Bridging the Research Gap: Genetically Modified Pigs in Cancer Trials with Jessicca Rege

In this episode of The Healthy Enterprise, Jessicca Rege shares her groundbreaking work in cancer research at Sus Clinicals, where her team uses genetically modified “Oncopigs” to bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical trials. She discusses her path from academia to industry, her dual role as Chief Medical Officer at OncoScope AI, and her commitment to pushing the boundaries of oncology through innovative research, AI integration, and precision medicine. Jessicca also opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, navigating the challenges of being a female leader, and mentoring the next generation of women in science. The conversation explores Sus Clinicals’ growth strategies in large animal research and offers inspiring insights for aspiring leaders on resilience, vision, and questioning the status quo.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Jessicca Rege and Sus Clinicals

07:30 The Oncopig Model: Revolutionizing Cancer Research

18:04 The Journey of a Mutant Pig Farmer

24:51 AI in Cancer Research and Future Directions

27:14 Introduction to OncoScope AI and Leadership Roles

28:36 Disruptive Leadership and Questioning the Status Quo

30:45 Navigating Imposter Syndrome as a CEO

32:42 The Challenges of Being a Female Leader

35:41 Cultivating Future Female Leaders

39:03 Steering Growth at Sus Clinicals

41:33 Innovative Approaches in Large Animal Research

45:34 Future Outlook and Goals for Sus Clinicals

49:25 Advice for Aspiring Leaders

Guest Information:

• Guest's Name: Jessicca Rege
• Guest's Title/Position: Chief Executive Officer
• Guest's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessiccarege/
• Company / Affiliation: Sus Clinicals https://susclinicals.com/
• Guest's Bio: Jessicca Rege is a pharmaceutical executive with extensive experience in oncology drug development, from pre-IND through commercialization. She has led R&D, regulatory, and medical affairs teams in both large pharma and biotech, guided in-licensing and acquisition strategies, and worked closely with global regulatory authorities. Jessica is also a trusted voice with investors, scientific leaders, and industry partners, advancing innovative cancer therapies worldwide.

Takeaways:

• Jessicca Rege is passionate about transformative research in cancer.
• Sus Clinicals uses genetically modified pigs to advance cancer research.
• The Oncopig model allows for testing efficacy, safety, and metabolic effects.
• Cancer patients are often more knowledgeable about their conditions than expected.
• Jessica emphasizes the importance of empathy in patient care.
• The Oncopig model can replicate human cancers on demand.
• Precision medicine is becoming the standard in oncology.
• AI is being utilized in cancer research for systematic literature reviews.
• Jessica's journey reflects a commitment to improving patient outcomes.
• The integration of various medical professionals is crucial in cancer treatment. I am known as a disruptive leader.
• Imposter syndrome is always going to be with us.
• We want to continue to build models that enable researchers.
• We have a hundred percent success rate in being able to induce tumors.
• We believe the uptake is coming in.
• We could sell each of our different models to a different CRO.
• We hope to become a profitable company by 2027.
• You get more nos than you get yeses.
• I love the impact that I'm making on the teams.