Synopsis:

Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics, appears on this insightful episode of Biotech 2050 with host Rahul Chaturvedi. Renée shares her unconventional journey from investment banking to biotech leadership, underscoring the crucial role of capital markets and regulatory strategies. The discussion explores the unique challenges of developing treatments for rare diseases, strategic decisions on indication selection, and the complexities of managing a global team. Highlighting the importance of continuous learning and curiosity, Renée provides invaluable insights into navigating the fast-paced biotech industry. Tune in to discover the strategic and operational nuances of leading a successful biotech company in today's dynamic environment.

Biography:

CEO since 2017.

Before joining Calliditas, Renée Aguiar-Lucander was a Partner and COO of Omega Fund Management, an international venture capital company focused on investments within the life science sector. Before that, she served as a Partner in the venture capital group 3i Group plc in London, where she managed the publicly quoted assets and was co-head of the global healthcare and technology portfolio. Prior to this, Renée Aguiar-Lucander was the European Group Head and Managing Director at a global investment bank and has more than 12 years’ experience in corporate finance. Prior to her career in investment banking, she was the Head of European Sales and Marketing in a company focused on the sale of software for financial services.

Renée took up BA in Finance from Stockholm School of Economics and finished her MBA from INSEAD.

From Banking to Biotech: Renée Aguiar-Lucander, CEO of Calliditas, on Rare Disease Innovation

Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute Director Bill Smith about the Inflation Reduction Act's impact on drug pricing negotiations and its potential effects on drug development, consumers, and taxpayers.

Episode 216: Controlling Drug Prices: Costs and Benefits of Direct Negotiation with Big Pharma

Maximizing bioavailability is a critical aspect of drug development, ensuring that the maximum therapeutic effect is achieved with the minimum dose. By rigorously evaluating and optimizing the chemical, physical, and biological properties of the API, pharmaceutical scientists can enhance bioavailability, leading to more effective and reliable medications.

In this issue, we review different analytical testing techniques that support drug product development specific to bioavailability.

Contents include:
- API characterization 
- Common techniques for determining particle size distribution
- Formulation approaches to maximize bioavailability 
- Case study: manufacturing of a nanosuspension

Issue 40 — Analytical Testing: Maximizing API Bioavailability

Synopsis: 

Abe Ceesay, CEO of Rapport Therapeutics, sits down with host Rahul Chaturvedi to reveal how precision neuroscience is driving revolutionary treatments for neurological disorders. They explore Rapport’s cutting-edge lead program targeting focal epilepsy and discuss the groundbreaking advancements that are reshaping the landscape of drug development. Abe also shares his dynamic leadership journey, offering insights into the biotech industry’s future and how innovative approaches are delivering life-changing treatments. Don’t miss this powerful discussion on the future of precision medicine and the hope it brings to patients with neurological conditions.

Biography:

Abe brings nearly two decades of biopharmaceutical industry experience to Rapport. He served as President of Cerevel Therapeutics from May 2021 through February 2023, and was previously CEO of Tiburio Therapeutics, where he built a fully integrated company that led to the investigational new drug enablement for a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Prior to joining Tiburio, Mr. Ceesay held positions including Chief Operating Officer at scPharmaceuticals, Head of Commercial at Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Vice President of Marketing at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, and roles of increasing responsibility at Sanofi, formerly Genzyme. Mr. Ceesay serves as Chairman of the Board for Life Science Cares and on the Board of Trustees at The Museum of Science in Boston. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and Master of Business Administration from Suffolk University’s Sawyer School of Management.

Precision Neuroscience Breakthroughs: Abe Ceesay, CEO of Rapport Therapeutics I Future of Biotech

Synopsis: 

In this insightful conversation on Biotech2050, host Rahul Chaturvedi sits down with Bharatt Chowrira, CEO, and Eric Elenko, Co-Founder and President of PureTech Health. They explore the company’s pioneering R&D model and how it reshapes drug development by focusing on solving specific problems rather than pushing predefined solutions. Bharatt and Eric share their professional journeys and key insights, emphasizing the importance of simplicity and unwavering commitment to impactful ideas.

The episode delves into the story behind Karuna Therapeutics, highlighting the challenges of obtaining funding and skepticism from the industry before its success with a groundbreaking schizophrenia drug. Bharatt and Eric underline the importance of patient-centered innovation and reflect on the lessons learned, including overcoming obstacles with persistence. They also discuss the need for more efficient pathways in drug development and share a glimpse into PureTech’s upcoming projects.

