Molecule to Market: Inside the outsourcing space

The CEO driven by lentiviral vector success

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Jon Alberdi, CEO at VIVEbiotech.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Jon, covering:

• Falling in love with the world of management and its role in influencing people and society
• Why, after 12 years in the B2B automotive sector, did he decide to jump into the life science space?
• His first impressions of the sector and the viral vector space, and why he saw nothing but potential to industrialize
• The before and after of a PE deal with Ampersand - speed, challenge, and intensity
• Riding the growth of CAR-T products, and which therapy areas are driving demand

Graduating in Economics from the University of the Basque Country - Sarriko, Bilbao, he received complementary education in management and leadership. His professional career is closely tied to the Financial Function of several companies operating in diverse sectors, including investment banking, sports service management, and the automotive and aftermarket industries. In 2008, he joined the global industrial public company GKN, where he held several financial controlling roles, including the R&D department at the worldwide product development centre.

He later moved to Germany to take on the responsibility of Financial Direction for a global business unit of GKN, where he stayed for five years until he joined VIVEbiotech, gaining a solid background in management within an international environment.

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Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.

 

The CRDMO CEO making his luck

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Philip Lee, CEO at GeneFab.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Philip, covering:

• The role of luck in the development of his entrepreneurial journey of multiple biopharma start-ups
• Bootstrapping a biological tech company and then selling to Millipore, along with lessons learnt from a more prominent global organization
• Building a new company from the back of a napkin to an IPO on the NASDAQ
• Creating a technology platform and operational capability with real therapeutic application that led to the spin-out of Genefab
• Bridging the gap for early-stage cell therapy companies with aligned incentives and a non-transactional model

Philip Lee is a bioengineer, biotechnology entrepreneur, and executive who has spent the last 20 years building companies and commercializing products, including cell and gene therapies, synthetic biology platforms, scientific instrumentation, cell culture systems, and advanced manufacturing services.

He has been the “first employee” at multiple ventures with leadership experience across diverse growth trajectories, including bootstrapping, VC and PE funding rounds, IPO, acquisition, and internal innovation within a large enterprise.

Philip holds degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the UC Berkeley/UCSF Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering. Philip is currently the founding CEO of GeneFab, a contract research, development, and manufacturing organization focused on supporting its clients in bringing innovative genetic medicines to needy patients. 

Before GeneFab, Philip was the Co-Founder and CTO of Senti Biosciences, a cell and gene therapy company applying gene circuit technology to improve the efficacy and safety of cancer cell therapies. Philip was also the co-founder and CEO of Cellasic Corp, a microfluidics instrumentation company that MilliporeSigma had acquired.

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.

The biotech CEO focused on curing paediatric deafness

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Jodi Cook PhD, President and CEO at Skylark Bio.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Jodi, covering:

• How a curiosity for unanswered questions led her to a PhD and a career in biotech… and, ultimately, the magical, rare experience of getting a product to market
• The full-circle moment that took Jodi from being an audiologist to becoming the preclinical biotech CEO of a gene therapy company focused on curing pediatric deafness
• The reality of running a biotech company in the most challenging climate in a long time - and why she treats every dollar in the business as if it were her own
• Dress to impress - no-nonsense advice on crafting the impression you want to leave on your audience
• Why does she allow herself to dream of what Skylark can achieve as a business and the profound impact of gene therapies on patients?

Jodi is an operationally focused business leader with experience across public and private biotechnology and medical device organizations. She brings a unique combination of scientific, clinical development, operational, and commercialization expertise to Skylark.

Before leading Skylark, Dr. Cook was Senior Vice President of Gene Therapy Strategy at PTC Therapeutics. Before that, she served as the founding Chief Operating Officer of Agilis Biotherapeutics, overseeing its $1 billion acquisition.

She earned her Ph.D. from Arizona State University, a Master’s in Audiology from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Maryland. She completed a fellowship at Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a Board Member of Fennec Pharmaceuticals and was previously Board Chair of STRM.BIO.

