Reprogramming cells with AI for improved biologics manufacturing with Jie Sun of ChemT Biotech

<p>Jie Sun, Co-founder and CEO of ChemT Biotechnology, joins the show to discuss how artificial intelligence, virtual cell models, and small-molecule interventions could reshape biologics manufacturing. Drawing on a career spanning healthcare consulting, pharmaceutical project management, regulated healthcare AI, and entrepreneurship, Jie shares how her experience across Southeast Asia and the United States shaped her approach to identifying valuable problems and building globally relevant companies.</p><p>In this episode, Jie explains why ChemT Biotechnology chose biomanufacturing as the focus for its virtual cell platform. Rather than applying AI primarily to develop drugs for patients, the company designs what Jie calls “cellular drugs,” small molecules intended to modulate the behaviour of manufacturing cells. The approach combines gene-target identification, prediction of cell-state and phenotypic changes, and AI-assisted generation and filtering of small-molecule structures. </p><p>Jie also discusses why wet-lab validation remains the ultimate test for AI-driven biotechnology. She argues that AI models alone are becoming increasingly commoditised, while defensibility comes from proprietary data, deep manufacturing context, and the ability to translate technology into a product that solves a customer’s problem faster, more cheaply, or more effectively. </p><p><br></p><p>Host: Tan Mei Jia</p><p>Editors: Dillon Chew, Chi Dam</p><p><br></p><p>01:25 About Jie Sun and her background</p><p>08:05 First startup experience </p><p>15:25 The ChemT Biotech Story</p><p>18:10 Role of AI in ChemT </p><p>23:25 More on their product</p><p>25:36 Funding and expansion</p><p>32:33 On Female founders </p><p>37:44 Advice to aspiring founders</p>