A Dose of Reality with Charles Spence

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Aug 2026

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Welcome to “A Dose of Reality”, the podcast where we infuse insight, laughter, and practical wisdom into the world of clinical leadership and career development. Hosted by Charles Spence, each episode offers a deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of clinical leadership, providing listeners with meaningful conversations, career insights, and a dose of inspiration to navigate their professional journeys. Whether you're a director, a C-level executive, or a clinical researcher in oncology bio-techs, this podcast is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in your field. So, visit our website at www.discera-search.com, and tune in to A Dose of Reality for your prescription of career wisdom, leadership insights, and a healthy dose of laughter. Subscribe now and join us on the journey to becoming global clinical leaders!

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August 10, 202637 min

Juho Jalkanen, CEO at Faron Pharmaceuticals on From Surgeon to CEO, Rethinking Boards, and Fighting for the Right Science

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Juho Jalkanen, CEO of Faron Pharmaceuticals — a publicly listed Finnish biotech building novel immunotherapies for blood cancers. Juho's path is unlike most you'll hear in biotech: trained vascular surgeon, PhD in molecular biology, business school graduate, and father of five. He eventually left the operating table to join his parents' company, Faron, where his mother's decades of university immunology research became the foundation for what is now one of the most exciting programs in high-risk MDS. We covered the Traumakine Phase 3 failure, the deep frustration of being completely ignored during COVID when he believed they had the right drug, and how Faron rebuilt itself from a respiratory trial company into a serious oncology player. We also got into the board structure he's deliberately built to be unlike most you'll see, and what it really takes to scale a company when the pharma ecosystem around you is still finding its feet.We wrapped things up with a quick round of mystery questions Juho hadn't seen coming. Outside of running a listed biotech and raising five kids, he recharges the Finnish way — out in nature with his family.Here's What You're In ForWhy a vascular surgeon walked away from the operating table to run a biotechThe family origin story behind Clever-1 and Faron PharmaceuticalsHow a Phase 3 failure set the stage for what came nextThe COVID frustration: having the right drug and nobody willing to listenWhat Clever-1 is, why it matters, and why the biology can't be shortcutThe MDS data turning heads at ASCO, ESMO, and ASH — and what comes nextWhat a CEO actually thinks about when moving from early to the pivotal stageThe CMC blind spot that catches most biotechs off guardHow Juho built a board that mirrors the C-suite — and why that logic mattersWhy CMOs and CSOs can get onto boards, but have to start in the right placeTimestamps01:49 – Origins of Clever-1 and the family story behind Faron Pharmaceuticals05:35 – Career highpoint: caring for a dying father-in-law and what it means to fight cancer06:50 – Career lowpoint: Traumakine Phase 3 failure and two years of being ignored during COVID12:53 – Faron's elevator pitch: what the company does and why it exists14:42 – Bexmarilimab (BEX) and why macrophages are the hidden driver of treatment resistance16:30 – The Phase 1/2 results: 64% response rate and 14.5-month survival in high-risk MDS19:36 – Next 12–18 months: €40M raised, Phase 2b underway, investigator-led trials in sarcoma and beyond23:12 – What CEOs have to think about at late stage: CMC, fundraising, and clinical navigation27:42 – Mirroring the C-suite and deliberately avoiding the VC-heavy default34:33 – Quick-fire questions: books, interferon biology, and what keeps him sane in FinlandAbout JuhoDr. Juho Jalkanen is the CEO of Faron Pharmaceuticals, a publicly listed clinical-stage Finnish biotech developing novel immunotherapies for blood cancers, with a lead asset, bexmarilimab, targeting Clever-1 on immunosuppressive macrophages. He holds an MD (vascular surgery), a PhD in molecular biology, and a business school degree — and transitioned from active surgical practice into leading Faron, a company built on his mother's immunology research and spun out by his father from the University of Turku. His work sits at the intersection of deep biology and late-stage oncology drug development. Outside of leading a publicly listed company and raising five kids, Juho recharges in the Finnish outdoors — in nature with his family.Connect with Juho:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juho-jalkanen-md-phd-2176a83/Faron Pharmaceuticals: https://faron.com/About CharlesMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/Website: https://www.discera-search.com/Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

June 15, 202639 min

Tobias Kampfenkel, MD, MHBA, Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Miltenyi Biomedicine, on Transformative Drugs in Oncology and Autoimmunity: It's Always the Team!

