Leading Beyond The Lab

From science fiction to clinical reality. What happens when cell therapy moves from promise to proof in patients who have run out of options?

This week on Leading Beyond the Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Amit Rakhit, Chief Medical Officer at BlueRock Therapeutics, to explore how regenerative medicine, leadership, and culture intersect at the most pivotal stages of biotech development.

A physician by training, Amit has built his career across large pharma and early stage biotech, including experience at Bristol Myers Squibb and Biogen, working on programmes ranging from rare disease to neurodegeneration. He is also a visible advocate for authenticity and inclusion within the life sciences industry.

In this episode, Amit covers:

• How BlueRock Therapeutics is translating the promise of cell therapy into real clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease, and why this moment is so significant for patients who have exhausted existing treatments (01:09)

• What it takes to balance bold scientific vision with realism, credibility, and execution when leading clinical programmes at a pivotal stage (03:29)

• The real differences between CEO and CMO roles, why leadership is not about hierarchy, and how self-awareness shapes long-term career impact (04:58)

• Why authenticity, diversity of thought, and culture consistently separate successful biotechs from those that struggle, more than metrics alone (06:37)

• Lessons from a career spanning programmes such as Plavix and Spinraza at Biogen, and what physician scientists should consider when transitioning into industry roles (12:00)

If you want to understand how science, leadership, and empathy come together to shape medicines that can truly change lives, this is an episode worth your time.

Check out the full conversation and hear directly from one of the industry’s most thoughtful clinical leaders.

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Amit Rakhit
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-rakhit/

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

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and background
01:09 Cell therapy and BlueRock Therapeutics’ mission
03:29 Leadership, credibility, and execution
04:58 CEO vs CMO roles in biotech
06:37 Authenticity, inclusion, and culture
09:24 What separates successful biotechs
12:00 Physician scientists transitioning into industry
18:34 Career-defining moments and resilience
22:38 The future of cell therapy and emerging modalities
24:32 AI in drug discovery and clinical development
26:26 Closing thoughts and where to connect

#LeadingBeyondTheLab #ARTOTalent #CellTherapy #BiotechLeadership #RegenerativeMedicine #LifeSciences #ClinicalDevelopment
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What does it really take to back and build world-class biotech companies from idea to FDA approval?

This week on Leading Beyond the Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Jonathan Tobin, Partner at Brandon Capital, to explore what truly drives success in life-science venture capital.

With over 20 years' experience spanning biotech investment, company creation, board leadership, and early-stage venture building, Jonathan has played a key role in building and scaling biotech companies across Europe, Australia and the US.

In this episode Jonathan covers:
- How Brandon Capital was co-founded in Australia by Chris Nave and Stephen Thompson, who grew it into a globally respected life sciences VC firm spanning company creation, long-term funding, and expansion in the US and UK.

- Jonathan reflects on how Brandon Capital has helped shape the Australian biotech ecosystem over the last almost 2 decades.

- Investments like AstronauTx, AdvanCell, Myricx Bio, and the stories from the frontline, including strategic pivots, tough decisions, successful exits, and the high-conviction bets that shaped portfolio outcomes.

- Practical, investor-led advice for founders raising venture capital; covering readiness, storytelling, common mistakes, and how to stand out in competitive funding rounds.

- How CatalYm has progressed deep into the clinic, and why Brandon Capital has supported the company through multiple funding rounds.

- Jonathan’s outlook on the future of biotech, from neuroscience and radiopharmaceuticals, to overlooked white-space opportunities shaping the next innovation cycle.

Be sure to check out the full episode of Leading Beyond the Lab, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with anyone building in biotech.

To listen to (or watch) the full episode, search "Leading Beyond The Lab Jonathan Tobin" on your preferred streaming platform.
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The CDMO Changing the Game in Drug Delivery

This week, in another episode of the Making it in Manufacturing Spotlight Series, we sit down with Ankit Gupta, CEO of Instapill, a company redefining oral drug delivery through freeze-dried, fast-dissolving tablets.

With over 15 years of experience spanning investment banking, M&A, and leadership roles in pharmaceutical manufacturing, Ankit brings a sharp perspective on scaling, innovation, and sustainable differentiation.

In this episode, Ankit covers:
Instapill’s unique FDA-approved non-gelatin ODT technology and why it’s transforming patient outcomes in paediatrics and geriatrics.
Scaling up manufacturing capacity in India and future expansion plans into the US, and how automation will maintain quality at scale.
How digital transformation and AI are shaping pharmaceutical manufacturing, from paperless R&D to data-driven precision in production.
What makes a CDMO attractive to investors, and how sustainable differentiation trumps trend-driven momentum.
Lessons from M&A and investment banking, and how they inform his approach as a CEO leading growth in a competitive CDMO landscape.

