The Weekly Bioanalysis - An Official Podcast of KCAS

Special Guest: Scott Weir, University of Kansas Medical Center

In the newest episode of "The Weekly Bioanalysis" podcast, our hosts, John and Dom welcome Scott Weir (Director, Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation at KU Medical Center) for a practical, behind-the-scenes look at how drug discovery and development can be executed in an academic setting—and what it takes to translate promising lab or bedside discoveries into real clinical programs. Scott breaks down the process through three clear “pillars” that guide early development: does the drug reach the site of action, engage the target, and produce the intended pharmacologic response—from preclinical studies through early-phase trials. He also explains how KU builds a “virtual biotech” model by combining industry-experienced teams, university core infrastructure, and CRO partners like KCAS Bio, including a discussion of their “triple threat” CAR-T program (CD19/20/22) manufactured on-site in a GMP cellular therapy facility. The conversation goes deeper into the realities of cost, bioanalytical and biomarker needs across modalities, and how public–private partnerships help academic programs cross the “valley of death” from animal proof-of-concept to clinical proof-of-concept. “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is a podcast dedicated to discussing bioanalytical news, tools and services related to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biomarker industries. Every month, KCAS Bio will bring you another 60 minutes (or so) of friendly banter between our two finest Senior Scientific Advisors as they chat over coffee and discuss what they’ve learned about the bioanalytical world the past couple of weeks. “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is brought to you by KCAS Bio. KCAS Bio is a progressive growing contract research organization of well over 250 talented and dedicated individuals with growing operations in Kansas City, Doylestown, PA, and Lyon, France, where we are committed to serving our clients and improving health worldwide. Our experienced scientists provide stand-alone bioanalytical services to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, animal health and medical device industries.

Happy New Year: Review of New Drug Approvals in 2025

In episode #97 of “The Weekly Bioanalysis” podcast, John and Dom focus on a review of 2025 drug approvals, revealing a surprisingly strong year for small molecules despite long-standing predictions of their decline. Of the 53 FDA approvals, 31 were small molecules, with additional complexity coming from ADCs and RNAi therapies, underscoring the continued importance of small-molecule development and analytics. The hosts also compare U.S. and European approvals, noting meaningful differences driven by regulatory timing and regional priorities rather than scientific divergence. They highlight encouraging momentum in ADCs, the role of acquisitions in successful approvals, and a broad mix of indications—from rare diseases and oncology to neurology and vaccines. Overall, the episode reinforces that innovation remains diverse, with small molecules, large molecules, and conjugated technologies all playing critical roles in modern drug development. If you want a comprehensive view of the noteworthy approvals from 2025, this is the episode you’re looking for! “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is a podcast dedicated to discussing bioanalytical news, tools and services related to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biomarker industries. Every month, KCAS Bio will bring you another 60 minutes (or so) of friendly banter between our two finest Senior Scientific Advisors as they chat over coffee and discuss what they’ve learned about the bioanalytical world the past couple of weeks. “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is brought to you by KCAS Bio. KCAS Bio is a progressive growing contract research organization of well over 250 talented and dedicated individuals with growing operations in Kansas City, Doylestown, PA, and Lyon, France, where we are committed to serving our clients and improving health worldwide. Our experienced scientists provide stand-alone bioanalytical services to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, animal health and medical device industries.

