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What does it take to improve a drug discovery success rate of less than 1%? In this episode, Yann Gaston-Mathé explains how AI, robotics, and laboratory automation are being combined to accelerate the development of new medicines and tackle some of the industry's most challenging drug targets.

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Yann Gaston-Mathé, CEO and Co-Founder of Iktos, with more than 20 years of experience spanning pharmaceutical R&D, data science, IT, strategic consulting, entrepreneurship, and AI-driven drug discovery.

In this episode, Yann Gaston-Mathé covers:

• How Iktos is tackling the inefficiency of small molecule drug discovery and why overall success rates remain below 1%

• What differentiates Iktos from other AI drug discovery companies by combining generative AI with laboratory automation and robotic synthesis

• The journey from large pharmaceutical organisations into entrepreneurship and the founding story behind Iktos in 2016

• How AI, predictive modelling, robotics and iterative design-make-test cycles are transforming drug discovery workflows

• Why the next frontier for AI in healthcare is improving clinical success rates and reducing development timelines that currently take 8 to 10 years

Yann provides a practical perspective on where AI is creating real value in drug discovery, the importance of combining software with experimental science, and why human expertise remains central to the future of pharmaceutical innovation.

If you're interested in AI, biotechnology, drug discovery, pharmaceutical R&D, laboratory automation, or the future of healthcare innovation, this episode offers valuable insight from someone building and deploying these technologies today.

Throughout the conversation, Lawrence and Yann discuss the evolution of @Iktos, collaborations across the pharmaceutical industry, and lessons learned from working with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners.

Follow ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalent

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ng

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575

Website: https://arto-talent.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalent

Yann Gaston-Mathé

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yann-gaston-mathe-9850a21/

Lawrence Rose

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and episode highlights

01:37 Welcome to Leading Beyond The Lab

07:19 The founding story behind Iktos

08:05 Career journey through pharma, consulting, IT and data science

10:09 Leaving large pharmaceutical companies for entrepreneurship

11:10 How the Iktos platform works

16:41 Automation and scaling medicinal chemistry workflows

22:03 Measuring impact, speed and efficiency in drug discovery

26:19 Competition within AI drug discovery

27:30 The future of AI in pharmaceutical R&D

29:35 Building strategic pharmaceutical partnerships

30:52 Evaluating new collaboration opportunities

32:18 Working across global cultures and organisations

33:35 Creating value through partnerships

35:45 Scaling resources and managing growth

41:09 Challenges in building automated laboratory infrastructure

42:12 Will AI replace chemists?

45:29 Will AI ever fully replace human scientists?

47:59 What continues to motivate Yann Gaston-Mathé

49:24 Advice for the next generation of scientists

50:38 Science, technology and the future workforce

51:06 Closing remarks

#LeadingBeyondTheLab #ARTOTalent #DrugDiscovery #ArtificialIntelligence #Biotech #Pharmaceuticals #LifeSciences #LaboratoryAutomation #MachineLearning #HealthcareInnovation #DrugDevelopment #GenerativeAI

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Can targeting IRhom2 unlock a new generation of autoimmune disease treatments?

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Jan Poth and Jens Ruhe of SciRhom, discussing a new therapeutic approach focused on IRhom2 and TACE inhibition in autoimmune disease.

The conversation explored the scientific origins of the company, lessons from failed inflammatory pathway inhibitors, and the challenge of building a biotech platform in one of the toughest funding environments in recent years.

In this episode, Jan Poth and Jens Ruhe cover:

• Why previous TACE inhibitors failed and how targeting IRhom2 could offer a more selective approach to inflammatory diseases

• The scientific breakthrough that convinced the founding team IRhom2 could be druggable despite industry skepticism at the time (Carl Blobel, Hospital for Special Surgery)

• Why combining multiple inflammatory pathways may be necessary to move beyond the efficacy ceiling seen with TNF and IL-6 inhibitors

• How the company secured an oversubscribed Series A after speaking with more than 150 investors over two years, with backing from Wellington Partners, Hadean Ventures, Kurma Partners, Andera Partners, MIG Capital, Bayern Kapital, and HTGF

• The roadmap for S878, expectations for the upcoming Phase I trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients, and the long-term ambition to become the defining company in IRhom2 therapeutics.

This episode offers a detailed look into modern biotech company building, translational immunology, and the realities of advancing a first-in-class therapeutic platform from concept to clinic. If you are interested in autoimmune disease innovation, antibody development, biotech financing, or platform company strategy, this conversation is well worth your time.

