Dr. Abbas Sahili is the CTO of Singzyme, a biotechnology company pioneering next-generation bioconjugation technologies. With a strong background in biochemistry and structural biology, Abbas brings deep scientific expertise and entrepreneurial vision to the field of precision medicine. His transition from academia to biotech leadership is marked by a commitment to developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that are more efficient, effective, and accessible. Under his leadership, Singzyme has developed a proprietary platform leveraging Peptide Asparaginyl Ligase (PAL) technology, setting a new standard in ADC manufacturing and performance.
In this episode, Dr. Abbas Sahili walks us through his unique journey from academic research in structural biology to founding Singzyme, a cutting-edge biotech startup. He shares the motivations that led him to pivot from lab-based research to real-world therapeutic development and the founding story of Singzyme.
Dr. Sahili breaks down complex concepts like antibody-drug conjugates and bioconjugation in a way that’s easy to understand. He discusses Singzyme’s PAL technology, a novel enzymatic platform that offers significant advantages over traditional methods, particularly in oncology and diagnostic imaging. He explains how PAL improves efficiency and precision in linking payloads to antibodies, unlocking new possibilities in targeted therapies and radiodiagnostics.
He also sheds light on the operational and strategic challenges faced by a young biotech company and outlines how Singzyme is overcoming them through innovation, industry partnerships, and a strong vision. Looking ahead, Abbas discusses the potential for expanding beyond cancer into other areas like autoimmune and infectious diseases, and the roadmap for product development and partnerships.
Host: Dillon Chew Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew01:10 Dr. Sahili’s Background and Academic Journey
04:30 Transition from Research to Entrepreneurship
07:00 Founding Story of Singzyme
10:15 Overview of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
13:45 What Makes PAL Technology Unique
17:30 Challenges in Traditional Bioconjugation Methods
21:00 Application of PAL in Radiodiagnostics
24:45 Singzyme’s Milestones Since 2021
28:30 Partnerships and Industry Collaboration
32:15 Future Expansion Beyond Oncology
36:00 Roadmap for the Next 3–5 Years
40:20 Advice for Young Scientists and Aspiring Founders
Dr. Hoa Giang is the Co-founder and Data Science Lead of Gene Solutions. His background boasts a broad range of experience in the global therapeutics industry. His technical background includes computational biology, bioinformatics analysis and understanding genetic interactions and how they affect the cellular functions. This experience and immense knowledge inform his mindful and robust approach to founding Gene Solutions. Hoa’s experience spans the globe having lived, studied and worked in Vietnam and USA.
In this episode, Hoa shares his journey of how he moved to the USA to pursue an advanced degree in computational biology. Starting from having an interest in biotech, he also shares how he was able to work with Professor Jun Hyong Kim at the University of Pennsylvania and broaden his expertise to bioinformatics. This knowledge helped him to develop new methods of combining wet lab protocol and dry lab analysis for next generation sequencing (NGS). He goes on to mention that he is very passionate about making new technology available to all and thus brought these new novel methods of NGS back to Vietnam in the form of Gene Solutions. In this episode, Hoa also shares about the groundbreaking work being done at Gene Solutions, including their way of staying ahead of competition while aiming to keep solutions affordable and accessible to the masses. He also briefly talks about Gene Solution’s technology, focusing on their two main pillars of reproductive health and clinical oncology, and how it varies from older tests and their strategies of expansion into various new geographical markets. Lastly, he describes the typical challenges that a company would face when they are first starting up and the importance of good teamwork.
Host: Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng
01:30 Hoa's Background and Early Career
03:58 Founding of Gene Solutions
07:05 Gaps that Gene Solutions Aims to Solve
12:03 Differences Between Gene Solutions’ New Methods and Old Methods
20:17 Challenges Faced by Gene Solutions in Expansion to New Markets
26:32 Importance of Partnerships
37:03 Advice for Aspiring Scientists and Entrepreneurs
Dr. Ivan Horak is currently the CEO and founder of Tikva Allocell, a biotech company whose mission is to develop safe, effective, readily available and affordable “off-the-shelf” T cell therapies by leveraging excellent safety profile of proprietary technologies that enhance the T cell's performance to treat cancer.
