Latest news with #ChristineAllen
National Post
12-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Intrepid Labs Launches to Transform Drug Formulation with AI and Autonomous Labs
Article content TORONTO — Intrepid Labs, a biotechnology company transforming drug formulation development through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, emerged from stealth today to accelerate therapeutics development through effective formulations that improve clinical performance. Article content The company has secured several industry partners, and recently closed a $7 million USD seed round led by AVANT BIO, which follows a $4 million USD unannounced pre-seed round led by Radical Ventures, with participation from Propagator Ventures. The proceeds from these financings will expand Intrepid Labs' team, accelerate the development of its proprietary delivery technologies, and scale commercial operations to keep pace with customer demand. Article content 'It is apparent that traditional approaches to drug formulation aren't working,' said Christine Allen, co-founder and chief executive officer of Intrepid Labs. 'Pharma companies are relying on legacy approaches that fail to deliver the best possible formulations into the clinic. I believe this contributes to the high rate of failure during clinical development. Intrepid Labs is addressing this overlooked bottleneck in drug development with its transformative approach that unlocks a faster, more precise path to improve the quality of therapeutics. We're going to change the way the industry thinks about drug formulation.' Article content Formulation is a critical step in drug development. Effective formulations not only improve therapeutic efficacy, but also mitigate adverse effects, enhancing overall patient safety, while improving drug development success rates. Article content The conventional approach to formulation design is slow and expensive. It starts with benchmarks from existing formulations and then proceeds, one parameter at a time, through a trial-and-error exercise. As a result, companies often settle for suboptimal formulations that fail to maximize a drug's performance, leaving most of the design space untapped. Article content Intrepid Labs is transforming drug formulation with its Valiant™ platform – a modular, AI-driven robotic lab that rapidly explores the full formulation design space. Starting with an active pharmaceutical ingredient and a target product profile, Valiant selects, prepares, and analyzes formulations through semi- and fully autonomous workflows, refining multiple parameters in parallel with expert oversight. What once took months can now be achieved in days – delivering optimized formulations through a comprehensive, data-driven process. Article content Since its founding in 2023, Intrepid Labs has forged partnerships with multiple drug developers, including some of the largest global pharmaceutical companies, as well as contract research organizations, and small and mid-sized biotechs. Industry partners use the Valiant platform to identify optimized formulations and accelerate drug development. At the same time, Intrepid Labs is developing its own proprietary oral and long-acting injectable delivery technologies for small molecules and biologics that are available for licensing. Article content 'Intrepid Labs is unlocking a new era in drug formulation, in which delivery format, dosing frequency, and patient experience can be intentionally designed from day one,' said Sebastien Latapie, partner at AVANT BIO. 'By using AI and robotics to screen vast formulation possibilities, its Valiant platform enables more cost-effective therapies and better outcomes for patients.' Article content About Intrepid Labs Article content Intrepid Labs was spun out of the University of Toronto to pioneer the use of artificial intelligence and robotics to redefine drug formulation and accelerate therapeutic development. The company is led by CEO and co-founder Dr. Christine Allen, a global expert in drug formulation with over 180 peer-reviewed publications. Together with co-founders Dr. Pauric Bannigan (chief scientific officer) and Dr. Riley Hickman (director of research and development), Intrepid's leadership team leverages expertise in drug delivery, laboratory automation, and AI-driven formulation. Article content Intrepid partners with leading pharmaceutical companies, CROs, CDMOs, and biotechs to accelerate research and development (R&D) and enhance formulation strategies. The company is also advancing an internal pipeline of proprietary drug delivery technologies available for licensing. Based in the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, Intrepid is reshaping how the industry approaches drug formulation R&D. Companies with active pharmaceutical ingredients or candidates requiring formulation solutions are encouraged to contact Intrepid at info@ Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact Maggie Williard Account Executive, HDMZ (312) 506-5239 Article content Article content Article content
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Intrepid Labs Launches to Transform Drug Formulation with AI and Autonomous Labs
