How is venture philanthropy revolutionizing Alzheimer's drug discovery? We sit down with Karen Harris, CFO at the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, to explore their game-changing approach to funding early-stage research.

With $370M+ awarded to 765+ programs globally, the ADDF operates like a VC firm—using convertible debt and preferred equity to accelerate breakthrough treatments.
 
Topics:
Venture philanthropy vs traditional grants
Shift from amyloid to combination therapies
Blood-based biomarkers & precision medicine
NIH funding cuts impact on research ecosystem

Karen brings 20+ years investment banking experience to discuss how strategic capital is changing Alzheimer's research.

ADDF's Karen Harris: Investing in Alzheimer's Like a VC

In this week's Digital Health Roundup, MedTech Insight's Marion Webb discusses her interview with Johns Hopkins researcher Axel Krieger who published study findings on autonomous surgery. Brian Bossetta highlights new FDA cybersecurity guidance and Medtronic's partnership with IRCAD to train surgeons on robots. Shubham Singh highlights his interviews with OpenWater on stroke and EnsoData on sleep. Natasha Barrow discusses FDA approval challenges with Flow Neuroscience's CEO. Tags: robotics, robotic surgery, FDA, cybersecurity, cardiology, neurology, leadership interviews, neurostimulation, commercial, medtech. 

Digital Health Roundup: Autonomous Robots, Medtronic’s Surgeon School, Sleep Tech & FDA Rules

Join Meredith Landry, Managing Editor of Citeline’s Custom Content, in conversation with Tom Hickey, Director of Therapeutic Strategy at Novotech, a global full-service clinical CRO dedicated to accelerating the development of advanced and novel therapeutics. 

 

In this episode, recorded at the annual BIO conference in Boston, Tom offers a sharp and timely look at the state of RNA therapeutics and shares how innovation in delivery technologies, regulatory strategy, and partnership models is shaping the next generation of RNA-based medicines. With Novotech’s deep experience in the space, Tom provides actionable insights for biotech leaders looking to position their RNA programs for long-term success.

Strategic Insights into the RNA Market

Pink Sheet Executive Editor Derrick Gingery, Senior Writer Sarah Karlin-Smith, Senior Editor Sue Sutter and Editor-in-Chief Nielsen Hobbs discuss why Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Vinay Prasad cited an unproven theory alleging politics influenced the 2020 COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations to justify his decision to overrule reviewers on more recent indication updates (:35). They also consider the impact of hundreds of staff departures after the US Food and Drug Administration’s reduction-in-force was allowed to proceed, including 600 in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (20:14). 

More On These Topics From The Pink Sheet

Prasad Cites Unproven Theory Defending His COVID-19 Vaccine Decisions: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/prasad-cites-unproven-theory-defending-his-covid-19-vaccine-decisions-QFAGD35QOFA5VCZS4WXDPCNWV4/ 

US FDA’s Drugs Center Lost Hundreds Of Staff Through June With 600 RIFs Coming: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/us-fdas-drugs-center-lost-hundreds-of-staff-through-june-with-600-rifs-coming-GYSWOX6RIZEXTK5LZ4KWF3PPDY/ 

Drug Fix: CBER Director’s Political Spin On COVID-19 Vaccines And US FDA RIFs Finalized

Scrip discusses the latest M&A activity and trends with CEO Shawn Titcomb of Allele Capital and Cheryl Reicin, a partner focused on international life sciences activity at Mintz.

Scrip M&A Podcast: Is Biopharma M&A In A Holding Pattern Or A ‘New Normal’

Audio roundup of selected biopharma industry content from Scrip over the business week ended July 18, 2025. In this episode: – J&J delivers in Q2 despite Stelara drop; Sarepta cuts jobs as Elevidys slumps; AI is inevitable but needs to be applied appropriately; China’s mid-cap companies thrive; and a look behind Glenmark’s landmark trispecific deal. 
Article links: https://insights.citeline.com/scrip/podcasts/scrips-five-must-know-things/quick-listen-scrips-five-must-know-things-HYQOHZ42CNCQRPF6HCKGLTHUKM/

This episode was produced with the help of AI text-to-voice and voice emulation tools.

Playlist: soundcloud.com/citelinesounds/sets/scrips-five-must-know-things

Scrip's Five Must-Know Things - July 22, 2025

MoonLake Immunotherapeutics is racing ahead in the biotech space with its innovative nanobody SLK and a transformative $500m non-dilutive financing deal. Its CEO and CFO discuss with In Vivo the company’s rapid clinical progress, financial strategy and ambitions to reshape inflammatory disease.

