Join Prof. Dr. Dominik Ruettinger, an oncological surgeon and Global Head of Research & Early Development Oncology at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, as he shares insights from his journey in cancer treatment innovation. He discusses the challenging 10% success rate in drug development and the importance of questioning traditional norms in biotech. Dominik explores the impact of AI in drug discovery and the delicate balance between quality of life and longevity for patients. His vision for future cancer prevention emphasizes early detection and personalized medicine.
01:03:11
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Aim High And Work Backwards
Aim high and question the status quo to create societal impact through science or medicine.
Use a bit of naivete to imagine radically different end-states and then work backwards to achieve them.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Industry Door Opened By An Intern
A casual intern connection led Dominik to join Micromet and dip his toe into industry drug development.
The move felt logical and offered growth opportunities beyond academia's environment.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Take Ownership In Industry Roles
In industry you must be proactive and take ownership rather than waiting for instructions.
Embrace agility and learn investor-driven terms like cash reach to manage pressure effectively.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this episode of the Nucleate Podcast, we are joined by Prof. Dr. Dominik Rüttinger — oncological surgeon, MD/PhD, and Global Head of Research & Early Development Oncology at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. We talk about his journey from the operating room to biotech startups and global pharma leadership, navigating a 10% success rate in oncology drug development, building unbiased decision frameworks for high-stakes calls, the realistic role of AI in drug discovery and clinical trials, balancing quality of life versus longevity in cancer treatment, and his vision for the future of prevention, early detection, and personalized medicine. Whether you’re a scientist, innovator, or leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about risk, decision-making, and impact in healthcare.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:30 Dominik talks about his childhood, family background, and early influences that led him toward science
04:45 Dominik explains his decision to pursue both medicine and science, describing how his medical school and PhD experiences overlapped
07:30 Offering early career advice, Dominik talks about the importance of aiming high, questioning the status quo, and embracing a bit of naivete
11:06 Dominik discusses why he chose oncology and how interdisciplinary training shaped his career
16:45 Dominik describes his transition from academia to industry, sharing his motivations and the decision-making process behind the move
20:02 Reflecting on his adjustment to industry, Dominik highlights the differences in work environment and expectations compared to academia
23:33 Dominik provides practical tips for others transitioning from academia to industry, emphasizing humility and the value of building a diverse “toolbox” of skills
28:01 Dominik talks about moving from a startup to a large company, and how his responsibilities shifted to managing a broader portfolio
33:28 Dominik describes what his daily life looks like as a portfolio leader in oncology R&D and the types of decisions he makes regularly
37:24 Dominik delves into the challenges of decision-making in drug development, discussing success rates and the importance of a “10% mindset.”
39:27 Dominik explains the impact of biases in drug development and how organizations use frameworks to make more objective decisions
42:46 Dominik shares his perspective on the role of AI in drug development and how it can support better decision-making
47:02 Dominik discusses the use of AI in clinical trials and considers whether it can make development faster and less expensive
51:46 Drawing on his clinical experience, Dominik talks about patient care and patient perspectives, especially the balance between quality of life and longevity in cancer treatment
55:38 Dominik looks to the future of cancer prevention, early detection, and prediction, and how these areas might evolve
Nucleate Podcast