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Intrepid Labs, a biotechnology company transforming drug formulation development through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, emerged from stealth today to accelerate therapeutics development through effective formulations that improve clinical performance. The company has secured several industry partners, and recently closed a $7 million USD seed round led by AVANT BIO, which follows a $4 million USD unannounced pre-seed round led by Radical Ventures, with participation from Propagator Ventures. The proceeds from these financings will expand Intrepid Labs' team, accelerate the development of its proprietary delivery technologies, and scale commercial operations to keep pace with customer demand. "It is apparent that traditional approaches to drug formulation aren't working," said Christine Allen, co-founder and chief executive officer of Intrepid Labs. "Pharma companies are relying on legacy approaches that fail to deliver the best possible formulations into the clinic. I believe this contributes to the high rate of failure during clinical development. Intrepid Labs is addressing this overlooked bottleneck in drug development with its transformative approach that unlocks a faster, more precise path to improve the quality of therapeutics. We're going to change the way the industry thinks about drug formulation." Formulation is a critical step in drug development. Effective formulations not only improve therapeutic efficacy, but also mitigate adverse effects, enhancing overall patient safety, while improving drug development success rates. The conventional approach to formulation design is slow and expensive. It starts with benchmarks from existing formulations and then proceeds, one parameter at a time, through a trial-and-error exercise. As a result, companies often settle for suboptimal formulations that fail to maximize a drug's performance, leaving most of the design space untapped. Intrepid Labs is transforming drug formulation with its Valiant™ platform – a modular, AI-driven robotic lab that rapidly explores the full formulation design space. Starting with an active pharmaceutical ingredient and a target product profile, Valiant selects, prepares, and analyzes formulations through semi- and fully autonomous workflows, refining multiple parameters in parallel with expert oversight. What once took months can now be achieved in days – delivering optimized formulations through a comprehensive, data-driven process. Since its founding in 2023, Intrepid Labs has forged partnerships with multiple drug developers, including some of the largest global pharmaceutical companies, as well as contract research organizations, and small and mid-sized biotechs. Industry partners use the Valiant platform to identify optimized formulations and accelerate drug development. At the same time, Intrepid Labs is developing its own proprietary oral and long-acting injectable delivery technologies for small molecules and biologics that are available for licensing. 'Intrepid Labs is unlocking a new era in drug formulation, in which delivery format, dosing frequency, and patient experience can be intentionally designed from day one,' said Sebastien Latapie, partner at AVANT BIO. 'By using AI and robotics to screen vast formulation possibilities, its Valiant platform enables more cost-effective therapies and better outcomes for patients.' About Intrepid Labs Intrepid Labs was spun out of the University of Toronto to pioneer the use of artificial intelligence and robotics to redefine drug formulation and accelerate therapeutic development. The company is led by CEO and co-founder Dr. Christine Allen, a global expert in drug formulation with over 180 peer-reviewed publications. Together with co-founders Dr. Pauric Bannigan (chief scientific officer) and Dr. Riley Hickman (director of research and development), Intrepid's leadership team leverages expertise in drug delivery, laboratory automation, and AI-driven formulation. Intrepid partners with leading pharmaceutical companies, CROs, CDMOs, and biotechs to accelerate research and development (R&D) and enhance formulation strategies. The company is also advancing an internal pipeline of proprietary drug delivery technologies available for licensing. Based in the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, Intrepid is reshaping how the industry approaches drug formulation R&D. Companies with active pharmaceutical ingredients or candidates requiring formulation solutions are encouraged to contact Intrepid at info@
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
The papal in-tray: new pontiff will have to hit the ground running on so many urgent issues
A key task will be to strengthen unity within the church amid growing polarisation in the world and different views and expectations within the church. Some observers believe there is a real risk of schism after 20 years in which there have been popes on either end of the spectrum: the traditional/conservative Benedict XVI, and the liberal/progressive Francis. Will the new pope be a unifying figure, reaching out to both traditionalists and progressives, and steering the church through the choppy waters of the 21st century? Or will he be identified with one wing of the church, thereby alienating another wing? A key area of unity and healing will be the American Catholic church, where Pope Francis was a divisive figure. Some US bishops are avid supporters of Donald Trump while others are dismayed by the president's policies and statements. An early visit to the US may be high on the new pope's agenda. The pope has an important role to play on the international stage, particularly to ensure that religion does not become a fault line. He will face ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan plus the politically divisive issues of migration, the climate crisis, religious freedom and human rights. Christine Allen, chief executive of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (Cafod), said: 'Our new pope will take on the papacy as the world faces a challenging international combination of spiralling global debt, accelerating climate change, and escalating humanitarian need … 'The new pontiff will be one of only a few people in the world who can cross political divides and use his moral influence to help all of us look beyond our narrow self-interests and work together to overcome our collective challenges.' In common with other world leaders, the new pope will have to navigate Donald Trump's second term in the White House. Pope Francis openly rebuked both the first and