Nionyx Bio's kidney gene therapy wins the 2026 BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight

How Epicrispr is leveraging CRISPR without cutting DNA

This week we dive into the Beyond Biotech archive to bring you a discussion with Dr Stanley Qi, the founder of Epicrispr. Epicrispr is an epigenetic editing company, leveraging the power of CRISPR without cutting DNA. The company’s proprietary Gene Expression Modulation System (GEMS) includes the smallest Cas protein known to work in human cells, enabling in vivo or ex vivo delivery via a single viral vector.  In this episode we discuss epigenetic editing, why it’s reversible, and how it can treat FSHD and other conditions.  * 01:43 Meet Stanley Qi * 03:32 Founding Epicrispr * 05:53 CRISPR interference and epigenome explained * 10:04 Overview of GEMS gene modulation system * 11:28 Reversibility and safety of epigenetic edits * 18:42 Strategy for tackling multiple disease conditions * 23:27 Clinical trial plans for EPI-321 candidate * 30:06 Looking forward This episode is brought to you with the support of MedChemExpress [ttps://www.medchemexpress.com/]. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! [https://www.labiotech.eu/advertise/?utm_campaign=lead_generation&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast]  Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter [https://www.labiotech.eu/newsletter/?utm_campaign=newsletter_promotion&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast] To dive deeper into the topic:  * Could CRISPR really cure these diseases? [https://www.labiotech.eu/in-depth/crispr-technology-cure-disease/] * 10 gene therapy companies you should know about [https://www.labiotech.eu/best-biotech/gene-therapy-companies/] * CRISPR technology’s next wave: Ten companies to watch [https://www.labiotech.eu/best-biotech/crispr-companies/]

Diagonal Therapeutics’ innovative clustering antibodies for vascular diseases

Today we’re joined by Patrick Andre, Chief Scientific Officer at Diagonal Therapeutics. A trained vascular biologist, Patrick’s career spans groundbreaking work at Pfizer, Acceleron, Pliant Therapeutics, and earlier companies, where he focused on TGF-β superfamily signaling and receptor pathways that keep blood vessels healthy. Now at Diagonal, he’s leading a bold mission: developing clustering antibodies that correct the root cause of serious genetic vasculopathies, rather than just managing symptoms. In this episode, Patrick walks us through his personal journey into science, the company’s DIAGONAL platform, and their lead program DIAG723, which recently received Orphan Drug Designation for the rare disease HHT, and is advancing toward the clinic. We also discuss Diagonal’s oversubscribed $125 million Series B financing that closed in January 2026, and what clustering antibodies could mean for patients with HHT, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and beyond. * 01:33 Meet Patrick Andre * 08:01 Diagonal’s mission * 11:39 What are clustering antibodies * 16:05 Receptor clustering benefits for HHT and PAH * 20:24 Preclinical data on preventing and reversing HHT pathology * 22:39 The impact of the $125 Million Series B financing round Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! [https://www.labiotech.eu/advertise/?utm_campaign=lead_generation&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast]  Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter [https://www.labiotech.eu/newsletter/?utm_campaign=newsletter_promotion&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast] To dive deeper into the topic:  * Vaderis emerges from stealth to start HHT trial [https://www.labiotech.eu/trends-news/vaderis-therapeutics-hht-trial/] * Pulmonary hypertension after Winrevair: where GSK’s $950M bet fits [https://www.labiotech.eu/in-depth/hs235-gsk-next-gen-pulmonary-hypertension-drug/] * New treatment for pulmonary hypertension: what biotech holds in store? [https://www.labiotech.eu/in-depth/new-pulmonary-hypertension-treatments/]

