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Breaking the Safe Path: Dr. Stanley Lewis on Risk, Purpose, and Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment

What does it really mean to take a risk in your career? Dr. Stanley Lewis, founder and CEO of A28 Therapeutics, discovered that staying in a "safe" job was actually the riskiest move of all. His mentor's profound insight - "You risk never knowing what could be" - changed everything.

In this compelling episode, Dr. Lewis shares his evolution from practicing physician to biotech entrepreneur, driven by a desire to help populations of patients rather than individuals one at a time. From developing the first FDA-approved monoclonal antibody for HIV treatment to founding his own company focused on revolutionary cancer therapy, his journey demonstrates what happens when you align your career with your true purpose.

About Our Guest

Dr. Stanley Lewis is the founder and CEO of A28 Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a targeted lytic peptide platform for treating cancer. Prior to founding A28 Therapeutics, he served as Chief Medical Officer at TaiMed Biologics, where he led the team that developed Trogarzo - the first FDA-approved monoclonal antibody for treating drug-resistant HIV disease.

Dr. Lewis earned his Medical Degree and Masters in Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. As a Black, cisgender, heterosexual male who identifies as neurodivergent, he brings multiple intersectional perspectives to his leadership in biotechnology. He's also a dedicated mentor who actively supports the next generation of diverse scientists entering the biotech space.

The Transformative Mentor Moment

One of the most powerful stories in this episode revolves around the conversation that changed Dr. Lewis's career trajectory. When he was wrestling with whether to leave academic medicine for biotech, his mentor delivered wisdom that cuts to the heart of career decision-making:

"The more risky job is to stay at the university... You risk never knowing what could be."

When Dr. Lewis protested that he was successful and on the tenure track, his mentor made an observation that stopped him cold: "You're unhappy here." The proof? "Because you're asking me this question."

That night, Dr. Lewis wrote his resignation letter. Two years later, everything he feared happened - the biotech company was acquired and he was out of a job. But he never looked back, because that "risky" decision set him on a path to develop life-changing medications.

From Individual Care to Population Impact

Dr. Lewis's shift from clinical practice wasn't just a career change - it was a fundamental reimagining of how he could serve patients. "I wanted to go beyond just helping one patient at a time and be able to help populations of patients," he explains. His public health training opened his eyes to this broader impact, but it was his frustration with toxic HIV medications that provided the catalyst.

"I would ask over and over, why don't we have better medications for treating these patients?" he recalls. "And then I realized, if someone's going to make better medications for these patients, it's going to need to be me."

Dr. Lewis's Three Guiding Principles

Throughout his career transitions and drug development work, Dr. Lewis has refined three core principles that guide both his professional and personal decisions:

  1. First, Do No Harm - Creating medications that are safe and well-tolerated should be the foundation of all medical interventions

  2. Listen to Nature - The closer our interventions are to how the body naturally heals itself, the better tolerated and more effective they'll be

  3. Keep It Simple - While the industry often embraces complexity, simple solutions usually work better and have fewer failure points

Essential Career Wisdom for the Next Generation

Dr. Lewis offers particularly valuable advice for professionals navigating career transitions and scientists considering entrepreneurship:

On Self-Discovery: "Only you know what makes you feel good, only you know what makes you feel alive and fulfilled. That's a personal question, and it requires a very personal inventory."

On Networking and Circulation: "Preparation is to performance as circulation is to luck. The more you circulate, the more favorable things will happen to you."

For Scientists of Color in Biotech: The funding landscape relies heavily on relationships and networking. "You cannot do it alone... You really do have to get out there and get to know folks."

On Evolution Over Safety: Don't fear career transitions or the unknown. Sometimes staying in an unfulfilling situation because it seems "safe" is actually the riskiest choice you can make.

Connect with Dr. Stanley Lewis:

Chat with Host Lola Adeyemo:

Essential listening for anyone feeling stuck in conventional career paths, scientists considering entrepreneurship, or professionals seeking to align their work with authentic purpose.

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