Dr Jonathan Nambiar’s career path has weaved from drug development research to pharma business development, back to the lab and on to corporate leadership. But his roles have consistently centred around the successful translation of drug research in the name of improving human health, through his own research and by bolstering the work of others. Along the way he’s discovered the importance of a solid network and learning from the successes and pitfalls of industry leaders, offered to him through experiences like the Bridge Program.
From researcher to analyst
Jonathan’s PhD focused on infectious diseases and immunology, which led to postdoctoral research and development work in antibody therapeutics at Cephalon (acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals). He designed cell-based assays to screen and characterise promising drug candidates, while studying an MBA.
With his MBA in hand, Jonathan made the jump to finance as an equities research analyst at Magellan, an Australian fund manager. He made investment recommendations on publicly-listed biopharmaceutical companies. “This position gave me a real-world opportunity to help fund managers understand the business of biotech and how biopharmaceutical companies run,” he said.
It was at this time that Jonathan joined the Bridge Program. The course content affirmed his fundamental knowledge of the research commercialisation process, and the seminar series offered relevant insights from industry leaders. “The program was particularly insightful, because I happened to be researching some of the companies featured in the program as part of my work,” he said.
“I heard a lot of inspirational talks. Roy Baynes, Chief Medical Officer at Merck, really stood out. He gave a great talk about the challenges in drug development, especially in clinical development.
“Through the Bridge program, you get to meet really seasoned, intelligent industry folk that you might not normally get to meet. That helped shape my interest in the field of drug development,” Jonathan added.
From business development to corporate leader
Following the Bridge Program, Jonathan joined Bio-Link Australia – a firm that assists biotech companies with business development and project management. Here he put his insights and finance experience to use by helping his clients grow and scale.
He then took an opportunity to oversee business operations as Director of Operations at Channel Bio, an AbCellera company, which is working to unlock high-value drug target classes that have traditionally been out of reach.
“Channel Bio has developed specialised technologies to overcome hurdles in discovering antibody treatments against complex membrane proteins. We are particularly focused on two types of membrane proteins, called GPCRs (G-protein coupled receptors) and ion channels.”
GPCRs are involved in a wide range of conditions, including cancer, pain, and inflammation. Jonathan explains that there are hundreds of these targets for which no drugs have been developed.
“Antibody treatments could be the next wave of GPCR and ion channel drugs. They have many advantages over the current small molecule drugs that are used, including fewer side-effects because of their high precision,” he said.
But he says that it’s extraordinarily difficult to develop antibody treatments against these targets. With hundreds of companies working to develop them, only two antibody therapies for GPCRs have been approved.
“New drugs against GPCRs and ion channels have the potential to help millions of people. Channel Bio is unlocking these targets for antibody drug discovery,” he said.
A scientist at heart
Reflecting on his career trajectory and his Bridge Program experience, Jonathan said “The Bridge Program helped to make me realise that I am a scientist at heart even though I now work more on the business side of things.”
“The program also emphasises the value of scientific research to improve human health, which really aligns with what I’ve been striving for throughout my career,” he added.
A network spanning sectors and professions
Apart from the learning materials and seminars delivered by industry leaders, Jonathan says an important part of the Bridge Program is the network it offers. “The people you meet in this course may prove to be valuable connections,” he said.
Program participants ranging from entrepreneurs and researchers to government and industry professionals progress through the program as a cohort, and are encouraged to collaborate and build networks through collaborative activities, networking events and competitions.
This includes the Bridge Pitch Competition, which offers an international travel scholarship to tour global pharmaceutical companies. The winner attends global industry conferences and events. Previous winners have toured AbbVie, Amgen, Merck and Novartis headquarters in the US.
Jonathan took full advantage to develop his networks and engage with his peers via the collaborative exercises and competitions.
“As a group we came up with a business plan for a fictitious company and pitched it to an industry panel. It was an impactful experience and a fun exercise, something I wouldn’t have pursued on my own. It probably helped me develop new skills and become a more confident presenter,” he said.