IDEA Collider: Innovation & Asymmetric Learning in Pharma

Welcome to another incredible episode of the IDEA Collider│Pharma Book Club series with your host Mike Rea. Today we are joined by Andrew Hopkins, the Founder & CEO  of Exscientia, as he talks to us about the use of AI in drug discovery. In the episode, we delve into Andrew’s journey of developing better drug discovery methods, applying data mining in drug discovery, and the value of data integration in the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, he expounds on what AI drugs look like and future plans for Exscientia. Tune in! During this episode, you will learn about;[01:12] Introducing Andrew Hopkins & his journey to his current role[06:27] Applying data mining approach & machine learning[12:10] What Andrew saw that others were not seeing[19:06] The value of data integration[22:02] The role of asking questions & finding answers in tech or data[26:46] How Hopkins addresses being referred to as the AI discovery group[33:08] Active learning approaches[39:06] What an AI drug looks like & what it’s better at[42:17] The future of AI drugs & Exscientia future plans in establishing clinics[46:34] What do the next couple of years look like regarding solutions Andrew wished he had 5-10 years ago? Don’t forget to Follow, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! Mentioned BooksIdeas-A History From Fire To Freud by Peter WatsonWhere Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson Let’s Connect!Follow Exscientia on;●        Website: https://www.exscientia.ai/●    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ex-scientia/ More ProductsFollow Mike Rea on;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ To listen to more amazing podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

In this incredible episode, Mike Rea is joined by Dr. John L. LaMattina. John is the former Senior Vice President of Pfizer Inc and President of Pfizer Global Research & Development. Additionally, he is a senior partner at PureTech Health and an author. He talks about the misconception about Pfizer’s profiteering from the pandemic and the drug pricing in America. John also discusses how Gilead’s Sovaldi drug for hepatitis C became overpriced in the US and the effects of insurance companies on the drug market. Moreover, he talks about the misinformation about insulin and its pricing, NIH’s role in drug discovery research, and the profitability of the pharma industry.Tune in! During this episode, you will learn about;[00:22] Introduction to the show[0:42] Know our guest; Dr. John L. LaMattina, and why he has authored his books[04:58] Misconception about Pfizer’s profiteering from the pandemic[08:13] Drug pricing in America[12:35] Gilead’s Sovaldi drug for hepatitis C and how it became overpriced in the US more than in other countries [19:57] The cost-effectiveness of PCSK9 in regulating (low-density lipoprotein) LDL cholesterol[21:42] Effect the insurance companies have had on the drug market [26:09] Value of  the ‘me-too’ drugs [30:01] The inefficiency of the flu vaccines [33:03] The funding for early-stage mRNA vaccines [34:23] The input of the FDA and CDC in the manufacture of mRNA vaccines [37:46] What is NIH’s role in drug discovery research?[38:13] The process and cost of drug discovery; from idea to getting the drug approved[42:39] Misinformation about insulin and its pricing [47:21] Is the value vs. affordability of medicines a reputation challenge or a  commercial challenge for the industry?[51:31] What’s the profitability of the pharma industry?[59:48] Recommended reading [01:02:38] How to connect with us Don’t forget to Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! Resources MentionedBook; Pharma and Profits by John L. LaMattina Book; Devalued and Distrusted by John L. LaMattinaBook; Drug Truths by John L. LaMattinaBook; The Great American Drug Deal by Peter Kolchinsky  Let’s Connect!Website: https://www.johnlamattina.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/john_lamattinaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-lamattina-2985a9b/ More Products Follow Mike Rea on;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ To listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

Welcome to another fantastic episode of the IDEA Collider│Asymmetric learning series with your host Mike Rea. Today we are joined by Gene Yoo, the Chief Executive Officer at Resecurity, Inc. He talks about asymmetric learning in cybersecurity & Intelligence and what gives Resecurity an edge over other competitors in the marketMoreover, he shares about the signal validation process at Resecurity, how to understand the vulnerability of your business and what you need to combat cyber threats. In addition, Gene talks about the ‘what if’ component in their learning approach and the leadership style & culture at Resecurity. Tune in! During this episode, you will learn about; [00:23] Introduction to the show[01:23] What this series is about; Asymmetric learning[04:41] Definition of insight in cybersecurity[07:07] What is cyber threat intelligence about, and how should threat intelligence data be interpreted to deliver actionable insights?[10:37] Security theater[14:40] How Resecurity identifies a threat [19:58] Understanding the vulnerability of your business and what you need to combat cyber threats[22:52] Do they provide threat solutions or just threat evidence?[24:22] The ‘what if’ component in their learning approach [27:36] What gives Resecurity an edge over other cybersecurity & Intelligence companies in the market?[29:19] Signal validation process at Resecurity[31:00] The source of their data[34:29] Resecurity leadership style and culture[39:40] Prototyping at Resecurity[42:49] Does Gene prefer a disruptor or an innovator? [44:59] What’s the future of  Resecurity in 5 years? (46:33] How to connect with Gene Yoo Don’t forget to Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! Let’s Connect!Follow Gene Yoo on;Website: https://resecurity.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resecurity/Facebook: https://bit.ly/3vqMfzSTwitter: https://twitter.com/RESecurityVimeo: https://vimeo.com/user153388997 More Products Follow Mike Rea on;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ To listen to more amazing podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

