# Pivoting in Biotech with Dr. Tony Vanden Bush of Syntherna

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/pivoting-in-biotech-with-dr-tony-vanden-bush-of-syntherna.md
Podcast: [Iowa Tech Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920)
Published: 2026-01-20T11:44:00+00:00
Episode link: https://f8302322-1d6c-46da-acd0-a4cdad4ddaab.libsyn.com/pivoting-in-biotech-with-dr-tony-vanden-bush-of-syntherna
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/f8302322-1d6c-46da-acd0-a4cdad4ddaab/Tech_Interview_with_Tony.mp3?dest-id=4673877
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/episodes/pivoting-in-biotech-with-dr-tony-vanden-bush-of-syntherna
Duration seconds: 2123

## Resource

On this episode of the Iowa Tech Podcast, host Kaylee Williams welcomes back Dr. Tony Vanden Bush, CEO of Syntherna, for a candid look at how the biotech startup has navigated a shifting market. Since their last chat in August 2024, attitudes toward RNA vaccines have cooled and animal-health regulatory timelines have lengthened - two forces outside the company's control. Tony explains Syntherna's dual pivot: opening their in-house RNA manufacturing capabilities as a CRO-style "pick-and-shovel" service to generate non-dilutive revenue, and elevating their slow-release vaccine implant for companion animals (with potential in livestock) to the front of their R&D roadmap. He details how a four-person team re-triages time and talent, explores crossovers like RNA delivery via implant, and keeps stakeholders aligned through frequent, transparent communication - even when the answer is "I don't know." The conversation broadens into practical founder wisdom: why platforms beat "widgets," how to think about failure as learning, and the realities of capital in Midwest biotech - balancing smart, value-add investment with the occasional need for passive dollars to bridge gaps. Tony remains bullish on RNA's long-term role, especially in cancer immunotherapeutics, even if broad adoption takes years. They close with a teaser for his forthcoming book, The Elements of Science: a pocket guide to thinking and experimenting like a scientist - applicable well beyond the lab - and an invitation to connect via the email in the show notes.

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