Start / The Biotech Startups Podcast / %f0%9f%a7%ac doug drysdale cybin part 3 jumping from bd to ma leveraging debt for strategic acquisitions the importance of cultural fit in successful deals making an impact at norwic

🧬 Doug Drysdale - Cybin - Part 3 | Jumping from BD to M&A | Leveraging Debt for Strategic Acquisitions | The Importance of Cultural Fit in Successful Deals | Making an Impact at Norwich, Alvogen, & Pernix Therapeutics

28 min • 2 september 2024

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Part 3 of 4.

My guest for this week’s episode is Doug Drysdale, CEO at Cybin. Cybin is a clinical-stage biopharma company on a mission to create safe and effective psychedelic-based therapeutics.

Doug is an experienced investor, Corporate Director and CEO, who has chaired the Board of a NASDAQ-listed company and, as a CEO for the past 12 years, has built and turned around 3 pharma companies. During his 30+ years of experience in the healthcare sector, he has formed cohesive management teams, recruited board members, completed 16 corporate acquisitions across three continents and has raised and invested around $4 billion of both public and private capital.

Before Cybin, Doug was Commercial Products Manager at DuPont Merck, Director of BD at Elan, VP of M&A at Actavis Group, CEO of Norwich Pharmaceuticals and Alvogen, CEO of Pernix Therapeutics, and CEO of Tedor Pharma. His extensive background as a seasoned executive, investor, and turn-around specialist gives him a wide range of experiences that founders can learn from.

Join us this week and hear about:

Doug’s transition from BD to leading M&A at Actavis
His insights on leveraging debt for acquisitions
The importance of cultural fit in successful deals
Doug’s strategic acquisitions at Actavis and the turnaround at Norwich Pharmaceuticals & Alvogen
His challenges and successes at Pernix Therapeutics, the first public company Doug worked for

Please enjoy my conversation with Doug Drysdale.

Timestamps:

00:28 Intro

01:48 How to get into M&A as a scientist; what makes a successful M&A transaction?

05:19 Doug’s experience raising credit facilities to support M&A activity

07:46 Memorable challenges and triumphs at Actavis

12:24 How do you find good investment opportunities? Things to keep an eye out for

14:36 Doug’s move from Actavis to Norwich Pharmaceuticals and Alvogen

18:10 Growth strategies at Norwich/Alvogen: M&A and Licensing

19:14 Key lessons and takeaways from Doug’s time at Norwich/Alvogen; the importance of people and cultural fits

24:33 Turning things around with Pernix Therapeutics, a public company

26:50 Outro