Episode: 78 - Shamit Shrivastava on an Interdisciplinary Approach to Antibody Biophysics and Developability
As drug development pushes into more complex antibody formats, the big question is: how do you really assess developability? In this episode, host Nimish Gera speaks with Shamit Shrivastava, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Apoha, to dive into Liquid Brain, his interdisciplinary innovation that’s changing the way researchers tackle developability of challenging antibody-based drugs. Shamit breaks down what makes Liquid Brain different from traditional developability methods, reveals how it’s unlocking new possibilities for complex format development, and shares a glimpse into Apoha’s future-including an exclusive preview of what’s coming at PEGS Europe this November.
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Episode: 77 - Derek Lowe on AI and the US Biotech Ecosystem
September 16, 2025 | With the rise of AI and automation, what is the core human skill in drug discovery that is and will be valuable in the future? Derek Lowe, director of Chemical Biology Therapeutics at Novartis and author of the In the Pipeline blog, discusses the impact of AI—and non-AI technologies—on the business of drug making. With host Christopher Bahl, cofounder and CEO of AI Proteins, their conversation covers the value of a PhD in the tech world today, the long-term impacts of knowledge creation in US leadership positions, how the industry can navigate a biotech winter, and more. Links from this episode: AI Proteins Novartis In the Pipeline
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Alexey Lugovskoy Shares Decades of Experience in Starting Out and Founding Companies
August 12, 2025 | Diagonal Therapeutics founder and CEO Alexey Lugovskoy discusses the key lessons learned over his illustrious career, starting from his childhood in the Soviet Union to founding his own company, Diagonal Therapeutics. With host Tariq Ghayur, Lugovskoy shares insights gained from working with organizations of different sizes, taking on the obstacles of building a pipeline, and integrating AI/ML into discovery programs, as well as his most memorable achievement—and most memorable failure. He also offers advice to young scientists and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of challenging problems and surrounding yourself with the right people.
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Episode: 75 - Are Licensing Fees Required or Gatekeeping?
July 15, 2025 | Are licensing fees required or gatekeeping? In this episode of The Chain, host Nimish Gera, vice president of Biologics at Mythic Therapeutics, and Ian Wilkinson, CEO of Gamma Proteins, discuss accessing antibody discovery technology through licensing fees and royalties—and whether these fees are justified or not. Wilkinson delves into the current landscape of antibody discovery technologies, including if AI-based technology warrants fees, how royalties affect both small companies and big pharma, and his background as one of the first experts in the field who offered purely free-for-service options. He also shares what excites him about antibody engineering and beyond. Links from this episode: Mythic Therapeutics Gamma Proteins
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Episode: 74 - Keith Flaherty, President-Elect of AACR, on Public and Private Collabs, AI Optimism, and More
June 10, 2025 | In this bonus episode of The Chain, Daniel Chen, MD, PhD, founder and CEO of Synthetic Design Lab, returns for the Science Commune segment and speaks with Keith Flaherty, MD, FAACR, professor of Medicine of Harvard Medical School and president-elect of AACR. They discuss Flaherty’s prolific career; how his background led him to pursue a career in medicine; how public and private sectors are coming together in oncology around collaborations; reflections on targeted therapies and technologies; optimism around how AI will impact society and the future of medicine positively; and how we need to detect and treat disease early. Links from this episode: PEGS Boston Conference & Expo Engineering Bispecific Antibodies Synthetic Design Lab Harvard Medical School AACR
The Chain explores the lives, careers, research, and discoveries of protein engineers and scientists, the impact their work is having on the field, and where the industry is headed. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the newest advancements and to hear the stories that are impacting the world of biologics.
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