In this episode of Life Science Success, my guest is Dr. Jim Woody, CEO of 180 Life Sciences.Dr. Woody leads a pioneering team of scientific innovators at 180 Life Sciences, a clinical stage biotechnology company with three families of novel biologic drugs that address separate areas of inflammation, fibrosis and pain.
-
Background and Career: Dr. Jim Woody is a pediatric immunologist with a diverse career, including military service and venture capital experience. He was instrumental in the development of anti-TNF drugs, a class of biologics with a market value of about $40 billion per year.
-
Focus on Patient-Centricity: Dr. Woody emphasizes the importance of patient benefit in drug development. He served on the board of Stanford Children's Hospital and aims to develop therapies that significantly improve patients' lives.
-
Current Work at 180 Life Sciences: The company is focused on finding new indications for anti-TNF drugs. They are working on conditions like Dupuytren's contracture, frozen shoulder, and post-operative dementia, aiming to prevent disability and improve quality of life.
-
Challenges and Future Plans: Regulatory hurdles and clinical trials are the next steps for 180 Life Sciences. Dr. Woody estimates that drug approvals could take a couple of years, depending on feedback from agencies like the FDA.
-
Personal Insights: Dr. Woody advises aspiring professionals to seize new opportunities and emphasizes the role of luck in biotechnology. He is excited about the next generation of anti-inflammatory agents that could offer more targeted treatments.