The Biotech Startups Podcast

🧬 Dr. Kate Yen: Scaling a Biotech, Running Lean, & Utilizing Translational Biology (Part 2)


Listen Later

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.
As a TBSP listener, you get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners.
“I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur, but when I couldn’t find a company doing what I believed in, I built my own.”
In part two of our conversation with Kate Yen, Founder and CEO of Auron Therapeutics, we explore her journey from leading a novel cancer therapy program at Agios to founding her own biotech company. 
Kate shares insights into drug development, clinical trials, and the business of biotech, highlighting the importance of translational biology, strategic partnerships, and lean operations in building a successful biotech startup. 
Kate earned her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from UCLA, where she also completed her postdoc. Before Auron, she held roles at Merck and as a UCLA professor before joining Agios Pharmaceuticals, where she led the IDH translational research team behind two FDA-approved IDH mutant inhibitors and co-led the discovery of vorasidenib, a promising glioma therapy now in clinical development.
Key topics covered:
  • Navigating clinical trials from discovery to FDA approval with a biomarker-driven approach
  • The importance of translational biology and how Auron integrates it from day one
  • Building a lean biotech startup, from early fundraising to assembling a high-impact team
  • Securing big pharma partnerships in a challenging biotech market
  • Leveraging AI and machine learning to map cancer biology and identify new drug targets

If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.
Subscribe to the podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 
Find our guest, Kate Yen, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-yen-448b22108/Website: https://www.aurontx.com/
Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about ExcedrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Resources & articles mentioned:The Role of Translational Biology in Drug Development: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359644612004060Navigating Clinical Trials: https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-drug-and-device-approvals/drug-development-processBuilding & Running a Lean Biotech Startup: https://www.lablaunch.org/post/building-a-lean-biotech-startupBiotech Startup Fundraising Options: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsBiotech Partnerships - How Partnerships Support R&D: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchHow to Bootstrap Your Biotech Startup & Scale: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startupHow to Choose the Right CRO for Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/contract-research-organizationsHow Much Does Lab Space Cost? https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-much-does-lab-space-costTop VC Firms for Biotech in 2024 - Supporting Innovation & Growth: https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotech50 Biotech Seed & Angel Investors to Check Out in 2025: https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotech-seed-and-angel-investors
Companies & people mentioned:Auron Therapeutics: https://www.aurontx.com/Merck: https://www.merck.com/Agios Pharmaceuticals: https://www.agios.com/UCLA: https://www.ucla.edu/Princeton University: https://www.princeton.edu/Charles Sawyers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_SawyersLew Cantley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_C._CantleyDavid Schenkein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schenkein-md-45342476/Mike Carey: https://www.uclahealth.org/cancer/members/michael-careyRuben Shaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reuben-shaw-1b8611109/
Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:10 Kate Yen’s transition into leadership at Agios05:39 Navigating clinical trials and biomarker-driven decision-making10:29 The importance of translational biology in drug development14:19 Taking the leap to start Auron Therapeutics18:36 Raising early funding and building a lean biotech startup26:41 Leveraging AI and machine learning in cancer drug discovery30:58 Running a biotech startup with a sustainable and transparent culture41:07 Fundraising strategies to expanding Auron’s platform beyond oncology47:08 Closing questions for Kate49:35 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Biotech Startups PodcastBy Excedr

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

22 ratings


More shows like The Biotech Startups Podcast

View all
WSJ Your Money Briefing by The Wall Street Journal

WSJ Your Money Briefing

1,715 Listeners

Marketplace by Marketplace

Marketplace

8,637 Listeners

Bloomberg Intelligence by Bloomberg

Bloomberg Intelligence

405 Listeners

Odd Lots by Bloomberg

Odd Lots

1,865 Listeners

Founders by David Senra

Founders

1,943 Listeners

Bold Names by The Wall Street Journal

Bold Names

1,446 Listeners

The Readout Loud by STAT

The Readout Loud

316 Listeners

The Journal. by The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

The Journal.

5,950 Listeners

Biotech 2050 Podcast by Biotech 2050

Biotech 2050 Podcast

61 Listeners

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway by Vox Media Podcast Network

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

5,418 Listeners

Business Of Biotech by Ben Comer

Business Of Biotech

87 Listeners

BioCentury This Week by BioCentury

BioCentury This Week

30 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

28,578 Listeners

Biotech Hangout by Daphne Zohar, Josh Schimmer, Brad Loncar, Tim Opler & more

Biotech Hangout

18 Listeners

Ground Truths by Eric Topol

Ground Truths

49 Listeners