Nucleate Singapore Pulse

Nucleate Singapore
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Singapore's premier podcast on the biotech ecosystem. The show notes and transcripts can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. Subscribe and follow us to keep your finger on the pulse of Singapore’s biotech ecosystem. For feedback and suggestions, feel free to reach out to the team at singapore@nucleate.org

  1. Simplifying medication regimens through 3D-printed pills with CraftHealth’s Dr. Goh Wei Jiang

    JUN 30

    Simplifying medication regimens through 3D-printed pills with CraftHealth’s Dr. Goh Wei Jiang

    Dr. Goh Wei Jiang is the Co-founder and CEO of CraftHealth, a pioneering Singapore-based startup revolutionizing personalized medicine through 3D printing. With a background in pharmacy and a PhD-MBA from NUS, Dr. Goh brings both scientific expertise and commercial insight to the forefront of MedTech innovation. Drawing on his clinical experience and translational research, he co-founded CraftHealth to solve a real-world challenge: simplifying polypharmacy and improving drug compliance through customizable, on-demand medications. In this episode, Dr. Goh Wei Jiang shares his journey from hospital pharmacist to a Healthtech founder. Motivated by the challenge of polypharmacy and the pill burden faced by patients, Dr. Goh and his co-founder developed a 3D printing platform that enables personalized medicine—combining multiple drugs into a single, tailored pill with customized release profiles. He walks us through the early ideation phase, shaped by his experiences in Stanford Biodesign, GRIP, Lean Launchpad, and other innovation ecosystems, and how they tested their first 3D printed pill using a small grant. Dr. Goh explains how CraftHealth's proprietary platform integrates hardware, software, and material science to create a modular, scalable approach to medication production. Dr. Goh also explores real-world applications: from improving precision dosing in pediatric or renal patients to enabling compounding pharmacies and supplement companies to rapidly prototype and personalize products. He discusses regulatory challenges, automation, hospital partnerships, and long-term visions for decentralised drug manufacturing. Finally, he shares his reflections on entrepreneurship, emphasising the importance of customer validation and building what people are willing to pay for. Host: Dillon Chew Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew Chapters: 01:15 – Dr. Goh’s Background & Identifying the Problem of Polypharmacy 08:50 – CraftHealth’s 3D Printing Platform (Hardware, Software, Materials, Data) 13:15 – Use Cases 15:15 – Addressing Challenges, Regulatory & Commercial Fit 24:00 – Expansion and growth strategies 34:00 – Vision for Decentralized Drug Manufacturing and Closing

    40 min
  2. Redefining Bioconjugation and the Future of ADCs with Dr. Abbas Sahili of Singzyme

    MAY 16

    Redefining Bioconjugation and the Future of ADCs with Dr. Abbas Sahili of Singzyme

    Dr. Abbas Sahili is the CTO of Singzyme, a biotechnology company pioneering next-generation bioconjugation technologies. With a strong background in biochemistry and structural biology, Abbas brings deep scientific expertise and entrepreneurial vision to the field of precision medicine. His transition from academia to biotech leadership is marked by a commitment to developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that are more efficient, effective, and accessible. Under his leadership, Singzyme has developed a proprietary platform leveraging Peptide Asparaginyl Ligase (PAL) technology, setting a new standard in ADC manufacturing and performance. In this episode, Dr. Abbas Sahili walks us through his unique journey from academic research in structural biology to founding Singzyme, a cutting-edge biotech startup. He shares the motivations that led him to pivot from lab-based research to real-world therapeutic development and the founding story of Singzyme. Dr. Sahili breaks down complex concepts like antibody-drug conjugates and bioconjugation in a way that’s easy to understand. He discusses Singzyme’s PAL technology, a novel enzymatic platform that offers significant advantages over traditional methods, particularly in oncology and diagnostic imaging. He explains how PAL improves efficiency and precision in linking payloads to antibodies, unlocking new possibilities in targeted therapies and radiodiagnostics. He also sheds light on the operational and strategic challenges faced by a young biotech company and outlines how Singzyme is overcoming them through innovation, industry partnerships, and a strong vision. Looking ahead, Abbas discusses the potential for expanding beyond cancer into other areas like autoimmune and infectious diseases, and the roadmap for product development and partnerships. Host: Dillon Chew Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew 01:10 Dr. Sahili’s Background and Academic Journey04:30 Transition from Research to Entrepreneurship07:00 Founding Story of Singzyme10:15 Overview of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs)13:45 What Makes PAL Technology Unique17:30 Challenges in Traditional Bioconjugation Methods21:00 Application of PAL in Radiodiagnostics24:45 Singzyme’s Milestones Since 202128:30 Partnerships and Industry Collaboration32:15 Future Expansion Beyond Oncology36:00 Roadmap for the Next 3–5 Years40:20 Advice for Young Scientists and Aspiring Founders