second Trump administrations on issues such as migration. The legacy of sexual abuse cast a long shadow over Francis's papacy. He was slow to grasp the scale and systemic nature of the problem, and at first did not understand the pain and anger of survivors. That pain has not gone away, and the new pope's approach will inevitably come under intense scrutiny. The Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests (Snap), issued a warning shot last week by saying several cardinals who were thought to be in the running to succeed Francis may have mishandled or helped to cover up cases of abuse. Peter Isely, a founding member of Snap, said abuse was just beginning to come to light in some parts of the world. ' Parts of Africa are by far the most dangerous for children in the Catholic church, and the survivors who come forward there face enormous shunning, face enormous threats,' he told reporters in Rome. Protecting children and vulnerable adults, especially in places where the implementation of safeguarding procedures is challenging, is a key issue in the papal in-tray. The new pope will need to take decisions on governance within the church, including the pace of change and levels of inclusion regarding laity and women. He will need to make key appointments within days to get the new papacy up and running. There has been a trend towards appointing qualified, professional lay people to Vatican jobs rather than clerics. Under Francis, some key roles went to women for the first time, but some say the process of change could be both quicker and more far-reaching. Sister Nathalie Becquart, who served as undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops for four years, said there was 'no way to go back' but 'a change of mindset and a change of culture' was still in progress. 'The next step is to encourage the involvement of women at all levels of the church,' she told BBC Radio 4's Sunday programme. There are two aspects to this for the new pope's attention: general oversight and transparency, on which there was significant progress under Pope Francis but still more to do; and the unsustainable levels of deficit in the Vatican finances, which deteriorated during Francis's papacy. In 2022, the Vatican budget accounts were about $94m in the red, and the Vatican pension fund reportedly had a shortfall of more than $700m. One senior cardinal, Angelo Becciu, withdrew from the conclave last week because of convictions in 2022 of financial crimes (he is appealing). Francis had forced Becciu to quit his post after allegations of financial mismanagement came to light, but Becciu only withdrew from the conclave after being presented with letters written by Francis before he died saying Becciu should not take part in the process to elect the next pope. Francis shifted the church's dial on issues relating to sexuality and identity, condemning discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, meeting trans men and women and authorising the blessings of same sex couples. LGBTQ+ Catholics welcomed his compassion and affirmation while acknowledging he did not change church teaching. Francis's standpoint prompted a backlash among traditionalists, and the new pope will be watched closely for his views. He will also need to consider the issue of celibacy for priests. Francis ultimately ducked the issue of whether to allow married priests in parts of the world, such as the Amazon, where there is a dire shortage. Will the new pope push it through?
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
18 Ways To Overcome Common Objections To Hiring A Coach
Even as coaching gains greater traction in the business world, many companies remain hesitant to commit to it. Company leaders' concerns about returns on investment, skepticism about long-term impact or a basic lack of understanding about what coaching actually entails can all stand in the way of landing a contract. Fortunately, there are effective ways to address these concerns, from aligning services with business goals to proactively tackling common misconceptions. Here, 18 members of Forbes Coaches Council share practical strategies for overcoming the skepticism of prospective organizational clients and successfully making the business case for making coaching a priority. Leaders often use coaching for problems once they arise rather than to develop leaders and teams in the service of desired business outcomes. Coaches must understand an organization's needs and pain points and address how individual and team coaching will help the organization meet important business objectives. Helping potential clients understand how to effectively use coaching services is key. - Christine Allen, Ph.D., Insight Business Works Many companies don't understand coaching or its value. As a coach, it is essential to have case studies available that demonstrate your value and its short- and long-term impacts on individuals and companies. - Carol Geffner, Geffner Group, LLC Companies invest in what drives revenue growth—period. Coaching can be that catalyst, but only if the coach's skill set aligns with the company's needs (think of the character Wendy Rhoades in the TV series Billions). When coaching sharpens leadership, accelerates decisions and boosts team performance, the ROI is clear, which is why a strong request for proposal with defined success metrics is essential to winning clients. - Teegan Bartos, JYC Companies can be skeptical about hiring coaches if they don't see a measurable return on investment. That's why at our company, we use tools like surveys and progress tracking to evaluate ROI. With real-time insights, customized leadership development plans and data-driven feedback, we empower businesses to make informed decisions and understand the value coaching brings to their teams. - Sara Ellis Conant, a)plan coaching Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify? Companies can