Argobio: the venture model building Europe’s next biotech champions

Our guest today is Thierry Laugel, Managing Partner of Kurma & Chairman of Argobio. With a PharmD, PhD in pharmacology, and an INSEAD MBA, Thierry has spent more than two decades bridging cutting-edge science and commercial success—first in pharma R&D, then as co-founder of Kurma Partners, and now leading Argobio’s unique venture-builder model. Since raising €50 million in 2021, Argobio has co-founded and accelerated several companies from top European academic labs. Three of them—Enodia, Laigo Bio, and Elkedonia—have already closed seed rounds totaling more than €43 million, advancing novel platforms in targeted protein degradation, precision membrane protein degraders, and non-hallucinogenic neuroplasticity enhancers for depression.  Thierry shares how Argobio reduces execution risk, embeds operational expertise, and turns promising science into investable companies that can compete worldwide.  * 04:02 Blending pharmacology expertise with business * 07:50 Vision behind starting Kurma Partners * 12:53 Launching Argobio to address gaps in European biotech  * 17:40 What makes the Argobio operational venture builder model unique * 25:02 Criteria for selecting academic scientific breakthroughs * 27:34 Changing dynamics of commercializing European research * 35:30 Europe vs US biotech investment climates * 37:47 Role of venture studios in Europe’s biotech future Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! [https://www.labiotech.eu/advertise/?utm_campaign=lead_generation&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast]  Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter [https://www.labiotech.eu/newsletter/?utm_campaign=newsletter_promotion&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast] To dive deeper into the topic:  * M Ventures: pharma CVC and biotech innovation in 2026 [https://podcast.labiotech.eu/1995493/episodes/18453766-m-ventures-pharma-cvc-and-biotech-innovation-in-2026] * Inside Flagship Pioneering's strategy: How this VC turns ideas into biotech giants [https://podcast.labiotech.eu/1995493/episodes/17108243-inside-flagship-pioneering-s-strategy-how-this-vc-turns-ideas-into-biotech-giants] * Venture capital co-creation: The next big thing in biotech investment? [https://podcast.labiotech.eu/1995493/episodes/16441913-venture-capital-co-creation-the-next-big-thing-in-biotech-investment]

Multi-agent AI delivers reliable and scalable insights for single-cell omics

Today, we're exploring the transformative potential of AI in biopharma—separating hype from reality, and zooming in on the complexities of single-cell omics data. Our guest is Parashar Dhapola, co-founder and CEO of Nygen Analytics [https://www.nygen.io], a Lund-based startup spun out from Sweden's vibrant single-cell genomics ecosystem. With a PhD in computational genomics from Lund University, Parashar has pioneered efficient algorithms for analyzing millions of cells, turning raw data into actionable insights for drug discovery. Join us as we discuss where AI truly delivers in biopharma, the persistent gaps in exploratory data analytics, and the critical bottlenecks in single-cell annotation. In a world abounding in AI hype, Parashar helps us cut through the noise and point out paths to data driven success. * 01:00 Meet Parashar Dhapola * 05:45 AI in biopharma * 09:29 AI automation vs. new capabilities * 11:28 What makes single-cell omics data different * 18:46 Risks of incorrect cell annotation * 34:37 Future of single-cell analytics This episode is produced with the support of Nygen Analytics [https://www.nygen.io]. Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! [https://www.labiotech.eu/advertise/?utm_campaign=lead_generation&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast]  Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter [https://www.labiotech.eu/newsletter/?utm_campaign=newsletter_promotion&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast] To dive deeper into the topic:  * CyteType - AI powered cell type annotation [https://www.nygen.io/products/cytetype] * Behind the Cure51 deal: Is NVIDIA becoming biotech’s AI infrastructure? [https://www.labiotech.eu/trends-news/cure51-nvidia-deal-biotech/] * The past, present, and future of genome sequencing [https://www.labiotech.eu/in-depth/genome-sequencing/]

Nionyx Bio's kidney gene therapy wins the 2026 BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight

This week we welcome Magdalena Tyrpien, CEO, Co-Founder and President of Nionyx Bio [https://nionyxbio.com], just days after the company took first place in the BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight [https://informaconnect.com/bioeurope-spring/startup-spotlight/] competition in Lisbon. With a background that includes leading Forge Biologics through its $620 million acquisition, Magdalena is now steering Nionyx toward a bold new chapter in gene therapy for kidney disease. In this episode we explore her journey into biotech, the science behind Nionyx’s proprietary AAV capsid platform and Kidney Atlas, what it took to win the Startup Spotlight, and what the victory means for the young company’s future. ·  01:25 – Meet Magdalena Tyrpien ·  07:10 – The Nionyx mission ·  15:29 – The 2026 BIO-Europe Spring Startup Spotlight ·  22:23 – Looking forward and future milestones Interested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! [https://www.labiotech.eu/advertise/?utm_campaign=lead_generation&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast]  Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter [https://www.labiotech.eu/newsletter/?utm_campaign=newsletter_promotion&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_source=podcast] To dive deeper into the topic:  * Lisbon is calling: the BIO-Europe Startup Spotlight returns in March 2026 [https://www.labiotech.eu/partner/bio-europe-startup-spotlight-lisbon-2026/] * BIO-Europe Spring 2026: partnership event brings funding hope to biotechs [https://www.labiotech.eu/in-depth/bio-europe-spring-2026/] * BIO-Europe partnering: Australian biotech companies share their experiences [https://www.labiotech.eu/trends-news/bio-europe-partnering-australian-biotech-lessons/]