Company: VeriSIM Life, San Francisco, CA
Company Description: VeriSIM Life is an AI-driven, computational platform company focused on solving the translational gap in drug development by providing insights into the likelihood of a candidate's success in clinical trials early in the preclinical stage. The company's 'virtual drug development engine' helps reduce unnecessary experimentation and risk, to bring life-saving therapies to patients faster.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Most Innovative Woman of the Year - Healthcare
 Nomination Title: Dr Jo Varshney PhD, DVM
- Outline the nominee's achievements since July 1 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 243 words used.
Under Jo’s leadership, VeriSIM Life has become one of fastest-growing drug discovery technology companies. In January, 2022 VeriSIM Life closed a$15M Series A round of financing, bringing in more than $25 million in total operating capital for the company. Shortly thereafter, VeriSIM Life acquired a privately held drug discovery technology startup. The company has grown its global customer base, including a notable multi-year partnership with Mayo Clinic announced in June, 2022. VeriSIM Life has also developed a robust partner ecosystem with leading companies in the life sciences intelligence space, including a recent alliance with Clarivate.
VeriSIM Life has received numerous awards for its innovation and strategy, including:
Dr. Varshney is also the CEO of PulmoSIM Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of VeriSIM Life. PulmoSIM accelerates drug development using VeriSIM Life’s BIOiSIM technology. PulmoSIM’s PT001 asset was granted FDA orphan drug designation, and is entering clinical trials, after only 2 years of development–a significant reduction over typical preclinical development averages.
In the past year, Dr. Varshney has contributed scientific and industry commentary to publications such as MSNBC, Fox Business News, Labiotech, PharmTech and more. She was added as a Scientific Advisor to the FDA Critical Path Institute for Parkinson’s program. Varshney has co-authored 12 scientific articles published in journals like Nature Scientific Reports, International Journal of Molecular Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 56 words used.
PulmoSIM Tx Granted ODD by FDA for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
VeriSIM Life Enters Collaboration Agreement with Mayo Clinic
VeriSIM Life Secures $15M Series A
VeriSIM Life Earns Frost & Sullivan Competitive Strategy Leadership Award
VeriSIM Life Named “Predictive Analytics Solution of the Year”
VeriSIM Life Partners with Clarivate
Google Scholar results for Jyotika Varshney since 2021
- Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 198 words used.
Born to a pharmacological pedigree in India, Dr. Jo Varshney was introduced to the world of drug development and research at a young age. Seeing the role of animal testing in the drug discovery process fostered a desire to advocate for animals, which she pursued through veterinary medicine.
In 2010, Varshney came to the United States to study comparative pathobiology/oncology, genomics and bioinformatics. Over the next six years she developed novel microRNA biomarkers and 3D bone models, conducting NGS- small RNA sequencing and whole transcriptome analysis. But her research also revealed a troubling reality about helping patients.
“I realized how difficult it is to translate from the lab to clinical trials and thought there must be a better way,” said Varshney. “So, I studied computer science to use machine learning, mathematical models, and data to see how a new drug might work in humans.”
Varshney built a virtual mouse. She wrote some code and selected a drug with publicly available data to run a simulation and compare the output for a match. The results were astonishing.
Varshney entered a Google hackathon to build out the concept, and won. VeriSIM Life the company was born shortly thereafter.
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2021 of the nominated woman, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below:
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 228 words used.
Healthcare is at a critical inflection point. The cost and time it takes to bring drugs to market has doubled every 10 years. The top 15 pharma companies spent $130 billion on R&D last year, while the FDA approved only 37 new drugs. 300 million patients with unmet diseases continue to await therapies.
Varshney started VeriSIM Life to change this paradigm. The company’s platform integrates artificial intelligence, machine learning, and quantitative pharmacology systems to unwind biology. It predicts which drug candidates are most likely to succeed in animals, and ultimately humans, to reduce trial and error in R&D.
As if founding a disruptive biotech isn’t enough, Varshney is raising 2 children under 3 years old, and is an active advisor in the Bay Area’s local STEM community. Growing up in India, entering the STEM field as a woman of Indian descent, enduring bullying, discrimination and sexism, seemed to come with the territory. But persistence, grit and staying humble has led her to pursue solving one of society’s hardest problems.
She credits her success in part to the martial art of Muay Thai. Varshney learned the physically and mentally challenging discipline as a little girl. Muay Thai training helped Varshney start VeriSIM Life as a solo founder. Today she credits it for persisting to raise capital, hire incredible talent and having the courage to say yes to scary problems.
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