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Tobias Kampfenkel, Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Miltenyi Biomedicine. Tobias spent nearly a decade at Janssen building the daratumumab story from the German launch and HTA negotiations through global pivotal trials and regulatory submissions — and then did it again with two bispecific antibodies in multiple myeloma. In early 2025, he made a deliberate move to Miltenyi Biomedicine, stepping into an executive committee role to lead a CAR-T program now being tested in autoimmune diseases — one of the most fascinating and fast-moving intersections in drug development right now.We go deep on what it actually feels like when a late-stage program doesn't land, how to hold a team together after a major setback, and the real tension between hiring for hard skills versus hiring for cultural fit. We also explore what the CAR-T revolution in autoimmune disease could mean for patients who have been on lifelong immunosuppression — and why some people are beginning, very carefully, to use the word "cure." Outside the office, Tobias is a racket sports enthusiast, a recreational runner, an avid reader, and an occasional piano player — and someone who will happily trade a busy schedule for a quiet weekend on a small Dutch island with no traffic and nothing to do.Here's What You're In ForWhy leadership during failure is about being active, not assuming everyone is okayWhy some hard skills in drug development can only be built through repetition, not readingWhat it's like to move intentionally from Big Pharma to a smaller, more entrepreneurial companyTimestamps03:39 – Whether his MHBA at Erlangen-Nürnberg was coincidence or connected to the CASEL trial04:54 – A decade with daratumumab and what deep team ownership really feels like07:13 – When a major readout doesn't land and what that does to a team12:49 – Miltenyi's core strengths in CAR-T manufacturing and the blind spots of a multi-business organization15:55 – Bridging oncology and autoimmunity across zamtocell and zorpocell19:59 – Balancing modality expertise, disease experience, seniority, and culture when building a team23:44 – What moving deliberately from J&J to a smaller company actually teaches you27:32 – Tobias's first time in autoimmune drug development and the learning curve that came with it29:39 – The first ever CAR-T treatment in a patient with systemic lupus in 202132:52 – What early safety data from CAR-T in autoimmune patients is starting to show34:13 – In vivo CAR-T, solid tumors, and where cell and gene therapy is heading in the next 10 years38:19 – Why this is one of the most exciting times to be working in this spaceAbout TobiasTobias Kampfenkel, MD, MHBA, is the Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Miltenyi Biomedicine, and a member of the company's executive committee. A board-certified internist and hematologist/oncologist, Tobias spent nearly a decade at Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), where he led clinical development across multiple myeloma programs including daratumumab (Darzalex) and bispecific antibodies teclistamab and talquetamab — spanning the German launch and HTA negotiations through to global pivotal trials and regulatory submissions. In early 2025, he joined Miltenyi Biomedicine to lead their CAR-T programs in autoimmune diseases, including studies in systemic lupus and systemic sclerosis. He also holds a Master's in Health Business Administration from the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg.Outside the office, Tobias is a racket sports enthusiast — tennis and badminton both — a recreational runner, an avid reader, and an occasional piano player. Above all, he values time with family and friends, which keeps him grounded amid a demanding professional life. Welcome, Tobias.Connect with TobiasLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-kampfenkel-m-d-mhba-026b54b9/ Miltenyi Biomedicine: https://www.miltenyi-biomedicine.com/About CharlesMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/Website: https://www.discera-search.com/Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

May 31, 202638 min

Sofia Heigis, CEO of OncoPeptides, From Sales Rep to CEO, Being "Present", and Hiring for Self-Insight

