February 19, 2025

Episode 281: Drug Development Done Right with Jo Varshney, Founder and CEO of VeriSIM Life; San Francisco, CA, USA

34 minutes

We know this has happened to you. You go to pick up a prescription and are floored by the price. Or even worse, you have had a loved one diagnosed with a rare disease only to find limited treatment options.

The pharmaceutical industry needs drastic change, and Dr. Jo Varshney is all in on making that happen. As Founder and CEO, VeriSIM Life, Jo leads a team of world-class scientists, machine learning engineers, and in silico simulation experts bringing clarity to drug development through computational sciences rather than the existing trial-and-error experimentation approach. However, intelligence and knowledge aside, Jo is a business leader on a mission and one of the most enjoyable founders I have had the pleasure of speaking with to date.

If you listen to this episode you will hear us touch on:

VeriSIM Life's Mission: The company uses "hybrid AI" to create simulations of human and animal biology to speed up drug development, producing a "translational index" that predicts clinical risks and mitigates them, akin to a credit score for drugs.

Team Dynamics: Jo emphasizes the importance of having a dedicated, collaborative, and ambitious team at VeriSIM Life. She explains finding the unique formula for building their culture and that she values employees who have a "chip on their shoulder" and want to prove themselves and drive the mission while avoiding "genius jerks" who lack humility and empathy.

AI and Biology: Jo discusses the hype surrounding AI and the need for realistic expectations. VeriSIM Life focuses on appreciating the complexity of biology and combining AI with mathematical and knowledge systems to improve accuracy and reduce biases. She shares how they identified a new drug for pulmonary hypertension and how with VeriSIM’s tools they greatly reduced costs and timelines.

Advice to New Founders: Jo differentiates between "missionary" and "mercenary" founders, advising them to stay passionate but separate themselves from the stories of rejection and challenges.

Continuous Learning: Jo recommends the book "Courage to be Disliked," which resonated with her deeply, reflecting her belief in the importance of being true to oneself and not being deterred by others' opinions.

About the guest:

Dr. Jo Varshney was born to a pharmacological pedigree in India. Being introduced to the world of drug development and research at a young age, and an ethic of competitive achievement, she developed a passion and understanding for science and technology much earlier than most.

Today, Varshney is the Founder and CEO of VeriSIM Life, and the inventor of VeriSIM Life’s BIOiSIM core technology. A virtual drug development engine that harnesses the power of traditional statistical modeling along with artificial intelligence and machine learning, BIOiSIM enables pharma and biotech professionals to bring more lifesaving and cost-efficient therapies to patients faster than ever before.

Over the past several years, Dr. Varshney has front-led numerous collaborative engagements with a host of pharmaceutical clients, government agencies, academic/medical institutes and industry innovators. She is a dynamic and celebrated leader and has received numerous accolades as well as delivered keynotes at several conferences.

Connect with Jo:

Website: www.verisimlife.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyotika-jo-varshney/

Connect with Allison:

Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

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By Allison Summers

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