be skeptical about coaching for two reasons: it takes time to drive change, and it is not easy to measure the impact of coaching. To deliver faster results, I believe coaches must use a solid assessment at the beginning to offer a clear path forward, as it relates to measuring the impact of coaching. I suggest doing a closing assessment as well to compare with the first one. - Alex Kergall, Altior My experience has shown a lack of understanding about what value a coach brings and what a coach will actually do for them. When confronted with this, I give prospective clients live case examples so they can begin to relate to how it applies to them. The resistance to change and having their perspectives challenged can often be the barrier to coaching. The lack of knowledge of the role of the coach needs to be addressed. - Melinda Fouts, Ph.D., Success Starts With You Some companies hesitate to hire coaches because of a lack of results. One of the conversations that I hold consistently with current and new companies interested in coaching is discussing how to measure success. At times, the company has engaged in coaching, but it didn't lead anywhere in creating new behaviors or actions. Be open in discussing the success stories when creating measurements and what results the organization is seeking to achieve. - Bryan Powell, Executive Coaching Space Some companies may not see a direct correlation between hiring coaches and the impact on their business results. Coaches need to differentiate the expectations for short- and long-term results with their clients. A three-month gig won't deliver the same outcome as a six-month contract. Agree on KPIs up front. Underpromise and overdeliver by keeping the coaching client accountable for deliverables. - Cellene Hoogenkamp, KokuaHub Inc Coaching Companies hesitate to hire coaches because they may see coaching as a remedy for poor performance rather than a strategic advantage. The key to overcoming this is shifting their mindset. I position coaching as a business solution—showing how it drives better leadership, decision-making and results. By aligning coaching with their goals, I help them see it as an investment, not a nice-to-have. - Denise Russo, School of Thoughts Publishing Coaches can be more objective and discerning than internal hiring authorities, who are likely encouraged to hire a certain individual or who do not want to get on the wrong side of a given hiring manager. Mistaking confidence for competence in a candidate is a massive problem that companies often don't admit to having, but it's a reason so many leaders fail in new leadership roles. - Bill English, OnPath Coaching Skepticism exists for two reasons: First, not all coaches are created equal. Accreditation is easy, but true impact requires a proven skill set and personality fit. Second, coaching is still seen as remediation, when in reality, it's a high-performance tool for driven leaders looking to refine their skills and accelerate impact. The key? Normalize coaching as a strategic advantage, not a safety net. - Leisse Wilcox, Leisse Wilcox Consulting Inc Coaches must differentiate themselves from consultants. There are many qualified and effective consultants, but the results are often unsustainable. Coaches teach, empower and hold clients accountable to agreed-upon metrics. The differentiator is organizational habits that are formed and consistently executed. - Edward Doherty, One Degree Coaching, LLC The word 'coach' has been overused, and it's because many non-experts have entered the space claiming they solve your biggest pain point. Choosing the expert who has direct experience with the exact situation the company is going to be facing, along with verifying the effectiveness of their method, will help companies see the true value in the right coach. - Lynn Smith, Lynn Smith Media & Communications What I've seen is that skepticism usually isn't about coaching itself—it's about wasted time, energy and money. Leaders don't want another vague conversation; they want traction. I cut through that by focusing on high-stakes outcomes—decisions that shift culture, strategies that retain top talent and mindset shifts that directly impact the bottom line. - Laurie Arron, Arron Coaching LLC Many companies see coaching as too soft to drive measurable results. To overcome this, coaches must showcase success stories backed by clear data (impact on talent retention, team performance and so on). This evidence-based approach transforms skepticism into a compelling case for the strategic value of coaching. - Kerri Sutey, Sutey Coaching & Consulting LLC Many companies see coaching as something 'good to have,' fearing it is just feel-good talk with no real impact. The best way to overcome this skepticism is to speak their language and tie coaching outcomes to measurable business metrics like team productivity, retention rates and innovation cycles. Thus, positioning coaching as a business performance accelerator with clear, trackable ROI is key. - Thomas Lim, Centre for Systems Leadership (SIM Academy) Coaches are known for acting like therapists, such as by asking leading questions, not providing advisory services and pulling people through problems with a systems understanding and a wide tool kit. They don't necessarily get involved on a consulting level as needed, such as by intervening when a client is flailing with their stakeholders. Often, that's the reassurance a client wants—a more secure feeling. - Kinga Vajda, Execute Your Intentions, LLC Some companies hesitate to hire coaches due to the damage caused by unqualified or transactional coaches, leaving a perception of low ROI. To overcome this, a coaching practice must showcase proven track records, real case studies and measurable success stories, demonstrating clear business impact and aligning coaching outcomes with strategic goals. - Carlos Hoyos, Elite Leader Institute