MoonLake Leaders On Its Fast-Track Vision And $500m Deal

Pink Sheet Executive Editor Derrick Gingery, Senior Writer Sarah Karlin-Smith and Editor-in-Chief Nielsen Hobbs discuss the issues awaiting George Tidmarsh, the new director of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (:24), as well as the next steps for the agency and Sarepta amid the ongoing problems with its gene therapy Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec) (23:49).

More On These Topics From The Pink Sheet

Will Tidmarsh’s Industry Experience Translate As US FDA’s Chief Drug Regulator?: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/breaking-news-pharma-ceo-george-tidmarsh-named-director-of-us-fdas-drug-center-2HXJJCPAIVB2RFNGDDU5NZVNQQ/

Business Background Of New CDER Director George Tidmarsh: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/business-background-of-new-cder-director-george-tidmarsh-BROCYQDUYFE3LIQDJ2JNBDWD6Y/ 

US FDA Cancer Reviewers Heading For The Exits, Potentially Impacting Review Timelines: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/us-fda-cancer-reviewers-heading-for-the-exits-potentially-impacting-review-timelines-YMOFTXDFDZBGVGBIKFXHJY5XTY/ 

US FDA’s Biologics Center Departures Grew Before More Than 100 RIFs Exited: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/us-fdas-biologics-center-departures-grew-before-more-than-100-rifs-exited-2LR3ZFYOBND3DLIWXSFFWWLFYE/ 

After Sarepta Reversed Course On Elevidys, Could An Adcomm Be Next?: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/product-reviews/post-marketing-regulation-and-studies/after-sarepta-reversed-course-on-elevidys-could-an-adcomm-be-next-ZA5ODQB3DJF4LBDFODMB52DM3M/ 

Sarepta Refuses To Stop Elevidys Shipments After Third Death Linked To Gene Therapy Vector: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/advanced-technologies/cell-and-gene-therapies/us-fda-asks-sarepta-to-stop-elevidys-shipments-after-third-death-linked-to-gene-therapy-vector-GLJ2YJDJGNBPLD3SSKKE6UVM34/ 


Drug Fix: US FDA’s New Top Drug Regulator, Sarepta’s Options After Elevidys Stand-Off

Audio roundup of selected biopharma industry content from Scrip over the business week ended July 25, 2025. In this episode: Sanofi’s Vicebio buy; Sarepta halts US Elevidys shipments; Novartis warning over Europe; US CRL for Genentech’s Columvi; and an interview with Novavax. 
https://insights.citeline.com/scrip/podcasts/scrips-five-must-know-things/quick-listen-scrips-five-must-know-things-U4IN5X7DRVFLVIBJ4Q72VTAJUY/

This episode was produced with the help of AI text-to-voice and voice emulation tools.

Playlist: soundcloud.com/citelinesounds/sets/scrips-five-must-know-things

Scrip's Five Must-Know Things - July 28, 2025

Healthy aging has been identified as an important trend that consumer healthcare companies need to respond to. According to founder and managing director of UK firm Prime Fifty, Max Gowland, innovating in this area requires understanding the science behind healthy aging and offering consumers specific and efficacious products, rather than catch-all solutions. In this episode of HBW Insight’s Over the Counter podcast, Gowland dives into some of the science behind targeted nutrition for over fifties and explains why appearing on TV shopping channels like QVC has offered a useful way to communicate these benefits to older consumers. 

Timestamps:
2:00 – Introductions
5:45 – Leveraging consumer health industry experience
8:15 – Prevention is key
10:30 – Competing for shelf space
13:30 – Be a specialist not a generalist
14:30 – Selling via shopping TV
17:30 – Why science and quality is important in healthy aging supplementation
24:00 – Addressing musculoskeletal health 
32:00 – Getting your claims right
36:00 – What’s next for Prime Fifty

Guest Bio:
Max Gowland is a PhD-qualified biochemist with over 40 years’ experience in health and nutrition. He is a leading expert on shaping the nation on providing supplements for 50+ and his focus includes helping support longevity through supplementation to support bone health, skin, hair, nails and more. 
Having worked with many large companies, Gowland founded Prime Fifty focusing on healthy ageing and currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer at FutureYou Cambridge. Gowland regularly appears on QVC and at industry events to promote evidence-based nutritional support for midlife and beyond.

Seizing The Healthy Aging Opportunity, With Prime Fifty’s Max Gowland

Listen to learn more about the evolving landscape of rheumatoid arthritis treatment through the lens of the patient experience. One RA patient shares her insights as Advanced Clinical discusses the results from a recent RA patient experience survey. 

The Patient Journey: Key R&D Considerations In Rheumatoid Arthritis

Citeline places biopharma and medical device professionals, and those who focus on these industries, at the forefront of knowledge and insight, by providing the perfect combination of news and information together with penetrating insight and analysis. Citeline is a leader in the field of healthcare industry information.

ADDF's Karen Harris: Investing in Alzheimer's Like a VC

Citeline

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