Welcome to another fantastic episode of the IDEA Collider│Asymmetric learning series with your host Mike Rea. In today’s episode, Mike interviews Steven Johnson, an author of 13 books, a TV host, and a podcaster. He talks about Innovation vs. Invention and explains where good ideas come from. Additionally, Steven talks about the Individual and organizational hunch collection tools and shares how organizational culture impacts innovation. Moreover, he talks about his books The Ghost Map and Farsighted. Tune in! During this episode, you will learn about;[01:05] Meet Steven Johnson and hear his backstory[03:03] Innovation vs. Invention[05:26] Where do good ideas ‘soul hunches’ come from?[09:32] Reason why play and delight are linked to profound innovation[12:52] Organizational culture and innovation[17:12] How the daily schedule for his writing work looks like [10:1414] Steven’s discovery process[26:59] How Steven uses Twitter as a source of scientific discovery[30:58] Individual and organizational hunch collection tools[39:10] The Ghost Map and how it evolved  from the format to a published book[46:34] Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most[55:11] How to connect with Steven Johnson Remember to Follow, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! Resources MentionedBook; The Ghost Map by Steven JohnsonBook; Farsighted by Steven JohnsonBook; How We Got to Now by Steven JohnsonBook: Wonderland by Steven Johnson  Let’s Connect!Follow Steven Johnson on;Website: https://stevenberlinjohnson.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevenbjohnsonSubscribe to his Newsletter at: https://adjacentpossible.substack.com/aboutTo grab a copy of any of Steven’s Books: https://amzn.to/3L3zUrV More Products Follow Mike Rea on;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/To listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

Welcome to another fantastic episode of the IDEA Collider│Pharma Book Club series with your host Mike Rea. Today we are joined by Billy Kenber, an investigative journalist at “The Times.” He talks about his journey to writing his book ‘Sick Money’ and the content in the book.Additionally, he talks about the pharmaceutical industry’s social contract with patients and how its distortion has led to pharmaceutical greed. Moreover, he shares how the culture within the pharmaceutical industry has changed, why drug companies overprice the drugs, and what can be done to regulate drug pricing. Tune in! During this episode, you will learn about; [00:22] Episode introduction[01:08] Meet our guest; Billy Kenber[01:22] His journey to writing his book ‘Sick Money’[03:28] What the book is about[06:11] How Concordia Pharmaceuticals & Valeant Pharmaceuticals companiesgrew quickly and gained a short-term monopoly, thus hiking the drug prices[10:40] What’s the geographical scope of the pharmaceutical fraud[12:47] Pharmaceutical industry’s social contract with patients and how its distortion has led to pharmaceutical greed[15:20] The first AIDS drug; AZT[18:30] A background of AZT drug high pricing and how it led to otherpharmaceutical companies raising their prices[22:47] How Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) raise drug prices for patients[25:39] The ’Dirty Pharma’ chapter in his book[28:45] Why drug companies overprice the drugs[29:17] How the culture within the pharmaceutical industry has changed[30:52] Pharmaceutical innovation after World War II; Antibiotics[35:29] mRNA vaccines in the COVID-19 pandemic[37:28] Effect of cultural changes in the pharmaceutical industry on the drugs weget and how Research and Development (R&D) is done[40:30] How cultural changes have affected orphan drugs and cancer drugs[46:30] What can be done to regulate drug pricing?[53:50] Recommended reading[56:00] How to connect with Billy Love the show? Follow, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! Let’s Connect! Follow Billy Kenber on his;Website: https://www.billykenber.com/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/billykenber Linkt.ree: https://linktr.ee/billykenber To grab a copy of the ‘Sick Money’ book: https://amzn.to/3N4XJPD More ProductsFollow Mike Rea on;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/To listen to more amazing podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

Kabir Nath is President & CEO, Otsuka North America Pharmaceutical Business Throughout his career, Kabir has built bridges between cultures. His work has taken him across the globe, spanning 3 continents and multiple countries. Kabir has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, India, Singapore, China, and the United States. He has consistently inspired those around him to go beyond cultural and linguistic differences to bring new concepts and ideas to life, forging stronger partnerships rooted in diverse experiences. For Kabir, leadership is not about having all the answers, rather, it is about creating an environment where Otsuka-people are deeply connected to their purpose, and the patients and families they serve. In his nearly 30 years of broad international biopharmaceutical and medical-device experience, Kabir has shaped strategy to deliver results in complex, challenging business environments at the country, regional, and global level. Otsuka, with its unique blend of Japanese and American cultures, is the place where Kabir puts his purpose into practice daily. Kabir joined Otsuka in March 2016 to head all commercial operations within the North American pharmaceutical businesses. Most recently, Kabir was appointed Senior Managing Director, Global Pharmaceutical Business at Otsuka, with overall operational leadership for the global pharmaceutical business, overseeing North America, Europe, Japan, and the rest of Asia, while continuing to have direct responsibility for the US business. Before joining Otsuka, Kabir held strategic and senior operational roles across several continents at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). He began his career in strategy consulting at Booz Allen & Hamilton before holding a wide range of operational and strategic roles at the medical technology company Smith + Nephew. Kabir holds an MA from King’s College, University of Cambridge, and an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD.

