Cures & Capital
Hello and welcome to Cures & Capital - the podcast on value creation in biotech and pharma.
Together, we are going to dive deep into the world of biotech and pharma to tackle the holy grail - how do we improve return on investment from drug innovation and deliver transformative therapies to patients, efficiently and sustainably.
Hosted by Martin Slezak & Simon Birksø
Disclaimer: This podcast and activities related to it are completely independent from our day jobs. All the views and opinions expressed through this channel are solely our own and do not represent or in any way reflect the views and opinions of the companies we work for.
Cures & Capital
Inside Eli Lilly's Transformation and Rise to the Top with Jan Lundberg
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In this episode, we speak with Jan Lundberg – former President of Lilly Research Laboratories and Head of R&D at Eli Lilly and Company.
With a career spanning academia, biotech, and big pharma, Jan has contributed to the development of more than 30 approved medicines, including Brilinta, Iressa, Nexium, Taltz, Trulicity, Verzenio, and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro). He also played a central role in one of the most remarkable growth stories in the industry.
We explore what it really takes to turn around an R&D organization – from inheriting late-stage failures and pipeline setbacks to rebuilding decision-making, culture, and scientific rigor. We dive into the core levers behind this transformation, with a particular focus on culture – from empowering teams and simplifying decision-making to fostering true cross-functional collaboration across the value chain.
We also discuss decision-making under uncertainty in pharma – how experienced leaders balance data with judgment, and what it really means to make high-stakes portfolio decisions. Along the way, Jan shares candid insights on competition with Novo Nordisk, the evolution of the GLP-1 space, and why long-term success ultimately comes down to people, culture, and scientific courage.
If you want to connect with us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cures-capital-podcast
You can find this podcast on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts - just search for Cures & Capital.
If you want to connect with Jan Lundberg:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-m-lundberg-77729a95/
Disclaimer: This podcast and activities related to it are completely independent from our day jobs. All the views and opinions expressed through this channel are solely our own and do not represent or in any way reflect the views and opinions of the companies we work for.
