Naji Gehchan: Hello, leaders of the world. Welcome to “Spread Love in Organizations”, a podcast for purpose-driven healthcare leaders, striving to make life better around the world by leading their teams with genuine care, servant leadership, and love.
I am Naji, your host for this special episode in partnership with Boston Biotechnology Summit, a bridge to collaboration and innovative synergies between healthcare stakeholders. I am joined today by Jonathan Levy CEO of Pepkon. Jonathan is a Pharmacist from University of Paris with a masters in management from ESSEC Business school. He has worked in various environment of the healthcare sector in France from pharmacy to hospital, and also in big pharma and startups. His last role before joining Pepkon was within Truffle Capital a French VC; where he participated in several investments in biotech and also company creations, m&a and licensing deals. Two years ago Jonathan joined PepKon, a startup developing first in class therapeutic peptides in oncology, first as a COO, and now leading the company as its CEO.
Jonathan Levy: Thank you, Naji. I’m very happy to be here with you.
Naji Gehchan: Well, first, congratulations again on winning the first prize of the Boston Biotech Summit in 2024. Before we go there and what you do at Pepcon, I’m really interested and eager to hear more about your personal story, what brought you to pharma, healthcare, and now becoming a CEO in a biotech.
Jonathan Levy: Thank you. Okay. So, yes, so when I was young, I was, I was very interested in science, uh, medicine, and I think it’s, so helping others.
Uh, I really was looking up to my, uh, family members, like my grandfather and my aunt who had that DNA of being a doctor, you know, and helping others. And uh, and in the same time, I was very interested in the business aspect, leading companies and wanting to have a positive impact with my hands on, uh, you know, always daring to be in very challenging situations.
Uh, because that’s, I feel that’s where you learn the most. And so I have the example of my, uh, I mean, several entrepreneurs around me, like my father was CEO of a big company. So for me, being an entrepreneur in the biotech field is really a perfect mix of my aspiration in medical and business field.
Naji Gehchan: Thanks for sharing that. Can you tell us, uh, that now that you’re doing it, I love how you’re framing it between science and leading organization and the biotech feels like the best of both were to. Can you share with us what have you learned so far as a leader and as a, as an individual who has built this company from early on?
Jonathan Levy: First, I’d like to say that I didn’t create the company, I, I joined it a few months after it was created. And, uh, I think the first thing I’ve learned is, uh, I mean, I don’t know if that’s something you learned, but it’s humility because I’ve joined a project that was, uh, Uh, I’ve had a very, like a breakthrough science with a few amazing people.
And I, I had to like recruit some, uh, other, uh, great skilled people, you know? So the first thing for me was big, humble, uh, listening, learning. And then after a period, I. And I started to really, uh, take the leadership, uh, be the strategic vision, uh, take people with me, you know, and, uh, of course take the decisions.
So that’s why I, uh, I became a CEO of the company and, um, and I think it was an amazing experience for me to, to, to become a leader as a very young age because I learned, uh, a lot and very fast.
Naji Gehchan: So as you’re going through the journey, you know, I always said like science humbles us. I love that you started with this. Like there’s the humidity that you’re building, I imagine by building the team, as you said, but also with the science you’re, um, you’re starting, you have great science so far preclinically.
Can you tell us a little bit more about what you do and what you’re trying to solve at Pepcon? Sure.
Jonathan Levy: So at Pepcon, uh, we develop therapeutic peptides, which come from Uh, the academic research of, uh, the lab of Professor Philippe Caroyan, so it’s French academic research. And we developed first in class therapeutic peptide.
What’s very unique is we’re exploring a new, uh, cell based pathway, which targets CD47 in a very selective way, which means that it’s killing cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. It’s very different from what’s currently in development. And we, and the lead product we have demonstrated efficacy on several indications, including solid tumors.
Uh, several kind of leukemia also, even refractory patients. Uh, so we’re now conducting preclinical studies on animals and our goal is to start a first in human clinical trial, uh, end of next year. For that, we need a first to raise a Series A. And as of now, we’ve, uh, been lucky enough to raise 5 million euros, including several grants from a BPI in France, which is a look.
Naji Gehchan: Well, it’s also a testament of your work, you know, and I wouldn’t just frame it as like, even if you’re doing it. Um, so as you look through, you’re saying, but actually going through series A, building a phase, uh, phase one with multiple indication in oncology. Uh, as a CEO today of the organization, what is your biggest challenge and what is your biggest opportunity you see for the next, uh, month?
Jonathan Levy: So I think every biotech has the same challenge. It’s a race against time with limited resources and really like daily ups and downs. So I think one of the main challenges is raising money. And it’s also raising money and differentiate yourself on the scientific aspect. in a very competitive and international environment.
And I think it’s in, in, uh, oncology, it’s very, uh, I mean, oncology is really a very competitive field. You really have to demonstrate the differentiation and you need to convince not only the doctors, but also the investors, the pharma company, and, uh, uh, you have to fit with the strategy, you know, the pharma companies and also take.
In consideration, uh, the, the real data you have. So it’s really a mixed of, uh, of, uh, uh, the data, the pharma, uh, need the business investors. And, uh, of course, and what’s most, most important is, uh, the patient because it’s, it was started with patients at the end. The, the common goal is, uh, bringing patients, uh, safer and more effective treatment.
And that’s really the, uh, the, the goal of, uh, of PEPCON, and, uh, I would say another challenge. I think it’s a common, uh, common one for CEO, it’s recruiting the best team, the best skilled people. Of course, uh, you bring to the team people who are way smarter than you with skills that you don’t have yourself.
And the job of the CEO is to bring out the best of each of us, of each of the team member, uh, motivate them, inspire them to, to, to be with you in this, uh, in this journey. And then, uh, take the best decisions for the, for the company. So, uh, yeah, in the end, I’m very, I mean, I’d say it’s because you asked for the challenge, but there’s the opportunity to, I say the opportunity is that I’m just lucky to be part of the, this project, which is fascinating.
I’m learning every day with people who are, uh, way smarter and experienced than me, and, uh, I think the opportunity that they motivated every day. By this goal, which is, um, really a noble cause, which is, which I feel is bigger than, uh, than this. And
Naji Gehchan: this is, this is crucial as you’re saying, it’s the core of what we do in this industry, uh, trying to bring new hope, new medicines for several people who are in need, uh, for, for better treatments.
Uh, you, you did a great segue to my next question about team. So as you’ve been building your team, growing your team. within the startup. How do you think about it as you scale up your company and move from a stage to another? Um,
Jonathan Levy: so first, as I told you, the main thing is, uh, is to bring to the team, people who are very skilled, but it’s also bring people who have the same motivation and values. So, so we share the common goal, you know, of, of treating patients. And, uh, uh, we also look at personality and soft skill because we really need the team to be, uh, working together well in order to, to advance the project.
So yeah.
Naji Gehchan: Perfect combination of skills. And as you’re saying, uh, focusing on having the shared purpose, you said, and the shared values with your organization. Is it when you think about it, I know for the Boston summit, you came to Boston, where you won the prize. Is there like. Top line differences that you felt between the ecosystem that you have in France and in Europe compared to the one you saw in Boston?
Jonathan Levy: Uh, yeah, of course, Boston is really like when you go there, you arrive there, you feel that there is a huge ecosystem in a very small place with all the investor or the pharma startups and all the best hospitals. So I think the combination of All these very, uh, smart people in the healthcare sector is really, uh, a great opportunity to move the projects, maybe, uh, faster and, uh, and, uh, but I would say that in France, so we have a great ecosystem, which is, uh, growing up, um, more and more.
And we also have. Uh, great, uh, financing opportunities in terms of non divertive opportunities. So, um, uh, I’d say that, uh, the Boston ecosystem will be a great next step for us. And that today we, we are, uh, well established in the French ecosystem and that we have many great opportunities here in France.
Naji Gehchan: No, for sure. But I’m biased. I’m French too. But it’s, I think the science has no limits, has no frontiers, and you guys have great science and great teams working on this science to bring it to people. So wishing you all the best in this journey. I’m going to move now to a section where I will give you a word and I would love your reaction to it.
So the first one is leadership.
Jonathan Levy: As I said before, first is being humble, listening to people in the team, and then, uh, providing really a strategic direction that motivate them to, uh, give the best, follow you and, um, and, uh, you really also have to take the decision for the team in the end. It’s even if people give you a lot of advices, a lot of information, it’s you who have to handle the decision.
and give the example and the vision. Yeah. Second one is innovation.
Uh, I say innovation in, in healthcare is, uh, not some thing. It’s like not only something new. It’s, uh, it’s not only an invention it’s, Something that is new, but that also will have, uh, will be useful for patients that will make their life better. And that’s what we, of course, all work for. Um, I’d say that, uh, we’re lucky to have very smart people in the lab.
Very smart scientists with amazing, uh, inventions and, uh, to make them innovation, you need to take them out of the lab and bring them to, to patient. And, uh, that’s, uh, that’s the job. That’s the job of a company.
The third one is VC VC. You like venture capital. Yeah. Um, venture capital is, uh, necessary because you can’t Advance a project in biotech with without money. Uh, not easy to convince because they are very smart and they have smart analyst. Uh, but I guess they have the same goal on us to bring, uh, uh, value, to create value, but also to bring, uh, an innovations to patients.
Naji Gehchan: The last one is spread glove in organizations.
Jonathan Levy: Um, I’d say so spread love for me is to grow, uh, to help people around you grow as well. So to share your experience to help people help them be happy and they, um, achieve their personal goals and ambitions. Um But with the aim, like the common aim to, to reach a shared goal, which is, as I said before, bigger than every individual.
And that we can, we can only achieve by working together as a team, with the team, but also with partners, voters, investors, and of course patients. Uh, we, I mean, yeah,
Naji Gehchan: that’s it. Any final word of wisdom gen for healthcare leaders around the world?
Jonathan Levy: I don’t know if I , I have wisdom to share, but I taste that. I, I’d say that in, uh, in, in oncology, uh, but also in other, uh, disease. We all have friend or are relative who are sick, who have cancer. So our common goal is, uh, to help them, uh, to bring, uh, something new for, to, to increase the life of patients. I think it’s, uh, for us, it’s more than a job.
It’s, uh, it’s a patient, it’s, it’s a mission. And, uh, I guess together we, we’re going to, to, I mean, we aim to, to enhance, to advance science, but also advance, uh, uh, health care. And, uh, regarding that. Very often, you know, we have some, uh, um, started competition and I never look at my, uh, I mean, colleagues as competitors.
Really. I think there is, uh, uh, there is a need for everyone to, to bring its science and there, and there is not only one company that we reach. reach the goal, it will, uh, will need everyone.
Naji Gehchan: This is a great way to wrap up this great conversation. I love how you said it: It’s more than a job.
It’s a mission. And it’s so true. We, all of us, Share this mission to hopefully be able to bring more life To patients and more years to their life too. So thank you so much Jonathan for being with me today.
Naji Gehchan: Thank you all for listening to SpreadLove in Organizations podcast. Drop us a review on your preferred podcast platform
Follow us on LinkedIn and connect with us on spreadloveio.com. We’re eager to hear your thoughts and feedback. Most importantly, spread love in your organizations and spread the word around you to inspire others and amplify this movement, our world so desperately needs