🧬 Martin Brenner - iBio - Part 3 | Transitioning from Big Pharma to Biotech Startups | Lessons in Flexibility, Resilience, & Adaptability | Challenging Long-Held Beliefs in Drug Discovery | The Evolution & Future of iBio

Part 3 of 3. 

My guest for this week’s episode is Martin Brenner, CEO and CSO of iBio. iBio uses its AI drug discovery platform to tackle complex and challenging drug targets to develop safer and more effective immunotherapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Rather than leaving drug discovery to chance, iBio guides the process using artificial intelligence, making therapeutic development smarter, faster, and more precise. 

Martin is a seasoned executive and drug hunter with a unique journey spanning electrical engineering to veterinary medicine to scientific leadership roles. He has led drug discovery teams at several top global pharma companies, including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Merck. Prior to his current role at iBio, Martin was VP and head of R&D at Stoke Therapeutics, CSO at Recursion, and CSO at Phoenix, which was eventually acquired by Ligon Pharmaceuticals. 

In part 3 of our conversation with Martin, we chat about his journey from working at large pharmaceutical companies to joining biotech startups. He discusses the importance of mental flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in the biotech industry and reflects on his experiences at Stoke Therapeutics, Recursion, and Pfenex Inc., highlighting the challenges and triumphs of building innovative biotech solutions. He also talks about the significance and importance of strong team dynamics, runway management, and the need to challenge long-held beliefs in the ever-evolving biotech landscape. Please enjoy my conversation with Martin Brenner.

Find Our Guest, Martin Brenner, at these links: 

00:00:29 Intro

00:01:13 Transitioning from Big Pharma to the startup world; startup needs

00:02:43 Joining the team at Stoke Therapeutics

00:03:35 Resilience & adaptability playing a key role in startups

00:04:34 Martin’s time working with Art Levin

00:07:10 Asking for help & leveraging AppleTree’s family of companies

00:10:45 Transitioning from Stoke Therapeutics to Recursion

00:12:17 The challenges at Recursion & starting fresh

00:13:33 Building a line-of-sight program

00:15:52 The challenge of questioning established processes

00:16:48 The idea & pitch behind Enveda Biosciences

00:18:55 The differences & similarities between entrepreneurs

00:20:16 Reflecting on processes & continuously learning

00:24:04 Martins’ move from Recursion to Pfenex Inc. & building the team

00:28:40 The importance of understanding personnel

00:30:17 Martin’s team at Pfenex & the Merger with Ligand

00:31:54 Going through the ups & downs of the M&A process

00:33:47 Post-acquisition integration & cultural resonance

00:35:05 Martin’s opportunity at iBio

00:37:17 The challenges at iBio & their strategy shift

00:41:17 iBio’s current technology & development of antibodies

00:51:46 iBio’s new direction & search for strategic partnerships

00:59:57 Martin’s experience running a publicly traded company

01:03:35 The importance of development & succession plans

01:05:56 Martin’s experience as CEO & learning how to speak finance

01:09:46 Hitting major milestones on iBio’s horizon

01:14:24 Martin thanks those who have supported him

01:17:02 The things Martin would tell his younger self: get into biotech sooner

01:19:02 Outro

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr 

Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 

Enriched Notes:

SCN1A on Dravet syndrome: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8739186/

In Vitro screening: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/in-vitro-screening

Understanding IND applications: https://www.excedr.com/blog/ind-application-process

Biotech Funding Options: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options

Understanding Debt & Equity Options for Your Funding: https://www.excedr.com/resources/debt-equity-options-funding-startup

Guide to CMOs & CDMOs: https://www.excedr.com/blog/contract-manufacturing-organizations

Guide to Cash Runway: https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-cash-runway

Monoclonal Antibodies: https://www.excedr.com/blog/monoclonal-antibody-research-and-production

Primary Antibody Overview: https://www.excedr.com/resources/primary-antibody

Secondary Antibody Overview: https://www.excedr.com/resources/secondary-antibody

Antibody Drug Conjugates: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-00947-7

Phage Display Overview: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3656071/

Licensing in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/life-sciences-licensing-agreements-guide

Isabel Aznares: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-aznarez-aaa21417/

Art Levin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/art-levin-5889034/

Paul DaSilva-Jardine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-dasilva-jardine-9a791b65/

Viswa Colluru: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viswacolluru/

Eef Schimmelpennink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eef-schimmelpennink-03b4a45/

Shawn Scranton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-scranton-pharmd-15046ab3/

Diane Retallack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-retallack-b311392/

Jeff Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-allen-8128585/

Matt Foehr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-foehr-3a47312/

Rob Lutz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-lutz-bb587414/

Lisa Middlebrook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamiddleb/

Matt Greving: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreving/

Saswata Talukdar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saswata-talukdar-3b20942a/

The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.