Ep10 - The Black Box of Drug Discovery with David White

In Episode 10 of *Inside Pharma Leadership*, I sit down with David White to explore the journey from scientific discovery to real-world patient impact. From drug development and commercialization to venture capital and biotech innovation, this episode dives into the business and science behind bringing life-changing therapies to market. **Meet the Guest** David White is a biopharma executive with more than 20 years of experience in drug discovery, strategic partnerships, and platform development. As SVP of Drug Discovery at ProteinQure, David has helped bridge the gap between cutting-edge science and commercially viable therapies across biotech, pharma, and venture-backed organizations. **Key Takeaways** - Value creation and resource management in biopharma - Decision-making based on unmet medical needs and landscape analysis - The black box of early drug discovery and its excitement - Transition from early discovery to commercialization with Target Product Profiles - Drug repurposing and repositioning strategies - Remote work and technology in drug discovery - Challenges of raising capital in biotech - Building a strong scientific advisory board for investment - Balancing scientific innovation with business strategy - Time as a critical resource in drug development **Chapters** - 00:00 Introduction to Biopharma Leadership - 01:13 The Journey of a Biopharma Leader - 02:22 Value Creation in Drug Development - 04:05 The Shift in Drug Discovery Dynamics - 06:16 The Excitement of Early Drug Development - 08:34 Transitioning from Discovery to Commercialization - 12:15 The Process of Drug Repurposing - 17:54 Business Aspects of Drug Development - 21:24 Challenges in Raising Capital - 26:14 Navigating Capital and Time Constraints - 27:59 Closing Thoughts on Drug Discovery **Connect with David White** - **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-white-pharmaceuticals-biopharmaceuticals/ - **Email:** [david@proteinqure.com](mailto:david@proteinqure.com) **Connect with Keith Willis & Inside Pharma Leadership** - **Instagram:** @coachtoachieve - **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithawillis/ - **Email:** [kwillis@coremanagementtraining.com](mailto:kwillis@coremanagementtraining.com) - **Apple Podcast:** https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-pharma-leadership/id1882373713