Xtalks Life Science Podcast

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Soumya Shashikumar speaks with Anne-Cécile Chevrier, Global Head, Injectable Aesthetics at Galderma, about the science of skin quality and why the field is increasingly looking at “skin longevity” — keeping skin healthier, more functional and resilient for longer. Anne-Cécile explains that skin quality is about how skin looks, feels and functions, including hydration, firmness, radiance and texture. She also discusses how menopause and medication-driven weight loss can affect the skin. Tune in to hear Anne-Cécile explain the simple “pinch test” clinicians can use to assess skin laxity, why she believes more education is needed around menopause-related skin changes and how more personalized, data-informed approaches could shape the future of skin longevity. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Dr. Mohammad Ali speaks with Mike McCormick, President and CEO of Nuwellis, about fluid overload, the heart-kidney connection and what happens when diuretics stop working as expected. Mike explains that fluid overload is “not simply a cosmetic swelling.” Persistent congestion can make breathing difficult, reduce appetite and even make it hard for patients to lie flat. He also describes the cardiorenal balancing act, where worsening heart function can prompt the kidneys to retain more water and sodium, adding further strain on the heart. He discusses how clinicians recognize diuretic resistance and where ultrafiltration may fit as another “tool in the toolbox” for removing excess fluid when medications are no longer enough. Tune in to hear why Mike looks beyond the numbers to patient outcomes, why “How did the patient do?” remains a critical question and why pediatric patients are “not just small adults.” For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/   For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Dr. Mohammad Ali speaks with James Hackworth, PhD, Cebranopadol Development Lead at Tris Pharma, about the clinical challenges of providing effective acute pain relief while limiting the treatment-related risks of traditional opioids. James explains that when severe pain is poorly treated, prolonged pain signaling can, in some cases, lead to lasting changes in the nervous system through neuroplasticity. He also describes how targeting the nociceptin (NOP) receptor system alongside traditional opioid pathways may act as a biological “brake,” helping reduce abuse potential, physical dependence and respiratory depression. James also discusses the use of bunionectomies and abdominoplasties as standardized surgical models that serve as proxies for hard-tissue and soft-tissue pain in clinical trials. Tune in to learn more about pain biology, clinical trial endpoints and early-stage tools that could help accelerate analgesic development. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/   For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Dr. Mohammad Ali, Life Science Writer and Knowledge Translation Specialist at Xtalks, spoke with Dr. Farideh Bischoff, Chief Medical Officer at HerAnova Lifesciences, about the challenges of diagnosing endometriosis and research into non-invasive testing. Dr. Bischoff explains that symptom severity does not always reflect disease extent, and symptoms can overlap with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and adenomyosis. Ultrasound and MRI can detect some forms of endometriosis, while smaller superficial lesions and early-stage disease may be more difficult to identify. She also discusses multiomic approaches, the use of AI and machine learning to analyze multiple biomarkers and the evidence needed to validate new diagnostic tests across different patient populations. Tune in to learn more about endometriosis diagnosis, biomarker research and efforts to shorten the path to diagnosis. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/   For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Soumya Shashikumar, Senior Life Sciences Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with James Mackay, CEO of Crystalys Therapeutics, about gout, persistent misconceptions surrounding the condition and current clinical research. Gout is often linked primarily to diet and alcohol. James explains that many patients instead have difficulty removing enough uric acid from the body, allowing crystals to accumulate in the joints and contribute to inflammation over time. The conversation examines the stigma this misunderstanding can create. James shares why some people may avoid discussing their condition or seeking care because they feel blamed for developing it. He also discusses difficult-to-treat gout, the limitations of current treatment options and how researchers are studying outcomes that may be more meaningful to patients. Tune in to learn more about why gout remains widely misunderstood, the gaps in current care and the challenges of developing treatments for patients with limited options. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Soumya Shashikumar, Senior Life Sciences Journalist at Xtalks, spoke with Dr. Kia Motesharei, President and Chief Operating Officer of ReAlta Life Sciences, about hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and efforts to develop treatments beyond therapeutic hypothermia. HIE is a serious neonatal brain injury caused by insufficient oxygen and blood flow to the brain around the time of birth. Therapeutic hypothermia, or controlled cooling, can help limit inflammation and secondary injury, but there are currently no approved drug therapies for HIE. Dr. Motesharei explains how reperfusion injury can occur when blood flow returns to the brain after oxygen deprivation, triggering an inflammatory cascade that may contribute to further tissue damage. He also discusses why targeting more than one inflammatory pathway may be important and how ReAlta’s investigational approach is intended to address both complement- and neutrophil-driven inflammation. The conversation explores the challenges of neonatal clinical trials, where clinicians may have only hours to identify eligible newborns, explain the research and obtain informed consent from families facing an acute medical crisis.   Because newborns have not yet developed the motor and cognitive abilities used to assess treatments in older patients, early MRI may help measure brain injury while longer-term follow-up evaluates developmental outcomes. Tune in to learn more about HIE, the narrow intervention window in neonatal trials and efforts to develop treatments that could reduce brain injury in newborns. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Vera Kovacevic, Editor-in-Chief at Xtalks, spoke with Dr. Tanya Petrossian, CEO and Founder of EndoCyclic Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing a non-hormonal therapeutic approach for endometriosis. Endometriosis affects many women, but it is still often difficult to diagnose, treat and fully understand. For many patients, available treatment options have historically centered on hormone-based therapies or surgery, leaving significant unmet needs in long-term care. In this episode, Dr. Petrossian discusses the patient burden of endometriosis and why the condition has remained challenging to diagnose and treat. She also shares how her own experience with delayed diagnosis helped shape her understanding of the gaps patients face and ultimately contributed to her decision to start EndoCyclic Therapeutics. The conversation explores why innovation has lagged in endometriosis, despite the condition’s significant impact on patients’ lives. Dr. Petrossian discusses the need for new treatment options, including approaches that do not rely on hormones, and explains at a high level how EndoCyclic Therapeutics’ work is designed to target disease biology. Dr. Petrossian also discusses the broader challenges and opportunities of building a company in women’s health, including the progress being made in endometriosis research and the continued need for greater recognition, investment and clinical innovation. Tune in to learn more about endometriosis, the need for new treatment approaches and what progress in women’s health innovation could look like in the years ahead. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Vera Kovacevic, Editor-in-Chief at Xtalks, spoke with two experts from Boehringer Ingelheim: Itziar Canamasas, PhD, Global Head of Oncology and Senior Vice President, and Volker Teichgräber, MD, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Experimental Medicine Oncology. The conversation focused on how precision oncology is changing the way advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is diagnosed, studied and treated. As molecular testing becomes increasingly important in lung cancer care, identifying specific genomic alterations early in the treatment journey can help inform treatment decisions and support more personalized approaches for patients. In this episode, Itziar discusses how advanced NSCLC care has evolved over the past decade and why molecular testing is central to the future of precision oncology. She also shares her perspective on the unmet needs facing patients with rare molecularly defined forms of lung cancer, including HER2-mutant NSCLC. Volker discusses the R&D considerations involved in studying rare genomic subtypes of NSCLC. He explains what researchers consider when translating early clinical findings into later-stage studies. The conversation also explores how clinical trial design is evolving in precision oncology, including the need to balance scientific rigor with the practical realities of studying rare patient groups. Itziar and Volker also discuss what may matter most for improving outcomes in advanced NSCLC and other molecularly defined cancers, from earlier testing and targeted treatment strategies to continued advances in translational medicine, biomarkers and clinical research. Tune in to learn more about precision oncology in advanced NSCLC, the role of molecular testing and the challenges of developing targeted therapies for rare genomic subtypes. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Vera Kovacevic, Editor-in-Chief at Xtalks, spoke with Diego Ardigò, Executive Vice President, Global R&D at Chiesi, a biopharma company focused on respiratory health, rare diseases and specialty care. Respiratory medicine presents unique drug development challenges because successful therapies depend not only on the drug itself, but also on the formulation and delivery device. As innovation continues across asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), developers must balance performance, usability, sustainability and continuity of care. In this episode, Diego discusses how Chiesi approaches innovation in respiratory disease drug development and why developing inhaled therapies requires careful integration of drug formulation, device design and patient experience. The conversation also explores the growing focus on sustainability in respiratory care. Diego discusses how the industry can transition toward more environmentally sustainable inhaler options while maintaining treatment continuity for patients who are stable on their current therapies. In addition, Diego discusses the role of inhaler technique, patient behavior and long-term treatment adherence in shaping R&D decisions. Diego also explains why respiratory medicine offers valuable lessons for the broader pharmaceutical industry in balancing innovation, sustainability and patient-centered care. Tune in to learn more about the future of asthma and COPD drug development and how respiratory medicine is evolving to meet both patient and sustainability goals. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

In this week’s episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, host Vera Kovacevic, Editor-in-Chief at Xtalks, spoke with Hyung Heon Kim, CEO of MetaVia, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for cardiometabolic diseases. Mr. Kim discusses the evolving cardiometabolic disease landscape, including the connections between obesity, diabetes, liver disease and cardiovascular risk. He shares his perspective on how obesity care has changed in recent years, where unmet needs remain and how priorities such as muscle preservation, metabolic health and long-term durability are shaping the next stage of drug development. The conversation also explores MASH, a complex liver disease closely linked to metabolic dysfunction. Mr. Kim discusses why MASH remains difficult to diagnose, study and treat, and why broader treatment strategies may need to address underlying drivers such as insulin resistance, inflammation and lipid metabolism. Mr. Kim also explores the challenges of designing and conducting clinical trials in obesity and MASH. He shares his perspective on where the cardiometabolic field is headed and what biotech leaders should consider when working in fast-moving, highly competitive therapeutic areas. Tune in to learn more about the future of obesity, MASH and cardiometabolic disease treatment. For more life science and medical device content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage. https://xtalks.com/vitals/ Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xtalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtalks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured