Innovators like Elon Musk and MIT Prof. Robert Langer do it no matter what

Many others might not be as visible and known, but their journey to impact and success has been extremely challenging. Yet, they proceeded anyway. Innovation fuels people's curiosity but can also scare people away, with some resorting to skepticism as a protective mechanism. Here is the story of a brilliant and tenacious scientist who did not give up and, nearly three decades later, changed medicine.

The beginning…nobody believes in your idea

The early 1990s saw our scientist, a European, tenacious researcher, joining a major U.S. university. Armed with a promising but widely disregarded technology, she faced the towering wall of scientific skepticism. The prevailing wisdom favored DNA-based therapies, viewing mRNA as too fragile and inflammatory for practical use. She believed that a couple of modifications could have turned a molecule known since 1961 (mRNA) into one of the most promising therapeutic tool of our century.

Securing funding was like navigating a ship through a storm. Grant applications came back denied, one after another, reflecting the broader scientific community's doubt about her research's viability. Without the security of a tenured position, every rejection was a stark reminder of her precarious situation. Yet, she pressed on, driven by a conviction as unyielding as Elon Musk’s determination to colonize Mars or Robert Langer’s resolve to develop controlled drug delivery systems despite initial disbelief from the medical community. Yet, where others saw insurmountable limitations, she saw boundless potential. Only another research from the same University shared the same belief. He is an expert in immunology. They start talking at a photocopying machine while they were waiting for one another to finish and they started talking, then working together. But the research community would consider their research a waste of time. They even felt sorry for them.

A fateful turning point which changed the world

The turning point in her odyssey came from across the Atlantic, where the founders of a small biotech startup recognized the revolutionary potential of her work. They saw what she had always known—that mRNA could be the key to rapid vaccine development and much more. There, she was no longer a lone voice in the wilderness, but a key player in a vibrant team poised to change the world. The collaboration initially focused on cancer vaccines, perfecting the mRNA platform that would soon prove crucial when a global pandemic demanded a swift and effective response. As the world grappled with COVID-19, her work provided the foundation for one of the first vaccines to be approved, drawing a line in the sand in the fight against the virus

From Obscurity to Global Impact

As the vaccine rolled out globally, saving millions of lives, the value of her early, unrelenting work became indisputable. This story—of persistence, vision, and revolutionary impact—is the story of Dr. Katalin Karikó. Her journey from a marginalized outsider to a pioneer of mRNA vaccine technology underscores the transformative power of unwavering belief in one’s ideas and the courage to see them through, even when the world hesitates to believe. The biotech company that believed in the potential of her work is BioNTech, and her colleague was Dr. Drew Weissman. Dr. Karikó and Dr. Weissman made pioneering discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines against COVID-19. Dr. Kariko’ and Dr. Drew won the Nobel Prize Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines against COVID-19.

Beyond RNA Therapeutics

The skepticism faced by researchers like Dr. Karikó, Dr. Drew, and Prof. Robert Langer is quite common among biotech founders and innovators. There is a fine line between what may be dismissed as ‘me-too’ technology and what is so disruptive that it makes people question its viability.

Last month, as part of our 'Cell and Gene Therapy Quick Guide for Executives and Investors' project, I interviewed several experts in the field. One of them was Greg Russotti , CTO of Century Therapeutics, Inc , one of the leading and most innovative cell therapy companies. I asked him: 'What has changed in the past 10 years in the cell therapy space?'. Gregory responded:

“I think the world changed when Carl June published those first three patients’ worth of data because, before that, I think everyone just thought cell therapy was a promising idea that may never work. And then all of a sudden you have transformational data. I think what has really changed the most in the last 10 years is that cell therapy became a lifesaving therapy”.

During our chat, he also shares that innovative thinking is also necessary when it comes to developing manufacturing and quality processes for these products.

If we apply the same playbook which we’ve used for biologics, it won’t work.

Century Therapeutics, Inc is an innovative biotechnology company focused on the use of induced pluripotent stem cells for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Apart from enabling lower manufacturing costs of their products, using iPSCs will enable multiple edits of their T cells and NK cells so that solid tumors can be attacked from multiple fronts.

Words of encouragement to innovators also come from Sadik Kassim , Chief Technology Officer at Genomic Medicine, Danaher Corporation . His grandfather, who died before he was born, had a type of leukemia that is now very treatable with current CAR-T cell therapies. Kassime reflects:

'CAR-T projects, like many other innovative endeavors, often face skepticism. However, within that skepticism, there are always tremendous opportunities. Thanks to the persistence of innovators, today we have very powerful new therapies that save lives.

In a video interview, he spoke with Prof. Carl June, a pioneer in CAR-T cell therapy, who noted that he began his medical training when leukemia was almost always a death sentence. Now, several cell therapy treatments are available that can save lives. Prof. June, who collaborates with Dr. Weissman, believes in the potential of these cell therapies to extend beyond oncology, including applications in autoimmune diseases, heart disease, and even some forms of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Resilience is key

Nobody likes to be told 'NO,' but for scientists, biotech founders, and innovators alike, it's a familiar refrain. Instead of viewing these rejections as insurmountable roadblocks, see them as stepping stones to refine your strategies, enhance your pitches, and strengthen your products and teams. Each 'NO' is an invitation to persevere, adapt, and improve.

Resilience is not about ignoring feedback but about continuously asking yourself: Can I improve my approach? Should I seek new perspectives? Is there a better method? It's this relentless pursuit of improvement that propels innovation forward.

Your belief in your ideas and your enthusiasm should remain unshaken, regardless of the setbacks you encounter. Every 'NO' you hear is a step closer to the 'YES' that could change everything.

Remember, the journey from scientist to bio-founder is challenging for everyone, but you don't have to navigate it alone. If you ever feel stuck or demotivated, please reach out. I am a good listener 😊

Meanwhile, Keep pushing boundaries, stay resilient, and never lose sight of your vision.

#founders #resilience #biotech #support

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Andrea Stephany Diaz Adrian Rubstein Mikel Mangold Christiaan Engstrom Kathryn E. Strachan Allison Rhines