣ Efficiency Gains Through Automation: Innovators like Exscientia and Insilico Medicine are transforming the entire drug development pipeline using AI-driven platforms. Insilico Medicine’s recent candidate reached Phase 1 trials at one-third of the traditional time and a fraction of the cost, showcasing the efficiency and scalability of AI in the industry.   4️⃣ Enhanced Data Analysis for Precision Medicine: AI-driven platforms like Lantern Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: LTRN) RADR utilize billions of data points to predict patient responses to drug candidates with high precision, enabling tailored therapies and faster clinical readiness.   5️⃣ Industry Leaders Driving Innovation: Companies like Recursion Pharmaceuticals, BenevolentAI, and Pharos iBio are pioneering advanced AI platforms that model biological processes and simulate drug interactions, expediting the discovery of safer, more effective therapies.   The Bottom Line: AI’s role in drug discovery is more than just hype—it’s a transformative force enabling faster, cost-effective, and more successful drug development. Industry leaders are showcasing how innovative technologies can bring better treatments to market, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. 🌐💊   Curious about what’s next in AI for Life Sciences? Let’s connect and discuss the future of this rapidly evolving landscape.   #AIinHealthcare #DrugDiscovery #BiotechInnovation #PharmaTech

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Congratulations to Rubedo Life Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company with a focus on age-related diseases that secured $40 million in Series A funding yesterday. The round was led by investors Khosla Ventures and Ahren Innovation Capital, with participation from Hevolution, R42, Modi Ventures, Cerigo Investments, and others. “Rubedo is targeting senescent, or aging, cells that drive age-related diseases. This first trial can bring us another step closer to achieving better healthspan.” #RubedoLifeSciences #biotech #biotechfunding #clinicalresearch #clinicalresearchupdates

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Boston Scientific continues its aggressive M&A strategy Boston Scientific has announced that it has agreed to acquire infusion pump maker Intera Oncology Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This marks the latest M&A play from Boston Scientific, who remain proactive in the M&A market. In the past few months alone, the company completed acquisitions of Axonics, Inc. and Silk Road Medical, Inc. and agreed to acquire cardiac mapping technology developer Cortex. Intera Oncology develops the Intera 3000 hepatic artery infusion pump and floxuridine, a chemotherapy drug. Both hold FDA approval. The pump administers hepatic artery infusion (HAI) therapy to treat tumors in the liver primarily caused by metastatic colorectal cancer. Intera 3000 is implanted under the skin with a connected catheter placed in the hepatic artery. This supplies the liver with oxygenated blood. The pump then provides a continuous flow of floxuridine directly into the liver to treat tumors that have metastasized, most commonly from the colon. According to a news release, Intera 3000 remains the only constant flow implantable pump for HAI therapy approved in the U.S. Previously shared data demonstrates the clinical benefits of HAI therapy for patients with unresectable colorectal metastases to the liver, both prior to and following resection. Evidence shows that HAI significantly improves tumor response, time to progression and overall survival compared to systemic chemotherapy. Combining HAI with systemic chemotherapy may lead to extended survival and higher conversion-to-resection rates, too. Boston Scientific says Intera currently has Phase II and III studies underway exploring the therapy in larger patient groups. The company expects to complete the transaction in the first half of 2025. “Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death, and we are committed to providing meaningful solutions to safely and effectively treat various forms of this disease with minimal systemic side effects and improved outcomes for patients,” said Peter Pattison, president, Interventional Oncology and Embolization, Boston Scientific. “Interest in HAI therapy has grown in the oncology community given improved techniques, positive clinical results and ongoing trials. We believe this acquisition will enable us to provide a more comprehensive set of solutions to physicians and their patients to treat both primary and metastatic forms of liver cancer.” Congratulations to all involved.

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Kailera Therapeutics' recent $400M launch, backed by drugs developed in China, underscores a growing trend in the biotech world: cross-border collaboration to accelerate access to innovative therapies. The significance of raising $400M at Series A, with backing from prominent investors like Atlas Venture, Bain Capital Life Sciences, and RTW Investments, LP, is substantial. It signals strong confidence in Kailera’s pipeline and strategy. This early funding positions the company as a serious contender in the obesity treatment market, enabling rapid clinical progress and the potential to outpace smaller competitors. Ron Renaud Bruce Booth Adam Koppel Roderick Wong Metsera #Biotech #LifeSciences #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalResearch #Pharma #DrugDevelopment #VentureCapital #BiotechInvesting #ClinicalTrials #Innovation #BiotechStartup #PrecisionMedicine

