Pathfinders in Biopharma

This episode of RBC Pathfinders in Biopharma explores how next-generation retinal gene therapies could transform treatment for patients with wet AMD and diabetic macular edema. CCBO of 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Chris Simms, discusses the promise of reducing the burden of frequent injections through long-lasting therapies designed to preserve vision for years. The conversation also examines the fi...

The U.S. administration is keen to sign up more companies to drug pricing deals, and mandatory rules are on the way. But how will the midterm elections affect these and other healthcare policy issues? At RBC’s Global Healthcare Conference, Hunter Hammond and Will Humphrey of Capstone’s healthcare group offered insights on the direction of policy for the rest of the year and beyond. Key Points Mand...

Life sciences is a hub of dealmaking activity. Over the past year, more than 30 transactions valued at $1 billion or more have crossed the finish line. But the picture in other segments of healthcare is more mixed. At RBC Capital Markets’ Global Healthcare Conference in New York, Darren Campili, Global Head of Healthcare Investment Banking, hosts colleagues David Levin, Ahmed Attia and Jason Levit...

Psychedelics are poised for a breakthrough in mainstream psychiatry, with high interest among physicians and patients alike. But does the infrastructure exist to deliver these treatments, given the clinical supervision required for administration? RBC’s researchers have been out in the field to find the answer. Brian Abrahams, Head of Global Healthcare Research, and Leonid Timashev, Biotechnology...

Strong launches, positive sentiment, flowing capital, and favorable macro and policy indicators: the signals remain strong as the biotech sector enters 2026. Yet investors may need to search harder for opportunities this year, according to new RBC research. Brian Abrahams, Head of Global Healthcare Research, highlights some of the classes set for new breakthroughs, and points to the potential trip...

Over the last 18 months, MindMed has undergone an extraordinary transformation. It released compelling data for its LSD-based drug MM120, followed by FDA breakthrough designation for MM120 for the treatment of GAD, and strong financial backing. CEO Rob Barrow outlines the company's ambitious goals and the path to potentially transforming mental healthcare at RBC's Global Healthcare Conference.

Eyepoint CFO George Elston provides insights on the evolving space of retinal disease treatment, focusing on capital allocation, medical innovation, industry engagement and financial prudence.

Paris Panayiotopoulos, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone Life Sciences, shares how the firm’s broad life sciences strategy has been advancing innovation across the life sciences ecosystem in three key ways: late-stage product financing (Collaboration) and new company creation (Ownership), and non-dilutive financing (Credit and Royalties). He explains how Blackstone is bridging the innovation...

Compass Pathways CEO Kabir Nath believes psilocybin-based therapy could be transformational for patients with treatment-resistant depression—and his company is already preparing to deliver it at scale. Speaking at RBC Capital Markets’ Global Healthcare Conference, Nath shares his vision for Compass and the future of psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression.

Every year, flu vaccine manufacturers have to guess what strains to target next season, with varying success. Cidara Therapeutics believes it may have a better alternative. President and CEO Jeff Stein explains how Cidara's laser-like focus on developing CD388, a single-dose antiviral targeting all flu strains, has brought the 40-person company on the verge of a public health breakthrough. Cidara...

Pravin Dugel, CEO of Ocular Therapeutix provides insights into existing treatments and future product candidates for retinal diseases, underlining the unique challenges, opportunities and innovations in this evolving landscape. www.ocutx.com Pravin U. Dugel, MD Biography

A surgeon in burns reconstruction, Matt Klein swapped the operating room for the equally high-pressure environment of drug development. In this episode of Pathfinders in Biopharma, he sets out the vision for the company he now leads, PTC Therapeutics – a pioneer in the field of RNA therapies, now powering towards profitability with treatment candidates for a host of rare diseases.

Scott Neidhold, Director in RBC’s Life Sciences Investment Banking Practice, sits down with Kristen Fortney, CEO and Co-Founder of BioAge, for a deep dive into how her company is turning cutting-edge aging science into real therapeutic breakthroughs — and what it means for the future of biopharma.

Universal wisdom had it that a Republican sweep in the U.S. election would favor biotech. Appointments to the new administration’s healthcare leadership make that far less certain. What effect will this and other factors have on the industry in 2025, and where are the breakthroughs likely to be found? Brian Abrahams, Head of Global Healthcare Research at RBC Capital Markets, looks ahead with in th...

Innovation is surging in the U.S biotechnology sector, so why are investors still fearful about committing? Noël Brown, Head of U.S. Biotechnology Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets, is joined by fund founders Craig Gordon, MD, CEO and CIO at GordonMD® Global Investments LP and Srini Akkaraju, MD, PhD, Managing Partner at Samsara BioCapital, to analyze the prospects for a full return of cap...

Former biotech investor, Brad Loncar has pivoted his career from investing to reporting on the industry. Instead of serving the biotech bubble, he hopes to reach a wide audience with interest in science. Loncar explains why he switched careers and sets out his ambitions for his channel, Biotech TV.

The hardest parts of drug discovery will be vastly simplified if the mysteries of molecules and proteins can be cracked. That may be beyond human capabilities – but AI is working hard on it. In this episode of RBC’s Pathfinders in Biopharma, Noël Brown is joined by Clarissa Desjardins, CEO of Congruence, and Laksh Aithani, CEO and Co-founder of Charm Therapeutics, to discuss how far the tech can t...

A very special breed of animals is helping biotech and pharma companies in the quest for new human therapeutics. CFO Kurt Gustafson joins Pathfinders in Biopharma to explain the technologies behind OmniAb’s business model.

Ronald Martell is a serial entrepreneur and biopharma veteran whose record includes the launch of Herceptin. He continues his mission to bring new drugs to patients with unmet medical needs. The CEO of Jasper Therapeutics explains his ambitions for his company’s new antibody therapy and for the future of the industry. 

In biotech, a recovery is already well underway. Expected interest rate cuts and improving valuations across public and private markets are creating a compelling environment for deals, entrances, exits, and trades to take shape. In this episode, biotech venture capital experts assess the sector’s sharper focus on funding fundamental science, evolving deal structures, including the return of revers...

Public biotech Pyxis Oncology is taking forward its innovative work on ADCs. President and CEO, Lara Sullivan, explains the company’s journey to find the right investors, and why she believes the markets still have some learning to do when analyzing data from early-stage studies.

Davern Capital’s founder, Elie Kobrin, approaches the biopharma market from a long/short perspective – but as a former doctor, he also speaks the language of medicine. He explains the fund’s approach and offers insights on hot topics in the current market.

As a healthcare-focused, market-neutral investor, Vince Aita stays close to new product developments with a view to identifying future successes and failures. At RBC’s Global Healthcare Conference, he offered his insights on everything from the future of obesity innovation to the impact of the IRA.

The MedTech sector continues to grow in the U.S. as innovation in patient treatments and delivery meets increased demand from an aging population. Medical technology analyst Shagun Singh assesses key data points from the RBC Capital Markets’ Doctor Days events, looking at how the healthcare sector can empower investors to position themselves for future growth.

Personalized, targeted drugs and gene therapies are still at the forefront of medical innovation, as we discovered at RBC Capital Markets annual Doctor Days meetings. These insightful forums bring together key opinion leader clinicians and researchers from various therapeutic fields with institutional investors to discuss where opportunities lie, the next big breakthroughs, and the most novel drug...