Where Dealmakers Come Together
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Hot Off The Press!
Issa and Chinmay cover the latest acquisitions and licensing deals for Vertex.
Earlier in 2026, Vertex announced their acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals.
Vertex also entered into licensing agreements with Zai Lab and Ono Pharma in 2025, and with Halozyme Therapeutics in 2026.
What do these deals mean for Vertex? And for the industry? Listen in.
Hot Off The Press!
Rakesh and Chinmay cover AbbVie’s acquisitions and licensing deals in 1st Half of 2026.
Earlier this year, AbbVie bought Apogee Therapeutics.
AbbVie also entered into licensing agreements with Zejing Biopharmaceutical, RemeGen Biosciences, Haisco Pharma Group, and Ichnos Glenmark Innovation.
Tune in to hear about what it all means for AbbVie, and for industry.
Hot Off The Press!
Issa and Chinmay cover Novartis' acquisitions in 1st Half of 2026.
Novartis has picked up Tourmaline Bio, Avidity Biosciences, Pikavation Therapeutics, Excelergy, and Myricx Bio.
Tune in to hear about what it all means for Novartis, and for the industry.
Issa and Chinmay cover Eli Lilly's acquisitions in 1st Half of 2026.
Eli Lilly has spent nearly $32B for 13 companies so far this year. These include Centessa Pharmaceuticals, Kelonia Therapeutics, Ventyx Biosciences, and AtaiBeckley.
Be sure to listen through the end for the addition on Merida Biosciences, and other latest acquisitions.
Hot Off The Press!
Issa and Chinmay cover Merck Group and Merck & Co.'s acquisitions in 1st Half of 2026. Merck's buying spree has included JSR Life Sciences, Bio-Techne, Terns Pharmaceuticals, and Cidara Therapeutics. What do these acquisitions mean for Merck and the industry? Listen in.
On this podcast episode, I speak with Judyanna Yu Simcock, Managing Partner at One Six 8 Ventures. Judyanna has been leading global deal-making for over 12 years, especially in Medical Devices and Technologies. One Six 8 Ventures’ team consists of experienced Clinicians and Operators, and the firm taps into the Canadian innovation ecosystem.
There are many groundbreaking companies in Canada. Investing into the right Canadian company can also mean a lower valuation as compared to companies in United States and Europe. This advantage can lead to more capital efficient execution.
On this episode, we dig into the genesis of One Six 8 Ventures, what types of Med Device companies they invest in, what market conditions the firm pays attention to, and what qualities they look for in the entrepreneur and companies that they invest in.
Check out the full episode!
On this podcast episode, I speak with Shlomi Raz, Managing Partner at Palomar Labs. As a Venture Builder, Palomar Labs builds companies around medicines that already have a record of use in people, focused on the aging brain.
Shlomi started his career in Finance on Wall Street, and then transitioned into Biotech, as Founder and CEO of Eleusis. Beckley Psytech acquired Eleusis, and Shlomi served as President and CEO during BPL-003's clinical development.
Within Psychiatry, Palomar has taken a unique approach to drug development, starting with human experience (rather than animal models) along with the large set of existing data sets to identify the right compounds. And this approach may lend itself to other indications within Neuropsychiatry.
In our conversation, we touch upon the evolution of Psychedelics and the promise of ‘Generation 3,’ how JnJ’s SPRAVATO eventually became a blockbuster drug, what the venture building process looks like at Palomar Labs, and why the firm is focusing on unmet needs within aging.
Check out the full episode!
On this Emerging Markets episode, I speak with Markus Schreyer, Managing Partner at The Ganesha Lab. More than 50% of the world’s biodiversity comes from Latin America, and The Ganesha Lab taps into that scientific potential. As an ‘accelerator-fund,’ The Ganesha Lab works closely with scientific founders to advance their early-stage opportunity into fundable science.
Markus used his corporate background to launch The Ganesha Lab nearly a decade ago. In most cases, they are the first check (pre-seed) into companies originating from Latin America. Generally, this first-check VC fund focuses on four major categories: Aging Population, Healthcare Access, Climate, and Food Scarcity, especially coming from countries of Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia.
In our conversation, we touch upon the role Artificial Intelligence plays in the industry, how resilience can be a key characteristic amongst Entrepreneurs, the awakening of Biotech exits in 2026, and other topics.
Check out the full episode!
On International Episode 1 of the Aayaam 360 Podcast, I speak with Luka Nicin, Investor at Pace Ventures. This Berlin based, globally focused VC firm closed a Fund I to be completely deployed by Q3 of this year.
The firm invests in Pre-Seed and Seed stage companies throughout Health x Bio and Industrial Tech verticals. Luka uses his scientific and business background (Master’s in Molecular Medicine, PhD in Cardiovascular Regeneration, MBA followed by Biopharma Strategy Consulting) to lead a lot of Pace’s Health x Bio deals. Later this year, Pace Ventures will start fundraising for its Fund II.