Beyond Biotech - the podcast from Labiotech

Our guest today is Thierry Laugel, Managing Partner of Kurma & Chairman of Argobio. With a PharmD, PhD in pharmacology, and an INSEAD MBA, Thierry has spent more than two decades bridging cutting-edge science and commercial success—first in pharma R&D, then as co-founder of Kurma Partners, and now leading Argobio’s unique venture-builder model.
Since raising €50 million in 2021, Argobio has co-founded and accelerated several companies from top European academic labs. Three of them—Enodia, Laigo Bio, and Elkedonia—have already closed seed rounds totaling more than €43 million, advancing novel platforms in targeted protein degradation, precision membrane protein degraders, and non-hallucinogenic neuroplasticity enhancers for depression. 
Thierry shares how Argobio reduces execution risk, embeds operational expertise, and turns promising science into investable companies that can compete worldwide. 
04:02 Blending pharmacology expertise with business
07:50 Vision behind starting Kurma Partners
12:53 Launching Argobio to address gaps in European biotech 
17:40 What makes the Argobio operational venture builder model unique
25:02 Criteria for selecting academic scientific breakthroughs
27:34 Changing dynamics of commercializing European research
35:30 Europe vs US biotech investment climates
37:47 Role of venture studios in Europe’s biotech future
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Today, we're exploring the transformative potential of AI in biopharma—separating hype from reality, and zooming in on the complexities of single-cell omics data.
Our guest is Parashar Dhapola, co-founder and CEO of Nygen Analytics, a Lund-based startup spun out from Sweden's vibrant single-cell genomics ecosystem. With a PhD in computational genomics from Lund University, Parashar has pioneered efficient algorithms for analyzing millions of cells, turning raw data into actionable insights for drug discovery.
Join us as we discuss where AI truly delivers in biopharma, the persistent gaps in exploratory data analytics, and the critical bottlenecks in single-cell annotation. In a world abounding in AI hype, Parashar helps us cut through the noise and point out paths to data driven success.
01:00 Meet Parashar Dhapola
05:45 AI in biopharma
09:29 AI automation vs. new capabilities
11:28 What makes single-cell omics data different
18:46 Risks of incorrect cell annotation
34:37 Future of single-cell analytics
This episode is produced with the support of Nygen Analytics. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! 
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To dive deeper into the topic: 
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This week we welcome Magdalena Tyrpien, CEO, Co-Founder and President of Nionyx Bio, just days after the company took first place in the BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight competition in Lisbon.
With a background that includes leading Forge Biologics through its $620 million acquisition, Magdalena is now steering Nionyx toward a bold new chapter in gene therapy for kidney disease. In this episode we explore her journey into biotech, the science behind Nionyx’s proprietary AAV capsid platform and Kidney Atlas, what it took to win the Startup Spotlight, and what the victory means for the young company’s future.
·  01:25 – Meet Magdalena Tyrpien
·  07:10 – The Nionyx mission
·  15:29 – The 2026 BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight
·  22:23 – Looking forward and future milestones
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! 
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To dive deeper into the topic: 
Lisbon is calling: the BIO-Europe Startup Spotlight returns in March 2026
BIO-Europe Spring 2026: partnership event brings funding hope to biotechs
BIO-Europe partnering: Australian biotech companies share their experiences

Today, we welcome Dr Rosanne Dunn, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of HaemaLogiX, an Australian clinical-stage biotech company that's developing next-generation immunotherapies for multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders.
HaemaLogiX is taking a precision approach by targeting novel antigens that are expressed exclusively on malignant plasma cells, sparing healthy ones. Recent peer-reviewed research has validated KMA and LMA as high-value targets, reinforcing the company's unique positioning in the field.
Rosanne shares her journey from antibody engineering to building HaemaLogiX, the science behind their differentiated targets, the latest clinical and preclinical progress, and her perspectives on the future of immunotherapy for blood cancers as the company gears up for key milestones, including a planned IPO later this year.
01:15 Meet Rosanne Dunn
07:52 HaemalogiX's mission and novel antigens
09:53 Overview of multiple myeloma and its symptoms
12:19 Targeting malignant plasma cells while sparing normal ones
19:25 Recent Peer-Reviewed Research
26:08 Synergy with IMiDs like Revlimid
29:08 Potential patient impact and quality of life
35:05 Planned IPO in 2026 and funding needs
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! 
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To dive deeper into the topic: 
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BIO-Europe partnering: Australian biotech companies share their experiences
How are R&D Tax Incentives shaping Australia’s biotech future?

Today we welcome Koenraad Wiedhaup, Co-Founder and CEO of Leyden Labs, and Clarissa Koch, the company's Chief Scientific Officer.
Leyden Labs is pioneering a revolutionary non-vaccine approach to combat respiratory viruses like influenza and coronaviruses. Recently, they published groundbreaking data in Science Translational Medicine, demonstrating that their intranasal antibody spray is safe, well-tolerated, and delivers sustained protection right at the virus's entry point: the nose. This innovation addresses the shortcomings of traditional flu vaccines, which average just 13% effectiveness against infection and provide even less for vulnerable groups like the elderly and immunocompromised.
We'll dive into the science, the company's journey since its 2020 founding, and their recent €50 million European funding boost amid U.S. biotech challenges.
01:33: Meet Koenraad Wiedhaup
03:13: Meet Clarissa Koch
04:16: Leyden Labs' origin story
06:21: Mucosal protection platform explained
08:57: Complementing existing vaccines
11:47: Science of mucosal immunity
13:24: PanFlu lead candidate overview
16:42: Key findings from recent publication
22:02: Funding and future preparedness
Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! 
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To dive deeper into the topic: 
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