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Biotechnology is at the frontier of healthcare innovation. Want to stay ahead of the curve? Check out this article exploring the future of biotech and uncover the cutting-edge trends and discoveries shaping the industry. Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply interested in the latest scientific advancements, this piece offers essential insights into what's next in biotechnology. #biotech #innovation

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Just heading back from our round table discussion on innovation with an esteemed group of thought leaders who represent various strands of the Life Science industry. It was a wide-ranging and hugely insightful conversation, and the use of synthetic data was one of the many topics covered. It's encouraging to see initiatives like SYNTHIA take flight. https://lnkd.in/e3y_7hVP

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Top Clinical Trials to 👀👀👀 in H2 (2024) 🔬🦠 🧬Novo Nordisk 🎯Obesity Treatment Type: Peptide Trial: Redefine 1 & 2 In an earlier trial, CagriSema helped study participants lose 17% of their body weight over 20 weeks, roughly the same amount as Wegovy did in a 68-week study. Novo Nordisk will be looking for better results in the longer Redefine trials. Eli Lilly and Company’s Zepbound has set a bar of around 21% weight loss. 🧬Amgen 🎯Obesity Treatment Type: Peptide-linking antibody Trial: NCT05669599 In a Phase 1 trial, treatment with MariTide helped participants on the highest dose tested to lose 15% of their body weight after 85 days, giving Amgen hope it can match or exceed results Zepbound & Wegovy have delivered in longer trials. 🧬Teva Pharmaceuticals & Sanofi 🎯Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease Treatment Type: Antibody Trial: Relieve UCCD Teva Pharmaceuticals had claimed its prospect may be superior to others, & found a believer in Sanofi, which paid Teva Pharmaceuticals $500 million last October to split rights. The drug “could emerge as a best-in-class option for people with serious gastrointestinal diseases,” 🧬AbbVie 🎯Schizophrenia Treatment Type: Small Molecule Trial: Empower 1 & 2 Bristol Myers Squibb is significantly ahead of AbbVie & Cerevel Therapeutics, however. KarXT has already succeeded in two large, late-stage trials, & is currently being reviewed by the #FDA. A verdict should come by late September. 🧬Summit Therapeutics, Inc. 🎯Lung Cancer  Treatment Type: Bispecific Antibody Trial: Harmoni-2 Summit Therapeutics, Inc. has said those specifics will be disclosed at a medical meeting later this year. While the findings won’t prove whether ivonescimab is a threat to Keytruda, they will show the “relative contribution” of each of the study’s subgroups, which is important in assessing the drug’s efficacy & competitive standing, Graybosch wrote. 🧬Biogen 🎯Lupus  Treatment Type: Antibody Fragment  Trial: NCT04294667 Results from a Phase 3 trial of a drug called dapirolizumab pegol & expected shortly &, if positive, could give Biogen a much-needed win. Biogen developed the drug, which targets an immune cell protein called CD40L, with UCB & would jointly sell it if it were to reach the market. Stay tuned & share your thoughts & comments. 2024 is gearing up to be a transformative year in clinical research. 🚀🌍 #ClinicalTrials #MedicalResearch #HealthInnovation

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Candid Therapeutics represent a new era of biotech NewCos. - Early 2024: After selling RayzeBio to Bristol Myers Squibb for $4.1B, former CEO Ken Song launches Candid in stealth, builds a management team and starts looking for drugs to build a biotech around. - Aug 5 2024: TCR 2004 is launched by Third Rock Ventures and Two River with an undisclosed funding round and pays $XXM upfront + >$400M milestone payments to Genor BioPharma to license (ex-China) a bispecific T-cell engager to test in autoimmunity. - Sep 3 2024: Vignette Bio, incubated by Foresite Labs, licenses (ex-China) a phase 1 stage T-cell engager bispecific from EpimAb Biotherapeutics, Inc. for $60M + >$500M milestone payments for use in autoimmune diseases. - Sep 9 2024: Candid Therapeutics debuts, announcing both a merger with Vignette and TCR 2004 to develop these drugs under one roof, as well as a $206M raise of its own. The company now has 2 phase 1 ready bispecific t-cell engagers to test in autoimmune diseases and a combined cash haul of >$370M with many high profile investors on board. Release: https://lnkd.in/g34kTVKG

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