Emil Pot was one of the founders of ActoGeniX, which was successfully acquired in 2015 by Intrexon. Emil outlines the ingredients Europe needs to build a company from scratch, and leverage home-grown Intellectual Property.

Duane Schulthess is the CEO of Vital Transformation, host and producer of Vital Health Podcast.  Vital Transformation understands the implications of new medical procedures, technologies and regulations. We measure their impact upon treatment pathways and the biopharma innovation ecosystem in collaboration with health care professionals, researchers, and regulators. Through our web platform and client network, we are able to communicate our findings with international decision makers and stakeholders.

Duane Schulthess is the CEO of Vital Transformation, host and producer of Vital Health Podcast.  Vital Transformation understands the implications of new medical procedures, technologies and regulations. We measure their impact upon treatment pathways and the biopharma innovation ecosystem in collaboration with health care professionals, researchers, and regulators. Through our web platform and client network, we are able to communicate our findings with international decision makers and stakeholders.

Duane Schulthess, Managing Director of Vital Tran…

Vital Health Podcast

Emil Pot was one of the founders of ActoGeniX, wh…

Better Science, Better Health - Stirring the IP Pot

In this episode of the Vital Health Podcast, host Duane Schulthess speaks with Steve Potts, CEO of Breakthru Medicine, to discuss how biotech financing, drug pricing policy, scientific infrastructure, and public trust are reshaping oncology innovation and U.S. biopharma leadership.

Key Topics:
Biotech Financing: Series A funding, early-stage platform headwinds, clinical asset momentum, academic funding strain.
Small Molecule Shift: IRA incentives, NDA versus BLA timelines, oncology pipeline pullbacks, antibody drug conjugates.
Orphan Cures and EPIC Acts: Orphan Cures Act, EPIC Act, patent life concerns, investor return requirements.
Most Favored Nation (MFN) Pricing Risk: OECD reference pricing, European access delays, launch sequencing, global cost-sharing tensions.
Science Policy Threats: NIH grant oversight, peer review risks, vaccine backlash, U.S. biopharma leadership.

If biotech CEOs (or an executive delegate from the CEO) are interested in taking the first step toward being a policy voice on one topic in our ecosystem, contact Steve Potts on LinkedIn.

The May 29 Office of Management and Budget sweeping regulatory change, which would shift grant funding decisions from scientists to politicians, is catastrophic for science, patients, and the biotech industry. Please read about what this proposal would do, and if you agree that it would forever tie political views to winning federal funding (and it will cut both ways), please sign this petition or others and speak out: https://fight2win.standupforscience.net/

Opinions expressed are those of the speakers. Recorded at ASCO 2026 on 6/1/26. The Vital Health Podcast is a production of Vital Transformation LLC © 2026.

In this episode of the Vital Health Podcast, host <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/duane-schulthess-66ba39b7/">Duane Schulthess</a> speaks with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-potts/">Steve Potts</a>, CEO of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/breakthrumed/">Breakthru Medicine</a>, to discuss how biotech financing, drug pricing policy, scientific infrastructure, and public trust are reshaping oncology innovation and U.S. biopharma leadership.
Key Topics:
<ul data-start="324" data-end="922">
<li data-start="324" data-end="448" data-section-id="p0uqsi">Biotech Financing: Series A funding, early-stage platform headwinds, clinical asset momentum, academic funding strain.</li>
<li data-start="449" data-end="573" data-section-id="k7qssb">Small Molecule Shift: IRA incentives, NDA versus BLA timelines, oncology pipeline pullbacks, antibody drug conjugates.</li>
<li data-start="574" data-end="686" data-section-id="1ma6irf">Orphan Cures and EPIC Acts: Orphan Cures Act, EPIC Act, patent life concerns, investor return requirements.</li>
<li data-start="687" data-end="807" data-section-id="11b70pc">Most Favored Nation (MFN) Pricing Risk: OECD reference pricing, European access delays, launch sequencing, global cost-sharing tensions.</li>
<li data-start="808" data-end="922" data-section-id="1x0h8b">Science Policy Threats: NIH grant oversight, peer review risks, vaccine backlash, U.S. biopharma leadership.</li>
</ul>
If biotech CEOs (or an executive delegate from the CEO) are interested in taking the first step toward being a policy voice on one topic in our ecosystem, contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-potts/">Steve Potts on LinkedIn</a>.
The May 29 Office of Management and Budget sweeping regulatory change, which would shift grant funding decisions from scientists to politicians, is catastrophic for science, patients, and the biotech industry. Please read about what this proposal would do, and if you agree that it would forever tie political views to winning federal funding (and it will cut both ways), please sign this petition or others and speak out: <a href="https://fight2win.standupforscience.net/">https://fight2win.standupforscience.net/</a>
Opinions expressed are those of the speakers. Recorded at ASCO 2026 on 6/1/26. The Vital Health Podcast is a production of Vital Transformation LLC &copy; 2026.

Steve Potts: Policy Headwinds Are Reshaping Biotech Financing

In this best-of edition of the Vital Health Podcast, we revisit two conversations Duane Schulthess has with experts on the future of generic medicines, drug shortages, and supply chain risk in the United States.
Patrick Kelly: Chief Advocacy Officer, Healthcare Distribution Alliance
John Murphy: President and CEO, Association for Accessible Medicines

Across these conversations, they discuss how low prices, thin margins, supply chain disruption, reshoring pressure, biosimilar market dynamics, insurance design, and federal pricing policy shape access to generic and biosimilar medicines.

