Host Karen Tkaczyk speaks with Michael Young, Principal and Founder of biomedwoRx, for a rich discussion that blended personal history, professional insight, and a forward-looking take on the industry. Michael’s career spans over three decades in the life sciences, and his path reveals not only technical expertise but also a deep sense of mission.
From First-Generation Roots to Global Strategy
Michael describes himself as mission-driven, and that thread runs through his story. Raised in Ohio by immigrant parents, his mother a practicing OB-GYN and his father a structural engineer, he was encouraged toward professional excellence from the start. At Kenyon College, he pursued both English and biochemistry, setting the foundation for what would become his lifelong goal: communicating science in ways that improve patient outcomes.
That dual focus on science and communication has shaped his work across patient advocacy, clinical development, and now his consultancy, biomedwoRx.
Over the course of 30 years, Michael has helped lead or contribute to the launch of 22 new chemical entities across the United States, Europe, and Asia. His therapeutic expertise encompasses oncology, hematology, immunology, dermatology, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and other related fields.
With biomedwoRx, founded nine years ago, Michael primarily works with small and mid-sized life sciences companies that require external expertise in strategy, commercialization, and brand lifecycle planning. His consultancy often steps in early, guiding companies from “six people in a garage” toward successful launches, and later, helping established brands navigate patent expiration and loss of exclusivity.
The Power of Cultural Competence
One of the strongest themes in the conversation was the importance of cultural and linguistic sensitivity in life sciences. Michael shared both humorous and sobering examples of mistranslation gone wrong, from KFC’s “finger-lickin’ good” turning into “eat your fingers off” in Mandarin, to clinical misunderstandings like confusing “intoxicado” in Cuban dialect (food poisoning) with intoxication.
Beyond anecdotes, he emphasized that communication failures can derail therapeutic efforts. If patients or prescribers cannot understand instructions clearly, even the most advanced drug may fail in practice.
Michael also introduced his concept of JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. He argued that diverse clinical trials are not just about fairness but about better science. Without diverse populations, data on efficacy and side effects will be incomplete.
Language, Adherence, and Emerging Technologies
Michael highlighted that adherence challenges are especially acute in orphan diseases, oncology, and dementia. In these areas, patient support networks and caregivers play crucial roles, which means communication must be precise, culturally sensitive, and adapted to different age groups and literacy levels.
The conversation also touched on AI in life sciences. Michael acknowledged its growing role, from chatbots to clinical trial design, but cautioned that automated systems must “speak the right language” to build patient trust. He emphasized that while machines may interact with each other seamlessly, what matters is how their outputs connect with patients and providers in a human, culturally attuned way.
Where the Puck Will Be
Closing the discussion, Michael invoked Wayne Gretzky’s famous line: “I always try to skate to where the puck is going to be.” For biomedwoRx, that means anticipating industry shifts, such as potential reforms in direct-to-consumer advertising, which accounted for nearly $9 billion in digital spend last year alone.
Michael sees this as an opportunity to reassess where that investment should be directed. Could funds be redirected into medical education, prescriber support, or new approaches to language and communication? For him, these questions are not academic; they are central to how life sciences can deliver real value to patients.
Connect with Michael Young
Michael is active on LinkedIn, where he regularly shares insights and sparks conversation around strategy, communication, and the future of life sciences. As he puts it, biomedwoRx exists to help clients not just manage where they are today, but anticipate where they need to go tomorrow.
About Life Sciences – In Focus
Life Sciences – In Focus Podcast by Visatatec, a fascinating conversation with global life sciences experts. The show has multiple hosts and topics. Follow Life Sciences – In Focus on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on YouTube and Apple podcasts. Life Sciences – In Focus is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about the podcast, please visit https://vistatec.com/life-sciences-division.
About Vistatec
We have been helping some of the world’s most iconic brands to optimize their global commercial potential since 1997. Vistatec is one of the world’s leading global content solutions providers. HQ in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in Mountain View, California, USA. To learn more about Vistatec, please visit https://www.vistatec.com