 (Now also released in paperback: https://amzn.to/3lWjo2B) Kat can be found at First Create The Media:  and on Twitter: @Kat_Arney Find out more about Rebel Cell here: https://www.rebelcellbook.com/about-rebel-cell-cancer-bookMany of us think of cancer as a contemporary killer, a disease of our own making caused by our modern lifestyles. But, as Kat Arney explains in her new book REBEL CELL: Cancer Evolution and the Science of Life, that perception just isn’t true. Although it might be rare in many species, cancer is the enemy lurking within almost every living creature. Why? Because cancer is a bug in the system of life. We get cancer because we can't not get it.Cancer has always been with us. It killed our hominid ancestors, the mammals they evolved from and the dinosaurs that trampled the ground before that. Tumours grow in pets, livestock and wild animals. Even tiny jelly-like Hydra - creatures that are little more than a tube full of water - can get cancer.Cancer starts when cells rebel against the social norms of the body, throwing off their molecular shackles and growing out of control in a shambolic mockery of normal life. This is why we can't avoid cancer: because the very genes that drive it are essential for life itself.The revolution has raged, on and off, for millions of years. But it was only in the twentieth century that doctors and scientists made any significant progress in understanding and treating cancer, and it is only in the past few decades that we’ve finally begun to kick the mob’s malignant arse.Now the game is changing. Scientists have infiltrated cancer's cellular rebellion and are finally learning its secrets. Seeing cancer in a new way – as rebel cells adapting and evolving within the landscape of the body – is pointing towards new ways of preventing and controlling cancer in the long term or even driving it to extinction altogether.In REBEL CELL, geneticist and science writer Kat Arney reveals that:Modern lifestyles can’t take all the blame – Cancer has been around for millions of years and affects almost all multicellular organisms, with some notable exceptions. Sponges and comb jellies are remarkably cancer-resistant, for example, although the reason why is still a mystery.Cancer cells are cheats that break the rules – From cells all the way up to human cities, societies function best when everyone obeys the rules. Cancer cells are cheats in the system, bending or completely breaking the rules to their advantage.Cancer is an inevitable part of life – Genetic alterations (mutations) are the fuel for evolution – the force that shaped all life on earth. But this same force is at work within cancer, enabling them to adapt and evolve resistance to treatment.Mutations are much more common than we thought – As we age, our bodies become a patchwork of mutated cells, yet most of these don’t become cancerous. The big question is why?The quest for a cure has derailed our thinking – Focusing on ‘magic bullets’ and pricey wonder drugs has led us away from potentially transformative approaches to preventing and treating cancer based on evolutionary ideas.REBEL CELL: Cancer Evolution and the Science of Life takes the reader back to the dawn of life on planet earth right up to the present day to get to the heart of what cancer really is and how by better understanding it we might one day overcome it.

As President of Novartis Oncology, Susanne Schaffert is pursuing a bold strategy to reimagine the research, development and commercialization of innovative treatments that will help improve and extend the lives of people with cancer and related blood disorders. Susanne has held positions of increasing seniority across a range of business areas during her career at Novartis, having first joined the company as a sales representative in Germany in 1995. The majority of her roles have been in oncology, where she has a passion for making a difference in the lives of patients. Prior to her current position, she served as President of Advanced Accelerator Applications, a Novartis company focused on the development of products for targeted radioligand therapy and precision imaging. Today, she leads more than 10 000 employees in 85 countries working to transform cancer care across four distinct therapeutic platforms. Susanne is a respected business leader and scientist who was featured in Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women International” list in both 2019 and 2020. She actively mentors women at Novartis and encourages them to seek leadership roles. Susanne has a background in science and holds a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Erlangen in Germany, but as a former ballet dancer, she is also passionate about the arts. This dual interest informs her leadership philosophy, which celebrates diversity of thought and ideas as one of the keys to bold innovation. Susanne also holds leadership positions in the broader pharmaceutical industry. She serves on the board and executive committee of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), and is vice chair of EFPIA’s Patient Access Committee. Susanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-schaffert-830b7053

Dan Skovronsky is the chief scientific officer of Eli Lilly and Company. He serves as senior vice president of science and technology and president of Lilly Research Laboratories. He also has responsibility for global business development. Dan joined Lilly in 2010 when the company acquired Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc., where he had been CEO since founding the company in 2004. At Lilly, Dan has held various roles, including vice president, tailored therapeutics; vice president, diabetes research; and most recently, senior vice president, clinical and product development. Dan completed his residency training in pathology and fellowship training in neuropathology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He received his M.D. from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, in 2001 and his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from University of Pennsylvania in 2000. Dan earned a Bachelor of Science in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University in 1994..