KIRIA Research

Work or Purpose: Why Choose? Reflecting back to our episode with Sahil Bloom where he challenges the 'love your job' cliché, advocating for a broader definition of purpose. Take a listen! Also, want to snag a copy of his book 'The 5 Types of Wealth'? Comment below what purpose means to you and how you connect with it in your daily life for a chance to win! Don’t forget to like this post and follow us for more thought-provoking discussions with our guests! #LeaderVoices #SahilBloom #PurposefulLife #PurposeOverPosition #LeaderVoices #SahilBloom

???????????????? ????????: AZ makes $1Billion In Vivo Cell Therapy Acquisition ?? AstraZeneca has strengthened its cell therapy portfolio with the $1B acquisition of EsoBiotec ($425M upfront), a cutting-edge clinical Belgian company pioneering in vivo immune cell engineering. ?? EsoBiotec’s ENaBL platform uses targeted lentiviruses to engineer immune cells directly inside the patient’s body, enabling faster, off-the-shelf treatments for liquid/solid tumours and autoimmune through a simple IV injection. ?????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ??????????????: - Further validates the role of in vivo cell therapies. - Demonstrates AZ commitment to expanding its cell therapy portfolio. - In vivo therapies COULD offer quicker access to treatments, showing promise in making them more accessible and cost-effective for patients. Ultimately, it's exciting to see large pharma making its second CT acquisition in a week, with AstraZeneca emphasising the exciting future of cell therapies. This steady momentum is a strong endorsement of CGTs What a great way to start the week everyone! #celltherapy #oncology #biotech #CGTweekly

Imagine working in a place where: ? You face daily threats to your life ? Your colleagues are collapsing, revived only by Narcan ? The people in charge ignore safety concerns—until it’s too late Now imagine walking off the #job in protest - risking your pension, your #healthcare, and your future - because staying feels even more dangerous. ?? That’s exactly what’s been happening inside New York’s #correctional system. In this must-hear episode of #LeaderVoices, we sit down with Adam Ramirez, a retired Deputy Superintendent for Security with 34 years in New York Corrections, to uncover what’s really going on behind the headlines. Listen Now: link is in the comments below? ?? Key Takeaways: ?? Why 40 out of 42 prisons went on strike—and why some officers are refusing to return ?? The HALT Act—a well-intentioned law that’s making prisons more dangerous ?? How #fentanyl exposure inside facilities is putting both officers and incarcerated individuals at risk ?? The staggering burnout rate—and why the average life expectancy of a corrections officer is just 59 ?? What real #leadership in crisis looks like—and how policy failures are fueling the chaos This isn’t just a story about prisons—it’s about leadership, safety, and a system unraveling before our eyes. If you care about public safety, criminal justice, or what real leadership looks like in high-pressure environments, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss. Drop your thoughts in the comments. ?? Let’s talk. #KIRIA #KIRIAResearch #LeaderVoices #NewYorkPrisonStrike #PrisonStrike #PrisonLockdown #PrisonLeadership #NYPrisonStrike

-From a $200 Loan to a $44 Billion Empire: The Story of Dilip Shanghvi- Dilip Shanghvi, the son of a pharmaceutical distributor, started SUN PHARMA in 1983 with just a $200 loan from his father to manufacture psychiatric drugs. Fast forward to today, and Sun Pharma is #India’s most valuable publicly traded drug company, boasting a $44 billion market capitalization. The company has fueled its growth through strategic acquisitions, including India’s Ranbaxy Laboratories (2014) and U.S.-based Concert Pharmaceuticals (2022). Now, Sun Pharma is making another big move—acquiring U.S.-based Checkpoint Therapeutics Inc for $355 million to expand its #immunotherapy and #oncology portfolio. Under the deal, Sun Pharma will buy outstanding shares at $4.10 each, a 66% premium over Checkpoint’s last closing price. The transaction, expected to close by June 2025, further strengthens Sun Pharma’s presence in onco-dermatology. From a small startup to a global pharma powerhouse, Shanghvi’s journey is a testament to bold vision, smart acquisitions, and relentless execution. What are your thoughts on Sun Pharma’s latest move? ???? #Pharma #Innovation #Leadership #M&A #KIRIA https://lnkd.in/g62rhFSV

As an outbreak of measles continues to spread in West Texas and New Mexico, many people are wondering: How bad could it get? Well, the first thing to know is that #measles is one of the most contagious diseases on Earth—more than #Ebola, #smallpox, or just about any other infectious disease. To put it into perspective: ?? One person with measles can infect up to 18 others. That’s six times more contagious than COVID-19 (pre-vaccine) and far worse than #mumps or #chickenpox. This visualization (below) shows the maximum R? values—or how many people, on average, one sick person will infect: Unlike some other viruses, measles is airborne, meaning it can linger in the air for hours after an infected person has left a room. It spreads so easily that 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to measles will get sick. With #Texas now seeing its largest measles outbreak in years, this isn’t just a theoretical conversation. It’s happening now. ?? How do you think we should address the growing risks of vaccine-preventable diseases?