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.

 

Inside the mind of the CDMO customer

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Julien Laizé, Director External Manufacturing CTM at Valneva.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Julien, covering:

• Comparative views of being externally outsourced in large pharma's R&D vs a more action-oriented, small-med pharma company
• Taking us behind the scenes into in-housing vs outsourcing manufacturing decisions and CDMO identification...
• Why the selection process is becoming more and more challenging for buyers
• The importance of reputation and track record for CDMOs, and the value of being known as a specialist
• How do geopolitical issues and macro uncertainty play into the planning of external manufacturing?

 

Julien Laizé is a French/Italian executive with extensive and international experience in the vaccines and biologics industry. A Doctor of Pharmacy, Julien spent time at Siemens Healthineers, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly before joining Valneva, a specialty vaccine company focused on developing and commercializing prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

 

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.

The master-builder now on a cell therapy crusade

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Jason C. Foster, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director at Ori Biotech.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Jason, covering:

• How being frustrated by big company life led to the development of a business unit within Reckitt Benckiser that went on to be valued at $1bn
• The story of how a spin-out went on to list on the LSE with a cool $3.5bn market cap
• Taking his skills and experience before making 18+ healthcare start-up investments,... determined to add value beyond the cash
• Being wowed by the potential of CGTs and building the business he always wanted to work for in Ori

The mission is to build enabling technology for power cell therapy companies and cut down the manufacturing costs by at least 50% to improve accessibility and affordability.

Jason has held leading roles in consulting, healthcare and technology companies for over 20 years in the US, UK and Europe. He is CEO and Executive Director for Ori Biotech, a cell and gene therapy manufacturing technology start-up with offices in London and New Jersey.

He raised a $100M Series B funding round in December 2022. Jason also serves as a Non-Executive Director of London-based health tech start-ups gripAble and Credentially and Auxita Pty, an Australian healthcare data platform. As the Managing Director of Health Equity Consulting, he has advised PE/VC funds, family offices, accelerators and healthTech start-ups.

 

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.

From astrophysicist to biopharma industry leader

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Ben Locwin, Chief Scientist, Head of Clinical Services and Project Sciences at Black Diamond Networks (BDN).

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Ben, covering:

• Being part of the Lonza growth story in its 'scrappy' years
• Learning never to say no to a good opportunity and how that's opened many doors
• Becoming part of the more significant patient conversations at Biogen
• Dropping in seal teams to help companies do what they may never have achieved
• Why is change always inevitable in our sector, and what may the future hold for us all?

As the saying goes, we're all a product of our growth and past experiences. Ben Locwin is an industry and healthcare executive who has been variously described as a "Remarkably talented speaker" by the Association for Talent Development, a "Rockstar epidemiologist" by NPR, a "healthcare futurist" by Contract Pharma and Rodman Media, and "a good friend" by ...his friends.

He began his journey as an astrophysicist 30 years ago and then transitioned into the world of biotech in the 1990s when the nascent industry was yet poised to take over the world. He has specialized training as a neuroscientist and has worked with some of the top companies in the industry, both as a leader and a consultant.

He has been a member of several Boards, association committees, steering teams, Task Forces, and scientific advisory panels.

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.

From Big Pharma to Snapdragon

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Matthew Bio, CSO, Cambrex & President, Snapdragon Chemistry

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Matt, covering:

• The frustrating experience of not having ownership or being hands-on at big pharma middle management
• Recounting the early days of Snapdragon Chemistry and being in the right place at the right time to harness continuous process manufacturing
• Getting out of the way of your talented people to let them explore and shine
• The story behind how a proposed acquisition by Asymchem was blocked by the Treasury’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)...
• Deciding to choose and stay at Cambrex post-acquisition, and having the freedom to use Snapdragon as a catalyst for growth

Matt began his career in chemistry more than 30 years ago developing continuous processes for the manufacture and purification of acrylates at the former Rohm & Haas company. Matthew then moved to Columbia University and earned a PhD in Chemistry. Upon graduating, Matthew returned to industry as a process development chemist at Merck Research Laboratories. 