In this episode, I talked with Sofia Heigis, Chief Executive Officer of OncoPeptides, about a career path that did not start where she expected. Sofia originally wanted to move into clinical operations, but her first role in pharma ended up being in sales — a move that shaped everything that came after it. We talk about why early career detours can matter more than people think, what tough roles teach you about value and resilience, and why some of the best foundations are built in jobs people do not initially want.Sofia also opens up about the more personal side of leadership: raising three children while building a senior career, dealing with the guilt that can come with travel and time away, and learning how to be fully present instead of constantly split between work and home. We also get into OncoPeptides’ journey through a difficult period, why she stepped into the CEO role internally, how she thinks about culture and hiring, what is next for the business in Europe and glioblastoma, and the reality of board roles and strategic decision-making. Toward the end, we also touch on more personal quick-fire reflections, including what she is most grateful for and the soft skill she most wants her children to develop.Here’s What You’re In ForWhat “being present” really looks like at work and at homeWhy self-insight matters more than polished interview answersHow she thinks about board roles, contribution, and strategic fitTimestamps02:59 – How Sofia got her first pharma role after aiming for clinical operations05:03 – Why she believes sales can be one of the best starts in pharma07:38 – Career, motherhood, and the myth that you have to choose one11:30 – Dealing with guilt, travel, and being away from family13:47 – What OncoPeptides does and why its peptide drug conjugates stand out15:44 – Why she stepped into the CEO role and what she wanted to stabilize19:28 – The culture she wants at OncoPeptides and how she hires for it24:42 – What 2026 and 2027 look like for OncoPeptides across Europe, glioblastoma, and Japan28:42 – What a board really does and how people can position themselves for board roles37:43 – What she is most grateful for and the soft skill she wants her children to developAbout SofiaSofia Heigis is the Chief Executive Officer of Oncopeptides, a Swedish biotech listed on Nasdaq Stockholm that focuses on targeted therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Sofia started her career at Astrazeneca, first as a Sales Rep in 2006, then into Clinical Operations, then Medical Affairs and then eventually into VP positive leading the Medical and Regulatory teams across the entire Nordic + Baltic regions.And similarly at Onco she joined to lead their Global Medical Affairs and then moved into CCO and GM positions and now the CEO. Outside of this she is a mother of 3, and loves nature.Connect with Sofia:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-heigis-%E2%99%A6%EF%B8%8F-00b9205/Website: https://oncopeptides.com/en/About meMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/Website: https://www.discera-search.com/Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

May 18, 202633 min

Jens Lindberg, CEO at Medivir, on The Biotech Rollercoaster - Medivir´s Previous Four Months (and Biotech Today in 2026)

In this episode, I talked with Jens Lindberg, CEO of Medivir AB, a Swedish biotech developing innovative therapies in liver cancer and rare disease. Jens brings over 30 years of late-stage development and commercialisation experience—including 25 years at AstraZeneca—where he worked on blockbuster drugs such as Tagrisso and Lynparza.Jens opens up about the moment he was handed the global commercial lead role for what the company believed would be its next blockbuster—only to realise the asset was significantly overvalued. What followed was one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do professionally: telling senior leadership that the people who licensed the asset were wrong—without making them feel that way. We also get into Medivir's turbulent last few months: a forced pivot from a multi-country Phase 2b study, a round of layoffs, and then a dramatic reversal with new investors coming on board and two programs now moving forward at the same time. For anyone trying to understand what fundraising truly looks like in today's biotech environment, Jens is direct about how completely his approach to investor relations has had to change since 2022. When he's not steering Medivir through the ups and downs of biotech, Jens is out on the cross-country ski trails—and has been for most of his life.Here's What You're In ForHow Jens landed his first job as a sales rep at Astra—without fully knowing what the role was—and ended up staying 25 yearsThe art of managing expectations upward when senior leadership doesn't want to hear the truthWhy Jens now starts building investor relationships two years before he needs the money—and what investors actually want to see before they commitTimestamps02:04 – First job in pharma: starting as a sales rep at Astra and staying 25 years03:25 – Career highlight: joining AZ Investor Relations and defending against Pfizer's hostile takeover bid08:07 – Career low: being promoted to global commercial lead for a late-stage asset—then realising it was overvalued10:29 – The challenge of managing senior leaders who in-licensed the asset themselves13:07 – What Medivir is: history, liver cancer program, and osteogenesis imperfecta14:45 – Medivir's recent rollercoaster: funding challenges, the pivot from Phase 2b, and layoffs20:30 – How Jens describes Medivir's culture: agile, transparent, and built on helping each other23:05 – How Jens integrates consultants into the company's culture as if they were permanent employees26:32 – How Jens's approach to investor relations changed dramatically since joining in January 202232:34 – Perseverance in biotech: herd mentality in capital markets and why doing the right thing eventually pays offAbout JensJens Lindberg is the CEO of Medivir AB, a Swedish biotech focused on development of drugs in rare and orphan diseases with high unmet medical need. Jens brings over 30 years of late-stage development and commercialisation experience in pharma and biotech, including 25 years at AstraZeneca where he held roles spanning sales, commercial leadership, investor relations, and global brand strategy—working on blockbuster drugs including Tagrisso and Lynparza. He has also held roles at Sedana Medical.Outside of work, Jens is an enthusiastic cross-country skier with over 30 years on the trails—which, given the pace he keeps professionally, is probably the only time he slows down.Connect with Jens:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jens-lindberg-2585903/ Medivir: https://www.medivir.comAbout CharlesMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/Website: https://www.discera-search.com/Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

