Inside the Global Expansion Strategy Behind an Emerging ALS Biotech Company - Show #136

At the RESI Conference in Boston, Wendy Pease of Rapport International sat down with Akeem Gardner, CEO of Canurta, to discuss what it really takes for emerging biotech companies to scale internationally — from global clinical trials and investor networking to multilingual communication and regulatory strategy. For pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies expanding internationally, the conversation highlights an increasingly important reality: Global growth is no longer just about science. It’s about operational coordination, multilingual communication, regulatory readiness, and building trusted relationships across borders. From Canadian Startup to Global Clinical Trial Strategy Canurta is a Canadian biotechnology company focused on developing botanical therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS. The company is preparing for first-in-human clinical trials in the United States, with future registration trials planned across Australia, Europe, Canada, and the U.S. That international approach reflects a growing challenge for life sciences companies: Rare disease trials often require global patient recruitment strategies to achieve statistically meaningful enrollment numbers. For companies operating across multiple regions, that means coordinating: Clinical trial communication Regulatory documentation Patient-facing materials Investigator collaboration CRO relationships Multilingual operational workflows As Akeem explained, international expansion in biotech requires building a global consortium early — especially when patient populations are limited. Why Global Conferences Matter for Pharma and MedTech Growth One of the strongest themes from the conversation was the importance of international networking and conference ecosystems. Akeem discussed leveraging organizations like: RESI BIO International JPM Healthcare Conference ALS global conferences to build partnerships, meet investors, and connect with clinical research organizations worldwide. For medical device and pharmaceutical companies pursuing: EU market access CE Marking support International clinical expansion Global commercialization these relationships are often critical to accelerating timelines and avoiding costly delays. The Role of Language in Global Clinical Trials One of the most valuable parts of the discussion centered around multilingual communication in healthcare and biotech. Akeem explained that tools like Google Translate and ChatGPT can be useful for casual travel or day-to-day navigation abroad, but not for high-risk clinical or regulatory communication. That distinction is increasingly important for: Pharmaceutical companies managing global trials Medical device manufacturers preparing multilingual IFUs Organizations translating patient-facing materials Teams preparing documentation for CE Marking or EU regulatory submissions In regulated industries, inaccurate translation can create: Compliance risks Patient safety concerns Regulatory delays Legal liability Inconsistent trial data That’s why many life sciences organizations rely on professional translation providers with experience in: Medical terminology Clinical trial workflows MDR and IVDR documentation Global labeling requirements Regulatory quality processes CE Marking, EU Market Access, and Multilingual Compliance While the episode focused primarily on biotech and clinical development, many of the themes directly apply to companies preparing for CE Marking and European market expansion. Medical device and industrial manufacturing companies entering the EU often need: Translated Instructions for Use (IFUs) Product labeling translation Safety documentation Technical files Multilingual packaging Regulatory communication support For mid-size MedTech and manufacturing companies, multilingual compliance is not just a marketing exercise — it’s often a requirement for legal market entry. As global expansion accelerates, companies increasingly need language partners that can support: Rapid turnaround times Consistent terminology management Technical subject-matter expertise Secure handling of regulated content Scalable multilingual workflows Lessons for Global Companies: Focus, Flexibility, and Strategic Growth Another major takeaway from the episode was Akeem’s perspective on entrepreneurship and global scaling. He emphasized: Staying focused instead of chasing “shiny objects” Managing capital carefully Building the right international relationships Learning from experience instead of blindly following outside opinions Those lessons resonate strongly with growing pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies navigating: International commercialization Regulatory expansion Global partnerships Cross-border operational complexity Why This Matters for Translation and Localization As companies expand globally earlier in their growth journey, language strategy becomes increasingly tied to operational success. Whether supporting: Clinical trial recruitment CE Marking documentation Medical device labeling Investor communication International commercialization Multilingual regulatory submissions the quality and consistency of global communication can directly impact timelines, compliance, and market readiness. For regulated industries, translation is no longer just about converting words from one language to another. It’s about helping organizations communicate accurately, compliantly, and confidently across global markets.     Links:  Website: https://www.canurta.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akeemgardner/   Connect with Wendy - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendypease/  Music: Fiddle-De-Dee by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com