IDEA Collider: Innovation & Asymmetric Learning in Pharma

IDEA Pharma, SAI MedPartners
  • 5.0 (2)
  • LIFE SCIENCES
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

IDEA Collider explores how asymmetric learning drives bold innovation in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Hosted by Mike Rea, CEO of IDEA Pharma & Head of Strategy and Thought Leadership at SAI MedPartners, the podcast features conversations with top thinkers, scientists, and strategists who challenge the status quo to spark real progress in drug development, biotech, and healthcare. Each episode dives into how organizations can make smarter decisions earlier, reimagine R&D, and unlock competitive advantage through differentiated thinking. Questions We Explore * What is asymmetric learning, and how does it fuel pharma innovation? * Why do some organizations outpace others—and what can we learn from them? * How can we overcome barriers to meaningful progress in healthcare? * What’s broken in traditional innovation models—and how do we fix it? 🎧 Listen and subscribe on all major platforms.

  1. Revitalizing Pharma Collaborations: The Reblozyl Case Study

    12/22/2025

    Revitalizing Pharma Collaborations: The Reblozyl Case Study

    In this episode of IDEA Collider, hosts Mike and Rick revisit a pivotal project from over a decade ago, the Reblozyl project, undertaken in collaboration with Acceleron and Celgene. Rick, the head of Growth and Innovation at IDEA, reminisces about the early days leading to the successful positioning and market shaping of luspatercept across different hematological indications. The episode features insightful contributions from Robin, Jane, and Tracy, key players from Acceleron and Celgene, who share their experiences and the collaborative efforts that enabled them to redefine the market. The discussion covers the strategic approach to overcoming competitive benchmarking, the importance of a unified messaging strategy, and the critical role of internal and external collaboration. They also reflect on the impact of their efforts on the lives of many patients and offer advice for future teams working on complex drug development projects. The episode concludes with a recognition of the rare and valuable collaborative human elements that drove the success of the Reblozyl project. Episode Timestamps; 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:27 Rick's Background and Project Overview 02:31 Client Team Introductions 05:32 Collaboration and Challenges 13:29 Defining the Mechanism and Market Positioning 23:52 Communication and Alignment 27:48 Navigating Internal and External Communication 33:15 Launch, Reflections, and Lessons Learned 41:14 Final Thoughts and Acknowledgements   Keep up with the guests; Robyn Blackburn  - Director Global Commercial Strategy CAR-T at Kite Pharmahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-blackburn-805b8b13/Jayne Butler - Director of Strategic Initiatives at Fingerpaint Brandinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynebutler/Tracey Sacco - Former SVP Global Strategic Marketing at Acceleronhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-sacco-53 2a034/Rick Ritacco - Head of Growth and Innovationhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rritacco/   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

    44 min
  2. Pioneering the Future of Cardiovascular Treatment with Sekar Kathiresan

    12/08/2025

    Pioneering the Future of Cardiovascular Treatment with Sekar Kathiresan

    In this episode of IDEA Collider, host Mike Rea speaks with Dr. Sekar Kathiresan, founder of Verve Therapeutics and now part of Eli Lilly, about one of the boldest ideas in modern medicine: using one-time gene editing to permanently lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. Dr. Kathiresan shares his journey from immigrant upbringing to Harvard cardiologist, genetic researcher, biotech founder, and now leader inside a global pharmaceutical company. The conversation explores how human genetics, CRISPR base editing, lipid nanoparticle delivery, and asymmetric learning converged to create a potential lifelong solution to cardiovascular disease. They also dive deep into the ethics of gene editing, global access and pricing, early intervention versus chronic care, FDA regulatory challenges, and what the Verve–Lilly acquisition means for the future of cardiometabolic medicine. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in biotech innovation, gene therapy, cardiovascular disease, and the future of preventive medicine.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:16 Sekar Kathiresan's Early Life and Education 03:19 Founding Verve and Transition to Entrepreneurship 05:35 The Science Behind Verve's Mission 10:27 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Gene Editing 20:05 Regulatory Hurdles and First Human Trials 25:11 Ethical Considerations in Gene Editing 27:06 Introduction to Drug Delivery and Ethical Considerations 27:51 Historical Context and Pioneers in Medical Procedures 28:35 Commercial and Ethical Challenges in Medicine 29:32 Innovations in Cardiovascular Treatments 32:49 The Role of Gene Editing in Long-term Health 37:55 Strategic Partnerships and Industry Insights 45:08 Reflections on the US Medical Ecosystem 48:54 Conclusion and Future Outlook   Keep up with Sekar Kathiresan; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sekar-sek-kathiresan-3501846/ Website: https://www.lilly.com/   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

    51 min
  3. Biotech Innovations and AI in Drug Development with Alex Telford:

    09/23/2025

    Biotech Innovations and AI in Drug Development with Alex Telford:

