#346 - Scaling biotech and improving global health: lessons from an extraordinary career in medicine | Susan Desmond-Hellmann, M.D., M.P.H.
Apr 28, 2025
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Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann, a physician and scientist with a rich career in oncology and global health, shares her incredible journey through medicine. She recounts her experiences during the early AIDS crisis and her pivotal role in developing cancer therapies like Herceptin. The discussion deepens around the potential of AI in transforming healthcare, the innovations at Genentech, and the complexities of navigating drug development. Susan also reflects on leadership in global health, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and trust in public health initiatives.
Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann's experiences during the AIDS crisis exemplify the necessity of integrating patient care with evolving scientific understanding.
Her leadership roles at UCSF and the Gates Foundation highlight the importance of nurturing innovation while addressing global health challenges effectively.
Desmond-Hellmann's contributions to developing precision medicines like Taxol and Herceptin demonstrate the potential of biotechnology to transform cancer treatment outcomes.
The podcast explores the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing healthcare delivery and advancing drug development, emphasizing patient safety and efficacy.
Deep dives
The Mission of Longevity Science
The podcast emphasizes the significance of translating longevity science into accessible health and wellness practices for everyone. The host discusses how the team aims to provide high-quality content without the influence of paid advertisements, instead relying on member subscriptions. This model fosters a community where members receive exclusive content and benefits that encourage deeper engagement with topics related to health and longevity. By prioritizing the needs of its members, the platform strives to elevate public knowledge and awareness in these crucial areas.
Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellman's Background
Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellman, the guest of the episode, reflects on her notable career that encompasses various roles in medicine, academia, and the pharmaceutical industry. Her experience ranges from treating patients during the early AIDS crisis to serving as the CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She discusses her journey from training at UCSF to leading efforts in precision medicine and drug development, highlighting key contributions such as the introduction of drugs like Taxol and Herceptin. Her diverse background positions her as a thought leader in the intersection of health policy and scientific innovation.
Lessons from Early AIDS Epidemic
Desmond-Hellman shares her insights gained while working with patients during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, stressing the importance of handling uncertainty and advocating for patient care amid rapidly evolving scientific knowledge. She recounts how the emergence of rare diseases and known treatments challenged her and her peers to innovate in healthcare delivery. This experience reinforced her belief in integrating epidemiology, patient care, and policy to address global health crises effectively. Such lessons continue to shape her approach within the sectors she influences today.
The Importance of Biotechnology
The discussion transitions to Dr. Desmond-Hellman's significant contributions to biopharmaceutical innovations, particularly her involvement in the development of groundbreaking cancer therapies. She elaborates on her work with precision medicine and how tailored treatments can optimize patient outcomes. Notable mentions include her contributions to approved drugs for various cancers, which have since transformed patient survival rates. Her efforts exemplify the potential of biotech to deliver novel therapies that target specific cancer pathways and improve quality of life.
Global Health Leadership and Challenges
Dr. Desmond-Hellman highlights her leadership roles, notably at UCSF and the Gates Foundation, where she drove initiatives aimed at improving global health outcomes. Her discussions reflect on the challenges of balancing scientific innovation with financial constraints while nurturing a thriving organizational culture. She emphasizes the need for sustainable strategies that tackle pressing health issues like HIV/AIDS across different demographics globally. Through transformative leadership, she aimed to create environments that enable scientific breakthroughs while addressing public health needs.
The Role of AI in Healthcare
The episode addresses the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance healthcare delivery and research efficiencies, especially concerning drug development and patient monitoring. Dr. Desmond-Hellman envisions a future where AI streamlines clinical trials, optimizes therapeutic designs, and supports clinicians in improving patient care. Her insights underscore the importance of integrating AI with a focus on patient safety and the efficacy of health interventions. With AI's capacity for data analysis, the healthcare landscape may soon witness transformative changes that benefit both practitioners and patients.
The Future of Personalized Medicine
The podcast touches on the evolving landscape of personalized medicine, particularly in oncology, and the ongoing search for effective biomarkers. Dr. Desmond-Hellman discusses the challenges of finding universal solutions to cancer diagnostics and treatment as every cancer type exhibits distinct biological characteristics. She advocates for a deeper understanding of these differences to develop more tailored and effective therapies for patients. By leveraging scientific advancements, there may be potential avenues to improve detection rates and therapeutic decisions.
Navigating Public Health Misinformation
The conversation also reflects on the frustrations surrounding public health misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Desmond-Hellman critiques the failure of communication strategies that have led to distrust and skepticism among the public. She argues that it is essential to foster transparent dialogues about scientific facts and to avoid dismissive attitudes toward public inquiries. By breaking down barriers and fostering understanding, the medical community can better serve the public during health crises, ensuring that accurate information prevails.
Susan Desmond-Hellmann is a physician and scientist whose remarkable career has spanned clinical medicine, oncology, biotech innovation, and global health leadership. In this episode, Susan shares insights from her journey training in internal medicine during the early AIDS crisis, treating HIV-related cancers in Uganda, and developing groundbreaking cancer therapies like Herceptin and Avastin. She reflects on her leadership roles at UCSF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, offering lessons on guiding large-scale health initiatives, navigating uncertainty, and fostering scientific innovation. The conversation explores the promise of precision medicine, the integration of patient care and policy, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in transforming diagnostics, drug development, and global access to care.
We discuss:
Susan’s medical training, the start of the AIDS epidemic, and the transformative experiences that shaped her career [3:00];
Susan’s experience working on the frontlines of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Uganda [12:30];
Susan’s time working in general oncology and her transition to biotech where she helped develop taxol—a top-selling cancer drug [26:30];
Genentech’s origins, and its groundbreaking use of recombinant DNA to develop biologic drugs [33:45];
Susan’s move to Genentech, and her pivotal role in the development and success of Herceptin as a groundbreaking therapy in targeted oncology [44:00];
The rise of antibody-based cancer therapies: the development of Rituxan and Avastin [52:15];
The step-by-step drug development process and the scientific and strategic challenges involved [1:01:30];
The ethical and economic controversy surrounding Avastin’s high cost and limited survival benefit [1:12:30];
Susan’s tenure as chancellor at UCSF: leading during a financially strained period, and her strategic approach to fundraising and institutional development [1:14:45];
What Susan learned as CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: strategic processes and decision-making frameworks [1:26:00];
Susan’s philosophy of leadership and how she sought to build an empowering, values-driven culture at the Gates Foundation [1:35:15];
The erosion of public trust in science during COVID, the communication failures around controversial treatments like ivermectin, and the need for better public health engagement and transparency [1:39:30];
The role of AI in transforming medicine: from drug development to cancer detection and beyond [1:53:00]; and