Biography:

Bharatt Chowrira, PhD, JD, is the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors at PureTech. Dr. Chowrira has been a member of the PureTech management team since March 2017, leading various departments including Operations, Finance and Business Development. Dr. Chowrira plays a key role in the Founded Entity fundraisings and provide strategic guidance as a Board member to many Founded Entities, including co-founding Seaport Therapeutics. Prior to joining PureTech, he held various leadership roles including Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel in multiple biotech companies over the past 30+ years, including Auspex Pharmaceuticals Inc., which was acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals for $3.5 billion and Sirna Therapeutics that was acquired by Merck for $1.1 billion and as a Vice President at Merck & Co. Dr. Chowrira received a JD from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, an MS in molecular biology from Illinois State University and a BS in microbiology from the UAS, Bangalore, India.

Eric Elenko, PhD, is the president at PureTech where he has led the development of a number of programs, including three that have received US FDA approvals (EndeavorRx, Plenity and Cobenfy). Dr. Elenko plays a key role in the Founded Entity drug discovery and fundraisings, including co-founding Seaport Therapeutics. Prior to joining PureTech, Dr. Elenko was a consultant with McKinsey and Company where he advised senior executives of both Fortune 500 and specialty pharmaceutical companies on a range of issues such as product licensing, mergers and acquisitions, research and development strategy and marketing. Dr. Elenko received his BA in biology from Swarthmore College and his PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of California, San Diego.

Bharatt Chowrira, CEO & Eric Elenko, CoFounder & President of PureTech on Biotech Growth

Current and future development of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, more commonly referred to as GLP-1 RAs, or simply as GLP-1s, involves complexities not only in formulation but in all areas of early-phase drug development. Developing and refining preclinical models for early efficacy signals, developing and validating the bioanalytical assays necessary for quantitation, and designing the clinical studies that deliver the most robust data in this innovative therapeutic area are all key elements of a drug development program.

In this audiobook, we review the requirements for successful GLP-1 drug development, from the perspective of preclinical studies, clinical trials, manufacturing, and bioanalysis. Exclusive case studies are also presented.

Issue 42 — Managing the Complexities of Glucagon -like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Drug Development

Synopsis: 

Join host Alok Tayi as he welcomes David Meeker, CEO of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, for an inspiring conversation on the transformative journey of rare disease biotech. David shares his incredible path from practicing physician to biotech visionary, recounting his experiences at Genzyme, where he helped shape the rare disease business model and set the stage for a wave of life-changing innovations.  

In this episode, David dives deep into the breakthroughs and hurdles of developing therapies for rare diseases, the pivotal role of patient-centric approaches, and how advancements in precision medicine are reshaping treatment for conditions like genetic obesity. He also explores the evolving relationship between biotech and big pharma, the critical impact of regulatory decisions, and the essential elements of building a thriving biotech company today.  

Don’t miss this captivating discussion packed with actionable insights, industry wisdom, and a look at the future of rare disease therapeutics.

Biography:

Dr. David Meeker, a member of Rhythm’s Board of Directors since 2015 and Chairman of the Board since 2017, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in July 2020. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of KSQ Therapeutics for approximately three years. Previously, David was the Executive Vice President and Head of Sanofi Genzyme, the specialty-care global business unit of Sanofi that focused on rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology, and immunology. He joined Genzyme in 1994 as Medical Director and, over the course of his tenure, served the company as Vice President of Medical Affairs, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Executive Officer. He led Genzyme’s commercial organization and global market access functions and managed the launch of several treatments for rare genetic diseases, including Aldurazyme®, Fabrazyme® and Myozyme®. Prior to his tenure with Genzyme, David was Director of the Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Ohio State University. Dr. Meeker earned his MD from the University of Vermont Medical School and completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.

David Meeker, CEO of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, on Rare Disease Breakthroughs & Biotech’s Future

Synopsis: 

In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi explores the world of biotech venture capital with Narayan Chowdhury, Co-Founder of Franklin Park. As a key player in funding the next wave of biotech breakthroughs, Narayan shares how limited partners (LPs) navigate risk, identify high-potential biotech funds, and decide where to allocate billions in capital.

Discover why biotech investing is different from tech VC, the growing role of AI in drug development, and how emerging biotech hubs are shaping the future of innovation. Whether you're a founder, investor, or just biotech-curious, this episode unveils the strategies, challenges, and untapped opportunities that fuel the industry.


Biography:

At Franklin Park, Narayan is responsible for the analysis and evaluation of private equity investment opportunities, monitoring clients’ portfolios and conducting industry research. He is also involved in the development and implementation of Franklin Park’s technology platform, and regularly interacts with clients on investment and portfolio matters.

Prior to Franklin Park, Narayan worked with Hamilton Lane and Public Financial Management.  He is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. Narayan received a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Bucknell University.