A proposed bill in Iowa, Senate File 360, aims to criminalize the administration of gene-based vaccines. Under the legislation, any person who administers a gene-based vaccine would be guilty of a misdemeanor, carrying a $500 fine per violation. The legislation defines gene-based vaccines as those developed using: ? Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology ? Modified mRNA technology ? Self-amplifying mRNA technology ? DNA-based vaccine technology Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a technology that teaches the body’s cells how to produce proteins that trigger an immune response. Unlike traditional #vaccines, which use weakened or inactivated viruses, mRNA vaccines do not contain live virus—instead, they deliver genetic instructions that help the immune system recognize and fight disease. While many associate mRNA solely with COVID-19 vaccines, the technology is being explored far beyond that—into cancer treatments, rare diseases, and other infectious diseases. Legislation like this could limit access to lifesaving innovations, impacting patients who stand to benefit from future mRNA-based therapies. Who Would Be Affected? For patients, this raises immediate concerns about access to advanced medical treatments. Cancer patients, those with genetic disorders, and individuals at risk for infectious diseases could lose access to breakthrough therapies. For physicians and hospitals, this legislation introduces legal uncertainty. If FDA-approved treatments using mRNA are banned at the state level, healthcare providers could face criminal charges for delivering what is considered standard of care elsewhere. For biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturers, this bill sets a dangerous precedent. Companies investing billions into mRNA research must now navigate state-by-state legal restrictions, creating new R&D and market access risks. This bill could disrupt major biotech and pharmaceutical players who are investing in mRNA technology, including: ? Moderna – Developing mRNA-based vaccines for infectious diseases, cancer, and rare genetic disorders ? BioNTech SE – Working on personalized mRNA cancer therapies ? Pfizer – Expanding mRNA use beyond COVID-19 with new infectious disease vaccines ? CureVac – Advancing mRNA vaccines for respiratory diseases ? Sanofi – Developing mRNA vaccines for flu and other viruses ? Arcturus Therapeutics – Creating mRNA therapies for genetic conditions ? AstraZeneca – Partnering on mRNA cardiovascular therapies ? Gilead Sciences – Exploring mRNA-based HIV and liver disease treatments If states begin criminalizing FDA-approved treatments, how should patients, healthcare providers, and biotech companies respond to proposed legislation like this? Let’s discuss ?? ?? ??

Pfizer names Patrizia Cavazzoni, former top FDA official, as Chief Medical Officer. Cavazzoni stepped down from her role as head of the FDA’s main drug review office in mid-January. She will succeed Aida Habtezion, who’s leaving the drugmaker. Thanks for sharing Chris Boshoff, MD, PhD, FMedSci - ??

Neurodegeneration. Alzheimer’s. Dementia. These aren’t just clinical terms - they are life-altering realities for millions of families around the world. And yet, half of primary care physicians still believe dementia is just a normal part of aging. It’s not. In the latest episode of LeaderVoices, I had the honor of sitting down with Winnie Pak, PhD, a powerhouse in the neurodegenerative disease space and the Head of Strategy at Elevated Clinical. Dr. Pak has spent over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry leading global medical affairs strategy for Alzheimer’s, rescuing clinical trial recruitment, and building a network of experts in neurodegenerative research. We talked about: ?? Why early detection is the game-changer in slowing cognitive decline ?? How clinical trials are evolving and why building trust is crucial ?? The "Brain Span" concept—not just living longer, but maintaining cognitive health for as many years as possible ?? A groundbreaking report from The Lancet that outlines 14 science-backed lifestyle factors that can reduce the risk of dementia by 45 percent ...and so much more. But this conversation wasn’t just about science - it was about purpose. About rethinking the way we approach aging, diagnosis, and the responsibility we all have to reshape healthcare systems before they are overwhelmed by an aging population. The takeaway for me is that we are not powerless. There are steps we can take - both as individuals and as a society - to protect our cognitive health and change the trajectory of #neurodegenerative disease. If you’re in #healthcare, #research, or simply care about the future of #brainhealth, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. ?? Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gs2eKs2w Let’s talk—what are you doing today to protect your brain health? Drop your thoughts in the comments. ?? #KIRIAResearch #KIRIA #LeaderVoices #Leadership #PharmaLeaders #Healthcare #Healthcareleadership

https://lnkd.in/g3prKSXS

Pharma’s Direct-to-Consumer Revolution The pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a massive transformation—shifting away from traditional physician, pharmacy, and wholesaler-led distribution and moving directly to consumers. With regulatory support (like the Affordable Care Act’s push for lower-cost healthcare), major players like Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Company, Abbott, and Dexcom are redefining patient access. ?? What This Means for the Industry ?? New revenue streams for pharma companies ?? Supply chain evolution—direct fulfillment models ?? Patients take control—greater accessibility & convenience ?? Is this the future of healthcare? Will physicians and traditional pharmacies become secondary players? Drop your thoughts below! ?? #Pharma #DirectToConsumer #HealthcareInnovation #DTC #Telehealth