Revolutionizing Cancer & Diabetes Treatment: The Future of Personalized Gene Therapy with Ryan Confer

In this episode, we dive into the intersection of humanity and disruptive technology with Ryan Confer, an entrepreneur and operator in the biotech space. Ryan shares his journey from early-stage investment to becoming a passionate operator focused on bringing life-changing medical treatments to market.

We explore the groundbreaking work being done at Genprex, where they are utilizing tumor suppressor genes to revolutionize cancer treatment. Ryan explains how gene therapy can provide a "friendlier" treatment path than traditional chemotherapy, specifically targeting cancer cells while minimizing side effects and improving patient quality of life.

Key topics discussed in this episode:

The Power of Gene Therapy: How reintroducing naturally occurring tumor suppressor genes, like Tusk 2, can help the body's cells combat non-small cell lung cancer.

Hyper-Personalized Medicine: The shift toward using a patient's genetic profile to create tailored combination therapies and treatment sequences.

Curing Diabetes Through Gene Transformation: An inside look at a program from the University of Pittsburgh that aims to transform pancreatic alpha cells into insulin-producing beta cells, potentially eliminating daily injections.

The Entrepreneurial Journey: Ryan's advice for entering the biomed space, including business plan competitions and licensing research from universities.

Data-Driven Decisions: Why following the science and analyzing data is critical for success in any entrepreneurial venture, especially those with societal impact.

Whether you're interested in healthcare, gene therapy, or tech commercialization, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how technology is helping the body heal itself.

Table of Contents:

00:00 - 01:10: Introduction to gene therapy and its benefits compared to chemotherapy.

01:11 - 03:00: Ryan Confer's background in finance, early-stage investment, and his transition to technology commercialization.

03:01 - 04:57: The risks and rewards of being an operator versus an investor in entrepreneurial ventures.

04:58 - 06:10: Joining Genprex and the inspiration behind the company's research into cancer treatments.

06:11 - 08:33: How tumor suppressor genes work to combat cancer and the delivery method using cholesterol molecules.

08:34 - 10:19: Discussion on the Tusk 2 gene and its role in treating non-small cell lung cancer.

10:20 - 12:18: The shift towards hyper-personalized medicine and tailored treatment paths.

12:19 - 14:16: Comparing the side effects of traditional chemotherapy to gene therapy.

14:17 - 16:21: Clinical trial results, post-infusion syndrome, and improving quality of life for stage four lung cancer patients.

16:22 - 18:28: The reactive nature of current medicine and the potential for combination therapies.

18:29 - 20:11: Future vision: sequence-based treatment regimens and the role of data in personalized medicine.

20:12 - 23:09: Recommendations for entering the biomed space, including business plan competitions and licensing university research.

23:10 - 25:00: Personal and professional goals, including involvement in data-focused companies and continuous improvement software.

25:01 - 26:67: A deep dive into a new diabetes program aiming to recreate insulin-producing beta cells.

26:68 - 29:02: The process and risks of commercializing academic research and ensuring FDA compliance.

29:03 - 31:09: Testing treatments in animal models and the strategy for human trials in diabetes.

32:24 - 33:59: Final thoughts on following the science, data-driven decisions,

Sponsored by FINdustries
Hosted by Don Finley