The Biotech Startups Podcast

The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success.Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸Get your unique referral link here: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.Part 1 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Barry Ticho, Founder of Verve Therapeutics and Chief Medical Officer at Stoke Therapeutics, a biotech company addressing the underlying cause of severe diseases by upregulating protein expression with RNA-based medicines.With an MD-PhD from the University of Chicago and extensive experience across academia and industry, Barry brings over two decades of expertise in clinical development. His journey includes roles as Head of Development at Moderna, Head of External R&D Innovation at Pfizer, and VP of Clinical Development at Biogen, where he's been instrumental in advancing numerous therapeutic programs across multiple disease areas.Barry's unique perspective spanning academic medicine and biotechnology innovation makes his insights invaluable for aspiring leaders in the field.Join us this week to hear about:Barry's upbringing as one of five boys in a family of physiciansA transformative moment watching a child regain sight that crystallized his career pathHis foundational experiences at Haverford College where he discovered his passion for biologyHis journey through the MD-PhD program at the University of ChicagoHow education, critical thinking, and resilience shaped his leadership approachPlease enjoy Jon’s conversation with Barry Ticho.Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Barry Ticho at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barryticho/ https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/ https://www.vervetherapeutics.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Stoke Therapeutics https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/ Verve Therapeutics https://www.vervetherapeutics.com/ Moderna https://www.modernatx.com/ Pfizer https://www.pfizer.com/ Biogen https://www.biogen.com/ Ophthalmology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophthalmology Haverford University https://www.haverford.edu/ University of Chicago https://www.uchicago.edu/en Harvard Medical School https://hms.harvard.edu/ Boston Children's Hospital https://www.childrenshospital.org/ How to Spin Out of Academia: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startupPatent Licensing for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-patent-licensing-worksBiotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportPeople Mentioned:Phil Sharp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Allen_Sharp Murray Rabinowitz https://www.nasonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rabinowitz-murray.pdf Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:04 Barry's background and introduction03:37 Growing up in a family of Holocaust survivor physicians05:29 Four out of five brothers choosing medicine07:14 Early exposure to ophthalmology and patient care09:27 The transformative moment: witnessing a child regain sight12:45 Choosing Haverford and discovering biology14:06 Early laboratory experiences and liberal arts education19:05 The path to University of Chicago's MD-PhD program22:13 First research experiences with RNA and transcription23:55 Graduate school years: freedom and scientific method30:15 Mentorship style and thesis advisor's influence33:05 Leadership lessons from graduate training36:28 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

Part 4 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Chris Moxham, Co-Founder, CEO, and CSO of Transcripta Bio—a pioneering biotech company accelerating drug discovery to improve lives worldwide.With a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology from Stony Brook University and over 25 years in drug discovery, Chris brings a wealth of experience. During his two-decade tenure at Eli Lilly, he advanced over 10 molecules into clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas, spanning both small and large molecule modalities.Chris’s deep expertise and dedication to scientific innovation and team development offer invaluable insights for aspiring biotech leaders.Join us this week to hear about:The complexities of building partnerships with Big Pharma as a startupInsights on developing relationships with larger organizations and patient foundationsThe importance of mutual goals and the art of aligning incentives Transcripta’s progress with their groundbreaking Drug-Gene Atlas, combining genetics, AI, and high-throughput data to redefine the future of drug discoveryPlease enjoy Jon’s conversation with Chris Moxham.Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Chris Moxham, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-moxham-b8867011/ https://www.transcriptabio.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned:Eli Lilly & Company: https://www.lilly.com/Transcripta Bio: https://www.transcriptabio.com/Fulcrum Therapeutics: https://www.fulcrumtx.com/NVIDIA: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/Biotech Partnerships with Big Pharma: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchThe Role of BD in the Life Sciences: https://www.excedr.com/resources/business-development-in-the-life-sciencesHow to Break into Biotech BD: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-break-into-biotech-bd-as-a-phd-studentDrug-Gene Atlas: https://www.transcriptabio.com/what-we-doBiotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportPeople Mentioned:Efraim Racker: https://efraimracker.library.cornell.edu/Craig Malbon: https://www.pharm.stonybrook.edu/faculty/m/malbonJohn Hadcock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadcock/Alan