May 4, 202628 min

Hubert Truebel, Managing Director at DEBRA Research, on Creating Own Career Opportunities...and a Practical Approach to Longevity

In this episode, I talked with Hubert Truebel, Managing Director at DEBRA Research, to discover a career that wasn’t built traditionally—but through creating opportunities where none formally existed.Hubert shares how his journey started as a physician in intensive care, before a simple conversation over dinner—pitching a research idea—turned into his first step into pharma. What stands out isn’t just the transition, but the mindset behind it: creating the conditions for “serendipity” to happen. We go through the key moments in his career, from leading translational work at Bayer to stepping into smaller biotech environments, and how each shift required a completely different way of thinking and operating.We also explore his current role at DEBRA Research, where he now connects patients, biotech, and pharma to move treatments forward in rare diseases—often bringing together groups that wouldn’t naturally collaborate. And in the latter part, we talked about his book on longevity, where Hubert challenges the industry around supplements, breaks down what actually drives healthspan, and explains why most people focus on the wrong things when trying to live longer, healthier lives. (Find out more in the episode.)Here’s What You’re In ForHow a simple conversation led to his first role in pharmaThe hidden complexity of bringing a drug from idea to marketHow to think about longevity using an “investment” mindsetTimestamps02:45 – How a Dinner Conversation Led to His First Pharma Role06:27 – What “Serendipity” Really Means in a Career07:41 – The Emotional Turning Point in Pediatric Intensive Care10:08 – What DEBRA Research Does Differently in Drug Development13:52 – Moving from Big Pharma to Biotech: What Actually Changes15:46 – Acting as the Connector Between Patients, Biotech, and Pharma19:29 – Why He Wrote a Book on Longevity21:00 – The Reality About Supplements: “Almost Zero Data”22:00 – The 10-Year Healthspan Loss Most People Ignore24:00 – Why Exercise Outperforms Medication in LongevityAbout HubertHubert Truebel has built his career across medicine, pharma, and biotech. After starting as a physician in intensive care, he spent nearly 15 years at Bayer, ultimately as SVP Translational Medicine, working on major drug programs and clinical trials. He later moved into biotech as CMO at AiCuris, helping advance Pritelivir through late-stage development, shortly before the company was acquired for just under $1 billion.Today, Hubert works with DEBRA Research, focusing on ultra-rare skin diseases like epidermolysis bullosa through a patient-driven drug development model. Alongside this, he is a strong advocate for health and longevity, and recently published his book “Longevity – Die Anti-Bullshit-Formel.”Connect with Hubert:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hubert-truebel/ Website: https://www.debra-research.org/ About meMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

March 30, 202642 min

Sampreet Ramachandra, Head of Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, on Launching Without a Playbook, Hiring Mistakes, and Leading with Equity

