Author Archives: Ankit Mahadevia

By Ankit Mahadevia, chairman of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC A common theme in startup literature is that by cutting a range of unnecessary tasks, a step-change in results will follow.  I’ve found

By Ankit Mahadevia, former CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC Drug development is complex. So is running a business. Sometimes, the work of doing both can make your head spin. In my

By Ankit Mahadevia, former CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC The right leaders in the right structure can power companies to great things. The general consensus is that all companies need a

By Ankit Mahadevia, Chairman of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC Nobody stays in a particular role forever. While change at the senior level can be disruptive, it doesn’t have to be. Teams and

By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC This time a quarter ago organizations large and small were in the thick of the “to hybrid or not to hybrid” debate. Each

By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC Biotwitter is great for healthy debates.  The most recent has been on the merits of the hybrid vs.an in-person model.  John Maraganore’s excellent

By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC Biotechnology, especially of late, requires us to prevail over adversity to deliver for patients.  Spero, dedicated to new solutions for patients with infections,

By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC 2022 has brought unique challenges for growing companies.  Capital markets, shifting regulatory winds and other emergent forces are driving tough decisions on programs,

By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC For anyone that’s part of a fast paced, growing organization, resilience is the key to thriving.  It supports our audacity, ability to tune

By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO and founder of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC Recently, Spero announced the filing of its first ever New Drug Application, for our medicine tebipenem Hbr.  Interestingly, as we approached

By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO and Founder of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC. The opportunity for each member of a NewCo to take on multiple responsibilities selects early for people ready to help a

The role of the core in making an organization great and how we do right by them By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC Small organizations are amazing for the

By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC Earlier this fall, we prepared to report Phase III data for tebipenem HBr, our oral medication that, if approved, could help 2.7M patients

By Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC. “Hey, you know, breakdowns come. And breakdowns go. So what are you going to do about it? That’s what I’d like to know – Gumboots In an

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC.  If CEOs have empowered their teams effectively, they have three roles during times of rapid change: Motivator in chief

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC.  One of the joys of building a company is that meeting one’s milestones routinely places us in positions that

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO and founder of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC.  At Spero we are privileged to be enrolling our pivotal study for SPR994, our oral antibiotic with

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO and founder of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC. Over my experience building several therapeutics companies, I’ve sometimes observed a Field of Dreams approach to therapeutics:

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics and Atlas Advisor, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC.   The biotech twittersphere recently engaged in very thoughtful debate (resulting in a great piece by

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC. Much has been said about who and when to hire in this blog (here and here for example), but

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC.  Relative to a decade ago, those of us that have spent time finding new ways to outsmart drug-resistant bacteria

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC Startup life can be grueling.  It’s an especially gratifying feeling when your data and your investors signal that it’s

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC. Infectious disease has had an ebb and flow relationship with our general awareness; epidemics such as Zika, Ebola, and

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO at Spero Therapeutics, as part of the “From the Trenches” feature of LifeSciVC. In my experience, looking to the outside world for new pipeline ideas isn’t just the realm of larger companies.   The

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the “From the Trenches” feature of LifeSciVC. After many months (or years) of grinding, your science seems to be working, the market is responding to your story,

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, co-founder of Spero, Synlogic, and Rodin Therapeutics, as part of the “From the Trenches” feature of LifeSciVC. The concept of “getting s#it done” is central to our lives as entrepreneurs. With time and capital

In a period of surging optimism for our industry, it’s easy to forget that historically most of the therapeutic projects we undertake don’t make it to the market (see the data here if you absolutely have to remind yourself of

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, Atlas EIR and c0-founder of Spero and Rodin Therapeutics, as part of the “From the Trenches” feature of LifeSciVC. As startup folks we are great at keeping our heads down and looking ahead; this

This blog was written by Ankit Mahadevia, CBO of Rodin Therapeutics and Spero Therapeutics, as part of the “From the Trenches” feature of LifeSciVC. There’s an ebb and flow in our business around interest in specific therapeutic areas; hot TAs such

So your biotech startup’s graduated to a Series A financing and your investors believe there’s nothing but champagne and robust clinical data in your future. Some classic analogies are applicable here; you’ve found a way off the island, you’ve defeated

Great teams build great companies, and biotech startups are no exception.   I’ve collected a few observations on great teams while collaborating at Atlas on more than half a dozen startups that have made it past the high-risk seed stage