In this episode, Ivan shares his journey from having an interest in becoming a medical oncologist. He also shares how his experience in working in some of the top oncology institutes in Central Europe to working in the United States helped shape his early career before moving into Singapore, where he worked with Tessa and finally set out to develop Tikva Allocell. Tikva Allocell is focused on creating therapy using proprietary IP protected platform to drive the next breakthrough in cancer therapy. In this episode, Ivan also shares about the groundbreaking work being done at Tikva, and also the typical challenges that a company would face when they are first starting up. He goes on to talk about making therapies affordable, how to manage scaling up and also the importance of collaboration. He also mentions the intricacies of VCs and also how they function.
Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng
01:37 Ivan's Background and Early Career
04:46 Founding of Tikva
11:41 Importance of Collaborations
14:26 Tikva's recent milestones
15:36 VC mindset
20:20 Advice for Aspiring Bioentrepreneurs and Final Thoughts
Dr. Joshua Wang is currently the CEO and founder of VerImmune, a biotech company focused on developing novel virus inspired particle technology platform that can be used as a delivery system to target cancers.
In this episode, Josh shares his journey from having an interest in infectious diseases to leading a biotech startup that spans across the US and Singapore. VerImmune specializes in developing Virus-Inspired Particle (VIP) technology for targeting cancers. Josh discusses his academic background, including his PhD work at Johns Hopkins, and how serendipitous events led him from vaccine research to entrepreneurship. He explains the mechanics and advantages of VerImmune's VIP technology, its application in cancer treatment, and its potential for other therapeutic areas. The episode also covers challenges in biotech entrepreneurship, the importance of manufacturing and scalability, and the strategic decisions behind relocating some operations to Singapore. Dr. Wang offers valuable advice for aspiring biotech founders, emphasizing the significance of discernment, persistence, and leveraging global opportunities.
Host: Dillon Chew
Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng
00:00 Josh's Background and Early Career
05:13 Founding his first Startup
06:27 Challenges in the Vaccine Business
07:46 VerImmune and their VIP Technology
21:24 Collaborations and Global Expansion
29:48 Advice for Aspiring Bioentrepreneurs
32:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Ritika Khetawat is the founder of MissionBridge, a fundraising advisory firm that empowers Singapore’s biotech and medtech ventures to secure the capital they need.
In this episode, Ritika discusses her transition from investment banking at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to supporting healthcare startups through MissionBridge. She shares her insights into the unique challenges of biotech fundraising, emphasizing the need for strategic planning, strong storytelling, and relationship-building with investors. Ritika explains MissionBridge’s mission to “democratize fundraising” by simplifying the process for founders and bridging the gap between early-stage innovation and global funding opportunities. She also highlights the importance of optionality in biotech pipelines and adapting to market dynamics during the “biotech winter.”
Host: Dillon Chew Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, John Joson Ng
01:17-Introduction 09:22-Various Sources of Funding for Startups 22:19-Common Challenges and Mistakes Made During Fundraising 30:00-Selecting a Good VC Partner 36:47-Future of MissionBridge and Emerging Trends in Singapore
Dr David M. Epstein is the co-founder and president of PairX Bio, a company that specializes in the next generation of cancer selective biologics.
In this episode, David shares his experience and journey from working in various biotech companies and big pharma institutions to eventually building his own companies. One of these is Pairx Bio, a company specializing in the next generation of cancer biologics. David stresses the importance of how being able to follow the science and being transparent and open with the discussions on data collected from research projects plays a key role in the success of a company. He also touches on the success of targeted cancer therapies, some of which has led to an increase in lifespan, as well as the limitations in terms of the range of diseases that can be treated with this therapy. He also highlights the future of therapeutics in general, discussing the push in biotherapeutics and immunotherapeutics and expanding the horizon where these new innovative treatments can be effective. Lastly, he touches on the importance of how to handle IP matters and protecting one’s IP.