In this episode, I talked with Sampreet Ramachandra, Head of the Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, about what it really takes to lead high-stakes launches — and what leadership looks like when things don’t go to plan.Sampreet shares how graduating into the 2008 financial crisis forced him to rethink his career from day one. What was meant to be a short stop in oncology turned into an 18-year commitment to the industry. We talk about leading the commercialization of CAR-T in Germany, writing a launch playbook from scratch, and why excellence in launch is rare.We also discussed hiring mistakes — from overselling a role to ignoring a gut feeling — and why culture isn’t what you write on slides, but what you accept, celebrate, and tolerate, gender equity, the motherhood penalty, and what leadership responsibility truly means when it’s personal.Outside his professional work, Sampreet is someone who intentionally steps into discomfort — whether that’s learning tennis from scratch, snowboarding, practicing yoga, or picking up a camera as a hobby photographer. For him, growth isn’t just professional — it’s personal, physical, and ongoing.Here’s What You’re In ForBuilding teams that can handle stress, scrutiny, and speedThe moment he hired someone “perfect on paper” — but ignored his gutThe real meaning of gender equity — and the career fear he witnessed at homeTimestamps02:17 – Graduating into the 2008 crash and taking an oncology role by necessity02:32 – From tech in India to committing to pharma09:11 – Commercializing CAR-T and pioneering a new launch model10:18 – Writing a playbook from scratch for cell & gene therapy13:03 – What’s changed (and what hasn’t) in launches18:53 – Building great launch teams: mindset, resilience, experimentation24:30 – Overselling a role and watching it unravel27:18 – Ignoring a gut feeling in hiring30:01 – Gender equity, motherhood penalty & parental leave36:56 – Ending up in the emergency room — and rethinking ambitionAbout SampreetSampreet Ramachandra is Head of the Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, with over 18 years of experience across global, regional, and country leadership roles. He has led multiple best-in-class and first-in-class launches, including pioneering the commercialization of CAR-T in Germany. Originally starting his career in tech in India before graduating into the 2008 financial crisis, Sampreet built his path in pharma through purpose-driven decisions and continuous learning — holding degrees from Harvard, LSE, and India. Beyond commercial leadership, he is a strong advocate for gender equity and a supporter of youth education initiatives in India. Outside work, he’s a hobby photographer, snowboarder, yoga enthusiast, and is currently learning tennisConnect with Sampreet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampreetramachandra/ Website: https://www.novartis.com/de-de/ About meMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

March 9, 202629 min

Volker Wacheck, SVP at Taiho Oncology in Speaking Up, Asking vs. Accusing and Why Culture is So Important

In this episode, I talked with Volker Wacheck, SVP & Head of Clinical Development at Taiho Oncology, where he shared how a PI role in Vienna led him into industry, and why the hardest part wasn’t leaving academia, but learning the unseen sides of drug development: regulatory, compliance, and CMC.Volker talked about the risks of hiring KOLs straight into VP or CMO roles, and why some thrive while others struggle. He also mentioned Taiho’s unique setup—anchored in Princeton, embedded in Otsuka’s Japanese holding—and how that cross-cultural mix shapes everything from decision-making speed to communication style.He also shares his most personal leadership lessons: the regret of staying silent in work, the “ask, don’t accuse” method he uses now, and how to manage egos when science and careers collide. From Taiho’s pipeline to his views on hiring, recruiters, and why impact often starts only after 18–24 months, this was a candid look at the realities of building teams and drugs that last.(Find out more in the episode.)Here’s What You’re In ForKOLs jumping straight to VP/CMO—when it’s transformational vs. a risky mis‑fit.Over‑prepared vs. under‑prepared interviews: what signals actually predict success.Recruiters who stick the landing: investing time upfront and optimizing for tenure, not just speed.Timestamps:01:26 – Why he left academia and looked to industry03:12 – Learning the “other side” of development: regulatory, compliance, CMC05:00 – KOLs jumping to VP/CMO: when it works and why it’s risky11:31 – Working US/EU/Japan: direct vs. indirect communication; shared principles14:00 – Why candidates might love Taiho: “small enough to feel personal, big enough to win,” plus stability16:20 – The biomarker‑assay story: when not speaking up backfired23:22 – Hiring: over‑prepared vs under‑prepared—what Volker actually looks for26:29 – Good vs excellent recruiters: the time they put in before the searchAbout VolkerVolker Wacheck is Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Development at Taiho Oncology. A medical oncology background and now over two decades of industry experience its fair to say he knows a lot about cancer research.Taiho is known for its cancer drug development including, Futi-Ba-tinib their FG-FR inhibitor and Zipa-Ler-tinib which targets EGFR Mutations.Volker is also someone who comes highly recommended, Michael Lahn, Ilaria Conti and insert other great person in the field all know and respect Volker. We spoke a few weeks before ASCO, met at ASCO and now doing this - and of course its a pleasure to have him on here.Connect with Volker:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/volker-wacheck-b173248/Website: https://www.taihooncology.com/us/About meMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/Website: https://www.discera-search.com/Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