    In this episode of IDEA Collider, we are joined by Alex Telford, a biotech founder, writer, and thinker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the co-founder of Convoke Bio, Alex discusses his journey from studying biochemistry at UCL to founding a company that develops software tools for streamlining biopharmaceutical workflows. The conversation dives into the impact of AI and language models on the biotech industry, addressing inefficiencies in drug development, and exploring the potential of synthetic biology and personalized medicine. The discussion also touches on the future of drug discovery, China's role in biotech, and the challenges of understanding neuroscience and consciousness. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the future of biopharma innovation!   00:00 Welcome to Idea Collider 00:04 Introducing Alex Telford 01:59 Alex's Journey from UCL to Convoke Bio 05:29 The Mission and Work of Convoke Bio 07:57 Challenges in Pharma Decision Making 14:05 The Role of AI in Pharma 18:26 Knowledge Management and AI 27:58 Staying Updated in the Fast-Moving AI Field 30:25 AI's Impact on Industry Economics 31:38 AI in Clinical Trials and Drug Development 35:56 China's Role in Drug Discovery 39:24 Neuroscience and AI: Blurring the Lines 46:05 Future Predictions in Pharma 51:20 Addressing Cognitive Bias in Pharma 53:13 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions   Keep up with Alex Telford; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-telford/ Website: atelfo.github.io X: https://twitter.com/atelfo Substack: atelfo.substack.com   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

    54 min
  4. Dr. Christian Rommel on Oncology Innovations and Modern Drug Development at Bayer

    09/09/2025

    Dr. Christian Rommel on Oncology Innovations and Modern Drug Development at Bayer

    In this episode of Idea Collider, host Mike Rea interviews Dr. Christian Rommel from Bayer. Dr. Rommel discusses his journey in molecular oncology from the Max Planck Institute, through roles at Roche, to overseeing global R&D at Bayer. He shares insights on turning scientific discovery into novel medicines, collaboration between scientists and commercial teams, and the importance of maintaining scientific integrity. Dr. Rommel also delves into the impact of AI in drug development, the potential of genetic medicines, and the complexities of launching new medicines on a global scale. The conversation also touches on embracing failure, internal and external partnerships, and the evolving landscape of clinical translation.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:25 Christian Rommel's Journey in Oncology 03:02 The Importance of Collaboration in Innovation 05:16 Balancing Risk and Reward in Drug Development 18:07 The Role of AI and Data in Modern R&D 22:33 Partnerships and External Learning 26:16 Balancing Legacy and Innovation in Biotech 27:18 Global Expansion and Leadership Diversity 27:27 Courage in Biotech Management 27:54 Inspiration from Roche Genentech 30:26 Commitment to Product Supply and Market Readiness 32:23 Challenges of Global Launches 35:53 Emerging Trends in Pharma: AI and Genetic Medicines 42:20 Decision-Making in Pharma 47:30 Reflections on Academic and Professional Journey   Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with Christian Rommel; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-rommel/ Website: https://www.bayer.com/en/innovation/science-research-and-innovation   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

    50 min
  5. Bold Science, Bigger Bets: Mathai Mammen on Visionary R&D and Transforming Biopharma

    07/09/2025

    Bold Science, Bigger Bets: Mathai Mammen on Visionary R&D and Transforming Biopharma

    In this insightful episode of IDEA Collider, Mike welcomes Mathai Mammen, Chairman and CEO of Parabilis Medicines. Mathai shares his extensive journey through academia, MD PhD program at Harvard, co-founding Theravance, and leadership roles at Merck and J&J. They delve into Mathai's innovative approach to creating transformative medicines, navigating the biotech industry, and the unique challenges of targeting 'undruggable' proteins. They also discuss the role of AI in drug discovery, the importance of strategic risk, and fostering team resilience and spirit in both large and small pharma companies.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 00:56 Founding Thebans and Career Highlights 01:43 Leadership at Merck and J&J 02:18 Innovative Approaches at Parabilis Medicines 04:09 Defining and Tackling Undruggable Targets 09:27 Multivalent Drug Design and Bispecifics 13:53 AI and Data Science in Drug Development 19:28 Building and Leading World-Class Teams 25:41 The Importance of Holding Conviction as an Entrepreneur 26:25 Learning from Setbacks in the Biotech Industry 30:10 Challenges and Innovations in Drug Development 32:28 Navigating the Ups and Downs of the Biotech Industry 36:02 The Mission and Future of Parabilis 40:35 Personal Reflections and Advice for Entrepreneurs 46:46 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts   Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with Mathai Mammen; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathai-mammen/ Website: https://parabilismed.com/   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

    50 min
  6. Bridging Clinical Practice and Biotech: Paul Peter Tak's Transformative Journey