Biotech Venture Investing with Narayan Chowdhury, Co-Founder of Franklin Park LLC

Small biotech companies are facing tough times, shrinking funding and uncertain futures. But beneath the surface, quiet forces of innovation and resilience are rising. This episode explores how biotechs ignite innovation despite economic headwinds, regulatory uncertainty, and fierce competition.

Small Biotechs, Big Decisions is a limited podcast series exploring the challenges and opportunities facing emerging biotech companies, hosted by Daniel Chancellor, VP of Thought Leadership at Norstella, and Claire Riches, VP of Clinical Solutions at Citeline, a leading provider of life sciences data and insights.

View the video series and find out more information here: https://www.citeline.com/biotech

How to Survive Innovation Pressure in Today’s Biotech Landscape

Biotechs are racing to change the rules in this tough market. This episode reveals how AI, real-world data, and strategic partnerships are reshaping drug development. Is reinvention biotech’s last hope?

Small Biotechs, Big Decisions is a limited podcast series exploring the challenges and opportunities facing emerging biotech companies, hosted by Daniel Chancellor, VP of Thought Leadership at Norstella, and Claire Riches, VP of Clinical Solutions at Citeline, a leading provider of life sciences data and insights.

View the video series and find out more information here: https://www.citeline.com/biotech

Strategies to Secure Critical Biotech Funding Amid Market Challenges

The race for new therapies is more intense than ever. This episode uncovers how biotech and pharma use competitive intelligence, AI, and data to outsmart rivals and change the game.

Small Biotechs, Big Decisions is a limited podcast series exploring the challenges and opportunities facing emerging biotech companies, hosted by Daniel Chancellor, VP of Thought Leadership at Norstella, and Claire Riches, VP of Clinical Solutions at Citeline, a leading provider of life sciences data and insights.

View the video series and find out more information here: https://www.citeline.com/biotech

How to Crush Competitive Threats and Stand Out in Biotech

With growing FDA bottlenecks and regulatory changes, this episode explores how biotechs are looking beyond borders by rethinking trials, embracing real-world data, and  finding new global pathways to bring therapies to life.

Small Biotechs, Big Decisions is a limited podcast series exploring the challenges and opportunities facing emerging biotech companies, hosted by Daniel Chancellor, VP of Thought Leadership at Norstella, and Claire Riches, VP of Clinical Solutions at Citeline, a leading provider of life sciences data and insights.

View the video series and find out more information here: https://www.citeline.com/biotech


Master Regulatory Hurdles and Accelerate Your Drug Development

Astellas is doubling down on gene therapy while others retreat. Richard Wilson, SVP Primary Focus Lead, Genetic Regulation at Astellas, joins In Vivo to discuss why the company believes AAV technology will transform medicine despite current industry headwinds.

🎯 Key Topics:
- Why Astellas opened a massive new gene therapy manufacturing facility
- Building an end-to-end AAV platform from research to commercial
- Strategic partnerships driving CNS and rare disease programs
- Maintaining team morale in a challenging investment climate
- Regulatory outlook and the path to commercial success

Richard also plays a role in Astellas' West Coast Innovation Center and serves on the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine board. He shares insights on manufacturing at scale, patient-centric culture, and the long-term potential of gene therapy.

Perfect for biotech investors, pharma executives, and anyone tracking the evolution of genetic medicines.

🔗 More insights: insights.citeline.com/in-vivo

Astellas Doubles Down on Gene Therapy Despite Industry Headwinds

Suus and Micah dive into the surprisingly dramatic world of biotech audits and inspections, where FDA investigators can show up unannounced, silence is a weapon, and everyone's trained not to accidentally confess to crimes they didn't commit. From mock inspections to actual warrants being slammed on tables, discover why having zero deviations is more suspicious than having a few, and how strategic coffee breaks can save the day.
Warning: No actual bodies were harmed in the making of this podcast, but several egos may have been bruised during quality assurance reviews.

Happy Biotech - Audits, Inspections, and Dead Bodies in Closets

Tevard Biosciences CEO Daniel Fischer discusses how engineered suppressor tRNAs enable read-through of premature stop codons to restore full-length protein production in genetic diseases. Fischer, whose daughter has Dravet syndrome, covers the company's lead programs in dilated cardiomyopathy and DMD, advantages over traditional gene therapy approaches, and the path to human proof-of-concept.

Tevard CEO Sees Hope for HIs Daughter In His Company's tRNA Platform

From three-ply CRFs to three dudes and a compound, Doris Sánchez joins Suus and Micah for a candid tour of biotech’s real backstage: why passion (and sane meeting habits) matter, how consulting buys back your time, and the wild CRA tale that arrived with a black rose and a half-smoked cigarette. We also swap myth-busting takes on “Big Pharma,” burnout, and a foodie detour to Boston’s La Bodega.