Follow ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalent

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ng

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575

Website: https://arto-talent.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalent

Jan Poth & Jens Ruhe

CEO & COO at SciRhom

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-poth-a79424136/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jens-ruhe/

Lawrence Rose

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to immune system complexity and inflammatory disease challenges

01:38 Podcast introduction and overview of SciRhom’s approach

02:30 The origins of targeting IRhom2 and TACE

05:20 The founding of SciRhom and early scientific conviction

06:39 Discovering IRhom2 surface accessibility with Carl Blobel

08:26 Combining inflammatory pathway inhibition

12:14 Complexity of the immune system and autoimmune disease treatment

14:20 Why single pathway inhibitors reach an efficacy ceiling

18:15 Raising a successful Series A in a difficult biotech market

20:23 Overview of lead candidate S878 and upcoming Phase I trial

24:15 Fundraising challenges and early investor support from HTGF

31:47 Key milestones and expectations for Phase I readouts

34:22 Building a pipeline around IRhom2 biology

35:24 Balancing speed, capital efficiency, and scientific rigor

39:55 Founder dynamics and collaborative decision-making

43:12 Bringing commercial development expertise into biotech strategy

49:11 Balancing patient impact with commercial success

49:45 Long-term vision for SciRhom and IRhom2 therapeutics

52:30 AI, technology, and reducing drug development costs

55:11 Shared mission and improving outcomes for autoimmune disease patients

56:34 Closing remarks

#LeadingBeyondTheLab #ARTOTalent #Biotech #Immunology #AutoimmuneDisease #DrugDevelopment #AntibodyTherapeutics #RheumatoidArthritis #LifeSciences

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This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Megan McGill, CEO of Brenig Therapeutics, with years of experience spanning biotech leadership, strategy, clinical medicine, management consulting and neuroscience research.

In this episode, Megan covers:

• Why Brenig Therapeutics is targeting neuroinflammation and Parkinson’s disease through LRRK2 and NLRP3 inhibitors, and how the company is positioning itself within the rapidly evolving neurodegenerative disease landscape.

• How AI and machine learning are being used across medicinal chemistry and drug development at Brenig through investment from Torrey Pines, OrbiMed, New Enterprise Associates, BioGeneration Ventures, to optimise brain penetration, selectivity and safety profiles simultaneously.

• Why Megan believes an MD and PhD background is critical in biotech leadership, combining a deep understanding of disease biology with a real-world understanding of patients and unmet medical needs.

• The realities of building a career in medicine, biotech and leadership while raising children as a single mother, and the leadership lessons around empathy, patience and resilience that came from that experience.

• Why neuroscience investment remains significantly underfunded despite the growing global burden of neurodegenerative disease, and what needs to change across biotech, pharma and venture capital to accelerate progress in CNS innovation.

• Lawrence and Megan also discuss organisations and companies including Eli Lilly and Company, McKinsey & Company, BridgeBio Pharma and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Be sure to check out the full episode to hear Megan’s perspective on the future of neuroscience, biotech leadership and the evolving role of AI across drug development.

Follow ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalent

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ng

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575

Website: https://arto-talent.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalent

Megan McGill

CEO at Brenig Therapeutics

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcgillmegan/

Lawrence Rose

Consulting Director at ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:21 Megan’s background across medicine, biotech and neuroscience

03:03 Joining Brenig Therapeutics and the company’s pipeline

04:16 LRRK2 and NLRP3 inhibitors in Parkinson’s disease

05:23 The growing neuroinflammation landscape

06:51 Phase 1 clinical trial milestones and biomarkers

07:23 Why Brenig chose Parkinson’s disease

10:14 AI medicinal chemistry and machine learning in drug discovery

12:08 How AI is changing biotech operations and strategy

14:20 Brenig’s Series B strategy and upcoming milestones

15:57 Building efficient biotech teams and scaling operations

17:30 Leadership inspiration and high-performing teams

18:46 The advantages of being an MD and PhD in biotech leadership

21:16 Commercial partnerships and pharma collaboration strategy

23:08 Digital biomarkers, diagnostics and wearable technology

28:06 Balancing medicine, biotech leadership and motherhood

33:30 Mentorship, McKinsey and learning commercial strategy

37:00 Leadership communication and simplifying complexity

38:23 What defines elite biotech teams and company culture

40:40 Brenig’s board, investors and strategic support

43:16 Building a culture of excellence in a virtual biotech company

46:13 The future of neuroscience and neurodegenerative disease

50:25 Clinical trial recruitment and patient engagement

52:34 The Biotech CEO Sisterhood and women in biotech leadership

56:17 Diversity, leadership and representation in biotech

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Can AI become a universal simulator of biology, helping predict disease, improve drug success rates, and reshape how medicine is developed?

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Jean-Philippe Vert, Co-Founder and CEO of Bioptimus, with decades of experience spanning artificial intelligence, computational biology, academia and big tech, including leadership roles at Google, and work influenced by breakthroughs such as DeepMind’s AlphaFold.

In this episode, Jean-Philippe covers:

• Why Bioptimus is focused on understanding patient biology, not simply designing molecules, and why that could change drug development.

• How AI-powered decision systems could improve translational research, clinical trial design, patient recruitment and disease prediction.

• Why Jean-Philippe left Google to build Bioptimus, and why foundation models for biology may represent a major shift in medicine.

• How partnerships across healthcare systems, pharma and research institutions are helping build the data infrastructure behind biological foundation models, with perspectives shaped alongside leaders including Sarah Teichmann (Professor at Cambridge University) and Caroline Uhler (Professor at MIT)

• What makes AI in biology defensible, from proprietary data partnerships and elite interdisciplinary teams, to support from investors including Edward Kliphuis (Sofinnova Partners), Bpifrance, Cathay Investments.

A thoughtful conversation on AI, biology, and the future of medicine. From lessons learned in big tech to what it takes to build enduring platforms in TechBio, this is a considered discussion for anyone interested in where scientific discovery is heading.

Be sure to check out the full episode.

Follow ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalent

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ng

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575

Website: https://arto-talent.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalent

Jean-Philippe Vert

CEO at Bioptimus

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-philippe-vert/

Lawrence Rose

Talent Solutions Director at ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and vision for AI as a universal simulator of biology

01:41 Introducing Jean-Philippe Vert and @Bioptimus

02:27 What Bioptimus is doing differently in AI biology

07:46 AI decision systems and improving clinical development

12:52 Early disease detection and predictive healthcare

15:28 Why Jean-Philippe left @Google

19:21 Building and sourcing biological data at scale

22:19 Partnerships and foundation models

28:04 Lessons from big tech

33:23 Defensibility in AI biology

37:09 Building interdisciplinary teams and culture

39:28 AI in healthcare, hype versus infrastructure

41:20 What AI means for doctors

43:10 What may define lasting AI-biology companies

45:05 Challenges of building Bioptimus

48:13 Prioritisation and deciding where to focus

51:33 Mentorship, leadership and building teams

53:02 Communicating vision to boards and investors

55:33 What success looks like in ten years

#LeadingBeyondTheLab #ARTOTalent #TechBio #ArtificialIntelligence #DrugDiscovery #ComputationalBiology #PrecisionMedicine

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to build not just one billion-dollar company, but seven and start again after losing it all? In this episode, Robert Wessman shares the mindset, discipline and foresight behind building one of the world’s most ambitious biosimilars platforms.

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Robert Wessman, Founder and Executive Chairman, with over 25 years of experience spanning global pharmaceuticals, generics, biosimilars and serial entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Robert Wessman covers:

(01:12) Why biologics dominate the future of pharmaceuticals and the urgent need to expand access through biosimilars, with treatment costs reaching up to $100,000 per patient annually

(04:10) Building seven companies including six unicorns, and scaling a global generics business across 80+ countries with over 16,500 employees

(12:32) The seven-pillar framework behind building high-performance culture, including vision setting, team alignment and execution discipline

(18:14) The importance of timing in biotech, and how starting too early or too late in biosimilars can determine success or failure

(38:16) Strategic foresight in action, from anticipating regulatory changes to building one of the largest biosimilars pipelines with over 30 products

This conversation offers a clear, experience-backed perspective on scaling in life sciences, building resilient organisations and making high-impact decisions in complex markets. If you are working in biotech, pharma or leadership, this episode provides practical insights worth applying.

Follow ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalent

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ng

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575

Website: https://arto-talent.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@life_sciences

Robert Wessman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wessman/

Lawrence Rose

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:46 The global cost challenge of biologics