A New Ultra Sensitivity Approach for Protein Quantitation

John and Dom introduce guest Brad Nawa (Alamar Biosciences) to explain the NULISA™ platform, an ultra-sensitive platform for protein quantitation that aims to outperform earlier “ultra-sensitive” tools that often didn’t translate well in practice. Brad notes the platform is still antibody/content-driven, but differentiates itself by reducing background through a dual-capture purification step and a nucleic-acid barcode/ligation readout, enabling scalable multiplexing (currently ~256-plex, with room to expand). They emphasize the fully automated ARGO™ HT system as a key advantage for minimizing operator variability and supporting strong instrument-to-instrument and lot-to-lot reproducibility. The discussion covers applications including biomarker discovery/monitoring, patient stratification, and PK/PD - especially when sample volume is limited or sensitivity is critical - and use across many matrices (plasma/serum/CSF, tissue lysates, vitreous humor, and dried blood/plasma spots with high recovery reported for most targets). They close by framing the future around building robust datasets for AI/meta-analysis, expanding therapeutic content (notably CNS/neurodegeneration, immunology, and cardiometabolic), and improving cloud software for pathway-level interpretation. “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is a podcast dedicated to discussing bioanalytical news, tools and services related to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biomarker industries. Every month, KCAS Bio will bring you another 60 minutes (or so) of friendly banter between our two finest Senior Scientific Advisors as they chat over coffee and discuss what they’ve learned about the bioanalytical world the past couple of weeks. “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is brought to you by KCAS Bio. KCAS Bio is a progressive growing contract research organization of well over 250 talented and dedicated individuals with growing operations in Kansas City, Doylestown, PA, and Lyon, France, where we are committed to serving our clients and improving health worldwide. Our experienced scientists provide stand-alone bioanalytical services to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, animal health and medical device industries.

Conference Season 2025: Highlights and Impressions from AAPS and EBF Open Symposium

In the latest episode of the Weekly Bioanalysis podcast, Dom and John break down their biggest takeaways from the recent AAPS and EBF meetings, sharing what stood out across the scientific sessions, exhibition floors, and industry conversations. They discuss the major themes shaping bioanalysis right now, from emerging technologies to shifting regulatory expectations, and compare how each conference approached them. Our hosts also dive into evolving practices in biomarkers, immunogenicity, and complex modalities, highlighting where the field seems to be headed next. Finally, they offer candid reflections on the changing structure of professional communities and what that might mean for networking and scientific collaboration. It’s a wide-ranging, insider recap of two of the year’s most important events—well worth a listen for anyone tracking trends in bioanalytical science. “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is a podcast dedicated to discussing bioanalytical news, tools and services related to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biomarker industries. Every month, KCAS Bio will bring you another 60 minutes (or so) of friendly banter between our two finest Senior Scientific Advisors as they chat over coffee and discuss what they’ve learned about the bioanalytical world the past couple of weeks. “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is brought to you by KCAS Bio. KCAS Bio is a progressive growing contract research organization of well over 250 talented and dedicated individuals with growing operations in Kansas City, Doylestown, PA, and Lyon, France, where we are committed to serving our clients and improving health worldwide. Our experienced scientists provide stand-alone bioanalytical services to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, animal health and medical device industries.

Conference Season 2025: US, APAC, and European Bioanalysis Trade Shows

In this episode, hosts Dom and John welcome Jason Hannah, Director of Marketing at KCAS Bio, to discuss the company’s strategy for navigating the 2025 global conference season. With major events like AAPS PharmSci 360 in the U.S. and the European Bioanalysis Forum (EBF) in Barcelona on the horizon, Jason explains how KCAS approaches each with a structured, three-phase plan: pre-show planning, on-site activation, and post-show follow-up. He highlights the differences between large, trade show–focused meetings like AAPS and more intimate, science-driven gatherings like EBF, noting how KCAS Bio tailors its engagement and messaging to fit each audience. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how marketing and scientific teams align to make every conference a coordinated effort to strengthen relationships and showcase KCAS Bio’s leadership across the bioanalytical industry. “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is a podcast dedicated to discussing bioanalytical news, tools and services related to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biomarker industries. Every month, KCAS Bio will bring you another 60 minutes (or so) of friendly banter between our two finest Senior Scientific Advisors as they chat over coffee and discuss what they’ve learned about the bioanalytical world the past couple of weeks. “The Weekly Bioanalysis” is brought to you by KCAS Bio. KCAS Bio is a progressive growing contract research organization of well over 250 talented and dedicated individuals with growing operations in Kansas City, Doylestown, PA, and Lyon, France, where we are committed to serving our clients and improving health worldwide. Our experienced scientists provide stand-alone bioanalytical services to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, animal health and medical device industries.