Gencast

4. Where Art Meets Cure: Stephanie Oestreich, Carnegie Hall Violinist, Cancer Drug Developer, and Venture Capitalist

Stephanie Oestreich, a professional Carnegie Hall violinist and biotech leader, shares her journey from Harvard's prestigious labs to leading the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Venture Fund. In this insightful interview, Stephanie discusses her disciplined approach to work, influenced by her musical background, and her pivotal role in developing groundbreaking cancer therapies. She explores the importance of precision in medicine, the potential of AI in drug discovery, and creative problem-solving. Additionally, she highlights the value of good habits, diverse teams, and unconventional funding sources in biotech. This conversation illustrates the blend of science, art, and relentless innovation.

3. How my company won the same prize as a Nobel Prize winner’s startup

In this podcast episode, I share the journey of how my company won a prestigious award previously granted to Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna's startup. The episode covers my transition from management consulting to biotech entrepreneurship, the significance of early morning work hours inspired by David White's poem, my networking efforts and strategic moves to gain acceptance into the prestigious QB3 life science incubator, pivotal moments that led to key mentorships, and the crucial preclinical study results that elevated the Dogma Biotech's status. The story culminates in winning the award and being featured alongside renowned companies in Forbes. 00:00 Introduction: Winning a Prestigious Prize 00:52 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 02:26 Networking and Seeking Recommendations 03:50 Entering the Prestigious QB3 Program 04:49 The Impact of QB3 and Winning the Award 05:55 Reflections on the Journey and Early Mornings

2. Never Split the Science: Mark Boulding, Master Negotiator and Rare Disease Pioneer

In this episode of GenCast, Mark Boulding—Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at PTC Therapeutics—shares the secrets of how he went from law firm partner to the leadership team of a $4B public biotech company.  Dive deep into strategic negotiations with real-world applications inspired by Chris Voss’ tactics from Never Split the Difference, drawn from Mark's experiences negotiating deals with big pharma. Learn how Mark’s unique approaches to the interpersonal aspects of business negotiations—when to take bold risks and how to manage information flows—have helped shape PTC’s pioneering journey in developing life-saving therapies for individuals living with rare diseases with significant funding from business development deals over more than two decades. Discover how to use anchoring in non-quantitative contexts, deploy creative dispute resolution techniques like baseball arbitration, and create win-win scenarios using tactical empathy. Get an inside look at how Mark turned challenging situations into groundbreaking successful deals, making biotech negotiations not just a science, but an art form

1. Renaissance Man: Ron Cohen, the Biotech Visionary and Artist Who Helped People Walk Again

In this episode of Gencast, Sergio Del Risco delves into the life and philosophy of Ron Cohen, an individual who epitomizes the Renaissance spirit through his deep artistic soul, and his contributions to science and entrepreneurship. Cohen studied at Columbia Medical School, raised USD 1.1 BN in capital, founded and IPOed Acorda Therapeutics, and helped thousands of multiple sclerosis patients to walk.  Cohen reflects on his unique journey from aspiring actor and singer to accomplished biotechnologist and the founder of Acorda Therapeutics.  He shares insights from his formative years, influenced by his neurologist father and prodigious violinist mother, and recounts pivotal moments that shaped his path. His narrative is imbued with existential reflections on meaning, purpose, and the courage to act on one's deepest passions.  Cohen's relentless pursuit of a cure for neurological ailments like multiple sclerosis, despite numerous setbacks, serves as a testament to his belief that true fulfillment comes from embracing the risks and opportunities that life presents. This episode serves as a philosophical exploration of how to live a life that's true to one's potential and passions.

¿Qué nos puede enseñar Leonardo Da Vinci sobre innovación en biotecnología?

En este episodio discutimos sobre uno de los “Job aplications” más famosos de la historia. En 1482, Leonardo Da Vinci le escribió a Ludovico Sforza, Duque de Milán, ofreciendo sus servicios como ingeniero militar. Sin embargo, Leonardo NUNCA había hecho trabajos en ingeniería militar.   ¿Qué enseñanzas nos deja esta historia para el emprendimiento en BIOTECH? Descúbranlo en el nuevo episodio de Gencast