How to succeed at BIO-Europe: DISCO Pharma takes us behind the scenes
Two weeks ago, the biopharma industry gathered in Vienna, Austria, for BIO-Europe. Tens of thousands of one-on-one meetings were organized between innovators and out-licensors with top pharma companies and venture capitalists eager to partner and invest. For the large pharma firms, it’s a chance to learn about new science and keep tabs on evolving assets. For smaller biotechs, though, it can be three-days of high-pressure networking where a lot is riding on making the right pitch to the right company at just the right time. Get it right, and you walk away with a clear path forward and the cash to fund it. But get unlucky and you might find yourself with few options in the New Year.This year, we decided to follow one biotech heading into their first BIO-Europe partnering conference. We met with DISCO Pharma three times over the last month to follow their BIO-Europe journey:Before the event to learn about the science behind DISCO and understand what their goals were heading into BIO-Europe. At the event itself to talk about how the partnering meetings had been going and how the event had shaped up for DISCO. A week after BIO-Europe had closed, diving into the follow-up activities and learning about the next steps for this German biotech.I hope you enjoy my conversations with Ajla Hrle, Chief Business Officer at DISCO, and this behind the scenes look at BIO-Europe from an innovator’s perspective.02:25 Preparing for BIO-Europe16:51 On the floor at BIO-Europe22:23 Following up from BIO-EuropeInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: BIO-Europe partnering: Australian biotech companies share their experiencesPractical partnering at BIOSPAIN: on the ground with biotech innovators ready to take the next stepBiotech in Vienna: a budding life science hub
Last week saw more than 5,900 people from 3,200 companies gather in Vienna, Austria, for the continent’s largest biopharma partnering conference, BIO-Europe. Over three days the world’s top pharma companies, most innovative biotechs, and life science professionals from 60 countries took more than 32,000 one-on-one meetings, made the connections, and sealed deals that will drive the industry forward into 2026 and beyond.Among the highlights of BIO-Europe this year was the Startup Spotlight contest. This exciting competition offers biotech entrepreneurs an affordable opportunity to engage with top-tier investors and other important players in the biotech industry and to take their business to the next level. Eight finalists made their pitches at BIO Europe and one, Fusix Biotech from Germany, came out on top.This week on Beyond Biotech I’m joined by Fusix Biotech’s Managing Director and co-founder, Jennifer Altomonte, who tells me about her journey through the industry, Fusix’s InFUSE platform, and what it’s like to pitch – and win – one of the most important biopharma startup competitions of the year.01:34 Meet Jennifer Altomonte05:12 Co-founding Fusix Biotech10:37 Fusix Biotech and the InFUSE platform18:50 Intellectual property for a young company20:04 The BIO-Europe Startup Spotlight23:47 The impact of the competition win29:05 The milestones ahead30:33 What does a successful 2026 look like for Fusix Biotech?31:56 Learn more about Fusix BiotechThis episode is supported by EBD Group.Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: BIO-Europe partnering: Australian biotech companies share their experiencesFour New Technologies That Will Change Cancer TreatmentWhy is the immunology and inflammation market suddenly attracting a wave of investment?
