In this episode, I talked with Myriam Cherif, former Regional Medical Lead for Oncology & Emerging Markets at GSK and founder of Kalyx Medical—a consultancy focused on Medical Affairs strategy, mentoring, and AI training.

I invited Myriam to join me here because she posts some of the most insightful and practical content about what life is really like as a Medical Affairs professional. She shares her journey from academia to pharma, and what it really takes to succeed in Medical Affairs without losing your sense of purpose. She opens up about the early days at Novartis, the steep transition from the lab to corporate life, and the practical lessons she learned through trial and error—most especially the KOL meeting that didn’t go as planned.

She also shares the turning point that came when her role at GSK was made redundant, how that moment became the spark behind founding Kalyx Medical, and why she now helps MSLs and Medical Leads use AI with intention, and not as a gimmick. Along the way, she reflects on mentorship, resilience, and how to stand out in an industry that tests both your patience and adaptability.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

1. Why mentorship can make or break your first MSL year
2. The “so what” factor that makes a CV stand out
3. How AI can help MSLs read smarter, not harder

Timestamps

01:15 – From PhD in molecular biology to Medical Affairs

03:07 – The reality behind the MSL role

05:30 – Starting at Novartis and feeling out of depth

06:52 – Her first KOL meeting—and what went wrong

08:08 – Why mentorship changes everything

10:17 – How long it took to land her first MSL role

15:34 – Turning objections into opportunities

22:42 – From GSK restructure to starting Kalyx Medical

25:26 – Two big mistakes companies make with AI

28:37 – How AI gives MSLs a competitive edge

About Myriam

Dr. Myriam Cherif is the former Regional Medical Lead – Oncology, Emerging Markets at GSK and the Founder of Kalyx Medical, a consultancy focused on medical affairs strategy and AI training. With over 14 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Myriam has worked across a wide range of therapy areas, including cardiovascular, immunology, and oncology, and held leadership roles spanning the UK and emerging markets.

At GSK, she led medical strategy and scientific engagement across diverse regions, ensuring compliance and excellence in oncology communication. Through Kalyx Medical, Myriam also supports biotech and pharma companies by enhancing their medical affairs capabilities and preparing teams for the evolving landscape of AI-driven drug development and engagement.

Connect with Myriam

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriam-cherif-phd-977a911/
2. Kalyx Medical: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kalyx-medical/about/

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...

In this episode, I talked with Sven Van den Berghe, CEO of Pantera, about his 25+ years in nuclear physics, from his early days at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center to stepping into the high-stakes world of radioisotope production.

Sven speaks openly about the toughest move of his career: leaving the safety of a government research institute to run a startup where pressure, governance disputes, and fundraising could make or break the company. He explains why independent boards are essential, how culture must be defined from day one, and why money and trust suddenly matter a lot more when you’re no longer in a state-funded environment.

He also shared the fine line between science and marketing in radiopharmaceuticals—the misleading claims, the half-truths about isotope supply, and how exaggeration risks turning investors and the public away from the whole field. Sven also gives a clear picture of Pantera’s mission to expand actinium-225 production, what real diversity in a team looks like, and why letting people go quickly can be the fairest option for everyone.

We also spoke about Sven’s view on recruiters—the practices that cross the line and what still makes collaborations worthwhile.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• Governance clashes with corporate founders in Pantera’s early years
• Building a leadership team that complements each other’s strengths
• Sven’s frustrations with recruiter behavior

Timestamps

01:06 – Choosing a PhD and landing at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center

03:05 – The hardest step: leaving government research for startup life

04:49 – Governance disputes and the need for independent boards

06:32 – Lessons learned: business plans, money, and building trust in leadership teams

08:24 – Culture as the foundation of Pantera’s identity

09:02 – How hype and half-truths distort isotope marketing

10:50 – Why reliability, cost, and scale matter more than technical ability

12:13 – The danger of running down competitor isotopes

14:00 – What Pantera is building: actinium-225 supply today and long-term plans

22:22 – Hiring and why letting people go quickly can be the right call

24:08 – Sven’s frustrations with recruiter behavior

About Sven

Sven Van den Berghe is the CEO of PanTera, a company that aims to expand the supply of medical isotopes for cancer therapies. With a background in physics and a PhD in materials science, Sven spent more than two decades at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK CEN), where he rose through the ranks to become Institute Director. In 2021, he made the bold move from a secure government institute to leading a biotech startup—an inflection point he calls one of the hardest, but most rewarding, decisions of his career.

Throughout his career, Sven has combined deep technical expertise in nuclear research with leadership in complex organizations. Today, he leads Pantera in its mission to expand the global supply of medical isotopes, drawing on his background in science, governance, and international collaboration.

Connect with Sven:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svenvdberghe/
• Website: https://pantera-life.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...

In this episode, I talked with Catello Somma, Partner at Seroba, to learn about his nonlinear journey from academia and biopharma into venture capital—and the realities behind building funds, backing biotech founders, and surviving industry downturns.

Catello shares the turning points that shaped his career: walking away from his PhD to get closer to patients, breaking into VC after years in biotech operations, and the hard decision to leave a fund when partnership opportunities weren’t on the table. He also gives an insider’s view on what people get wrong about venture capital—the pressure of fundraising cycles, the competition for partnership seats, and why the job is far from the traditional perception of “writing checks from a couch.”

And to round things off, he takes on some quick-fire questions, from his daily coffee intake to the advice he wishes he’d heard earlier in his career.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• The skills biotech professionals often lack when they first enter VC
• The hard truth about career progression in VC—why few ever make partner
• How the biotech funding downturn is reshaping investor behavior

Timestamps

1:45 – Leaving academia, dropping a PhD, and first steps into industry

4:02 – Pros and cons of entering VC from biotech vs finance-only backgrounds

8:13 – What differentiates Seroba: flat structure, collegiality, and no egos

10:02 – How the biotech recession and closed IPO window reshaped strategies

13:11 – The biggest misconceptions about venture capital work

16:14 – The insecurity of VC careers: five-year fund cycles and job risk

17:29 – Hard lessons: breaking into VC and walking away when promotion wasn’t possible

19:35 – Quick-fire round: coffee habits, books, family life, funniest dinner with Kevin

About Catello

Catello Somma is a Partner at ROA Ventures, where he invests in early-stage life science companies across Europe and North America. His path into venture wasn’t straightforward: after leaving a PhD program to get closer to patients, he built his career in CROs and biotech operations, later completing an MBA to bridge the gap between science and finance.

Before joining Seroba, Catello worked on both sides of the biotech ecosystem, from building operational teams to structuring deals. Currently, he focuses on supporting founders through the toughest parts of the journey: scaling companies, navigating funding cycles, and preparing for exits. Known for his pragmatic approach and emphasis on culture, Catello brings a long-term mindset to venture—balancing the pressures of short-term market shifts with the resilience needed to build enduring biotech businesses.

Connect with Catello:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catellosomma/
• Website: https://serobavc.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: