Seagen Inc.

Today, we're delighted to be joined by Sam Blackman, who's a physician, scientist, oncologist, and biotech entrepreneur who spent his career at the intersection of drug development and company building.

Sam began his career as a pediatric oncologist before moving into industry, holding senior roles at companies like Merck, GSK, Seattle Genetics.

Juno Therapeutics and Silverback Therapeutics.

Sam went on to co-found Day One Biopharmaceuticals, where he served as chief medical officer and head of R&D, helping build the company out from its early stages through to an FDA approval.

And more importantly, a universe of colleagues that I would have never, ever, ever had occasion to interact with had I stayed in the laboratory and were just stayed in the clinic.

Yeah, amazing.

And so before founding Day One, you spent time at some of the companies I mentioned, but Merck, GSK, Seattle Genetics, Juno and Silverback.

Looking back, what lessons from each of those companies ultimately shaped the founder that you became at Day One?

And I just don't always understand all of it, but I understand most of it.

So this lady heard me talking about Ilovance to my wife, and she goes, "Do you know about Ilovance?" I go, "Yeah, I know a lot about it." I go, "Who are you?" She goes, "Well, I'm an executive at Pfizer." I go, "Oh, well, you sure blew that Seagen deal.

You've spent 43 billion on a pound of sand."

[laughs] Yeah.

He raises up, his eyes get huge.

It must have been her husband or something.

I go, "Oh, I get he works for Pfizer too." She goes, "Oh yeah, right at the top." And I said, "All I'm gonna say to you is you blew the Seagen.

Ilovance is gonna destroy you, and if you don't buy 'em, you will be finished." And so if you listen to, um, the minutes, I don't know, what is it, two or three quarters ago, where one of them said that Pfizer was our best partner, I don't buy it.

Artificial intelligence has become a core part of biopharma operations, helping companies accelerate drug development and reduce costs.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said AI is supporting the integration of Seagen, acquired for forty-three billion dollars in 2023, while transforming research and development.

Pfizer aims to build an AI native R&D organization in which insights continuously guide the next decision.

AstraZeneca executive Pam Cheng said AI is improving efficiency, shortening development timelines, automating manufacturing, and supporting more precise care.