Building A Broad Oncology Portfolio With SOTIO CEO Dr. Radek Špíšek

Publisher's Note: This article was produced from a Business of Biotech podcast episode which aired in April 2021. For the most recent information on SOTIO, please visit www.sotio.com.

Pursuing multiple biotherapeutic assets for development can be a uniquely challenging endeavor, particularly when working with programs targeted at oncological indications. Establishing an organization that can manage a diverse development pipeline for oncology therapies requires an equally diverse wealth of expertise. From in-house discovery to strategic licensing, the key capabilities required for research, preclinical and clinical development, commercial planning, and market access necessitate careful planning, recruitment, and strategy to get it right.

In an episode of The Business of Biotech podcast, Radek Špíšek, CEO of SOTIO Biotech, explored the value of a broad development pipeline and the expertise needed to support one. He also gave insight into the development, human resources, and funding strategies the company has deployed to build its interleukin-15 (IL-15) immune cell therapy and antibody-drug conjugate candidates, as well as why its primary investor is betting on the biotech company to succeed. SOTIO’s clinical-stage pipeline is diverse, including multiple antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), several dendritic- and CAR-T–based cell therapies, and two IL-15–based superantagonist drugs. Each of these assets aligns with SOTIO’s vision, relying on mechanisms innate to the immune system to target tumor cells; and yet each is distinct enough that, even if one program fails, another is poised to progress through development.