--------
32:42
--------
32:42
Next‑generation UTI diagnostics: delivering results in just 35 minutes
Urinary Tract infections, or UTIs, affect millions worldwide, driving sepsis, antibiotic overuse, and microbial resistance. Current diagnostics rely on either slow lab cultures or unreliable dipsticks, and often lead to delayed or unnecessary treatment. Llusern’s Lodestar DX changes that: a point-of-care test that detects 96% of key UTI pathogens in just 35 minutes, no lab required.In this episode I’m joined by Emma Hayhurst who shares her journey into diagnostics, Llusern’s mission, and the emergence of Wales as a biotech hub with a growing life sciences sector fueling local innovation. We discuss UTI prevalence, diagnostic gaps, and how rapid, accurate testing can transform patient care and antimicrobial stewardship. 02:14 Meet Emma Hayhurst04:37 Introducing Llusern Scientific07:21 Collaboration between Llusern and the academy08:50 The life science ecosystem in Wales12:10 Urinary tract infections (UTIs)15:45 UTI patient demographics16:54 Health impacts of UTIs: sepsis, antibiotic resistance, and more19:01 Existing UTI diagnostic options and their shortcomings24:41 Llusern’s Lodestar DX29:03 A point-of-care test, not a lab test31:44 Applications beyond UTIs36:03 Looking forward at LlusernInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: Life sciences in Wales: biotechs in the scene in 2025Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance with Fast Molecular DiagnosticsUltra-Fast Diagnostics Could Transform Sexual Health
--------
39:22
--------
39:22
How AI Is revolutionizing synthetic biology and biomanufacturing
Today, I’m joined by Héctor García Martín, a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. A pioneer in metabolic engineering and computational biology, Héctor has spent over a decade decoding microbial systems, everything from termite guts to genome-scale flux models, to unlock sustainable biomanufacturing.Now, he’s leading the charge in self-driving labs: AI-powered, robotic systems that automate experiments, predict biological behavior, and accelerate the design of microbes that produce fuels, medicines, and materials.In this episode, we’ll dive into why biology has traditionally proven so hard to engineer, how AI and robotics are changing that, and where this revolution is headed next. I hope you enjoy my discussion with Hector Garcia Martin.01:12 Meet Hector Garcia Martin12:47 Introduction to the Berkeley National Laboratory14:42 Challenges in synthetic biology17:21 How unpredictability complicates biomanufacturing19:30 Self-driving labs at the nexus of AI, robotics, and biomanufacturing22:23 How is AI integrated into optimize enzyme expression28:01 Where is the market for self-driving labs?28:47 The future of synthetic biology32:24 The most exciting trends in AI-driven biomanufacturing34:10 The expected impacts of self-driving labs on everyday life35:28 Advice for aspiring scientistsInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: Synthetic Biology @ LabiotechEuropean biotech: trends to watch in 2025The coming of age of European synthetic biology
--------
38:27
--------
38:27
Pichia pastoris: the microbial protein expression platform you’re probably underestimating
Today we’re diving into the world of expression systems with Iskandar Dib, of Validogen and we’ll explore the remarkable potential of Pichia pastoris, a methylotrophic yeast that’s revolutionizing pharmaceutical protein production and beyond. From industrial enzymes to biomaterials, food, feed, and diagnostics, Pichia offers a reliable, scalable, and cost-efficient platform for recombinant protein expression. Iskandar explains how biotechs can unlock Pichia’s full potential through Validogen’s sophisticated tools and strategies, fine-tuning protein expression with innovative genetic approaches and robust screening systems to deliver unmatched yields and quality. 01:06 Why Pichia is often overlooked or underestimated03:29 The basics of Pichia pastoris05:25 How Pichia compares to microbial hosts like E.coli08:14 Key advantages over mammalian cell systems10:21 Pichia as a system for secreted production11:30 Pichia and post-translational modifications14:30 The challenges of working with Pichia16:25 Strain optimization and genetic engineering17:29 Meet Iskandar Dib and Validogen19:03 The UNLOCK PICHIA platform24:00 Real-world applications of Pichia pastoris in biopharma27:19 When Pichia outperforms expectations28:25 Adapting Pichia for emerging fields30:23 Advice for those considering Pichia pastoris for protein expression33:23 Learn more about ValidogenThis episode is sponsored by Validogen.Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: Pichia case studiesUnlocking Pichia for industry
Welcome to the official Labiotech.eu podcast - Beyond Biotech! Each week, we talk about what's happening in the world of biotech, with news and interviews with experts from companies around the world. Join us as we cover the latest news, breakthroughs and innovations shaping the life sciences industry.A new podcast episode is available every Friday. The host is Dylan Kissane.
Polska