Optimum Perspectives

On World Sleep Day 2026, Optimum is marking the occasion with a brand-new podcast episode featuring Magnus Ivarsson, CSO of AstronauTx and Prof. Liz Coulthard from the University of Bristol. Did you know getting enough high quality sleep could help protect against developing neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s? This episode delves into the groundbreaking research our guests are doing in the intersection between sleep and neurodegeneration.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of Rare Disease Day 2026, Optimum is marking the occasion with a brand-new podcast episode featuring Hans Schambye, CEO of BOOST Pharma, Jean-Marie Cuillerot, CMO of Kainova Therapeutics, and Josep Prous, Co‑founder & CSO of CONNECTA.This episode delves into the critical gaps in therapeutic options for the more than 300 million people living with rare diseases worldwide and explores why this field is rapidly gaining attention from both researchers and investors.Our guests also share insights into their life‑changing work across brittle bone disease, oncology, and fragile X syndrome, highlighting the breakthroughs that are bringing new hope to patients and families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re shifting the spotlight to the women funding the future of innovation. This celebratory episode of the #OptimumPerspectivesPodcast explores how female venture capitalists are shaping the future of science, technology, and innovation, and why who funds science matters almost as much as who does the science. Listen to the full episode featuring Victoria Taylor of Medicxi, Bonnie van Wilgenburg of Monograph Capital and Noga Yerushalmi of M Ventures.#IDWGIS2026 #WomeninSTEM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is an increasingly wide-scale problem. Not contained by borders, and with the ability to turn minor infections into life threatening conditions, it is an issue that experts argue must be addressed in the present, not the future.  Hear from Jennifer Schneider of Centauri Therapeutics, Franz-Werner Haas of LimmaTech Biologics and Neil Murray of ReNewVax on their unique approaches to tackling the threat of AMR, in the latest episode of the Optimum Perspectives Podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just in time for World ADC San Diego 2025 - a brand new episode of the Optimum Perspectives Podcast is live! Join Francois Bertelli of DISCO Pharmaceuticals, Stefano Gulla of Kling Biotherapeutics, and Michael Bauer of Novo Holdings, as they dive into the hot topic: ‘The ups and downs of ADCs – where to now?’ Expect sharp insights and forward-looking perspectives on the evolving ADC landscape. Listen to the full episode here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest episode of Optimum Perspectives Podcast has just dropped, featuring LoQus23 Therapeutics’ Chief Scientific Officer and founder Caroline Benn! Listen as Caroline details the devastating effects of Huntington’s Disease on patients and families, her personal motivations for working in this therapeutic area, as well as LoQus23’s unique approach to battling the disease through their innovative small molecule approach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the latest episode of the Optimum Perspectives podcast, Optimum Strategic Communications’ Managing Director Eva Haas spoke with Curve Therapeutics CSO and Co-Founder Ali Tavassoli, who has today been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Interdisciplinary Prize. Listen below as Ali reflects on his scientific journey which has led him to this tremendous recognition, from what inspired his passion for science, to how he came to meet Curve CEO Simon Kerry, with whom he co-founded the Company. Curve’s is using its revolutionary gene-encoded Microcycle® platform to build a pipeline of innovative cyclic peptide and small molecule drugs addressing intracellular targets, with a focus on cancer, immunology and inflammation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to our Rare Disease Day Optimum Perspecitives podcast special featuring Tahira Mathur, Patient Advocate and Kate Adcock, Director of Research & Innovation at Optimum's chosen charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, alongside Jasper Morrow, consultant neurologist at University College London Hospital. This emotional yet hopeful episode highlights the importance of raising awareness of rare conditions, while discussing patient care, diagnosis, and genetic testing for Muscular Dystrophy. If you would like to contribute to the life changing work of Muscular Dystrophy UK, or find out more about Tahira's story living with GNE myopathy, visit her page here: Tahira's Team - JustGiving Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to know how bioengineered spider silk protein fibres can be applied within the textile, biomedical and automobile industries? In the latest episode of Optimum Perspectives, hear from Benoit Cugnet, Head of Fiber Business Unit at AMSilk, on how this German biotech is changing the face of advanced materials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to know how to prepare yourself for the perfect IPO on NASDAQ? Hear from Lynn Lewis, CEO of Gilmartin Group, Optimum’s US partner, on the considerations and milestones to reach before listing.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest epiosde of Optimum Perspectives Podcast features Germo Gericke, CMO of Ariceum Therapeutics. Listen as he discusses how the company aims to improve outcomes for patients with lung cancer with radioligand therapy this Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great new insights in the Optimum Perspectives' latest podcast edition featuring Stefano Gullà, Chief Scientific Officer at Kling Biotherapeutics, about the growing role of B cell technology in cancer therapy.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast to mark Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Optimum’s Richard Staines speaks to Roman Thomas, CEO and founder of Disco Pharmaceuticals, on breakthroughs that have improved patient outcomes, and the company’s efforts to help develop new therapies with its “surfaceome” technology.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Optimum’s Richard Staines talks to Feride Sahin, Senior Director of Clinical Development at Splice Bio about the importance of World Sight Day, which takes place this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time to talk about mushrooms! Or rather the deadly toxin amanitin found in the death cap mushroom, which Heidelberg Pharma is using as a cancer drug with the help of a tumour-targeting antibody, find out more in this episode featuring Heidelberg Pharma's CEO, Andreas Pahl. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Check out Optimum’s latest podcast episode profiling our client Resolution Therapeutics. Lara Campana, VP of Research Operations outlines the company’s technology based around pro-regenerative macrophages and its potential to treat liver disease. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Ruth McKernan CBE is the richly deserved winner of the 2024 Mediscience Award for ‘Most Significant Contribution to the Mediscience Sector’. In this episode Optimum’s Eva Haas discusses the highlights of Ruth’s incredible career, the skills needed for success as a company founder and the heartening advancements in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's in recent years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to expert discussion on the role of AI in drug development, featuring Tushar Pandey, CEO and Co-founder of SimBioSys, and Jeremy Skillington, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Southampton-based Curve Therapeutics recently raised a hefty £40m in a Series A financing round. In this in-depth podcast, CEO Simon Kerry describes how investors fell in love with Curve’s “Microcycle” based discovery platform, which gives the company “the ability to potentially identify drugs against very difficult, challenging targets”.He explains how Curve’s platform enables them to spot drugs with a higher chance of working in real-world conditions. He also outlines the firm’s lead programme – which aims to block two cancer targets called Hypoxia Inducible Factors, or “HIFs”, which enable solid tumours to survive in low-oxygen conditions.Speaking to Optimum’s Stephen Adams, Simon ponders the role of luck in securing investment, both “the kind you deserve because you turn over a lot of stones”, and the more fortuitous variety. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to the latest insights from Gil Bar-Nahum, Managing Director in the Global Healthcare Investment Banking Group, Jefferies International, on how to succeed in the new wave of biotech IPOs in the Optimum Perspectives podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Check out Optimum’s latest Optimum Perspectives Podcast episode featuring the stars of the 20th Anglonordic Life Science Conference in London. Hear industry leaders give their thoughts on trends within the life science industry and the optimistic mood of the markets in 2024! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diverse recruitment for clinical trials is a huge issue – but what can drug developers do to overcome this challenge? Join Optimum’s Richard Staines as he discuses this thorny issue with Ariceum Therapeutic’s CMO, Germo Gericke, Leucid Bio’s CSO, John Maher and Non-Executive Director & Thought Leader Annalisa Jenkins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following recent encouraging interim clinical results, hear Øystein Rekdal, CEO of Lytix Biopharma, discuss with Optimum's Nick Bastin how the company's lead candidate LTX-315 has a unique approach to killing cancer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark Rare Disease Day on 29 February, Optimum Perspectives podcast interviews a panel of experts who discuss the opportunities and challenges for developers of therapies for rare diseases in 2024.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Optimum Perspectives celebratory episode for International Day of Women & Girls in Science, hear from five influential women on how they broke down gender barriers to succeed in the life science industry. Chaired by esteemed journalist Lisa Urquhart, hear guest speakers Renee Aguiar-Lucander of Calliditas, Lene Gerlach of EIR Ventures & WiLD, Bita Sehat of Trill Impact, and Ninna Struck Rossen of Metsystem, share their stories on being women in life sciences, and how to succeed in the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy 1st birthday to the Optimum Perspectives Podcast! Since launching, 1000s of listens have grown the show into an excellent hub of intel from top tier life science guests. Listen now to our anniversary special, where Optimum's Mary Clark, Nick Bastin and Eva Haas discuss the findings of our insightful European Life Sciences Investor survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear Vicore Pharma’s CEO, Ahmed Mousa speak to Optimum's Richard Staines on their new treatment for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), C21. It aims to improve available treatments for patients of IPF by halting the progression of fibrosis and has the aim of restoring lung function. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful and emotional podcast episode, the co-founder of Ariana Smiles - a Special Named Fund at CCLG UK, Stephanie Seales Gabbitas shares her mission to improve the lives of children diagnosed with Leukaemia by raising funds for research into precision oncology medicine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a lack of effective treatments for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) – in this podcast episode Jason Loveridge, CEO of 4SC, talked to Optimum Strategic Communications’ Eva Haas about the Company’s potential new maintenance therapy Kinselby (resminostat). 4SC is a late-stage biotech improving lives for patients suffering with advanced-stage Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL).It has developed Kinselby (resminostat), a novel, oral, maintenance treatment targeting advanced-CTCL, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin. There are no drugs in development or on the market as maintenance therapy for CTCL.Kinselby (resminostat) is an orally administered histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that has produced supportive results in the pivotal RESMAIN trial, where it postponed disease progression in patients – a new treatment paradigm in CTCL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Optimum celebrated its 15th Annual Healthcare Investor Conference – marking its crystal anniversary – and what a sparkler it was! In the latest episode of Optimum Perspectives Podcast, Richard Staines talks through the top takeaways from the October event with special testimonials from our guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 9 of Optimum Perspectives Podcast features Optimum's Richard Staines and Eva Haas, who discuss the hot areas for investment in the shifting biotech market – including antibody-drug conjugates, smart radiotherapies, mRNA and immune-oncology. Want us to explore a topic further? Let us know! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alchemab aims to revolutionise drug discovery with a novel alternative to the classic “choose a target” approach. Alchemab specifically looks to identify shared antibodies from people who have shown resilience to disease – the unexpectedly well. The company then uses its proprietary technology to identify which targets these antibodies are binding to, and what diseases these targets are associated with.  Optimum Strategic Communications’ Richard Staines caught up with Alchemab’s CEO, Young Kwon, to find out more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No-one is likely to forget the tragic events of 2020 and one company leading efforts to prepare for the next pandemic is Poolbeg Pharma. Optimum Strategic Communications’ Richard Staines interviewed CEO Jeremy Skillington to find out how Poolbeg is using AI to expedite discovery of new flu drugs.Poolbeg is working on a drug that aims to block some of the worst effects of influenza, neutralising the over-reaction from the body’s immune system known as a “cytokine storm” that produces many of the ill effects following a flu infection.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A much-anticipated new potential drug for COPD moved a step closer to the market after Verona Pharma submitted its New Drug Application to the U.S. FDA, seeking approval of ensifentrine as a maintenance therapy. In its latest podcast, Optimum Strategic Communications caught up with Chris Martin, Senior Vice President of Commercial, who discussed how the company plans to launch this potential novel COPD medicine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s funding environment for small biotechs is tough. Valuations are down and money is tighter than it used to be – both for publicly listed and privately held firms.  In these circumstances, obtaining the right backing – both in terms of finance and managerial advice – is more important than ever. In the fifth Optimum Perspectives podcast experienced investor Søren Møller talks to Optimum’s Stephen Adams about Novo Holdings Seed Investments’ approach to working with biotechs and what early-stage companies should look for in a financing partner.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you take a tiny private Swedish biotech and turn it into a successful, publicly-listed company operating on both sides of the Atlantic, in just six years? Listen to Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics, tell Optimum’s Richard Staines how they brought TARPEYO, the first FDA-approved drug for the rare kidney disease primary IgA nephropathy, to market.She describes her ‘incredible journey’ growing the firm from less than 10 staff to more than 200, taking it public in Europe and the US, running a global Phase III trial, and how Tarpeyo can help people with IgA nephropathy live more normal lives.https://www.optimumcomms.com/podcastFollow us and subscribe for new episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.Available on all major platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Tune In, Castbox, Deezer and more! Follow and Subscribe today. #optimumperspectivespodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, our in-house IR expert, and ex-Fund Manager Eva Haas interviewed Dan Mahony, Chairman of the BioIndustry Association (BIA), following his appointment as UK Life Sciences Investment Envoy to hear his plans for championing the UK’s Life Sciences industry. Read the insight piece here: An interview with Dan Mahony, UK Government Life Sciences Envoy by Optimum’s Eva Haashttps://www.optimumcomms.com/podcastFollow us and subscribe for new episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.Available on all major platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Tune In, Castbox, Deezer and more! Follow and Subscribe today. #optimumperspectivespodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common and debilitating problem for many women, particularly after childbirth or in later years. Yet, despite this, treatment options are limited, held back by a lack of research into medical products focused on women’s health. Versameb, hopes to change this with a novel mRNA therapy that rebuilds the urinary sphincter and is about to enter clinical trials. In this podcast, Richard Staines from Optimum Strategic Communications caught up with the Versameb team to find out more. Read the insight piece here: Versameb: Revolutionizing SUI therapy with mRNA technologyhttps://www.optimumcomms.com/podcast / https://versameb.com/Follow us and subscribe for new episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.Available on all major platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Tune In, Castbox, Deezer and more! Follow and Subscribe today. #optimumperspectivespodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our host Richard Staines, Account Director at Optimum, discusses the latest clinical findings from inobrodib, an oral cancer therapy developed by the UK biotech CellCentric.In our first episode, we hear from Jan Ross, a patient who discusses the pressing need for new therapies for multiple myeloma with fewer side effects. We also talked to top cancer experts – Tim Somervaille of the Christie Hospital in Manchester, Karen Knudsen, Chief Executive of the American Cancer Society, Dr Leif Bergsagel, consultant in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and Will West, CEO of CellCentric.Despite recent medical advances, treating haematological cancer remains a considerable challenge. CAR-T cell therapies have shown incredible efficacy against some forms of blood cancer, but side-effects are fearsome, and they don’t always work. Conventional therapies may require injections and regular inconvenient visits to the hospital. And CAR-T cell therapies are hugely expensive for healthcare systems to buy and administer to patients because of the workload for staff monitoring side effects. A UK biotech, CellCentric has seen an opening for an oral therapy, based on a small molecule drug, that could treat multiple myeloma and could be taken by patients in their own home.https://www.optimumcomms.com/podcast / www.cellcentric.comFollow us and subscribe for new episodes highlighting the latest innovation and developments in life sciences, with industry leaders of the healthcare sector.Available on all major platforms: Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Tune In, Castbox, Deezer and more! Follow and Subscribe today. #optimumperspectivespodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.