Molecule to Market: Inside the outsourcing space

Raman Sehgal

Molecule to Market takes you inside the global pharma and biopharma outsourcing ecosystem. Each week, our host Raman Sehgal sits down with the founders, entrepreneurs, CEOs and C-suite leaders shaping the pharma services and tools that power discovery, drug development and commercialization. Listeners get real stories and practical insights from across the entire value chain, from big pharma and emerging biotechs to private equity investors, CROs, CDMOs, technology platforms and specialist consulting firms. Our host Raman is an entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, speaker and long time industry insider.   https://moleculetomarketpod.com

  1. 4d ago

    From Big Pharma to Biotech CEO

    In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Rachel Sha, CEO at Terrestrial Bio.   Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem with Rachel, covering: Navigating the Genzyme Sanofi acquisition and building a leadership career on the other side of the transaction Being in the right place at the right time to pursue entrepreneurship, and the steep learning curve of stepping into a biotech CEO role The decision to adopt a dual strategy, partnering with biopharma on a platform technology while also advancing internal programs Leading a $50M Series C raise in a challenging funding environment and evolving the company’s identity The real world trade offs between building manufacturing capabilities in house versus outsourcing to CDMOs Rachel Sha is the CEO at Terrestrial, a company focused on transforming the delivery of next generation therapies with its microarray skin patch that provides a patient friendly experience that is injection free and without the hassle of cold chain.  Prior to Terrestrial, she was an Operating Partner at Engine Ventures, a venture fund spun-out of MIT that invests in Tough Tech companies primarily in the Boston area.  She advised companies and worked with the investment team in exploring investment themes, opportunities, and programming.  Before her time in venture, she spent seventeen years at Genzyme and Sanofi where she held leadership positions in business development, strategy, and commercial.  Her last role at the firm was the Global Vice President of Digital Strategy, Partnering and Governance at Sanofi where she led global strategy, business development, and governance of digital programs to transform Sanofi and healthcare.   She has long been a supporter of developing women entrepreneurs and has supported organizations like Mass Next Gen and Springboard Enterprises.  She was recognized by the Boston Business Journal in the 2025 class of Women Who Lead in Life Sciences.  Rachel holds a BS from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Chemistry and an MBA from Harvard Business School.   Please note: Vaxess Technologies is now Terrestrial (Terrestrial Bio, Inc.). This change reflects a brand evolution and is not part of a merger or acquisition. There has been no change in control or operations. All contracts, relationships and business activities continue uninterrupted under our new name.   Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

    54 min
  2. Jun 12

    From Lab to Boardroom at Sartorius

    Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with René, covering:   How a lucky break brought him to Sartorius over 20 years ago, and what has changed and stayed the same over that time His journey from scientist to senior leader, and the evolution of biologics he has witnessed along the way The pace of innovation in bioprocessing, and how he thinks about speed, efficiency and flexibility Why innovation continues regardless of market cycles, through both boom and correction periods His perspective on the current biotech market reset and why it represents a healthy correction Despite building a €3.5bn powerhouse, how Sartorius has maintained a relentless focus on customers   René Fáber, born in 1975, has been Head of Bioprocess Solutions Division and Member of the Executive Board of Sartorius AG since 2019. In the same year, he became a Member of the Board of Directors of Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A.; in 2023 he was appointed as CEO of the company. René Fáber studied chemistry in Bratislava, Slovakia, and earned his Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from the Technical University of Munich in Germany. He joined Sartorius in 2002, where he initially worked as a scientist on membrane modification. As Vice President, he held various management positions in R&D, Marketing for Filtration and Fermentation Technologies, as well as in Key Account Management. In his most recent position, he was responsible for the Product Development unit of the Bioprocess Solutions Division.     Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

    50 min
  3. May 15

    Navigating global supply chains at Big Pharma

    In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Daniel Hurni, Supply Chain Enterprise Capability Lead at Roche.   Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Dan, covering:   Why working all over the world was a key competent in building his confidence, and his understanding of people and perspectives from different cultures. The value of doing an MBA as a technician, and the need to master yourself and becoming the boss of yourself before leading others. A behind the scenes peek of CDMO sourcing and selection at small and a big pharma across different modalities.... and the importance of relationship building. Taking on a global supply chain lead at big pharma, and the job of navigating risk... and why you can only plan so much. How he's excited by, and thinking about AI with respect to supply chain, and why he will only apply it where it makes sense. Why listening, empathy, mentorship and networking are vital for survival and growth in a big pharma company. Top tips for large and specialist CDMOs.   With over 20 years of experience driving operational transformation in the life sciences sector, Daniel has established a reputation for optimizing end-to-end supply chains and navigating the complexities of the global pharma and biotech landscape. Throughout his career, he has successfully led high-stakes initiatives—ranging from aseptic Tech Transfers for sterile drug products to large-scale M&A integrations—consistently delivering cost reductions and scalable, patient-centric solutions within complex matrix environments. In small and large pharmaceutical companies.   Daniel specializes in bridging the gap between digital innovation and physical operations, leveraging AI, data integration, and advanced analytics to enhance S&OP and network design. Beyond his technical leadership in manufacturing and supplier management, he is a seasoned change management architect, adept at aligning functional priorities with enterprise strategy to drive operational agility. Daniel is also a frequent collaborator and thought leader who focuses on mentoring cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders at all levels to build the intelligent, resilient supply chains of the future.     Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

    1 hr
  4. May 1

    The Making of a CGT CDMO Builder

    In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Steve Favaloro, Chairman and CEO of Genezen. Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Steve, covering: His deep passion for operations, and how early lessons in hard work and customer service shaped his leadership Learning from Mark Bamforth and the entrepreneurial journey at Brammer Bio, culminating in a $1.7bn exit to Thermo Fisher Why gaining exposure to every seat at the table was critical in preparing him for the CEO role Building Genezen with a focus on strong values, hiring the right people and investing in differentiated capabilities How the cell and gene therapy market has evolved over the past decade, and why he remains optimistic about the future of curative medicines Why things inevitably go sideways in innovative drug development, and the importance of being prepared to navigate it Steve Favaloro is an experienced biotech executive, board member, and investor. He is currently Chairman and CEO of Genezen, a best-in-class gene and cell therapy CDMO with specialized expertise in viral vector manufacturing. Steve joined Genezen in 2023 and has built up a team of almost 300 employees, supporting gene and cell therapy innovators from early-stage, growth-oriented biotechs to established industry leaders. He is an executive advisor at Ampersand Capital Partners, a leading healthcare investor, and serves on the board of Biologos. He also serves on the board of advisors of Life Science Cares Boston. Prior to Genezen, Steve was CFO at Arbor Biotech, a next-generation gene editing therapeutic company. Steve also served as CFO at Arranta Bio, a leading CDMO for mRNA, from its founding in 2019 to its successful exit to Recipharm in February 2022.  Prior to this, Steve was a finance leader and ultimately CFO at Brammer Bio, where he oversaw a period of rapid expansion and capital deployment from 2016 to 2019 – leading up to its successful sale to Thermo Fisher Scientific in May 2019 for $1.7B. Before joining Brammer, Steve held finance roles of increasing responsibility at MilliporeSigma, Merck KGaA, and Bruker Corporation. Steve received his MBA and Master of Science from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Steve also received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Boston College.   Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

    58 min
  5. Apr 24

    Inside the mind of the CMO outsourcer

    In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Felipe Furiati, Senior Director, External Supply Operations at Grünenthal.   Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Felipe, covering:   Why he stepped away from big pharma to pursue an MBA in the US and transition into top tier management consulting, broadening his global perspective The pace and intensity of his time at Bain, and how it expanded his problem solving toolkit across industries The challenges, risks and opportunities involved in acquiring products and integrating supply chains How he approaches identifying, selecting and managing CDMO partners, and why product characteristics play a critical role Building and maintaining a CMO and CDMO network, and the key criteria he uses to assess and source new projects What strong vendor relationships really look like, why not every CDMO can be a strategic partner, and where CMOs can improve   Felipe currently works in External Supply Operations at Grünenthal, a mid-sized pharma organization with a vision of a world free of pain. He is an experienced professional in pharma strategy and operations, with a focus on external supply chain management across both pre launch and commercial products.   Originally from Brazil, Felipe has lived in Ireland and the United States, and is now based in Italy. His experience in the pharmaceutical industry is complemented by time in management consulting, where he gained exposure to a range of sectors including CPG and healthcare services.   Outside of work, Felipe is a mid of the pack endurance triathlete and enjoys spending time outdoors.     Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

    56 min
5
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Molecule to Market takes you inside the global pharma and biopharma outsourcing ecosystem. Each week, our host Raman Sehgal sits down with the founders, entrepreneurs, CEOs and C-suite leaders shaping the pharma services and tools that power discovery, drug development and commercialization. Listeners get real stories and practical insights from across the entire value chain, from big pharma and emerging biotechs to private equity investors, CROs, CDMOs, technology platforms and specialist consulting firms. Our host Raman is an entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, speaker and long time industry insider.   https://moleculetomarketpod.com

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