BioSpace

September has been a rough month already for Novo Nordisk, which canned two more late-stage trials of its embattled IL-6 inhibitor, and Novartis, which took Phase 3 hits in both cardiovascular and muscular dystrophy indications; Ultragenyx’s big bet in Angelman syndrome failed to yield benefit in Phase 3 but Ionis’ Pharmaceuticals nabbed the first targeted approval for Alexander disease; and on the business side, biopharma investment is back in a big way.

In this episode of Denatured, you’ll listen to Christina Takke, managing partner at V-Bio Ventures and Mariette van der Velden-Roesink, founding partner at Curie Capital. We examine why Benelux delivers world‑class science yet remains an investment patchwork, and what it will take to knit the region into a truly unified biotech investment corridor.

Host

⁠Jennifer C. Smith-Parker, Director of Insights, BioSpace

Guests

Christina Takke, Managing Partner, V-Bio Ventures

Mariette van der Velden-Roesink, Founding Partner, Curie Capital

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this discussion by guests are their own and do not represent those of their organizations.

Novartis hits pause on several CAR T trials after three patient deaths, followed by Bristol Myers Squibb after separate safety signals; Revolution Medicines scores early FDA approval for groundbreaking pancreatic cancer drug; BioNTech suspends a mid-stage trial of its mRNA cancer immunotherapy after a futility analysis; and nine mid-sized biopharma companies join their big pharma peers in President Donald Trump’s Most Favored Nation drug pricing scheme.

In this episode of Denatured, you’ll hear from Hilary Rosselot, executive director at the National Fragile X Foundation and Jordi Fàbrega, co-founder & CEO at CONNECTA Therapeutics. From trial endpoints and placebo effects to neuroplasticity modulation, we explore what it will take to build a sustainable path to the first approved therapy.

Host
Jennifer C. Smith-Parker, Director of Insights, BioSpace

Guests
Hilary Rosselot, Executive Director, National Fragile X Foundation
Jordi Fàbrega, Co-Founder & CEO, CONNECTA Therapeutics

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this discussion by guests are their own and do not represent those of their organizations.

FDA extends its review of Capricor Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy cell therapy as an unhappy shareholder advocates for change; Merck and Moderna tout positive data for their mRNA-based cancer vaccine; Trump nominates White House aide Heidi Overton as FDA commissioner; and the oral obesity market heats up with rivals Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk going head-to-head.