IDEA Collider: Innovation & Asymmetric Learning in Pharma

In this episode of IDEA Collider, hosts Mike and Rick revisit a pivotal project from over a decade ago, the Reblozyl project, undertaken in collaboration with Acceleron and Celgene. Rick, the head of Growth and Innovation at IDEA, reminisces about the early days leading to the successful positioning and market shaping of luspatercept across different hematological indications. The episode features insightful contributions from Robin, Jane, and Tracy, key players from Acceleron and Celgene, who share their experiences and the collaborative efforts that enabled them to redefine the market. The discussion covers the strategic approach to overcoming competitive benchmarking, the importance of a unified messaging strategy, and the critical role of internal and external collaboration. They also reflect on the impact of their efforts on the lives of many patients and offer advice for future teams working on complex drug development projects. The episode concludes with a recognition of the rare and valuable collaborative human elements that drove the success of the Reblozyl project.Episode Timestamps;00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:27 Rick's Background and Project Overview02:31 Client Team Introductions05:32 Collaboration and Challenges13:29 Defining the Mechanism and Market Positioning23:52 Communication and Alignment27:48 Navigating Internal and External Communication33:15 Launch, Reflections, and Lessons Learned41:14 Final Thoughts and Acknowledgements Keep up with the guests;Robyn Blackburn  - Director Global Commercial Strategy CAR-T at Kite Pharmahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-blackburn-805b8b13/Jayne Butler - Director of Strategic Initiatives at Fingerpaint Brandinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynebutler/Tracey Sacco - Former SVP Global Strategic Marketing at Acceleronhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-sacco-53 2a034/Rick Ritacco - Head of Growth and Innovationhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rritacco/ Follow Mike Rea On;Website: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

In this episode of IDEA Collider, host Mike Rea speaks with Dr. Sekar Kathiresan, founder of Verve Therapeutics and now part of Eli Lilly, about one of the boldest ideas in modern medicine: using one-time gene editing to permanently lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease.Dr. Kathiresan shares his journey from immigrant upbringing to Harvard cardiologist, genetic researcher, biotech founder, and now leader inside a global pharmaceutical company. The conversation explores how human genetics, CRISPR base editing, lipid nanoparticle delivery, and asymmetric learning converged to create a potential lifelong solution to cardiovascular disease.They also dive deep into the ethics of gene editing, global access and pricing, early intervention versus chronic care, FDA regulatory challenges, and what the Verve–Lilly acquisition means for the future of cardiometabolic medicine.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in biotech innovation, gene therapy, cardiovascular disease, and the future of preventive medicine. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:16 Sekar Kathiresan's Early Life and Education03:19 Founding Verve and Transition to Entrepreneurship05:35 The Science Behind Verve's Mission10:27 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Gene Editing20:05 Regulatory Hurdles and First Human Trials25:11 Ethical Considerations in Gene Editing27:06 Introduction to Drug Delivery and Ethical Considerations27:51 Historical Context and Pioneers in Medical Procedures28:35 Commercial and Ethical Challenges in Medicine29:32 Innovations in Cardiovascular Treatments32:49 The Role of Gene Editing in Long-term Health37:55 Strategic Partnerships and Industry Insights45:08 Reflections on the US Medical Ecosystem48:54 Conclusion and Future Outlook Keep up with Sekar Kathiresan;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sekar-sek-kathiresan-3501846/Website: https://www.lilly.com/ Follow Mike Rea On;Website: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/ 

In this episode of IDEA Collider, we are joined by Alex Telford, a biotech founder, writer, and thinker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the co-founder of Convoke Bio, Alex discusses his journey from studying biochemistry at UCL to founding a company that develops software tools for streamlining biopharmaceutical workflows.The conversation dives into the impact of AI and language models on the biotech industry, addressing inefficiencies in drug development, and exploring the potential of synthetic biology and personalized medicine. The discussion also touches on the future of drug discovery, China's role in biotech, and the challenges of understanding neuroscience and consciousness. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the future of biopharma innovation! 00:00 Welcome to Idea Collider00:04 Introducing Alex Telford01:59 Alex's Journey from UCL to Convoke Bio05:29 The Mission and Work of Convoke Bio07:57 Challenges in Pharma Decision Making14:05 The Role of AI in Pharma18:26 Knowledge Management and AI27:58 Staying Updated in the Fast-Moving AI Field30:25 AI's Impact on Industry Economics31:38 AI in Clinical Trials and Drug Development35:56 China's Role in Drug Discovery39:24 Neuroscience and AI: Blurring the Lines46:05 Future Predictions in Pharma51:20 Addressing Cognitive Bias in Pharma53:13 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions Keep up with Alex Telford;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-telford/Website: atelfo.github.ioX: https://twitter.com/atelfoSubstack: atelfo.substack.com Follow Mike Rea On;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/ 

In this episode of Idea Collider, host Mike Rea interviews Dr. Christian Rommel from Bayer. Dr. Rommel discusses his journey in molecular oncology from the Max Planck Institute, through roles at Roche, to overseeing global R&D at Bayer. He shares insights on turning scientific discovery into novel medicines, collaboration between scientists and commercial teams, and the importance of maintaining scientific integrity. Dr. Rommel also delves into the impact of AI in drug development, the potential of genetic medicines, and the complexities of launching new medicines on a global scale. The conversation also touches on embracing failure, internal and external partnerships, and the evolving landscape of clinical translation. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:25 Christian Rommel's Journey in Oncology03:02 The Importance of Collaboration in Innovation05:16 Balancing Risk and Reward in Drug Development18:07 The Role of AI and Data in Modern R&D22:33 Partnerships and External Learning26:16 Balancing Legacy and Innovation in Biotech27:18 Global Expansion and Leadership Diversity27:27 Courage in Biotech Management27:54 Inspiration from Roche Genentech30:26 Commitment to Product Supply and Market Readiness32:23 Challenges of Global Launches35:53 Emerging Trends in Pharma: AI and Genetic Medicines42:20 Decision-Making in Pharma47:30 Reflections on Academic and Professional Journey Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review! Keep up with Christian Rommel;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-rommel/Website: https://www.bayer.com/en/innovation/science-research-and-innovation Follow Mike Rea On;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/ 

In this insightful episode of IDEA Collider, Mike welcomes Mathai Mammen, Chairman and CEO of Parabilis Medicines. Mathai shares his extensive journey through academia, MD PhD program at Harvard, co-founding Theravance, and leadership roles at Merck and J&J. They delve into Mathai's innovative approach to creating transformative medicines, navigating the biotech industry, and the unique challenges of targeting 'undruggable' proteins. They also discuss the role of AI in drug discovery, the importance of strategic risk, and fostering team resilience and spirit in both large and small pharma companies. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:56 Founding Thebans and Career Highlights01:43 Leadership at Merck and J&J02:18 Innovative Approaches at Parabilis Medicines04:09 Defining and Tackling Undruggable Targets09:27 Multivalent Drug Design and Bispecifics13:53 AI and Data Science in Drug Development19:28 Building and Leading World-Class Teams25:41 The Importance of Holding Conviction as an Entrepreneur26:25 Learning from Setbacks in the Biotech Industry30:10 Challenges and Innovations in Drug Development32:28 Navigating the Ups and Downs of the Biotech Industry36:02 The Mission and Future of Parabilis40:35 Personal Reflections and Advice for Entrepreneurs46:46 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review! Keep up with Mathai Mammen;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathai-mammen/Website: https://parabilismed.com/ Follow Mike Rea On;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/