    06/22/2025

    Bridging Clinical Practice and Biotech: Paul Peter Tak's Transformative Journey

    In this episode of Idea Collider, host Mike Rea interviews Paul Peter Tak, CEO of Candel Therapeutics, discussing his remarkable journey from a clinician in Amsterdam to leading cutting-edge biotech companies. Paul shares pivotal moments in his career, the challenges of transitioning from academia to big pharma, and the innovative principles he applied. He dives deep into Candel’s promising work in viral immunotherapies for cancers and the unique leadership and management philosophies that have guided his journey. Additionally, Paul Peter touches on his passion for leveraging collective intelligence and his unconventional hobbies that keep him grounded and creative.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:59 Early Career and Passion for Medicine 02:09 Transition to Industry and GSK Experience 04:50 Building Successful Organizations 07:42 Innovative Models in Pharma 19:03 Joining Candel Therapeutics and Vision for the Future 25:15 Transforming Cancer Treatment 27:24 Challenges in Biotech Market 28:45 Strategic Decisions and Prioritization 31:39 Collaborations and External Partnerships 33:07 Innovative Approaches and Future Prospects 44:23 Leadership and Personal Insights   Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with Paul Peter Tak; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-peter-tak-md-phd-fmedsci-1b44749/   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

    50 min
  7. Creating Breakthroughs in Oncology: A Conversation with Susan Galbraith of AstraZeneca

    05/25/2025

    Creating Breakthroughs in Oncology: A Conversation with Susan Galbraith of AstraZeneca

    In this episode of Idea Collider, we sit down with Susan Galbraith from AstraZeneca, a leading figure in oncology R&D. Susan shares her journey from medical training in Manchester and Cambridge to spearheading transformative cancer treatments at AstraZeneca. She discusses pivotal moments in her career, AstraZeneca's vision for eliminating cancer as a cause of death, the role of patient stories in motivating R&D efforts, and the integration of emerging technologies like AI and digital health tools.    With a focus on collaboration and continuous learning, Susan provides insights into how successful oncology drugs are developed and the importance of equitable representation in clinical trials. Stay tuned for an engaging conversation that highlights the future of personalized cancer therapies and the collaborative efforts driving innovations in oncology. Chapter Summaries; 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:27 Susan Galbraith's Career Journey 02:37 Defining Success in Oncology R&D 05:01 Early Phase Drug Development 07:09 Digital Health and Patient Experience 12:37 Global Collaboration and Innovation 15:05 AI and Future of Oncology 28:08 Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials 33:46 Mentorship and Career Advice 37:45 Challenges and Future Outlook in Oncology 42:06 Closing Remarks and Call to Action   Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with Susan Gabraith; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-galbraith-584a195/?originalSubdomain=uk  Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/  Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

    43 min
  8. Biotech Innovations & Leadership with John Maraganore

    05/18/2025

    Biotech Innovations & Leadership with John Maraganore

    In this episode of IDEA Collider, we dive into the world of biotech innovation with John Maraganore, former CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Recognized as a trailblazer, John transformed RNA interference from a scientific concept into a revolutionary class of medicines, leading the development of five life-changing drugs.  Join us as we explore John's journey from a first-generation American with Greek immigrant parents to a key figure in biomedicine. We'll discuss his education at the University of Chicago, his leadership role at Alnylam, drug delivery challenges for RNAi therapeutics, and the importance of strategic pharmaceutical alliances. John also shares his take on the current biotech environment, the impact of policy and regulation, and the promising future of genetic medicines and AI in drug discovery.   Chapter Summaries; 00:00 Introduction to John Maraganore: Biotech Trailblazer 01:11 John's Early Life and Education 03:09 Joining Alnylam and the RNAi Revolution 04:56 Challenges and Successes at Alnylam 06:47 Current Biotech Funding Environment 08:17 Global Competition and US Leadership in Biotech 10:25 The Importance of In-Person Collaboration 12:01 Overcoming Drug Delivery Hurdles 15:21 Maintaining an Entrepreneurial Spirit in Biotech 17:00 Balancing Science and Business in Decision Making 20:27 Strategic Partnerships in Biotech 23:36 The Role of Biotech in Global Challenges 26:25 Advocating for Policy Changes in Biotech 30:41 Mentoring the Next Generation of Biotech Leaders 32:35 Future Frontiers in Biotech Innovation 36:08 John's Vision for the Future of Biomedicine 37:18 Communicating Innovation and Leadership Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with John Maraganore; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-maraganore/  Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/  Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

    39 min
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IDEA Collider explores how asymmetric learning drives bold innovation in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Hosted by Mike Rea, CEO of IDEA Pharma & Head of Strategy and Thought Leadership at SAI MedPartners, the podcast features conversations with top thinkers, scientists, and strategists who challenge the status quo to spark real progress in drug development, biotech, and healthcare. Each episode dives into how organizations can make smarter decisions earlier, reimagine R&D, and unlock competitive advantage through differentiated thinking. Questions We Explore * What is asymmetric learning, and how does it fuel pharma innovation? * Why do some organizations outpace others—and what can we learn from them? * How can we overcome barriers to meaningful progress in healthcare? * What’s broken in traditional innovation models—and how do we fix it? 🎧 Listen and subscribe on all major platforms.

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