Host: Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Dillon Chew, Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to the team via singapore@nucleate.org.
01:01 - Introduction 05:10 - Origins of Pairx Bio and Key Characteristics For a Successful Startup 13:18 - Key differences in the process of IP patenting 18:22 - Singapore VS USA Biotech Ecosystems 20:51 - Future of Singapore’s Biotech Ecosystem
Dr. Alessandro Falcone is the Head of JLABS Singapore.
In this episode, Alessandro talks about his transition from clinical medicine to business consulting, eventually landing in leadership roles at major pharmaceutical companies. He explains the mission of JLABS Singapore, a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and Singapore’s Economic Development Board, which aims to nurture early-stage biotech and medtech startups. Alessandro highlights JLABS’ shift from a traditional lab incubator to a Universal model, which emphasizes advisory support, mentorship, and global networking opportunities for resident startups. He also discusses Singapore’s biotech ecosystem and shares his insights on building resilient companies amid the "biotech winter" funding challenges.
Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Hana Maldivita Tambrin, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew, Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to the team via singapore@nucleate.org.
01:23 - Introduction 05:37 - JLABS Singapore: Mission and Role 16:38 - Challenges and Successes 18:46 - Singapore’s Ecosystem 31:09 - Navigating Career Transitions
Loong Wang is the CEO and Co-Founder of QDX, a company specializing in computational drug discovery using quantum mechanics and supercomputing. In this episode, Loong discusses his journey from supercomputing at the Australian National University to founding multiple startups in distributed computing and blockchain—before making a significant pivot to biotechnology. His deep dive into quantum chemistry aims to address complex drug discovery challenges by simulating atomic and molecular behaviors at a fundamental level. He also touches on the potential for quantum chemistry to revolutionize high-throughput screening methods that big pharmaceutical companies currently rely on, making these processes faster, cheaper, and more precise. He emphasizes understanding the nuances of biomedical problems and the need for a multidisciplinary approach in developing groundbreaking solutions.
Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
01:02 - Introduction 06:16 - Understanding Quantum Mechanics in Drug Discovery 18:53 - Challenges in Biotech: Collaboration and Simulations 26:30 - Entrepreneurship, IP Strategy, and Scaling Up 42:22 - Advice for Non-Traditional Entrants to Biotech
Fengru Lin is the Founder and CEO of TurtleTree, a pioneering biotechnology company that has successfully developed the world’s first sustainably produced lactoferrin “LF+” using precision fermentation technology.
In this episode, Fengru Lin shares her journey from a tech career at Google and Salesforce to leading biotech innovations at TurtleTree. Inspired by challenges in replicating traditional cheese-making in Asia, she envisioned revolutionizing the dairy industry. Fengru discusses TurtleTree’s shift from cell-based milk to producing high-value proteins like lactoferrin, used in infant nutrition and supplements. She emphasizes the importance of market-driven innovation, sustainable ingredients, and the role of a mission-focused team in staying competitive in the dynamic biotech space.
Host: Jessie Wong Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
01:00 Introduction 05:51 Pivoting from Cell-Based Milk to Lactoferrin Production 16:02 Challenges and Strategies in Building TurtleTree 20:14 Consumer Perception and Adoption of Precision Fermentation Products 26:09 TurtleTree’s Role in Singapore’s 2030 Sustainable Food Initiative 30:58 Balancing Sciences and Business in Biotech Startups
Dr. Lisa Ooi is the Senior Vice President of Strategy at Hummingbird Bioscience, a leading biotech company in Singapore focused on antibody therapeutics. In this episode, Dr. Ooi discusses her journey from her PhD at Stanford to her current role, highlighting her experience in biomedical research and corporate strategy. She delves into Hummingbird Bioscience's innovative platform for developing antibody-based therapies, sharing insights on the company's strategic direction, the challenges of drug development, and the potential impact of their work on cancer treatment and beyond. Dr. Ooi also explores the reasons behind Hummingbird Bioscience's success in attracting investment and the unique advantages of being based in Singapore.
