Accelerating Drug Development is a Moral Imperative with Dr. Gabi Hanna, MD

Sep 3, 2025

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For our first episode of season three, I sat down with Gabi Hanna, MD, CEO and co-founder of Lamassu Biotech, where he leads the development of innovative therapies for cancer and inflammatory diseases. A physician-scientist and serial entrepreneur, Dr. Hanna previously founded the first academic drug development center at Duke University and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications. Under his leadership, Lamassu is advancing two novel therapeutics—RABI-767, now in Phase II trial, and SA53, a first-in-class oncology compound currently in Phase I/II trial. He also oversees Lamassu Pets, which is developing a canine therapy for pancreatitis. Dr. Hanna’s work is driven by a commitment to rapid, cost-effective drug development that addresses unmet clinical needs.

We discuss the mission of Lamassu Biotech, as well as the importance of academic accelerator programs, overcoming regulatory roadblocks, and the moral duty to accelerate drug development for patient care. Gabi emphasizes the need for efficient operations, strategic partnerships, and a patient-centric approach in biotech. We also explore the potential for policy changes to improve collaboration between universities and biotech companies, as well as the importance of ethical considerations in drug development. Dr. Hanna’s's insights provide valuable guidance for both entrepreneurs and those working in the biotech industry.

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00:00 Introduction

00:13 Mission and Work at Lamassu Biotech

01:24 Previous Experience at Duke University

03:50 Challenges and Strategies in Biotech

06:48 Accelerating Drug Development

08:24 Navigating Regulatory Hurdles

14:19 The Role of the FDA and Knowledge Sharing

18:01 Maintaining US Biotech Leadership

27:15 Entrepreneurial Insights and Team Building

35:47 Final Thoughts and Contact Information