How AI Will Transform Drug Discovery with Foresite Labs CEO Vik Bajaj

In this episode of the Shift AI Podcast, Vik Bajaj, CEO and Co-founder of Foresite Labs and Interim President at Xaira Therapeutics, joins host Boaz Ashkenazy to explore how AI is revolutionizing life sciences and healthcare. With a distinguished background spanning physics, structural biology, radiology at Stanford, and pioneering work at Google, Vik brings a unique perspective on the intersection of AI and medicine.

The conversation delves into the stark realities of drug discovery—where 2 million researchers globally struggle against success rates so low that most will be lucky to contribute to one or two successful drugs in their entire careers. Vik explains how AI, particularly David Baker's groundbreaking protein design work, is poised to transform this landscape by enabling drugs for previously "undruggable" targets and moving healthcare from reactive treatment to predictive, personalized medicine.

From genetic tests that could provide actionable insights for 75% of people to AI models that can predict 5-year mortality from a simple chest X-ray, this episode reveals how we're approaching a future where disease prevention replaces disease treatment. If you're interested in understanding how AI will fundamentally reshape healthcare economics and why Vik compares this transformation to the industrial revolution, this episode is essential listening.

Chapters:

[01:48] From Physics to Life Sciences: Vik's Interdisciplinary Journey

[04:13] The Google Years: Early AI Revolution in Science

[06:56] Xaira Therapeutics and David Baker's Protein Design Breakthrough

[09:28] The Optimistic Future of AI in Drug Discovery

[15:17] The Four-Stage Evolution of AI in Medicine

[19:53] Healthcare Cost Crisis and AI Solutions

[23:27] The Promise of Personalized Medicine

[28:39] Foresite Labs: Specializing in Science and Engineering AI

[32:00] Why Healthcare AI is Harder Than Software Engineering

[36:27] Two Words for the Future: Industrial Revolution

Contact Info:

Connect with Vik Bajaj

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drvikbajaj/

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy

● X: boazashkenazy

● Email: info@shiftai.fm