    36 min
  3. Devising new methods of next-gen genetic testing with Gene Solutions' Dr. Hoa Giang

    APR 29

    Devising new methods of next-gen genetic testing with Gene Solutions' Dr. Hoa Giang

    Dr. Hoa Giang is the Co-founder and Data Science Lead of Gene Solutions. His background boasts a broad range of experience in the global therapeutics industry. His technical background includes computational biology, bioinformatics analysis and understanding genetic interactions and how they affect the cellular functions. This experience and immense knowledge inform his mindful and robust approach to founding Gene Solutions. Hoa’s experience spans the globe having lived, studied and worked in Vietnam and USA. In this episode, Hoa shares his journey of how he moved to the USA to pursue an advanced degree in computational biology. Starting from having an interest in biotech, he also shares how he was able to work with Professor Jun Hyong Kim at the University of Pennsylvania and broaden his expertise to bioinformatics. This knowledge helped him to develop new methods of combining wet lab protocol and dry lab analysis for next generation sequencing (NGS). He goes on to mention that he is very passionate about making new technology available to all and thus brought these new novel methods of NGS back to Vietnam in the form of Gene Solutions. In this episode, Hoa also shares about the groundbreaking work being done at Gene Solutions, including their way of staying ahead of competition while aiming to keep solutions affordable and accessible to the masses. He also briefly talks about Gene Solution’s technology, focusing on their two main pillars of reproductive health and clinical oncology, and how it varies from older tests and their strategies of expansion into various new geographical markets. Lastly, he describes the typical challenges that a company would face when they are first starting up and the importance of good teamwork. Host: Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng 01:30 Hoa's Background and Early Career03:58 Founding of Gene Solutions07:05 Gaps that Gene Solutions Aims to Solve12:03 Differences Between Gene Solutions’ New Methods and Old Methods20:17 Challenges Faced by Gene Solutions in Expansion to New Markets26:32 Importance of Partnerships37:03 Advice for Aspiring Scientists and Entrepreneurs

    40 min
  4. Inspiring the next breakthroughs in cancer therapy with Tikva Allocell's Dr. Ivan Horak

    MAR 28

    Inspiring the next breakthroughs in cancer therapy with Tikva Allocell's Dr. Ivan Horak

    Dr. Ivan Horak is currently the CEO and founder of Tikva Allocell, a biotech company whose mission is to develop safe, effective, readily available and affordable “off-the-shelf” T cell therapies by leveraging excellent safety profile of proprietary technologies that enhance the T cell's performance to treat cancer. In this episode, Ivan shares his journey from having an interest in becoming a medical oncologist. He also shares how his experience in working in some of the top oncology institutes in Central Europe to working in the United States helped shape his early career before moving into Singapore, where he worked with Tessa and finally set out to develop Tikva Allocell. Tikva Allocell is focused on creating therapy using proprietary IP protected platform to drive the next breakthrough in cancer therapy. In this episode, Ivan also shares about the groundbreaking work being done at Tikva, and also the typical challenges that a company would face when they are first starting up. He goes on to talk about making therapies affordable, how to manage scaling up and also the importance of collaboration. He also mentions the intricacies of VCs and also how they function. Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng 01:37 Ivan's Background and Early Career 04:46 Founding of Tikva 11:41 Importance of Collaborations 14:26 Tikva's recent milestones 15:36 VC mindset 20:20 Advice for Aspiring Bioentrepreneurs and Final Thoughts

    23 min
  5. Redirecting Immunity to fight Cancer with VerImmune's Dr. Joshua Wang

    FEB 16

    Redirecting Immunity to fight Cancer with VerImmune's Dr. Joshua Wang

    Dr. Joshua Wang is currently the CEO and founder of VerImmune, a biotech company focused on developing novel virus inspired particle technology platform that can be used as a delivery system to target cancers. In this episode, Josh shares his journey from having an interest in infectious diseases to leading a biotech startup that spans across the US and Singapore. VerImmune specializes in developing Virus-Inspired Particle (VIP) technology for targeting cancers. Josh discusses his academic background, including his PhD work at Johns Hopkins, and how serendipitous events led him from vaccine research to entrepreneurship. He explains the mechanics and advantages of VerImmune's VIP technology, its application in cancer treatment, and its potential for other therapeutic areas. The episode also covers challenges in biotech entrepreneurship, the importance of manufacturing and scalability, and the strategic decisions behind relocating some operations to Singapore. Dr. Wang offers valuable advice for aspiring biotech founders, emphasizing the significance of discernment, persistence, and leveraging global opportunities. Host: Dillon Chew Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng 00:00 Josh's Background and Early Career 05:13 Founding his first Startup 06:27 Challenges in the Vaccine Business 07:46 VerImmune and their VIP Technology 21:24 Collaborations and Global Expansion 29:48 Advice for Aspiring Bioentrepreneurs 32:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    35 min
  6. Strategizing for fundraising success with MissionBridge's Ritika Khetawat