Host: Jessie Wong Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
01:00 - Introduction 10:06 - Establishing Hummingbird Bioscience in Singapore 14:22 - Innovative Antibody and ADC Development Strategy 23:37 - Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment with Dual Payload ADCs 28:56 - Hummingbird Bioscience's Role in Singapore's Biotech Ecosystem
Dr. Adam Gregory is a Partner and Patent Attorney at Mewburn Ellis LLP. He works with biotech companies to build and manage their patent portfolios, drafting patent applications and co-ordinating prosecution worldwide. In this episode, he highlights success stories from Singapore’s vibrant biotech scene, including Enleofen Bio and Hummingbird Bioscience, and discusses the evolving nature of patent strategies in the face of emerging technologies like AI and gene editing. From understanding the differences between patents, trademarks, and copyrights to exploring the patent application process and common pitfalls, this episode is packed with valuable information for anyone in the biotech industry.
Host: John Joson Ng
Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
01:02 - Introduction
08:50 - The patent application process
14:57 - Strategic IP management and common pitfalls
27:06 - Success stories from Singapore biotech
36:18 - Emerging technologies and future trends
Dr. Robert Ang is the CEO of Vor Bio, a clinical-stage cell and genome engineering therapy company. In this episode, Dr. Ang discusses the challenges of treating cancer, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and the need for new and innovative approaches. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating clinical trials during the pandemic and securing funding for research and development. Lastly, he explains how Vor Bio is using cell and gene therapies, such as CAR-T cells and genome engineering, to target AML and potentially cure patients.
Host: John Joson Ng
Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on
nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
01:15 - Introduction
07:47 - Cancer and treatment modalities
12:02 - Vor’s approach to treating AML
31:55 - Investing in clinical manufacturing
34:21 - Navigating clinical trials and funding during the pandemic
39:53 - Looking ahead
Dr. Guy Heathers is the Chief Business Officer and one of the co-founders of Albatroz Therapeutics. In this episode, Dr. Guy Heathers shares his insights and experiences in the biotech industry, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced by startups in Singapore. He discusses the importance of patent protection, the need for strong product development capabilities, and the significance of effective interaction with pharma companies. Dr. Heathers emphasizes the value of pursuing first-in-class innovations and the importance of confidence and conviction in the entrepreneurial journey. He also provides advice for academic trainees and early career professionals, encouraging them to take their time and enjoy the process of building a successful career in biotech.
Host: John Joson Ng Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
01:22 - Establishing Albatroz Therapeutics 06:59 - Challenges and deliverables in biotech startups 10:11 - Differences in modalities and investor appetite 16:28 - Key ingredients for competitive biotech startups 25:29 - Personal advice and future outlook
Dr. Guy Heathers is the Chief Business Officer and one of the co-founders of Albatroz Therapeutics, a preclinical stage biotech company focused on developing therapeutic antibodies and antibody drug conjugates for the treatment of solid tumors and arthritis. In this episode, Dr. Guy Heathers shares his extensive experience in the biotech industry and discusses the challenges and opportunities in Singapore's biotech ecosystem. He talks about how he became involved in building the biotech industry in Singapore. Dr. Heathers also reflects on the progress and setbacks in the Singapore biotech scene, highlighting the importance of having a clear business strategy and the need for specialized biotech investors. He emphasizes the global mindset and the potential for biotech companies to make a significant impact on a global scale.
Host: John Joson Ng
Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on
nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
01:03 - Introduction
06:28 - Getting invovled with Singapore's nascent biotech ecosystem
10:17 - Early successes
16:16 - Mindset shift
26:37 - Tessa's closure and lessons learned
Levana Sani is the co-founder and CEO of NalaGenetics. In this episode, Levana shares how her background in biochemistry and her MBA from Harvard Business School helped shape her understanding of the business side of science. She explains the four main problems NalaGenetics aims to solve in the field of genetic testing and the challenges they faced in the early stages. Additionally, she highlights the differences in commercialisation in Singapore and Indonesia, and the current challenges faced with the adoption and application of pharmacogenomics in clinics.