In 2006, Matthew moved to Amgen where he worked on the development of both batch and continuous manufacturing solutions for synthetic drug substances. He also worked on the development of new manufacturing technologies for synthetic – biologic hybrid molecules. In 2015, Matthew was a founding member Snapdragon Chemistry, Inc., a contract development firm specialized in continuous manufacturing technology. He is author or inventor on more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and patents, and numerous regulatory filings. Matthew is driven by a passion for the development of new chemical technologies.

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.

 

The LATAM CRO Queen

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Sara Tylosky, CEO at Farmacon Global.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Sara, covering:

• The gift and curse of being known for rescuing complex clinical trials
• The data challenge of rare diseases and how that impacts patient access
• Navigating the complexity of rare diseases in Latin America and why it all starts with education
• How her father's role in building space stations globally inspired her own international business journey
• The future of clinical trials and why Latin America is well positioned to be a leading player

Sara brings over 20 years of experience leading teams in both large and small pharmaceutical and biotech environments. She has led Farmacon Global, a strategic CRO of medical consultants, in accelerating clinical trials, increasing diversity, supporting enrollment, and paving the way to market access in emerging markets.

Known for her high cultural intelligence and problem-solving skills, Sara and her team specialize in Rare Diseases, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Cancer, and Vaccines. Fluent in Spanish and having lived on four continents, she has a special focus on Latin America while actively expanding into other key markets globally. Sara's direction plays a pivotal role in steering Farmacon Global toward healthcare innovation and global market leadership.

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.

 

The pulse of Big Pharma CEOs

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Ray Pressburger, Senior Managing Director, Accenture Strategy - Lead for Life Sciences and US Market Products Industries.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Ray, covering:

• Continuously making mistakes as an authentic leader, and his journey across two decades at Accenture
• The five most important themes for CEOs of the 10 big pharma firms...
• The dominant question of our moment... and an underappreciated issue going under the radar
• How AI and tech give us a chance to reimagine and rebuild from the ground up

Ray has 20 years of experience in strategy, growth, and transformation in the Life Sciences industry. He specializes in helping C-suite leaders navigate business unit and portfolio strategies, commercial model changes, and growth initiatives. Passionate about the evolving economic landscape, Ray works internationally, driving impactful change and innovation for clients in North America, Europe, and emerging markets. He holds a degree in Information and Systems Engineering from Lehigh University.

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.

How to plan for life sciences events in 2025

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Luke Bilton, Co-Founder at Life Science Networks, PharmaSource and CDMO Live.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Luke, covering:

• How Covid exposed the complacency of event organizers in pharma services
• Behind the scenes of organizing CPHI Worldwide - what's it really like - chaos or calm?
• How companies should be thinking about event budgeting, planning and ROI in 2025
• Beware 'the HIPPO' when planning which events to attend

Luke Bilton is Co-Founder of Life Science Networks, a next-generation community and events organization specializing in biopharma manufacturing. The company's growing portfolio includes the PharmaSource outsourcing podcast and online community, alongside its flagship event, CDMO Live.

With over 20 years experience launching and growing digital media and events businesses at companies including Informa, Future and Innovation Enterprise, Luke partnered with Chris Kilbee, former head of CPHI global events, to establish Life Science Networks.

CDMO Live (World Trade Center, Rotterdam, 7-8 May 2025) brings together biopharma's manufacturing leaders to optimize their outsourcing strategy. The event's unique PartnerMatch program facilitates curated one-to-one meetings between sponsors and over 50 leading CDMOs. To find out more, visit CDMO Live

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Molecule to Market is also sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.