In this episode of The Healthcare Theory, we sit down with David Longo, co-founder and CEO of Ordaōs Bio: a biotech startup that’s raised over $25m to explore AI-driven mini-protein drug design and revolutionize our treatment of disease.
David shares his unconventional journey from computational mathematics to biotech entrepreneurship, and how Ordaos is using AI to design mini-proteins that accelerate the drug development process. We delve into the inefficiencies of traditional drug discovery, the shift toward drug design, and how AI is reducing the time it takes to bring life-saving therapies to patients. David also shares insights on overcoming skepticism in the pharma industry and the exciting future of AI in healthcare. Tune in to learn how Ordaos Bio is changing the game in biotech through innovation and first-principles thinking.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction to The Healthcare Theory
0:40 – David Longo’s background: From computational math to biotech entrepreneurship
1:28 – From music to biotech: David’s unique career journey
2:50 – AI and drug discovery: Redefining the process as “drug design”
4:33 – The inefficiencies of traditional drug discovery: Random mutations vs. AI-driven design
6:08 – How Ordaos uses AI to design mini-proteins for faster drug development
9:20 – The benefits of smaller, more stable proteins in drug design
10:57 – The role of AI in reducing time-to-market for drug leads
12:45 – Overcoming industry skepticism and gaining traction in pharma
15:06 – Future goals: 10 drugs to patients in 10 years
18:45 – Advice for entrepreneurs: Persistence, first principles thinking, and breaking into biotech