Dr. Lewis Hong is the Vice President of Paratus Sciences, a biotech company uncovering novel therapeutics by studying the extreme biology of bats. With a background spanning genomics research, pigmentation genetics at Stanford, and leadership roles in translational sciences at MSD, Lewis brings deep scientific and industry expertise to this pioneering field.

In this episode, Lewis shares how Paratus was founded to explore bats as a unique model for human health. He explains how the company built a large-scale bat genomics and bioinformatics platform which combines global sample collection, industrial sequencing, and a powerful knowledge graph, to identify high-impact therapeutic targets.

Lewis highlights Paratus’ two lead focus areas:

• Immunology & inflammation, featuring theirASC inflammasome inhibitor program now entering IND-enabling studies;

• Cardiometabolism, inspired by bats’ remarkablemetabolic resilience and cardiac performance.

He also discusses the challenges of scaling bat genomics, the role of academic partnerships, building an R&D team in Singapore, and the broader trajectory of Singapore’s biotech ecosystem. Lewis closes with practical advice for scientists entering biotech, emphasizing resilience, long-term thinking, and the importance of strong mentors and collaborators.

Host: Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar

Editors: Shamieraah Jamal, Vasilina Gedzun, Aakash S/O Naresh Kumar, Dillon Chew

Timestamps

01:07 Introduction

01:28 Early Career Journey

06:20 Transition to Industry

10:35 Bat Biology & Drug Discovery

16:28 Scaling Bat Genomics

20:58 Pursuing ASC2 as a Therapeutic Target

23:43 Future Directions & Partnerships

34:52 Advice for Aspiring Biotech Professionals

39:16 Closing Remarks