February 24, 202631 min

Dena Grayson, MD, PhD, SVP Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics on Media Training, Communication within Biotech, and Dealing with Fake CVs

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Dena Grayson, a physician–scientist with over two decades in biotech drug development. At the time of this recording, she was SVP and Head of Clinical Development at Keros Therapeutics, leading programs in rare bone marrow disorders, and she has since become SVP of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics. Earlier in her career, she helped advance Repatha at Amgen, and her path has also included running for Congress and serving as a national media voice during COVID.Dena shares what it was like being the only MD–PhD in Amgen’s business development group, how she transitioned into clinical development, and the lessons she carried forward from her time in both politics and national media, where she became a trusted voice during the COVID pandemic. We dive into the real difference between presenting “the what” and explaining “the so what,” and why communication often makes or breaks careers in biotech.Alongside her professional journey, Dena opens up about the wildest recruitment experience she’s ever had, her approach to building strong teams, and why patience in hiring beats rushing a decision. And in our quick-fire round, she shares stories from her days as a state champion soccer player, her love of surfing, and how she unwinds outside biotech.(Find out more in the episode.)Here’s What You’re In ForHow a political campaign loss led to a media career during COVIDHow to handle interviews when you’re introvertedThe kinds of questions that truly impress hiring managersTimestamps01:10 – Landing her first industry role at Amgen03:24 – Repatha and investigational therapies at Keros04:49 – Surfing, soccer, and state championships07:08 – From political spouse to running for Congress08:42 – Becoming a media commentator during COVID10:41 – Communication lessons: from “what” to “so what”15:14 – Advice for introverts in interviews and early career roles17:37 – How thoughtful questions can change the dynamic in an interview21:02 – Nearly 20 years as a hiring manager: what’s changed and what hasn’t23:11 – Advice for junior hiring managers and why patience matters25:37 – A candidate with a completely fabricated CV—the wildest recruitment storyAbout DenaDr. Dena Grayson is a physician–scientist (MD, PhD) with over 20 years in biotech drug development. At the time of this recording, she was SVP and Head of Clinical Development at Keros Therapeutics, leading programs in rare bone marrow disorders, and she has since become SVP of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics. Earlier in her career, she helped advance Repatha at Amgen, and her path has also included running for Congress and serving as a national media voice during COVID, experiences that shaped her belief that communication is as critical as science in driving biotech forward.Connect with Dena:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denaminninggrayson/ Website: https://kyvernatx.com/ About meMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

January 26, 202635 min

Richard Nkulikiyinka, Chief Medical Officer at Antag Therapeutics, on Career Pivots, Trust and Why Leadership Is Never Linear

