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Raising Biotech

Raising Biotech

Von: Surani Fernando
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 A narrative podcast series hosted by journalist Surani Fernando that goes beyond the headlines to explore how biotech companies are really built — from bold ideas and impressive fundraises to the science that could reshape healthcare. Surani speaks with founders, CEOs, investors, and experts to uncover origin stories, company missions, and the challenges of bringing ambitious discoveries to market. Through thoughtful, independent reporting, Raising Biotech examines what it really takes to turn breakthroughs into lasting impact for patients and the industry. For guest or sponsor pitches, please get in touch with Surani Fernando on LinkedIn or email raisingbiotech@gmail.com.Surani Fernando Wissenschaft Ökonomie
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  • S4, E2: From Medicine to IPOs - Dr Sheila Gujrathi on Raising Biotech Against the Odds

    S4, E2: From Medicine to IPOs - Dr Sheila Gujrathi on Raising Biotech Against the Odds
    Feb 4 2026
    In this episode, we focus on the personal journey of Sheila Gujrathi, a physician turned biotech builder whose career spans medicine, big pharma, rapid IPOs, and billion dollar exits. We explore what it takes to raise biotech across cycles, from early clinical development to public markets, and how Sheila navigated building companies while operating in environments where she was rarely the default. Surani speaks with Sheila about growing up as the child of Indian immigrant physicians, making unconventional career decisions, and learning to balance patients, capital, and leadership under pressure. They discuss her time at Genentech and Bristol Myers Squibb, her role in scaling Receptos through IPO and a $7.2 billion acquisition, the founding and listing of Gossamer Bio, and how those experiences shaped her perspective on leadership and led to her writing The Mirror Effect. 00:00: Introduction 01:45: Growing up as the child of Indian immigrant physicians and early expectations around medicine 04:50: Loss, identity, and the year in India that helped shape a personal North Star going into Medical School 10:30: Leaving clinical medicine and stepping into consulting and industry 15:45: Joining Receptos, building from the ground up, and the road to IPO and acquisition 22:50: Founding Gossamer Bio, raising private capital, and going public in just over a year 30:10: Reflection, writing The Mirror Effect, and building pathways for the next generation For more on Sheila's Book, click here For any comments, questions or feedback you can connect directly with ⁠⁠⁠Surani Fernando⁠⁠⁠ on LinkedIn or email: raisingbiotech@gmail.com Title music composed by: Yrii Semchyshyn (Coma Media)
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    33 Min.
  • S4, E1: From the Archive - Revisiting eGenesis and Xenotransplantation with Pig Organs, Two Years On

    S4, E1: From the Archive - Revisiting eGenesis and Xenotransplantation with Pig Organs, Two Years On
    Jan 7 2026
    In this early-January episode, we slow things down, and reflect... Today’s episode is a replay from the Raising Biotech archive — a conversation originally recorded in November 2023 with eGenesis, a company working at the frontier of xenotransplantation, or transplanting genetically modified animal organs into humans. At the time, xenotransplantation sat somewhere between science fiction and early clinical reality. Advances in gene editing had made once-implausible biology feel suddenly within reach. But major questions around rejection, durability, ethics, and clinical scalability remained. This episode is presented as a time capsule — a chance to revisit what we thought mattered in late 2023, what we knew and didn’t yet know, and how slowly and incrementally frontier biotech stories tend to unfold. Before the replay, Surani shares a short reflection on why it’s worth listening back now. And at the end of the episode, Surani briefly outlines key milestones that have occurred since the original recording, including clinical progress and financing updates. Original recording date: November 2023Intro & postscript recorded: January 2026 For any comments, questions or feedback you can connect directly with ⁠⁠⁠Surani Fernando⁠⁠⁠ on LinkedIn or email: raisingbiotech@gmail.com Title music composed by: Yrii Semchyshyn (Coma Media)
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    37 Min.
  • S3, E6: Veradermics puts hair loss back on the investor agenda with $150 million Series C - with CEO Dr Reid Waldman and InThought's Julie Hoggatt

    S3, E6: Veradermics puts hair loss back on the investor agenda with $150 million Series C - with CEO Dr Reid Waldman and InThought's Julie Hoggatt
    Dec 3 2025
    In this episode, we dive into one of the most universal aesthetic concerns on the planet: pattern hair loss. Despite affecting more than 80 million people in the US and over a billion globally, innovations in treatment have barely moved in decades. Veradermics is aiming to change that with an extended release formulation of oral minoxidil (the same active ingredient in Rogaine), designed to improve efficacy while avoiding the cardiac safety issues that limit current oral off-label use. Surani speaks with Dr Reid Waldman, dermatologist turned biotech founder and CEO of Veradermics, about his unusual path from the clinic to company building. Reid shares the origins of the company, key insights from treating hair loss patients, the scientific and market rationale behind the extended release approach, fundraising milestones, and the company's progress through Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials. Surani also speaks with Julie Hoggatt, Senior Principal at InThought, for an external lens to discuss how dermatologists are viewing the early data and the drug's potential path to an approval, launch and commercial success. Timestamps 00:01 – Introduction: the scale of pattern hair loss, emotional and social impact, and why innovation has stalled 02:30 – Reid’s elevator pitch on Veradermics and the extended release oral minoxidil program 06:30 – Reid’s story: accelerated education, dermatology training, and the clinical insight that sparked the company 09:30 – First funding support and shifting focus toward hair loss 12:30 – Fundraising: Series A to Series B to Series C and how investors evaluated a young founder CEO 15:30 – Why current off-label use of oral minoxidil falls short and the scientific rationale for an optimized extended release version 17:30 – Phase 2 male data: "striking" early hair count signals, patient reported outcomes, and safety observations 20:00 – The blinded retrospective photo analysis shown at EADV and what it suggests about early response 22:45 – Expert analyst Julie Hoggatt from InThought joins: how dermatologists are interpreting the data and what matters heading into Phase 3 26:00 – Female patients and dosing: hypertrichosis, tolerability concerns, and why female data will be important 29:00 – Pricing, access, willingness to pay, and how Veradermics could fit into the aesthetics market 31:00 – Competitive landscape: Pelage, market differentiation, and long-term positioning 34:00 – Veradermics pipeline beyond hair loss and future possibilities of an M&A, IPO or partnerships to grow. For initial press released data and photos, click here For any comments, questions or feedback you can connect directly with ⁠⁠Surani Fernando⁠⁠ on LinkedIn or email: raisingbiotech@gmail.com Title music composed by: Yrii Semchyshyn (Coma Media)
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    37 Min.
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