Palkowitz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-palkowitz-7387653/Phil Hipskin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-hipskind-a3b11611/Greg Plowman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-plowman-4177096/Robert Gould: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjgouldfulcrum/Jim Collins: https://be.mit.edu/faculty/james-j-collins/Jim Geraghty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-geraghty-7481a262/Alan Ezekowitz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-ezekowitz-54030515/Dave Port: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-david-port-ab9616b/Timestamps:00:00 Intro and recap02:09 Partnering with Big Pharma and the urgency of startups04:13 Learning business development and building successful partnerships06:18 Understanding stakeholder involvement and approval layers in Big Pharma09:42 Transcripta's collaborations with patient foundations and medical institutions11:31 Ideal partnerships with academic institutions and aligning incentives15:53 The importance of partnership alignment, building trust within the org20:47 Transcripta Bio's vision for the future21:52 Shoutouts and advice to younger self24:45 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success.Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸Get your unique referral link here: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.Part 3 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Chris Moxham, Co-Founder, CEO, and CSO of Transcripta Bio—a pioneering biotech company accelerating drug discovery to improve lives worldwide.With a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology from Stony Brook University and over 25 years in drug discovery, Chris brings a wealth of experience. During his two-decade tenure at Eli Lilly, he advanced over 10 molecules into clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas, spanning both small and large molecule modalities.Chris’s deep expertise and dedication to scientific innovation and team development offer invaluable insights for aspiring biotech leaders.Join us this week to hear about:Chris’ transition from Eli Lilly to the startup world, embracing the excitement and uncertainty of a smaller company.Navigating investor relations and honing the skill of translating science into business language.Developing Transcripta Bio’s discovery engine, a scalable approach to drug discovery.Leveraging AI, genetics, and high-throughput data to reduce failure points in drug development.Please enjoy Jon’s conversation with Chris Moxham.Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Chris Moxham, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-moxham-b8867011/ https://www.transcriptabio.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Wyeth Labs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WyethEli Lilly & Company: https://www.lilly.com/Fulcrum Therapeutics: https://www.fulcrumtx.com/Transcripta Bio: https://www.transcriptabio.com/Transcripta Bio’s Discovery Engine: https://www.transcriptabio.com/what-we-doHow to Start a Lab: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-start-a-labHow Much Does Lab Space Cost? https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-much-does-lab-space-costBiotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportInvestor & Founder Expectations: https://www.excedr.com/resources/investor-founder-expectationsGenerative AI in Drug Discovery: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2024/06/19/how-generative-ai-is-accelerating-drug-discovery/People Mentioned:Robert Gould: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjgouldfulcrum/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:12 Chris's Transition to Fulcrum: moving from Big Pharma to a smaller Biotech03:42 Mastering investor relations and learning to translate science into business language06:07 Lessons from an IPO and building rapport with investors08:00 Life as CSO of a Public Company and the importance of media training14:57 Building Transcripta Bio’s Discovery Engine and repurposing to accelerate value creation20:08 Leveraging AI in drug discovery and creating new opportunities in CNS and oncology23:52 Scaling drug discovery innovation and building the Drug-Gene Atlas25:09 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

The Biotech Startups Podcast is brought to you by Excedr. Excedr provides life science startups with equipment leases on founder-friendly terms to accelerate R&D and commercialization.Know anyone that needs lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give Your Friends $1,000, and Earn $1,000 for Each Qualified Referral 💸.Get your unique referral link by going to: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.Part 2 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Chris Moxham, the Co-Founder, CEO, and CSO of Transcripta Bio, a pioneering biotech company charting a faster path in drug discovery to create better lives for people around the world.Chris earned his PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at Stony Brook University and is a seasoned veteran with over 25 years of drug discovery experience, having spent two decades at Eli Lilly where he was instrumental in advancing over 10 molecules into clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas and both small and large molecule modalities. Chris has a wealth of knowledge, and his commitment to both scientific advancement and team growth makes his insights invaluable for aspiring leaders in biotech.Join us this week to hear about:How he got recruited to Eli Lilly through persistent outreach by VP Jose Caro, who recognized Chris's potential How Chris advanced rapidly from obesity research to heading lead generation biology at Lilly IndianapolisHis experience successfully leading a complex $20M lab buildout in NYC after Lilly's ImClone acquisitionTransitioning to biotech as CSO at Fulcrum Therapeutics, where he gained valuable experience in investor relations and helped raise $200M in public marketsWhat it means to serve as CEO developing an innovative "drug machine" platform that combines machine learning with wet lab approaches Please enjoy Jon’s conversation with Chris Moxham.Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Chris Moxham, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-moxham-b8867011/ https://www.transcriptabio.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Eli Lilly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Lilly_and_Company ImClone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImClone_Systems Merck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merck_%26_Co. Fulcrum Therapeutics https://www.fulcrumtx.com/Marketing & Sales Tools for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechsBiotech Partnerships: How Partnering with Big Pharma Can Support R&D: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchHow to Bootstrap a Biotech Tools Startup: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startupPeople Mentioned:Jose Caro https://www.linkedin.com/in/josefcaro/ Timestamps:00:49 Intro02:31 "The Power of Persistence in Recruiting" - How Jose Caro's personal outreach convinced Chris to join Eli Lilly05:31 Early days at Lilly: Transitioning from obesity research to high-throughput screening platforms08:18 Leadership evolution: Key lessons in scaling from small teams to managing 45+ scientists12:16 Cultural contrasts: Navigating the different environments between Merck and Eli Lilly14:48 "Making Your Own Opportunities" - How Chris engineered his move to Lilly's NYC labs17:31 Building from the ground up: Creating Quantitative Biology for antibody discovery despite initial resistance20:20 The biotech leap: Transitioning to Fulcrum and experiencing the startup world23:07 Leading a $20M lab buildout: Unexpected challenges in construction and coordination27:23 "Making the trains run on time" - Critical lessons in project management and execution28:50 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

The Biotech Startups Podcast is brought to you by Excedr. Excedr provides life science startups with equipment leases on founder-friendly terms to accelerate R&D and commercialization.Know anyone that needs lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give Your Friends $1,000, and Earn $1,000 for Each Qualified Referral 💸.Get your unique referral link by going to: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.Part 1 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Chris Moxham, the Co-Founder, CEO, and CSO of Transcripta Bio, a pioneering biotech company charting a faster path in drug discovery to create better lives for people around the world.Chris earned his PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at Stony Brook University and is a seasoned veteran with over 25 years of drug discovery experience, having spent two decades at Eli Lilly where he was instrumental in advancing over 10 molecules into clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas and both small and large molecule modalities. Chris has a wealth of knowledge, and his commitment to both scientific advancement and team growth makes his insights invaluable for aspiring leaders in biotech.Join us this week to hear about:Chris’ childhood growing up on Long Island and his experience with early heart surgery at 12 years oldHow those early experiences shaped his passion for science and medicine His pivotal experiences at Cornell University, where a summer fellowship studying insulin signaling sparked his transition from pre-med to research His groundbreaking PhD research at SUNY Stony Brook developing transgenic mice, leading to publications in Science and Nature The strategic decision to pursue pharmaceutical research over academia, leveraging key connections to launch his industry career at Wyeth His leadership philosophy’s emphasis on respect, teamwork, and balancing immediate results with long-term visionPlease enjoy Jon’s conversation with Chris Moxham.Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Chris Moxham, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-moxham-b8867011/ https://www.transcriptabio.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Cornell https://www.cornell.edu/ SUNY Stony Brook https://www.stonybrook.edu/ Malbon Laboratory https://www.pharm.stonybrook.edu/faculty_research/directory/m/malbon-craig/laboratory Wyeth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WyethMarketing & Sales Tools for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechsBiotech Partnerships: How Partnering with Big Pharma Can Support R&D: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchHow to Bootstrap a Biotech Tools Startup: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startupTimestamps:00:49 Intro03:18 Chris's upbringing as the youngest of 7 children on Long Island06:07 The influence of Chris's parents on his leadership style08:20 Family dynamics and expectations growing up in a large household11:06 Choosing Cornell University and the path to pre-med14:30 Securing research opportunities and working with scientific luminaries as an undergraduate16:28 PhD experience at SUNY Stony Brook in Craig Malbon's lab18:36 The impact of mentorship and the drive for impactful research20:55 Craig Malbon's lab structure and management style22:49 Balancing immediate results with long-term planning in research24:35 Transitioning from academia to industry: Chris's first opportunity at WyethThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

