"Not leaving an enterprise sooner when advice was no longer heard—eventually, I left."
In this conversation, I talked with Michael Lahn, Chief Medical Officer of Ionctura, a clinical-stage biotech focusing on therapies for neglected and hard-to-treat cancers,
where he shared his insights on drug development, leadership, and the importance of listening in building a successful team culture. He talked about his journey in the biotech industry, discussing the highs and lows of drug development, the lessons learned from his experiences with Osimertinib, and the common mistakes companies make. Michael emphasizes the significance of curiosity, collaboration, and a strong team dynamic in achieving success in the field of oncology.
Here's what you're in:
- How did Michael get into drug development and what were some of the drivers that still push him today?
- What were some of the highest or proudest moments of his career?
- What are the key traits for success according to Michael?
- How did his experiences influence his approach to decision-making?
- What mistakes do you think companies are still making today?
- What are the most important things for a culture and for a leader?
- What is iOnctura and what is its mission?
- What is the key to building a successful team?
- What does he want people to know about iOnctura?
Timestamps:
01:25 Michael's Journey into Drug Development
03:28 Highest and Lowest Moments in Michael’s Career
05:50 Lessons from Osimertinib Development
07:50 Mistakes Companies Are Still Making Today
10:26 The Importance of Listening in Leadership
13:02 Ionctura's Mission and Achievements
22:51 Recruitment and Working with Recruiters
29:37 Final Reflections and Gratitude
About Michael
- Michael Lahn, the current Chief Medical Officer of iOnctura, a clinical-stage biotech focusing on therapies for neglected and hard-to-treat cancers.
- Michael completed training in Hematology-Oncology at the University of Freiburg in Germany and served as an Instructor in Immunology at the National Jewish Department of Immunology.
- He spent 14 years at Eli Lilly, became part of AstraZeneca's Osi-mertinib registration team, and later joined Incyte as the Head of the Geneva Office.
Connect with Michael
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-l-4a06519/
About iOnctura
- iOnctura is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing innovative therapies for neglected and hard-to-treat cancers.
- The company specializes in oral small-molecule therapies that aim to maximize anti-tumor efficacy while prioritizing patient safety.
- The company's research is particularly focused on the PI3K signaling pathway, which is one of the most commonly dysregulated pathways in cancer.
Company Website: https://www.ionctura.com/
Pipeline: https://www.ionctura.com/our-pipeline/
About me
My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.
In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
Website: https://www.discera-search.com/
