Causeway Therapeutics strategically targets a market with no existing FDA-approved drugs. By focusing on conditions like tennis elbow, where the standard of care is limited, they are creating a new therapeutic category rather than competing in a crowded space, giving them a unique market position.
While acknowledging that repurposing a failed drug feels like a "leap of faith," Declan Doogan stresses it's not a blind gamble. The successful pivot at Amarin was based on a "thorough and rigorous assessment of the science evidence based thinking," highlighting that radical strategic shifts must be built on a strong scientific foundation.
Rather than viewing his long tenure at Pfizer as the final destination, Doogan frames it as a crucial learning period. This "apprenticeship" provided invaluable experience with drug development, failure, and industry dynamics, which directly enabled his later success as a biotech founder and executive.
After joining Amarin, Doogan immediately faced a failed Phase 3 program. Instead of closing down, the team re-evaluated their existing science and successfully repurposed a product originally for Huntington's disease to treat hypertriglyceridemia, ultimately leading to FDA approval and commercial success.
Doogan's advice for young entrepreneurs is pragmatic: the best time to take significant career risks is before acquiring major financial obligations like a mortgage or family expenses. This period offers greater flexibility to pursue high-risk, high-reward ventures without the same level of personal financial jeopardy.
Declan Doogan's motivation for leaving a 25-year career at Pfizer wasn't just to start one company. He sought "agency"—the freedom from being tied to a single large employer, enabling him to engage in a broad portfolio of partnerships and ventures in the more dynamic and exciting startup world.