01:12 Market dynamics and future of biosimilars

03:11 Origins of building multiple pharma companies

04:10 Scaling Actavis into a global leader

05:22 Repeatable frameworks for building companies

06:53 Execution, culture and operational excellence

10:01 Building Alvotech in Iceland

11:10 Hiring globally and building culture

12:32 The seven pillars of high-performance culture

15:28 Execution and accountability at scale

17:03 Scaling rapidly while maintaining culture

18:14 Timing the biosimilars market

19:27 Fundraising and early-stage selling

22:07 Building partnerships and licensing strategy

24:21 Manufacturing strategy and infrastructure

25:49 Business development and commercial model

27:11 Building global supply chains

28:23 Transitioning leadership roles

30:29 Evolution of CEO skillsets

32:03 AI and the future of work in pharma

34:03 Hiring for high-performance teams

36:33 Managing risk and operational challenges

37:07 Reducing development costs through foresight

38:16 Scaling pipeline strategy

40:25 Patent challenges and market barriers

42:19 Anticipating market shifts in biologics

44:11 Navigating setbacks and industry challenges

45:26 Market dynamics and global pricing pressures

47:08 Why Iceland as a strategic base

50:47 Attracting global talent to Iceland

53:09 Capital markets and disciplined growth

54:40 Risks of overfunding

55:04 Personal story and adversity

58:19 Near-death cycling accident

01:00:30 Recovery and resilience

01:05:55 Impact on mindset and life perspective

#LeadingBeyondTheLab #ARTOTalent #Biotech #Pharmaceuticals #Biosimilars #LifeSciences #Leadership

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is beginning to uncover medicines that humans alone could never design.

This week on another episode of Leading Beyond the Lab, we host James Field, CEO and Founder of LabGenius Therapeutics, a company pioneering the use of machine learning, robotics, and synthetic biology to engineer the next generation of therapeutic antibodies.

With over a decade of experience spanning AI-driven drug discovery, protein engineering, and synthetic biology, James founded LabGenius Therapeutics to rethink how biologic medicines are discovered.

In this episode, James discusses:

- The founding story of LabGenius Therapeutics and how its AI-guided experimentation platform is transforming antibody engineering.

- The companies backing by leading investors including Kindred Capital (Leila Zegna), Lux Capital, Obvious Ventures, M Ventures, and Octopus Ventures, and is guided by industry leaders such as Edwin Moses, the company’s Chairman and a veteran biotech executive.

- LabGenius Therapeutics' collaboration with Sanofi, and how partnerships between biotech startups and global pharma companies are helping translate AI-designed antibodies into real therapeutic pipelines.

- The importance of global scientific conferences such as European Society for Medical Oncology, where breakthroughs in oncology and biologics are shaping the future of therapeutic development.

- The mentors and inspirations that shaped his journey into biotech, from his university lecturers at Imperial College London to industry leaders like Edwin Moses, who now serves as Chairman of LabGenius Therapeutics and has played a key role in guiding the company’s growth.

If you're interested in AI-driven drug discovery, biotech entrepreneurship, and the future of medicine, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

Follow ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalent

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ng

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575

Website: https://arto-talent.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artotalent

Dr. James Field

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-field-7518a05b/

Lawrence Rose

Co-Founder + Talent Solutions Director At ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps:

02:40 Rewriting the Rules of Drug Discovery

16:21 Scaling Innovation

37:29 AI, Motivation & Purpose

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What if we could predict whether a drug will work, before it ever reaches a patient?

This week, in another episode of Leading Beyond the Lab, we host a co-guest episode featuring Nik Sharma, CEO & Co-Founder of BioCortex, a trained neurologist with years of experience spanning clinical medicine, ALS research, academia (Cambridge, NIH) and more. And Muhannad Alomari, CTO & Co-Founder, with over a decade of experience spanning aerospace engineering, AI leadership and physics-based systems modelling.

In this episode, the duo covers:

• Why bacteria inside tumours may explain clinical trial variability, how “in silico bridge trials” could reshape oncology development, and how BioCortex plans to translate that science into commercial inflection points, global licensing models, and long-term value creation without taking traditional pipeline risk.
• From partnerships with CD BioPharma, they explain how global clinical strategy, particularly leveraging innovation and trial infrastructure emerging from China, is reshaping how oncology assets are advanced and positioned for global success.
• They also discuss investor backing from Edward Kliphuis from Sofinnova, Hussein Kanji from Hoxton Ventures and Draper Associates, and how capital discipline combined with deep-tech engineering principles (inspired by Rolls-Royce and even NASA) is shaping a new model for oncology drug development.
• They also reflect on visiting leading oncology centres in China alongside HSBC and AstraZeneca, highlighting the sheer scale and speed of patient recruitment, momentum that was clearly visible in multiple back-to-back presentations at ASCO, signalling a structural shift in global cancer innovation.

This is a conversation about speed, probability, biology, engineering, and ultimately, time. Because for patients, time is everything.

To listen to (or watch) the full episode, search “Leading Beyond the Lab BioCorteX” on wherever you get your podcasts, or click on the first link in the comments below.

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