How to Unlock Career Success: Strategic Lessons from a Biotech Founder's Journey to Acquisition

Navigating any ambitious career path demands strategic thinking, calculated risk-taking, and adaptability. We recently explored these essential traits through a conversation with Simon Breitler, who was co-founder of EraCal Therapeutics, a biotech startup successfully out-licensed Novo Nordisk.

Our conversation ended up being more than just a founder's story, and we’ve summarized the most pertinent takeaways in this article. Trust us when we say that this a useful and inspiring read for any chemist looking for career direction.

Over the next few scrolls, we’ll be giving you insights into the unique value of a chemist's mindset in innovation, and explore how to create the optimal conditions for scientists to thrive. These insights are particularly relevant, given ConsultaChem founder Philippa Cranwell's similar experience as a PhD student and wondering what's next, and later as an academic at the University of Reading when she was often advising young chemists of potential career pathways upon graduation (the Royal Society of Chemistry is very useful for this). Her perspective on guiding professional growth deeply informs this piece.

Ultimately, this makes it a must-read for anyone with a role in supporting or progressing scientific careers, including HR managers and leaders at CDMOs (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations) and CROs (Contract Research Organizations), who are instrumental in cultivating talent, and fostering people and process innovations.

Embracing the Unexpected: A Lesson in Adaptability

Simon Breitler shared a surprising truth: he initially disliked chemistry. It seems completely at odds with his success, yet it highlights an important universal career lesson; paths are rarely linear.

Simon changed his perspective on chemistry by changing his appreciation for what chemistry enabled him to do. He started appreciating chemistry's problem-solving power in drug discovery, and it’s role in helping scientists create value by focusing their intellectual curiosity and adaptability.

Your takeaway: Your career path isn't set. Be open to new disciplines and unexpected challenges, and trust that significant contributions often arise when you explore beyond your comfort zone. Everything you do is another bit of information, or skill, for your toolkit.

From Risk Aversion to Founder: The Power of Purpose

Simon describes himself as someone who naturally avoids risk. Yet, he co-founded EraCal - and anyone in start-ups knows that it’s an inherently uncertain world to be in. The reason he made the move was because he had a clear vision and strong belief that there was real-world value in addressing the critical unmet medical need for an oral-active anti-obesity drug. EraCal's focus on genuine scientific impact guided his strategic leap.

Your takeaway: Define your core motivation. What problem are you passionate about solving? A strong sense of purpose can reframe perceived risks into strategic opportunities for career success, whether in a startup, CRO, CDMO - and this approach isn’t restricted to careers within drug discovery!

The Imperative of Strategic Foresight: "Starting with the End in Mind"

A core element of EraCal's success, as Simon explained, was their philosophy of "starting with the end in mind." They envisioned a successful acquisition by a major pharmaceutical company from day one. This principle guided their drug development, meticulously planning strategies in reverse to optimize their drug's profile and identify partners early. It also helped them to nurture their network - yes to support their final acquisition - but also to support their appeal as an employer. Being in the right rooms and talking to the right people will connect you with those who want to be part of your journey, or people whose journey you want to join.

Your takeaway: Apply "starting with the end in mind" to your projects and career. Visualize the ideal outcome. This clarity leads to more effective resource allocation and proactive problem-solving. For those in CROs and CDMOs, understanding your client's ultimate commercial goal significantly enhances your strategic contributions.

The Dynamics of Speed and Value Creation

EraCal's ability to secure a significant deal early stemmed from their rapid drug development. But the speed at which they developed their drug came from optimizing processes and making decisive scientific choices - it didn’t come from cutting corners. Their focus on a challenging oral peptide format meant that they knew exactly where they wanted to go, making it possible for them to more forward quickly (relative to standard drug development timelines). This is a clear output of a previous point, where you need to “start with the end in mind”.

Your takeaway: Identify where speed can genuinely create value without compromising quality. This might involve streamlining designs or leveraging new technologies. For CROs, this approach will help you to optimize project timelines. For CDMOs, it might help you to accelerate scale-up. Always ask: "Where can we safely accelerate to create greater impact?"

The Financial Paradox: Navigating Funding and Risk Management

Simon candidly discussed the ‘financial paradox’: "the better the science works, the faster you burn through cash." This offers a vital reality-check that is usually brushed aside as an afterthought. Being blunt, success in early-stage ventures often demands significant capital, especially in clinical trials. If you’re looking for a career in drug development, either joining the brand/company, or working for a CRO/CDMO, you need to be aware of the risks and costs involved in clinical trials.

Your takeaway: Understand the financial implications of your decisions. A grasp of economic realities is vital. For those in CROs and CDMOs, this means understanding client budgets and how your work contributes to program viability. Developing skills in financial literacy and risk management will prove invaluable.

Cultivating Accountability: Science vs. Process

Finally, Simon's strong conviction that "failure is OK if it's because of the science... but not if it's down to human-controlled processes" offers a foundational philosophy that everyone can carry forward. It champions iterative scientific discovery while demanding excellence in operational execution. We often associate frameworks and guardrails as being limiters of creativity, but they can be used to foster a culture where exploration can thrive. This is because scientists are able to innovate freely, within the white space of rigorous, well-managed processes.

Your takeaway: Be surgical in your processes, ensuring setbacks stem from genuine scientific unknowns, not preventable errors. This mindset supports continuous improvement, prioritizing both scientific breakthroughs and operational efficiencies. For professionals in quality assurance, project management, and manufacturing within CROs and CDMOs, this is a core feature for success.

Conclusion: Your Next Steps

Simon Breitler's journey from chemistry skeptic to successful biotech founder offers a lot of inspiration and practical lessons. If you apply these key lessons - leaning into adaptability, focusing on purpose, applying strategic foresight, understanding the dynamics of speed and finance, and upholding clear accountability - you’ll be on your way to enjoying a high impact, successful career in science.

If you want to hear our conversation with Simon in full, we invite you to listen to our two-part podcast series with him.

Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of our podcast with Simon Breitler over on Spotify:

Part 1 - here - is 30 minutes.

Part 2 - here - is 32 minutes.