Be sure to check out this episode to hear how Instapill is not only innovating formulation, but reimagining the future of pharma manufacturing.

To listen to (or watch) the full episode, search "Making it in Manufacturing Instapill" on your preferred streaming platform. Or, click on the first link in the comments below.

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Ankit Gupta
CEO at Instapill
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reachankit/

Thomas McMann
Director - Contracts Division
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-mcmann-05540a10b/

Timestamps:
00:11 Stand Out FDA Approval & Speed to Market
08:00 Global Growth and Operations
10:55 Insights & Leadership Takeaways
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This episode is a masterclass in how world-class life sciences investors think about risk, conviction, and real patient impact.

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Nikhil Thatte, Partner at Lumira Ventures, a leading Canadian life sciences venture capital firm, with over a decade of experience backing transformative biotech and medtech companies across North America.

In this conversation, Nikhil shares how Lumira Ventures has built a top-quartile VC track record over multiple market cycles, investing across therapeutic areas including oncology, gene editing, gene therapy, immunology, cardiometabolic disease, and medical devices. He also reflects on his journey helping scale globally impactful healthcare companies while staying grounded in patient outcomes.

In this episode, Nikhil covers:

• How Lumira Ventures evaluates investment opportunities in today’s biotech market, including why clinical data, valuation discipline, and a clear path to liquidity now matter more than ever (08:38)

• Lessons from Lumira’s major exit successes, including Histosonics and Endotronix, and what made these companies stand out from an investor perspective, with insights into leadership, timing, and execution alongside Mike Blue at Histosonics (02:33)

• What truly differentiates exceptional founders and management teams, with real examples of conviction moments backing leaders such as Joanna Stanicka at Axonis and Jade Doucet-Martineau at Puzzle Med (22:08)

• Why Canada punches above its weight in life sciences innovation, the structural challenges holding the ecosystem back, and what must change to retain value domestically, including reflections on Canadian success stories discussed throughout the episode (17:40)

• The vision behind the Cancer Breakthrough Fund, Lumira’s partnership with the Terry Fox Foundation, and how this model brings new capital, clinical expertise, and impact-driven investors into oncology innovation (31:08)

If you want a rare, honest look inside how top life sciences VCs assess opportunity, leadership, and long-term value creation, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

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Nikhil Thatte
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhil-thatte-72372333/

Lawrence Rose
Director at ARTO
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Nikhil Thatte and Lumira Ventures
02:33 Major exits including Histosonics and Endotronix
05:30 Fund V and what drives LP conviction today
08:38 How Lumira evaluates deals in the current biotech market
17:40 Canada’s competitive advantages and ecosystem challenges
22:08 Backing exceptional founders and leadership teams
31:08 The Cancer Breakthrough Fund and Terry Fox Foundation partnership
37:00 Technologies and trends shaping the next 5–10 years
41:16 Patient impact and what ultimately motivates long-term investing

#LeadingBeyondTheLab #ARTOTalent #LifeSciences #BiotechVC #Medtech #VentureCapital #CanadianInnovation
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Cardio-metabolic diseases are the world’s biggest killer. But what if the next generation of treatments could change everything?

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Jyothis George, CMO of Nodthera, and a global thought leader in the obesity space, shaping the future of cardio-metabolic and inflammatory disease innovation. Jyothis has led global programs across GLP-1, SGLT2, PCSK9 and now the emerging NLRP3 inhibitor class. His work spans companies such as Novo Nordisk, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim and his move into biotech with NodThera marks a shift from big-Pharma leadership into next-wave therapeutic development.

In this episode, Jyothis covers:
- How NodThera is shaping the future of metabolic and inflammatory disease treatment.
- A look at the mindset and challenges behind leading in a high-stakes biotech environment.
- Why the right investors often play a critical mentorship role in biotech growth.
- Exploring why endocrinology remains underfunded and overlooked in biotech circles.
- How he previously worked with Eli Lilly (led by David Ricks), contributing to their efforts in the cardiometabolic space.
- Reflections on personal legacy, long-term impact, and how to get in touch.

If you’re interested in cardio-metabolic innovation, GLP-1 evolution, biotech strategy or leadership at the cutting edge of science, this episode is worth your time.

Follow ARTO
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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

Jyothis George
CMO at NodThera
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyothisgeorge/

Lawrence Rose
Co-Founder + Talent Solutions Director At ARTO
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps:
01:40 NodThera's Role in Future Endocrinology
10:48 Leadership in Biotech
21:05 Investment and Mentorship
30:58 Endocrinology's Underinvestment
38:13 Jyothis George: Legacy & Contact
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