Jay Hartenbach, President & COO, Diakonos Oncology on Reprogramming Cancer Immunity Breakthrough

episode

Previously titled “Jay Hartenbach, President & COO, Diakonos Oncology on Reprogramming Cancer Immunity Breakthrough AI” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 2, 2026

Biotech 2050 Podcast not yet transcribed

▲ 0

Transcript

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet Upvotes decide what gets transcribed next — 0 so far. Sign in to upvote

recent transcribed audio

NPR News: 09-29-2026 7AM EDT 4 min · 29 Sep 2026 · NPR News Now

7AM ET 09/29/2026 Newscast 3 min · 29 Sep 2026 · Fox News Hourly Update

Overmedicated To Death: Former FDA Officer on Presley Gerber & The Psychiatric Crisis in America w/ Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring & Ronald Owens Jr. – Ask Dr. Drew – Ep 670 1h 19m · 29 Sep 2026 · Ask Dr. Drew

Federal boost for Navitas 6 min · 29 Sep 2026 · Wall Street Breakfast

1031: Tokenomics: Why Your Agentic AI Bill Is Exploding (and How to Fix It), with Tyler Cox and Ish Shah 1h 14m · 29 Sep 2026 · Super Data Science: ML & AI Podcast with Jon Krohn

Being a Real Housewife with Erin Lichy 46 min · 29 Sep 2026 · Disgraceful with Grace O'Malley

Report any issue

Source

Recorded10 Dec 2025

Publisherfeeds.soundcloud.com ↗

Handlerec:14476093

Show notes

Synopsis: This episode is proudly sponsored by Quartzy. What happens when engineering discipline, business pragmatism, and breakthrough immunology collide? In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Alok Tayi sits down with Jay Hartenbach, President & COO of Diakonos Oncology, to unpack one of the most unconventional—and promising—approaches in cancer immunotherapy today. Jay traces his journey from biomedical engineering into biotech operations, sharing how Diakonos was built outside the traditional venture playbook and why the company chose to tackle two of the most punishing cancers first: glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer. He reveals how Diakonos’ dual-loading dendritic cell platform creates an exponentially stronger immune response—essentially tricking the body into launching a viral-level attack against cancer. From capital-efficient clinical execution to nontraditional fundraising and early signs of durable patient responses, this conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how bold science, disciplined operations, and relentless persistence can reshape what’s possible in oncology. Biography: Jay Hartenbach is a distinguished leader in the biotechnology and wellness sectors, known for his passionate commitment to advancing innovative healthcare solutions and transforming patient outcomes. He currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer at Diakonos Oncology, where he is leading the team through the development and clinical advancement of pioneering immunotherapies targeting some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers, including glioblastoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Since joining Diakonos Oncology, Jay has been instrumental in achieving significant milestones such as attaining FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designation for the company’s lead candidate, DOC1021, securing greater than $30 million in financing, and establishing research collaborations with leading cancer centers to advance the clinical trials of the company’s novel dendritic cell vaccine platform. Before his role at Diakonos, Jay co-founded Medterra, a globally recognized wellness company that set industry standards for quality and innovation, and where he continues to serve as Chairman of the Board, shaping high-level strategic direction. He also co-founded Perland Pharmaceuticals, an early-stage biotech firm focused on developing therapies for arthritis conditions, and has held leadership and board advisory roles across several life sciences ventures. Jay holds a degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Miami and a Master of Engineering Management from Duke University, grounding his entrepreneurial leadership with scientific expertise.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related