The Biotech Startups Podcast is brought to you by Excedr. Excedr provides life science startups with equipment leases on founder-friendly terms to accelerate R&D and commercialization.Know anyone that needs lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give Your Friends $1,000, and Earn $1,000 for Each Qualified Referral 💸.Get your unique referral link by going to: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.Part 2 of 2: Jon Chee hosts Michael Chen, the Co-Founder and CEO of Nuclera, a biotech company that focuses on bringing rapid protein access to other labs. Michael is a seasoned scientist and entrepreneur who brings a rich background and valuable insights to our podcast. Before co-founding Nuclera, Michael did extensive research as an undergrad student at both Georgia tech and Emory and eventually got his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Cambridge. He has also published nine scientific papers and worked with several leading scientists in their field.Michael’s experiences at the lab bench and as a CEO make this conversation one you don’t want to miss.Join us this week to hear about:Michael’s journey from graduate studies to co-founding NucleraThe unique challenges scientists encounter in the business worldThe importance of adaptability and key lessons in developing/marketing a breakthrough productMichael’s insights into navigating big pharma’s lengthy sales cycles and building successful partnershipsCreating a Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy for a biotech and identifying early adoptersPlease enjoy Jon’s conversation with Michael Chen.Links:Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Michael Chen, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenmc/?originalSubdomain=ukhttps://www.nuclera.com/company/board/michael-chen/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Nuclera: https://www.nuclera.com/Academic Research vs. Industrial Research: https://www.colabra.ai/blog/difference-in-scientific-research-in-academia-vs-industry/Nuclear’s Protein Platform: https://www.nuclera.com/technology/Protein Engineering: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4931902/Gene Synthesis: https://www.biomatik.com/blog/the-basics-of-gene-synthesis-a-comprehensive-guide/eProtein Discovery Instrument: https://www.nuclera.com/system/instrument/Go-Market Strategy (GTM): https://www.coursera.org/articles/go-to-market-strategyMarketing & Sales Tools for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechsBiotech Partnerships: How Partnering with Big Pharma Can Support R&D: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchHow to Bootstrap a Biotech Tools Startup: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startupPeople Mentioned:Timestamps:00:49 Intro02:44 Key differences between graduate studies and entrepreneurship06:21 Succeeding as a startup: idea vs. ability to execute07:43 Nuclera's mission and the importance of de novo DNA synthesis11:09 Where the DNA synthesis market is headed and Nuclera's evolution14:19 Do you want to compete with or empower the protein maker?16:35 Conceptualizing Nuclera's Go-to-Market strategy21:20 Figuring out how to explain and market Nuclera's technology31:52 Building successful partnerships with Big Pharma39:21 Excedr's leading indicators of commercial success45:40 Nuclera's sales enablement and focus on in-person events55:29 Michael's goals for Nuclera and improving operations, sales, marketing, etc.58:31 Shout-outs and advice to younger self01:03:00 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

The Biotech Startups Podcast is brought to you by Excedr. Excedr provides life science startups with equipment leases on founder-friendly terms to accelerate R&D and commercialization.Know anyone that needs lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give Your Friends $1,000, and Earn $1,000 for Each Qualified Referral 💸.Get your unique referral link by going to: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.Part 1 of 2: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Michael Chen, the Co-Founder and CEO of Nuclera, a biotech company that focuses on bringing rapid protein access to other labs. Michael is a seasoned scientist and entrepreneur who brings his rich background and insights to our podcast.Before becoming the Co-Founder of Nuclera, Michael did extensive research as an undergrad student at both Georgia tech and Emory and eventually got his Ph,D in Chemistry from the University of Cambridge. Having worked under some of the leading scientists in their field Michael also has 9 scientific publications to his name. His past experiences both at the lab bench and as a CEO make these episodes ones you don’t want to miss.Join us this week to hear about:The influence of growing up in a data-driven familyLearning to do the damn dishes in the labGetting into the NIH Oxford Cambridge Scholarship ProgramLearning that what got us here won’t get us to where we need to beDifferences between lab work in the UK versus the USPlease enjoy Jon’s conversation with Michael Chen!Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Michael Chen, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenmc/?originalSubdomain=ukhttps://www.nuclera.com/company/board/michael-chen/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/Enriched NotesTopics Mentioned:Emory UniversityNicholas Hud: Origins of Life Research: https://www.storycollider.org/stories/2016/1/4/nick-hud-the-origin-of-life Witchweed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striga Rhizosphere: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizosphere NIH Oxford Cambridge Scholars Program: https://oxcam.gpp.nih.gov/ International Institute of Tropical Agriculture: https://www.iita.org/ How Core Lab Support Science Research: https://www.excedr.com/blog/core-labs What is Tech Transfer?: https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-tech-transfer What Type of Equipment is Used in Chemistry Research: https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-type-of-equipment-is-used-in-chemistry-research Top Biotech Cities: https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-cities-for-biotech Biotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportPeople Mentioned:Nicholas Hud: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-hud-754a7517/ Timestamps:00:49 Intro02:44 Growing up in a technical, data-driven family and other early life influences06:24 Choosing appearances over function in elementary school09:52 Family background of Jon Chee and how the Bay Area influenced Excedr11:34 How researching crop science sparked an interest in scientific research16:27 The secret of getting access to Emory's labs via Georgia Tech18:02 Learning to "Do the damn dishes" in the lab at Georgia Tech23:00 Getting his PhD through the NIH Oxford Cambridge Scholarship Program29:01 Challenges and culture shock of doing research in Nigeria32:57 Lessons of resilience entrepreneurs can learn from having limited resources36:31 Running a startup is like spinning lots of plates40:15 "What got us here won't get us there" and knowing when it's time to spend45:49 What it was like working in labs in the UK versus the US48:08 Differences between the UK and US Ph.D tracks52:11 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

Part 4 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Neela Patel, Chief Business Officer at Bonum Therapeutics who are developing protein therapeutics to be used to treat a wide range of diseases. Neela is a seasoned scientist and business development executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in drug discovery and development.Before her time at Bonum Therapeutics Neela worked as the CBO at Good Therapeutics, a biotech company that develops cutting edge protein-based drugs. Her impressive career also includes pivotal roles at Seattle Genetics, AbbVie, Abbott, and Genentech. Her extensive experience as both a scientist and business person give her unique insights you won’t want to miss. Join us this week to hear about:Neela’s transition from AbbVie to Seattle Genetics and business developmentHer meeting with Good Therapeutics CEO and how it changed her career trajectoryHer move to Good Therapeutics as Chief Business Development OfficerNeela’s experience leading Good through its acquisition by Roche, and the importance of strategic deal structuringHer current role as CBO of Bonum Therapeutics and focus on developing cytokine therapies for oncologyPlease enjoy Jon’s conversation with Neela Patel!Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Neela Patel, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neela-patel-84b144/ https://bonumtx.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Bonum Therapeutics: https://bonumtx.com/Roche: https://www.roche.com/Seattle Genetics (Pfizer): https://www.seagen.com/who-we-are/historyVivo Capital: https://vivocapital.com/Business Development Roles in the Life Sciences: https://www.excedr.com/resources/business-development-in-the-life-sciencesBiotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportBuy-side vs. Sell-Side: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/career/ma-buy-side-sell-side/Liquidity Events: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liquidity_event.aspWhat Should Investors & Founders Expect From Each Other? https://www.excedr.com/resources/investor-founder-expectationsPeople Mentioned:Greg Hageman: https://medicine.utah.edu/faculty/gregory-s-hagemanDiane Hollenbaugh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-hollenbaugh-b826723/John Mulligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mulligan-ph-d-5aa5a37/Timestamps: 00:00 Intro02:03 Neela’s motivation to join Good Therapeutics, meeting CEO John Mulligan04:12 Evaluating startup teams and the importance of board alignment07:01 Building trust with the board and John Mulligan’s approach09:24 Structuring the Roche deal for streamlined transition10:46 Good Therapeutics’ culture and team transition to Bonum13:08 Understanding investor motivations and startup priorities14:48 Reflections on shifting from buy-side to sell-side21:46 Bonum’s focus on reducing toxicity in oncology and their clinical pipeline goals27:37 Shout-outs to career mentors and advice for younger self31:02 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

Part 3 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Neela Patel, Chief Business Officer at Bonum Therapeutics who are developing protein therapeutics to be used to treat a wide range of diseases. Neela is a seasoned scientist and business development executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in drug discovery and development.Before her time at Bonum Therapeutics Neela worked as the CBO at Good Therapeutics, a biotech company that develops cutting edge protein-based drugs. Her impressive career also includes pivotal roles at Seattle Genetics, AbbVie, Abbott, and Genentech. Her extensive experience as both a scientist and business person give her unique insights you won’t want to miss. Join us this week to hear about:Neela’s transition from Genentech to Poniard PharmaceuticalsHer collaboration with Greg Hageman on age-related macular degenerationRaising $37 million in Series A financingNeela’s role at Poniard developing pipeline strategy with the head of chemistryHer experiences at Abbott and AbbVie as Director of Global External Research and Search & Evaluation, respectively.Please enjoy Jon’s conversation with Neela Patel!Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Neela Patel, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neela-patel-84b144/ https://bonumtx.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned:Genentech: https://www.gene.com/Poniard Pharmaceuticals: https://www.linkedin.com/company/poniard-pharmaceuticals/Abbott: https://www.abbott.com/AbbVie: https://www.abbvie.com/Seattle Genetics (Pfizer): https://www.seagen.com/who-we-are/historyPatents Licensing in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-patent-licensing-worksIP Strategy for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/resources/intellectual-property-strategy-for-biotechsPartnering with Big Pharma: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchAntibody Drug Conjugates (Prime Antibody): https://www.excedr.com/resources/primary-antibodyCorporate Development: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/corporate-development-guide/In Licensing and Out Licensing: https://www.excedr.com/blog/life-sciences-licensing-agreements-guideBootstrapping Your Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startupPeople Mentioned:Greg Hageman: https://medicine.utah.edu/faculty/gregory-s-hagemanSteve Dedinson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-davidsen-0a65414/ Saul Rosenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saul-rosenberg-638a6910/Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:50 Starting a company after Genentech experience02:36 Greg Hageman’s key gene discovery and securing Series A funding05:32 Developing pipeline strategy at Poniard06:43 Transitioning to BD (Search and Evaluation) at Abbott12:31 Spinning out AbbVie, Neela’s continued focus on Oncology14:58 Fostering innovation and external ideas at AbbVie16:51 Evaluating small companies & the biggest challenge of Search and Evaluation20:13 Key factors for startups looking to partner with big pharma26:32 Transitioning to Seattle Genetics (Seagen) and Corporate Development29:28 Neela’s CorpDev experience, navigating unique challenges34:03 Understanding how to diversify revenue streams and navigate cycles39:01 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

The Biotech Startups Podcast is brought to you by Excedr. Excedr provides life science startups with equipment leases on founder-friendly terms to accelerate R&D and commercialization.Know anyone that needs lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give Your Friends $1,000, and Earn $1,000 for Each Qualified Referral 💸.Get your unique referral link by going to: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.Part 2 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Neela Patel, Chief Business Officer at Bonum Therapeutics who are developing protein therapeutics to be used to treat a wide range of diseases. Neela is a seasoned scientist and business development executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in drug discovery and development.Before her time at Bonum Therapeutics Neela worked as the CBO at Good Therapeutics, a biotech company that develops cutting edge protein-based drugs. Her impressive career also includes pivotal roles at Seattle Genetics, AbbVie, Abbott, and Genentech. Her extensive experience as both a scientist and business person give her unique insights you won’t want to miss. Join us this week to hear about:Choosing Roche to help make small molecule drugsReflecting on first major management roleThe communication required to work as an advisor to biotech companiesWorking for SUGEN but getting a different job than the one she applied forDealing with the volatility of an acquisitionPlease enjoy Jon’s conversation with Neela Patel!Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Neela Patel, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neela-patel-84b144/ https://bonumtx.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned:Roche: https://www.roche.com/ Osteoporosis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteoporosis SUGEN-Pfizer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SUGEN Kinase: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinase Pharmacia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacia Xylatan: https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-14256/latanoprost-ophthalmic-eye/details Pfizer and Pharmacia Merger https://www.pfizer.com/about/history/pfizer_pharmacia How to Get Funding for Lab Research: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-get-funding-for-lab-research Microbiology Lab Equipment & Instruments List: https://www.excedr.com/blog/microbiology-lab-equipment-list-to-open-your-new-lab Biotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportTimestamps:00:28 Intro01:52 Choosing Roche because of its pedigree and ability to make small molecule drugs03:34 Leading an academic microbiology lab and learning to work in that environment06:46 Neela asking people for 45 minutes of their time to teach her.what she doesn’t know10:22 Reflecting on her first major management role and some lessons she learned12:53 Working as an adviser to cerebral biotech companies requires great communication14:39 The value of getting to know your professional colleagues on a personal level15:53 Transitioning to SUGEN (Pfizer) but getting a different job than the one she applied for18:41 Being made team lead and having to quickly learn all about the product22:02 The benefits of sales and why the negative stereotypes aren’t always right24:01 What lead to changes in how companies view and treat their acquisitions27:17 How pharma companies view the value of acquired companies technology30:58 Dealing with the volatility of an acquisition and the value of past experiences32:41 Looking back at her time at SUGEN and her accomplishments there37:19 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.