Black Roses, Paper CRFs & the Drama of Doing Good

BUFFALO, NY — September 4, 2025 — A new #research perspective was #published  in Volume 17, Issue 8 of Aging (Aging-US) on August 16, 2025, titled “Age-related diseases as a testbed for anti-aging therapeutics: the case of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.”

In this research perspective, Alex Zhavoronkov, Dominika Wilczok, Feng Ren, and Fedor Galkin, from Insilico Medicine, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and Duke University, propose a new method to evaluate age-related diseases based on how closely they align with the biological processes of aging. Their analysis shows that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive lung condition, is one of the diseases most strongly associated with aging. This makes IPF a promising model for testing new anti-aging therapies with the potential to treat multiple age-related conditions.

“This perspective explores how aging-related diseases (ARDs) can serve as experimental platforms for discovering new geroprotective interventions.”

While many age-related diseases are used as models for aging research, not all accurately reflect the biology of aging. To address this, the authors developed a scoring system that measures how closely a disease is connected to the key hallmarks of aging, such as inflammation, genetic instability, and impaired cellular repair. Using this system, they evaluated 13 common age-related diseases and found that IPF had a particularly high overlap with aging biology.

IPF is a chronic disease that causes scarring in the lungs and a rapid decline in lung function. In contrast to the gradual loss of function seen in normal aging, IPF progresses more than five times faster. The authors highlight that IPF shares nearly all of the biological features associated with aging. These similarities make IPF a strong candidate for studying aging and testing therapies that target its underlying causes.

The authors also discuss different therapies currently being developed for IPF that are also designed to address aging itself. These include drugs that clear senescent cells, activate telomerase to maintain chromosome health, or repair damaged signaling between cells. Some of these treatments, such as senolytic combinations and AI-discovered compounds like rentosertib, are already showing early promise in preclinical or clinical trials.

In addition, the authors point out that IPF’s fast progression and clearly measurable outcomes offer an advantage for clinical testing. If a therapy proves effective in IPF, it may also be useful for other conditions that share similar aging-related mechanisms, including diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. This approach could accelerate drug development and reduce costs by focusing on therapies that target shared biological pathways.

Overall, this perspective supports a shift in pharmaceutical research toward treating aging as an underlying cause of many chronic diseases. By positioning IPF as a model for aging-related drug development, the authors propose a strategic pathway for testing and expanding anti-aging therapies across a wide range of health conditions.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206301

Corresponding author - Alex Zhavoronkov – alex@insilico.com

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5ur7itzvSI

Subscribe for free publication alerts from Aging - https://www.aging-us.com/subscribe-to-toc-alerts

To learn more about the journal, please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us on social media at:

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Aging (Aging-US)

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Identified as a Model for Anti-Aging Drug Development

What makes a biotech-CRO partnership truly work? Claire Riches, VP, Clinical Solutions, Citeline, and Matt Simmons, Senior Director, Oncology Strategy, IQVIA Biotech, share the secrets behind winning biotech-CRO partnerships, covering collaboration, transparent budgeting, regulatory navigation, and recruitment strategies, with essential insights to help biotechs succeed from their first RFP to global trials.

View the video series and find out more information here: https://www.citeline.com/biotech

Drive Early CRO Engagement to Optimize Funding, Trial Design, and Recruitment in Biotech

Cereno Scientific CEO Sten Sörensen discusses how his company is repurposing a 60-year-old epilepsy drug as a potential game-changer for pulmonary arterial hypertension and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Learn about their promising Phase IIa results that showed improved heart function and reduced mortality risk, the FDA fast track designation they recently received, and their strategy for advancing two rare disease programs toward pivotal trials. A fascinating look at drug repurposing, epigenetic modulation, and the challenges of developing therapies for high unmet need patient populations.

Cereno Scientific Turns To Old Drug For Rare Cardiopulmonary Diseases

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.

Aging-US is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive aging and the development of age-related diseases. Our mission is to serve as a platform for high-quality research that uncovers the cellular, molecular, and systemic processes underlying aging, and translates these insights into strategies to extend healthspan and delay the onset of chronic disease.

Read about the Aging (Aging-US) Scientific Integrity Process: https://aging-us.com/scientific-integrity

Biotech2050 Podcast is a think tank chronicling the disruptions changing the biotech industry over the next 50 years.

As an end-to-end CRO/CDMO, we have expert knowledge in all early stages of drug development, and we’re sharing that knowledge with you in The Altascientist: The Audiobook. 

Each issue is a deep dive into a specific area of early-phase drug development, providing insider tips, considerations, and case studies. 


Altasciences is a drug development solution company offering pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies a proven, flexible approach to preclinical and clinical pharmacology studies, including formulation, manufacturing, and analytical services.

New tracks tagged #DrugDevelopment