Örn Almarsson, Co-Founder of Axelyf - Modernas SpikeVax, the challenge of mRNA delivery and Salmon's inspiration behind Axelyf?

Örn Almarsson, Co-Founder of Axelyf - Modernas SpikeVax, the challenge of mRNA delivery and Salmon's inspiration behind Axelyf?

In this episode, I talked with Orn Almarsson, co-founder of Axelyf, where he shared his journey from Iceland to becoming a prominent figure in the biotechnology industry. He discussed his experiences at Moderna and the development of the mRNA COVID vaccine, Spikevax. He reflects on the challenges faced in drug development, the importance of mentorship, and the founding of his own company, Axelyf, which focuses on anti-inflammatory solutions. Orn emphasizes the significance of hiring passionate individuals, the need for feedback in recruitment, and the value of networking and mentorship for career success.

Here's what you're in:

  • What success has he worked on Spikevax mRNA COVID vaccine, and what has he learned from it?
  • What is Axelyf and its mission?
  • What qualities of an individual is important when it comes to hiring?

Timestamps:

02:06 From Iceland to California

05:55 Joining Merck and Early Experiences

07:44 The Moderna Journey and Spikevax

15:26 Founding Axelyf and Its Mission

22:39 Industry Observations and Hiring Insights

32:14 Advice for Aspiring Professionals


About Orn

Orn Almarsson, co-founder of Axelyf, an Icelandic biotechnology start-up focusing on designing and developing medicines for inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Orn is a pharmaceutical scientist turned executive with 30 years in the industry and has worked with multiple products including the Covid vaccine, Spikevax at Moderna. He has a PhD in Bioorganic Chemistry from UC Santa Barbara, originally from Iceland but now lives in Massachusetts.


Connect with Orn

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%C3%B6rn-almarsson-9511b86/

Company Website: https://www.axelyf.com/


About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.


Connect with me:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/



Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.


Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(74)

Eliot Forster, CEO at Levicept on 30 Years in Pharma, Running a Six-Person Biotech, and the Future of European Drug Development

Eliot Forster, CEO at Levicept on 30 Years in Pharma, Running a Six-Person Biotech, and the Future of European Drug Development

In this episode, I talked with Eliot Forster, CEO of Levicept, a neurophysiologist-turned biotech veteran with 30+ years of experience across Big Pharma and a series of CEO roles. We get into clinical...

7 Syys 45min

Michael Zaiac, Medical Affairs Lead for Oncology at Daiichi Sankyo on 30 Years of Hiring Lessons, The ADC Wave, and Building Teams in a Fast-Moving Pipeline

Michael Zaiac, Medical Affairs Lead for Oncology at Daiichi Sankyo on 30 Years of Hiring Lessons, The ADC Wave, and Building Teams in a Fast-Moving Pipeline

In this episode, I talked with Michael Zaiac, Medical Affairs Lead for Oncology across Europe and Canada at Daiichi Sankyo — a trained surgical oncologist who walked away from the operating table, mov...

24 Elo 39min

Juho Jalkanen, CEO at Faron Pharmaceuticals on From Surgeon to CEO, Rethinking Boards, and Fighting for the Right Science

Juho Jalkanen, CEO at Faron Pharmaceuticals on From Surgeon to CEO, Rethinking Boards, and Fighting for the Right Science

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Juho Jalkanen, CEO of Faron Pharmaceuticals — a publicly listed Finnish biotech building novel immunotherapies for blood cancers. Juho's path is unlike most you'll h...

10 Elo 37min

Tobias Kampfenkel, MD, MHBA, Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Miltenyi Biomedicine, on Transformative Drugs in Oncology and Autoimmunity: It's Always the Team!

Tobias Kampfenkel, MD, MHBA, Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Miltenyi Biomedicine, on Transformative Drugs in Oncology and Autoimmunity: It's Always the Team!

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Tobias Kampfenkel, Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Miltenyi Biomedicine. Tobias spent nearly a decade at Janssen building ...

15 Kesä 39min

Sofia Heigis, CEO of OncoPeptides, From Sales Rep to CEO, Being "Present", and Hiring for Self-Insight

Sofia Heigis, CEO of OncoPeptides, From Sales Rep to CEO, Being "Present", and Hiring for Self-Insight

In this episode, I talked with Sofia Heigis, Chief Executive Officer of OncoPeptides, about a career path that did not start where she expected. Sofia originally wanted to move into clinical operation...

31 Touko 38min

Jens Lindberg, CEO at Medivir, on The Biotech Rollercoaster - Medivir´s Previous Four Months (and Biotech Today in 2026)

Jens Lindberg, CEO at Medivir, on The Biotech Rollercoaster - Medivir´s Previous Four Months (and Biotech Today in 2026)

In this episode, I talked with Jens Lindberg, CEO of Medivir AB, a Swedish biotech developing innovative therapies in liver cancer and rare disease. Jens brings over 30 years of late-stage development...

18 Touko 33min

Hubert Truebel,  Managing Director at DEBRA Research, on Creating Own Career Opportunities...and a Practical Approach to Longevity

Hubert Truebel, Managing Director at DEBRA Research, on Creating Own Career Opportunities...and a Practical Approach to Longevity

In this episode, I talked with Hubert Truebel, Managing Director at DEBRA Research, to discover a career that wasn’t built traditionally—but through creating opportunities where none formally existed....

4 Touko 28min

Sampreet Ramachandra, Head of Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, on Launching Without a Playbook, Hiring Mistakes, and Leading with Equity

Sampreet Ramachandra, Head of Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, on Launching Without a Playbook, Hiring Mistakes, and Leading with Equity

In this episode, I talked with Sampreet Ramachandra, Head of the Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, about what it really takes to lead high-stakes launches — and what leadership looks like ...

30 Maalis 42min

Suosittua kategoriassa Liike-elämä ja talous

sijotuskasti
vallattomat
psykopodiaa-podcast
mimmit-sijoittaa
rss-rahapodi
rss-oivalluksia-rahasta-elamasta
ostan-asuntoja-podcast
oppimisen-psykologia
lakicast
rss-paasipodi
rss-alanvaihtajat
rss-porssipodi
rss-karon-grilli
rss-startup-ministerio
rss-inderes
rss-siksi-viestinta
rahapuhetta
hyva-paha-johtaminen
rss-pinnan-alle
rss-sami-miettinen-neuvottelija