In this episode, I talked with Richard Nkulikiyinka, Chief Medical Officer at Antag Therapeutics, a Copenhagen-based biotech developing GIPR antagonists in the obesity space.Richard’s career began in the NHS, where he spent five years practicing acute medicine and intensive care—until the moment he realized he couldn’t picture himself doing the same thing for the next 30 years. That realization sparked a pivot that many physicians quietly wrestle with: leaving behind the security of the ward for the uncertainty of industry.Richard also shares what it was like to walk away from a stable VP role at Bayer during a restructuring, take an intentional career break, and use those months to reflect on what really mattered before joining Antag Therapeutics. We talk about the shift from big pharma to biotech, what he learned from leading through severe stakeholder misalignment, and why authentic communication matters more than management theory when things get messy.And yes—there’s a light-hearted detour into Berlin life, bad currywurst, and how to tell when it’s time to make serious changes in your team.Here’s What You’re In ForWhat makes Antag Therapeutics’ culture uniqueThe hardest leadership call: deciding when the problem is you vs themThe recruitment ghosting story that every hiring manager should hearTimestamps02:08 – Leaving the NHS: deciding what he could be “happily bored with”04:00 – Landing his first pharma job at Bayer in drug safety09:33 – Overview of Antag Therapeutics and GIPR vs GLP-113:20 – Leaving Bayer and taking a sabbatical to reset17:08 – What it’s like to work at Antag Therapeutics—and what he looks for in candidates18:46 – The toughest chapter: extreme stakeholder misalignment in dermatology25:16 – Leadership lessons: firing, feedback, and the “benefit of the doubt”29:00 – Why managers struggle to act fast—and how structure slows decisions31:48 – Richard’s worst recruitment experience: being ghosted by agenciesAbout RichardRichard Nkulikiyinka, is the Chief Medical Officer of Antag Therapeutics, a biotech developing GIPR antagonists within the Obesity space. A UK-trained physician, he spent five years practicing in acute medicine and intensive care within the NHS - this is also where he developed his dry sense of humour - and now he transitioned into the biopharmaceutical industry, where he has built over 17 years of experience.Prior to joining Antag, Richard served as Vice President in Clinical Development at Bayer Pharma, where he played a central role in advancing four drugs to approval. He is now ein Berliner - where we often meet for clubbing and currywurst. Connect with Richard:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-nkulikiyinka-66336014/ Website: https://antagtx.com/ About meMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

January 19, 202635 min

Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch, Head of Oncology Europe & Canada at Daiichi Sankyo on Perseverance, Patient-Centricity Beyond Slogans, and Leadership within Oncology

In this episode, I talked with Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch, Head of Oncology Europe and Canada at Daiichi Sankyo Europe, about what it really means to lead with empathy, perseverance, and purpose in today’s biopharma world. Markus shared how losing his father to cancer at 21 shaped his commitment to oncology — and why that experience still guides his decisions decades later.After ten years in the hospital system, he faced a turning point: realizing that to help more patients, he’d have to step outside the clinic. That leap led him into industry at a time when ADCs were still an emerging idea — and he’s since built a career around transforming long-term scientific perseverance into patient impact.Markus opened up about layoffs and restructuring, learning to lead through influence rather than authority, and why “patient-centricity” has to be more than a corporate phrase. He also shared how Daiichi Sankyo invests in nurses, why he values authenticity above experience in hiring, and how he handles tough conversations — including a live role-play on what to do when an employee asks for a promotion that isn’t possible.(Find out more in the episode.)Here’s What You’re In ForHow to lead through influence, not authorityWhat patient-centricity really looks like inside Daiichi SankyoHow perseverance and ikigai fuel innovationTimestamps03:00 – From hospital to industry — how his first pharma role came about07:15 – Leading through influence instead of authority08:10 – Guiding teams through restructuring09:45 – How empathy and transparency define good leadership12:10 – Patient-centric culture at Daiichi Sankyo17:45 – Japanese lessons in ikigai20:40 – Hiring authenticity25:00 – Role-play: handling promotion requests and career plateausAbout MarkusProf. Dr. med. Markus Kosch is Head of Oncology Europe & Canada at Daiichi Sankyo, with extensive leadership experience in oncology and global pharma. Before joining Daiichi Sankyo, he spent 16.5 years at Wyeth and Pfizer in senior roles. Trained as a physician, Markus worked for a decade treating cancer patients before moving into the pharmaceutical industry.His early personal experience with cancer — losing his father at age 21 — shaped his commitment to patient-centric innovation. Known for connecting scientific excellence with responsibility and perseverance, he focuses on advancing breakthrough oncology therapies, particularly Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs). He is passionate about leadership, collaboration, and embedding patient needs at the center of every decision.Connect with MarkusLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-kosch/ Daiichi Sankyo Europe: https://www.daiichi-sankyo.eu/ About meMy name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

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