Key Topics:
Generic Economics: Low prices, thin margins, purchaser pressure, manufacturer exits.
Shortage Drivers: Demand spikes, facility shutdowns, sterile injectables, chemotherapy disruptions.
Tariffs and Reshoring: Domestic production costs, national security concerns, tariff pass-through, contract constraints.
Biosimilar Competition: Private-label programs, vertical integration, investment uncertainty, patient access.
Policy and Insurance: IRA redesign, MFN pricing, direct-to-consumer pathways, prescription benefit reform.

Opinions expressed are those of the speakers. Original podcasts published in October 2025. The Vital Health Podcast is a production of Vital Transformation LLC © 2026.

In this best-of edition of the Vital Health Podcast, we revisit two conversations <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/duane-schulthess-66ba39b7/">Duane Schulthess</a> has with experts on the future of generic medicines, drug shortages, and supply chain risk in the United States.
<ul data-start="348" data-end="502">
<li data-section-id="mlchlg" data-start="348" data-end="426"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-kelly-08427a8/">Patrick Kelly</a>: Chief Advocacy Officer, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/hdma/">Healthcare Distribution Alliance</a></li>
<li data-section-id="wnfwxb" data-start="427" data-end="502"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-murphy-iii-9b19ab1/">John Murphy</a>: President and CEO, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessiblemeds/">Association for Accessible Medicines</a></li>
</ul>
Across these conversations, they discuss how low prices, thin margins, supply chain disruption, reshoring pressure, biosimilar market dynamics, insurance design, and federal pricing policy shape access to generic and biosimilar medicines.
Key Topics:
<ul data-start="760" data-end="1312">
<li data-section-id="1l363d" data-start="760" data-end="850">Generic Economics: Low prices, thin margins, purchaser pressure, manufacturer exits.</li>
<li data-section-id="j2s9a5" data-start="851" data-end="956">Shortage Drivers: Demand spikes, facility shutdowns, sterile injectables, chemotherapy disruptions.</li>
<li data-section-id="1gqfuvg" data-start="957" data-end="1083">Tariffs and Reshoring: Domestic production costs, national security concerns, tariff pass-through, contract constraints.</li>
<li data-section-id="1n5vcwb" data-start="1084" data-end="1199">Biosimilar Competition: Private-label programs, vertical integration, investment uncertainty, patient access.</li>
<li data-section-id="1jlakpo" data-start="1200" data-end="1312">Policy and Insurance: IRA redesign, MFN pricing, direct-to-consumer pathways, prescription benefit reform.</li>
</ul>
Opinions expressed are those of the speakers. Original podcasts published in October 2025. The Vital Health Podcast is a production of Vital Transformation LLC &copy; 2026.

Patrick Kelly & John Murphy: Generic Shortages and Supply Chain Risk

In this episode of the Vital Health Podcast, host Duane Schulthess speaks with Christopher Locher, Chief Executive Officer at Versatope Therapeutics, about the current landscape for vaccine manufacturers and innovators. Their conversation covers vaccine platform development, financing challenges for infectious disease companies, policy and regulatory uncertainty, the public health implications of changes to childhood immunization schedules, and the steps needed to rebuild trust in vaccination.

Key Topics:

Vaccine Platform Innovation: Nanoparticle technology, universal influenza vaccine development, multispecific targeting, infectious disease, and oncology applications.

Financing Challenges: Venture capital headwinds, NIH support, clinical development costs, grant cancellations, and startup survival pressures.

Policy Uncertainty: Changes to childhood immunization schedules, liability debates, academic licensing concerns, royalty proposals, and the biotech investment climate.

Public Health Risks: Vaccine access, childhood disease vulnerability, antimicrobial resistance, influenza complications, and consequences of fragmented immunization policy.

Trust Rebuilding: COVID backlash, transparency concerns, anti-science sentiment, provider-patient communication, rebuilding confidence in vaccines.

Opinions expressed are those of the speakers.

In this episode of the Vital Health Podcast, host <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/duane-schulthess-66ba39b7/">Duane Schulthess</a> speaks with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-locher-biotech/">Christopher Locher</a>, Chief Executive Officer at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/versatope/">Versatope Therapeutics</a>, about the current landscape for vaccine manufacturers and innovators. Their conversation covers vaccine platform development, financing challenges for infectious disease companies, policy and regulatory uncertainty, the public health implications of changes to childhood immunization schedules, and the steps needed to rebuild trust in vaccination.
Key Topics: 
<ul>
<li>Vaccine Platform Innovation: Nanoparticle technology, universal influenza vaccine development, multispecific targeting, infectious disease, and oncology applications. </li>
<li>Financing Challenges:&nbsp;Venture capital headwinds, NIH support, clinical development costs, grant cancellations, and startup survival pressures. </li>
<li>Policy Uncertainty: Changes to childhood immunization schedules, liability debates, academic licensing concerns, royalty proposals, and the biotech investment climate. </li>
<li>Public Health Risks: Vaccine access, childhood disease vulnerability, antimicrobial resistance, influenza complications, and consequences of fragmented immunization policy. </li>
<li>Trust Rebuilding:&nbsp;COVID backlash, transparency concerns, anti-science sentiment, provider-patient communication, rebuilding confidence in vaccines.</li>
</ul>
Opinions expressed are those of the speakers.

Better Science, Better Health - Stirring the IP Pot

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