Description:
Today I’m joined by Nathan S. Bryan, Ph.D. Dr. Bryan is an international leader in molecular medicine and nitric oxide biochemistry. He has been involved in nitric oxide research for the past 18+ years and has made many seminal discoveries in the field. These discoveries and findings have transformed the development of safe and effective functional bioactive natural products in the treatment and prevention of human disease and may provide the basis for new preventive or therapeutic.
Now, of course, this is a business podcast. And we definitely get some unique insights into what it’s like to transition from being full-time in academia to starting a business and developing products (today he runs his business full-time). What was that journey like? What were some big lessons?
It was a real pleasure learning more about him and his mission. After talking with him I have no doubt he’s going to change the world with his discoveries and products! Inspiring.. and important work. Enjoy!
Nathan S. Bryan, PhD
Dr. Bryan earned his undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and his doctoral degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport where he was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research. He pursued his post-doctoral training as a Kirschstein Fellow at Boston University School of Medicine in the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute. After a two year post-doctoral fellowship, in 2006 Dr. Bryan was recruited to join faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston by Ferid Murad, M.D., Ph.D., 1998 Nobel Laureate in Medicine or Physiology.
Dr. Bryan has been involved in nitric oxide research for the past 20 years and has made many seminal discoveries in the field. His many seminal discoveries have resulted dozens of issued US and International patents and the product technology resulting from his discoveries and inventions has improved patient care worldwide.
Dr. Bryan is a successful entrepreneur and Founder of HumanN, Inc, Pneuma Nitric Oxide, LLC, Nitric Oxide Innovations, LLC and Bryan Nitriceuticals, LLC. His product technology is responsible for hundreds of millions of product sales worldwide. Most recently, Dr. Bryan serves as Founder and CEO of Nitric Oxide Innovations, LLC, a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is actively engaged in the discovery and development of nitric oxide based therapies. Their lead drug candidate NOviricid is currently in phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of COVID19 in African Americans and Hispanics.
Dr. Bryan is an international leader in molecular medicine and nitric oxide biochemistry.
THE MEAT OF IT!
- Intro
- About our Guest
- Degree in BioChemistry
- Ph.D. in molecular and cellular physiology
- Fellowship in cardiology
- Trying to understand Nitric Oxide production
- Faculty position – Recruited by Ferid Murad, shared the Noble Prize for the discovery of Nitric Oxide
- That’s where it all started.. Nitric Oxide.
- Why did Nitric Oxide become his focus?
- Intrigued by a lecture he heard
- There was a lot to learn and underlying problems needed to be fixed
- He knew if they could make some discoveries it could be life-changing.
- Why he got into science
- He wanted to understand human disease to the extent that we could fix it
- Most diseases were caused by a lack of Nitric Oxide production
- Has he always been interested in science and medicine.. even as a kid?
- Always good at math and science – top of his class.
- Was told to go be an engineer..
- Actually started in college pursuing civil engineering.
- I don’t want to build anything.. I want to do science!!
- Then started pursuing a degree in biochemistry.
- Undergraduate research.. experience in the lab, fundamental discoveries.
- Had the freedom to ask questions, design experiments to get an answer.
- The early 90s
- The advancements he’s seen over the last 30 years.
- Exciting time to be alive!
- Rapid accumulation in data.. and technological advancements
- Matt – the Couch tech/science YouTube watcher speaks.. haha
- My interest in tech, science, physics..
- Noting that it’s an amazing time to be alive.. and old age could benefit from a lot of what’s being done today.
- The transition to BUSINESS.
- Office of Technology Management – Discoveries
- How does that work..
- A year and a half.. dozens of tries. Got something concrete, patents.
- Now, how do we form a company?
- Nitric Oxide was so new, there was no way to license it to another company.
- Neighbor, private equity fundraiser.. “go out and raise money.”
- On the road.. talked to investors to get interested in what he was doing.
- Selling the vision.
- Very frustrating.
- Was broke.. and found an investor!
- 2009 started the company..
- ONLY had a concept.
- Didn’t have a product yet!
- Office of Technology Management – Discoveries
- Had to develop a product that could deliver what is a gas.. in a solid, dose form. Shelf Stable. BIG CHALLENGE.
- He figured this out. It’s his contribution to Nitric Oxide.
- Productizing it – dietary supplements, food-based products, topical, drugs for Covid.. and more!
- Learned a lot about business, people, egos..
- IMPORTANT LESSONS
- What to do, but what NOT to do.
- It’s all about relationships.. a sphere of influence.
- Common thoughts, common vision, common motivation.. to DO GOOD.
- If you do the right thing, the cash register will ring. But never try to ring the cash register OR you lose focus.
- Starts by spreading awareness, educating.. let others make informed decisions (for patients and for themselves)
- IMPORTANT LESSONS
- It’s been rewarding.
- Financially too – his patents are responsible for 40% of the revenue of the University of Texas.
- When you believe in something and put it all on the line.. even when you’re broke.
- Compared to Coronel Sanders or Thomas Edison.
- Making a ‘living’ in academia .. didn’t want to do that.
- Learning along the way.. the journey.
- Retired from full-time academia in 2015 to just run the companies.
- Wanted to see it through and see its full potential.
- What they're doing now..
- Feeling good where their products are.
- Healing wounds
- Helping with Covid
- Gets the root
- Getting to the root cause.
- How is ‘selling’ Nitric Oxide going?
- They had to create a market.
- Educating.
- 100s of Millions in revenue on the supplement and functional food side of things.
- Pharma has been trying for 30 years.. and failed. Chasing the wrong mechanism.
- Restorative Physiology (his approach) vs Restorative Pharmacology (big pharma)
- Fixing vs a Drug that inhibits .. with side effects.
- Making Nitric Oxide for you.
- Nitric Oxide
- What it does.
- We create it naturally..
- Without it cause a lot of problems.
- How it improves Covid treatments..
- The challenge – it’s very disruptive to Big Pharma.
- They know their solution is safe and effective.
- Drug trials, applications filed and getting the drug approved.
- The unfair competitive landscape.
- Self-funded..
- Goes back to DOING THE RIGHT THING.
- The objective and mission.
- Living Longer vs Living BETTER.
- The older you get the less Nitric Oxide you make..
- A cause of a lot of things failing and medical issues.
- By preventing the loss.. body heals itself.
- Everyone working on the aging problem.
- Nitric Oxide isn’t a silver bullet, but your body needs it to heal.
- How to make people better ..
- Educating Consumers through..
- Convincing the physicians.. reteaching, unlearning
- Difficult problem.
- Rethinking how we look at the human disease.
- Moving from insurance-based to cash practice.
- No medication has ever made someone better??
- Older people on a half a dozen or more..
- Medicating to combat side effects..
- Too many drug interactions.
- Mass movement .. healthcare will change.
- Uphill battle
- Big Pharma – why it’s hard to overcome.
- Doing the Right Thing
- What’s this about mouthwash killing Nitric Oxide?
- Things we do that remove Nitric Oxide are bad for our health
- Same with anti-acids ..
- Fluoride toothpaste ..
- Stop these things and your body can create them on its own.
Check out these related Episodes:
- Episode 59: Geoff Chan – Agency Founder, Path to Becoming a Web Developer, How We Learn, Finding Mentors
- Episode 58: Brian Bauer – CRO Agency Owner, Businesses that Survive a Pandemic, Brand & Conversions
- Episode 57: Ilisa Millermoon – An Artist’s Journey, Building Her Brand, Story Telling & Networking Advice