Host: Jessie Wong
Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on
nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
01:00 - Introduction
05:09 - Early beginnings of NalaGenetics
12:11 - Product development and market expansion
17:10 - Technology and democratization of genetics
24:15 - Future outlook
Dr. Massimo Alberti is the CEO and co-founder of REVIVO BioSystems. In this episode, Dr. Alberti shares valuable insights into the process of spinning off a technology from an academic setting. He discusses the genesis of REVIVO BioSystems, the development of their innovative 4D human tissue models, and the pivotal role of perseverance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and client feedback in shaping REVIVO BioSystems' trajectory. Aspiring biomedical entrepreneurs and young scientists will find inspiration in Dr. Alberti's entrepreneurial journey, along with actionable advice for navigating the transition from academia to startup.
Host: Jessie Wong
Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on
nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
01:07 Introduction
04:52 What REVIVO BioSystems offers
09:13 Challenges and triumphs of early development
11:08 Navigating the investment landscape
24:02 Overcoming regulatory hurdles and industry standards
32:51 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
Dr. Carolyn Ng is the Managing Director and Partner of TPG Life Sciences Innovations. With a decade of expertise in life sciences investment under her belt, she's the powerhouse behind infusing capital into groundbreaking startup companies in precision oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, metabolic diseases, and rare diseases.
In this episode, Dr. Carolyn Ng shares her journey from academia to venture capital and discusses the investment thesis of her company. She also shares her insights on startup success factors - robust IP, strategic partnerships, and a stellar team. Plus, get the lowdown on navigating macroeconomic headwinds and savvy exit strategies for biotech companies.
Host: John Joson Ng
Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.org.
Dr. Jonathan Ng is the CEO and founder of Iterative Health, a company that focuses on AI diagnostics for gastrointestinal diseases. In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Ng discusses his journey from medical school to entrepreneurship and the development of AI diagnostics for gastrointestinal diseases. He shares his experiences in healthcare and the challenges he faced in starting a company focused on AI. He also talks about the importance of mentorship and the role of AI in transforming healthcare. He emphasizes the need for business model innovation and the gradual adoption of AI tools in order to ensure patient safety and improve outcomes.
Host: John Joson Ng
Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.xyz.
Prof. Dean Ho is the Provost’s Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National University of Singapore. He is also the Director of the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) and The N.1 Institute for Health, and one of the Scientific Co-Founders of KYAN Technologies. In this episode, Prof. Ho discusses the importance of accessibility and community in fostering innovation. He highlights the role of academia in bridging the gap between innovation and real-world impact. Prof. Ho also shares his experience in setting up a biotech company in both the US and Singapore, emphasizing the ease and agility of the Singaporean ecosystem. He discusses the opportunities for AI in healthcare, particularly in clinical trial design and digital therapeutics. Prof. Ho also mentions the importance of a human talent pipeline to support the growing biotech industry in Singapore.
Host: John Joson Ng
Editors: Jessie Wong, John Joson Ng
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.xyz.
A/Prof. Jeremy Lim is the director of the Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and the CEO and co-founder of Asian Microbiome Library (AMILI). In this episode, he discusses his transition from surgical practice to public health, policy, and entrepreneurship. He explains the important work of cataloguing the Asian microbiome and describes the work AMILI has undertaken in building the world's largest multiethnic Asian microbiome database. He highlights the potential of personalized gut health treatments and the role of partnerships in advancing research and development. A/Prof. Lim also shares his insights on Singapore's healthcare system and the challenges and opportunities in the biotech ecosystem.
The show notes and transcripts for the episode can be found on nucleatesingapore.substack.com. For feedback or recommendations on who we should talk to next, please reach out to Joson Ng via johnjoson.n@nucleate.xyz.
