Beyond The Molecule

What does it mean to truly innovate, not just once but many times over? Dr. Steven Shak may be one of the few people who can help answer this question; from discovering the DNase1 gene, to developing a life-altering treatment for cystic fibrosis, and guiding revolutionary cancer drug Herceptin from concept to clinic, Steve Shak's groundbreaking work has changed the lives of millions across the globe. Now, in his newest venture as Chief Medical Officer at Exact Sciences, his portfolio of precision diagnostic tests have ensured one million cancer patients receive the right treatment at the right time. We discuss his life’s work (so far), his advice for pharma execs, and what next for the scientist.

In a country where health and social care are divided, Dan and Taylor have done the seemingly impossible. Inspired by their fellow veterans’ experiences, they developed Unite US – an platform that connects communities, governments and healthcare systems around the single goal of improving health holistically. In this episode, they reveal how they’re achieving this vision, their journey from military veterans to CEOs, and their advice for start-ups operating in complex healthcare environments.

When her husband battled dementia and lost the ability to communicate, Zoe saw first-hand how the care team’s failure to understand his needs negatively impacted his outcomes. So, she took matters into her own hands. She developed a tool to personalise his care and now her solution – MyCareMatters – is used by care staff and hospitals across the UK.

Jacob Glanville is fascinated by the intersection of technology and medicine. Fuelled by his experiences growing up in war-torn Guatemala, he wondered how he could use technology to create a post-pathogen world. Now, as CEO of Distributed Bio, he’s achieving that vision. In this episode, he explains the story behind his innovative universal vaccine tech, why he chose to leave a top job at a prestigious pharmaceutical company, and how he got to where he is today.

How do you succeed in an industry where 90% of products fail?

In this new series by Fishawack Health, we talk to pioneers defying the odds and developing healthcare innovations that are changing the world. But we don’t just cover their successes. We dive into their failures, lessons learned, and map the moments that defined them.

Beyond The Molecule launches on Tuesday the 16th of June.