The Emerging Biotech Leader

In Medical Affairs, timing is everything. If we had to summarize this next Episode of the Emerging Biotech Leader in one sentence, it would be “a deeper dive on both the impact and importance of Medical Affairs,” inspired by our interview with Rachel Couchenour in Episode 13 . But that single sentence alone wouldn’t convey the robust takeaways and mindset shift that this episode provides. Max Crai...

“I've found that it's usually not the ‘what’ or the ‘how’ that will get me where I need to go with a Senior leader. It's the why. They want to understand the why behind it.” Rachel Couchenour, VP, Global Medical Affairs, Travere Therapeutics.  Working cross-functionally. Some would call it a skill. Others would say it’s a talent. For our guest on Episode 13 of the Emerging Biotech Leader, it’s her...

“The good news and the bad news are the same news.” Rik Reppe, VP Digital, Acquis Consulting Group   We are excited to announce a new service, Digital-Led Biotech Strategy, in partnership with Acquis Cortico-X. Through this service, our clients will get access to medical, business, and digital experts to maximize theraputic value through a digital-led approach to solving challenges for biotech com...

“The best leaders that I've seen are the ones that realize that it’s always “go, go, go,” and they need to move fast. But they still consciously take time to think, to pause a little bit and have a more of a multi-dimensional view of what's happening, as opposed to always being at a fast pace, moving forward and getting things done.” Ramin Farhood, Emerging Biotech Leader Host+Vice President Of Me...

“I don't know any other leader that's had that type of prior steps in their careers. It almost feels like you need pieces of all those things to actually be a leader, you know, soldier, lawyer, investment banker. I'm sure they all came in handy.” Doug Locke, SSI CEO.  Some biotechs are created from research and academia. Others are born from firsthand, personal experience.  Such is the case for So...

“Digital impacts our lives all the time in every way, including in medicine.” Jen Seda, M.D.  The day of digital medicine is here.  And while software and digital apps can be created rapidly, historically, the healthcare ecosystem has implemented change at a much slower pace. This contrasting combination, or tension as today’s episode describes it, presents two extremes: immense opportunity and in...

As everyday consumers, we interact with AI (Artificial Intelligence) daily. Whether unlocking the home screen of our phones via facial recognition, using voice commands to send a text, or interacting with a chat tool when shopping online, AI adoption is continuous.  But what is the role of AI in today’s healthcare? And how will AI impact medicine and the future of biotechnology?  To help us examin...

Digital biomarkers have opened up a series of questions worth contemplating as both newer and more mature biotechs evaluate the following:  Are we measuring things correctly?  What's inefficient about our clinical development process?  What should we be thinking about to innovate for the future?  And how do we democratize access to clinical trials and improve the speed of the development processes...

Biomarkers themselves have been a part of medical research for decades. However, digital biomarkers have become increasingly important to the modern clinical development process.  While the term “digital biomarker” is prevalent in discussions around investment, clinical trials, and measuring patient outcomes, a variety of questions surrounding digital biomarkers still exist within the industry. Fo...

What does it take to launch a new class of medicine?  When launching a new therapeutic, many unknowns exist, but some principles remain constant. By looking to past experiences and staying lean, emerging biotechs can derisk their organizations while hitting milestones by taking an agile team-building approach. Today’s guest is Adriana Valenciano, Senior Vice President at SSI Strategy. She is worki...

What if there were a way to genetically engineer fungi species and transform them into human therapeutics to help with neurological disorders?  Today’s guest, Dr. Usman (Oz) Azam, just launched a biotech, Empyrean Neurosciences, that is genetically modifying fungi to create therapeutics. Biotech is hard enough as it is, but what does it take to pioneer an entirely new class of medicine as a biotec...

Securing funding as an early-stage biotech is no easy feat. There are a few key strategies that help differentiate a funding thesis. What separates burgeoning initiatives from those that fail?  Join today’s guest, co-founder, and CEO of SSI Strategy, Doug Locke, whose experience in entrepreneurship, investing, and advising biotechs and startup companies shares key differentiators.  The Medical Off...

When most people think about the path to becoming a CEO, they conjure up a straight climb up the corporate ladder, rung by rung. But that’s not the only way. In fact, a few detours along the way can provide you with valuable tools that broaden your perspective and launch you into executive roles at a young age.  This was the case for Niren Shah, CEO of Cove Therapeutics. A biotech company focused...

At biotech companies, things often evolve at light speed, and the natural tendency of a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) can be to try and manage every detail. But it’s a superhuman task, especially when powerful egos are in play.  This episode of The Emerging Biotech Leader features: Dr. Ramin Farhood, Vice President of Medical Affairs, SSI Strategy Kim Kushner, Senior VP, SSI Strategy Dr. Benit Maru,...

Being Chief Medical Officer at an emerging biotech company can feel like draining the ocean with a dixie cup. No CMO can fulfill the duties of the medical office alone. Building a solid team is critical. In this episode, SSI Strategy’s hosts Dr. Ramin Farhood, Vice President of Medical Affairs, and Kim Kushner, Senior VP, spoke with Dr. Suku Nagendran, President of R&D and Chief Medical Office...

Biotech—it's complicated. A successful product launch requires grit, determination, and clear direction. But let’s be real, the path to launch isn’t a straight one. There are curves, hard turns, and dead ends. Here’s the good news, you don’t have to navigate the complexities alone. Welcome to The Emerging Biotech Leader, where we help biotech leaders maximize the value of their therapeutics from c...