The previous few years have compelled leadership techniques to modify and adapt, especially as the pandemic pushed for mandatory work from home policies. Numerous organizational structures and hierarchies have also been questioned, along with traditional leadership styles. As a result, working standards and values have had to change as well, and to be a persuasive leader, you must adapt in response to your environment. Leaders have had to adapt and make their organizations or environments more inclusive in order to be effective in our present work environment. This has probably led to many firms functioning better than they ever have.
Raman Singh, the founder and CEO of Juniper Biologics, has extensive knowledge in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. He formerly served as CEO of Mundipharma, a large global pharmaceutical firm with a focus on research. Additionally, he led initiatives in research and development to look at how consumer goods may assist nations in halting the COVID-19 virus’s rapid growth. To demonstrate that certain Betadine medications (part of the Mundipharma portfolio) might kill the COVID-19 virus in 15 and 30 seconds, laboratory testing was started at Duke-NUS and other labs across the world. Raman was motivated to create Juniper Biologics after working in various places and observing the disparities in healthcare as well as the effects his work had on a worldwide scale. His mission is to make innovative medications available to those most in need.
Steeping in Entrepreneurship
Raman realized the impact his work may have on people’s health on a worldwide scale after working on the research and development projects to stop the spread of COVID-19. That is what motivated him to look for novel treatments that might prolong the lives of patients with crippling diseases like cancer. Raman’s focus on enhancing access to important and inexpensive medications as well as offering cutting-edge treatments to improve patients’ quality of life was necessary, even though creating a successful firm is difficult. He observes that large pharmaceutical corporations frequently prioritize treating millions of patients over treating a few hundred or thousand people suffering from a rare condition. He knew this is where Juniper Biologics could make a profound impact, because everyone deserves access to treatments to improve the quality of their lives. Previous experience has also taught Raman that hard work and resilience will enable him to create an organization that has significant value. He knew that a strong foundation of ESG values takes Juniper Biologics to the next level, which would ultimately allow him to bring innovative medicines to people.
The Company
Juniper Biologics is a science-led specialty healthcare company focused on commercializing novel therapies. Founded in 2021 and globally headquartered in Singapore, our mission is to make a real impact on the lives of patients by improving accessibility to the next generation of treatments. It brings innovative medical treatments to patients around the world in the areas of oncology and oncology supportive care, rare and orphan diseases, and gene therapy.
The company takes care to participate in as many pertinent industry events as it can, as both a sponsor and an exhibitor, in order to keep ahead of the competition. Additionally, Juniper Biologics makes a point of networking with as many key figures in the scientific and medical fields as it can. The business is a Platinum Sponsor of the next European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Singapore as well as the 2023 International Breast Congress in Singapore. It also sponsored the Excellence in Oncology Care conference in Dubai. This demonstrates its dedication and solidifies its position as a respectable business in the sector.
In the therapeutic areas it has chosen, Juniper Biologics is always doing research and looking for the most cutting-edge therapies. Raman states, “We want to be the first to commercialise and create access to much needed treatments to improve the quality of life of patients everywhere.”
Changing the Pharma Industry from Within
Juniper Biologics has accomplished significant milestones since its inception in 2021. The license rights to create and market TG-C LD, the first cell-mediated gene therapy in the world for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, were recently acquired for up to USD $600 million. An estimated 300 million patients in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa will be able to get this medicine thanks to this initiative. In addition, Juniper Biologics completed six license agreements in the last year and added Aloxi, Akynzeo, and Anamorelin to its portfolio of cancer supportive care products, a market with a significant unmet need worldwide.
In addition, Juniper Biologics will shortly introduce Ledaga, a topical gel medication for treating MF-CTCL, the most prevalent cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It has secured the licensing and marketing authorizations to promote and sell it in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. These acquisitions and treatments are invaluable to patients who suffer from these diseases.
A Leader’s Way and His Vision
As the CEO of Juniper Biologics, it is Raman’s responsibility to move the company’s growth of Juniper Biologics in the right direction – one that is sustainable, innovative, and stays true to the company’s mission and ESG values. He is in charge of making sure that the teams in each of the important markets for the firm are connected, appreciated, and still concentrating on the unmet medical requirements of patients and the best ways to aid them. Making calls and checking in with his staff all across the world is another aspect of Raman’s daily schedule that makes him the happiest. A big part of what Raman does is not just about the task but also about the people. It is crucial to Raman that they share his vision and feel they are a part of Juniper Biologics’ journey.
Built on Values and Commitments
The goal of Juniper Biologics is to go beyond rhetoric and implement ESG initiatives across the whole organization. The six pillars—Purpose, Patients, Partners, Process (Governance), Planet, and People—form the basis of the company’s ESG approach. The organization is concentrating on five key areas to emphasize the essential ideals of ESG.
1.Addressing the unmet need by providing innovative medicines to improve the quality of patients’ lives.
2.Increasing access to essential and affordable medicines.
3.Combining private sector innovation and accountability with a commitment to serving the public good by providing innovative medicines to people who need them the most.
4.Minimizing the impact of its operations and products on the planet.
5.Being a responsible corporate citizen and dedicating ourselves to quality, ethics, and transparency.
The team at Juniper Biologics makes sure to choose candidates who share its commitment to and fervor for these principles. Furthermore, it collaborates with and is supported by investors who share its principles. The Sylvan Group, an investment firm that places a strong emphasis on ESG and backs companies that have a beneficial impact on society and the environment, is one of Juniper Biologics’ initial supporters. The Sylvan Group was the first to support Juniper Biologics, aligning very closely with the company’s own ESG ideals. Others have now expressed interest in advancing the ESG goal, and it anticipates revealing these soon. This was only the beginning.
Additionally, Juniper Biologics is a lean organization. Being small and nimble means that it can focus on areas that may otherwise be difficult to reach due to compliance in a bigger organization. Compliance is ultimately key. Being nimble also means that its entrepreneurial spirit is not lost along the way. In terms of products, they are identified based on science, not on popularity. Raman states, “We are more interested in products where the payment life is long and where they are the most effective in easing the suffering of people who are often overlooked or forgotten.”
Words on Leadership Transformation
“To continue to grow as an influential leader, you need to always be learning. Take every experience you have and turn it into a learning experience; never be satisfied, and always look to improve the next time. While taking the time to learn things is important, it is also crucial to put those learnings into practice—to apply and adapt the new things you learn each and every day,” says Raman. He further adds that people are coming in with new experiences, particularly with new generations joining the workforce, and so one needs to be able to manage them differently. He believes that to continue to grow as an influential leader, one needs to establish presence and influence while remaining connected. For this, communication is key. Master the different communication platforms and be available, authentic, insightful, and empathetic.
Extending Boundaries
Raman wants Juniper Biologics to eventually go worldwide and overtake all other pharmaceutical companies in the globe. To expand teams and develop new offices globally, he wants to be able to provide unique therapies to all parts of the world. The business has made six significant acquisitions in the past year, with more on the way, and has close to 120 workers working out of eighteen offices. The team will continue to sign more licensing agreements of this nature in order to create and market cures and treatments that are frequently disregarded as the initial steps toward expanding the company’s services internationally. In order for the team to have access to local knowledge and skills, it will also have to expand its teams in the company’s target locations. The company is creating a portfolio of 10 products to support shareholder value. Additionally, Juniper Biologics is focused on adjacent therapy areas to see what opportunities there are.
Written by Steve Sanchez.