    12/20/2024

    Strategizing for fundraising success with MissionBridge's Ritika Khetawat

    Ritika Khetawat is the founder of MissionBridge, a fundraising advisory firm that empowers Singapore’s biotech and medtech ventures to secure the capital they need. In this episode, Ritika discusses her transition from investment banking at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to supporting healthcare startups through MissionBridge. She shares her insights into the unique challenges of biotech fundraising, emphasizing the need for strategic planning, strong storytelling, and relationship-building with investors. Ritika explains MissionBridge’s mission to “democratize fundraising” by simplifying the process for founders and bridging the gap between early-stage innovation and global funding opportunities. She also highlights the importance of optionality in biotech pipelines and adapting to market dynamics during the “biotech winter.” Host: Dillon ChewEditors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng 01:17 Introduction 09:22 Various Sources of Funding for Startups 22:19 Common Challenges and Mistakes Made During Fundraising 30:00 Selecting a Good VC Partner 36:47 Future of MissionBridge and Emerging Trends in Singapore

    41 min
  7. Innovating new cancer-selective biologics with PairX Bio’s Dr. David M. Epstein

    11/16/2024

    Innovating new cancer-selective biologics with PairX Bio’s Dr. David M. Epstein

    Dr David M. Epstein is the co-founder and president of PairX Bio, a company that specializes in the next generation of cancer selective biologics. In this episode, David shares his experience and journey from working in various biotech companies and big pharma institutions to eventually building his own companies. One of these is Pairx Bio, a company specializing in the next generation of cancer biologics. David stresses the importance of how being able to follow the science and being transparent and open with the discussions on data collected from research projects plays a key role in the success of a company. He also touches on the success of targeted cancer therapies, some of which has led to an increase in lifespan, as well as the limitations in terms of the range of diseases that can be treated with this therapy. He also highlights the future of therapeutics in general, discussing the push in biotherapeutics and immunotherapeutics and expanding the horizon where these new innovative treatments can be effective. Lastly, he touches on the importance of how to handle IP matters and protecting one’s IP. Host: Aakash S/O Naresh KumarEditors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Dillon Chew, Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to the team via singapore@nucleate.org. 01:01 Introduction 05:10 Origins of Pairx Bio and Key Characteristics For a Successful Startup 13:18 Key differences in the process of IP patenting 18:22 Singapore VS USA Biotech Ecosystems 20:51 Future of Singapore’s Biotech Ecosystem

    25 min
  8. Empowering biotech startups with JLABS Singapore’s Dr. Alessandro Falcone

    10/16/2024

    Empowering biotech startups with JLABS Singapore’s Dr. Alessandro Falcone

    Dr. Alessandro Falcone is the Head of JLABS Singapore. In this episode, Alessandro talks about his transition from clinical medicine to business consulting, eventually landing in leadership roles at major pharmaceutical companies. He explains the mission of JLABS Singapore, a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and Singapore’s Economic Development Board, which aims to nurture early-stage biotech and medtech startups. Alessandro highlights JLABS’ shift from a traditional lab incubator to a Universal model, which emphasizes advisory support, mentorship, and global networking opportunities for resident startups. He also discusses Singapore’s biotech ecosystem and shares his insights on building resilient companies amid the "biotech winter" funding challenges. Host: John Joson NgEditors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to the team via singapore@nucleate.org. 01:23 Introduction 05:37 JLABS Singapore: Mission and Role 16:38 Challenges and Successes 18:46 Singapore’s Ecosystem 31:09 Navigating Career Transitions

    37 min
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About

Singapore's premier podcast on the biotech ecosystem. The show notes and transcripts can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. Subscribe and follow us to keep your finger on the pulse of Singapore’s biotech ecosystem. For feedback and suggestions, feel free to reach out to the team at singapore@nucleate.org

Information

  • Creator
    Nucleate Singapore
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nucleate Singapore
  • Show Website
    Nucleate Singapore Pulse