Robert Plenge, EVP & Chief Research Officer, BMS: Reinventing Drug Discovery

Synopsis: The drug discovery industry faces a persistent challenge: 9 out of 10 drugs entering the clinic fail, underscoring the need for a better path from biological insight to transformative medicine. Host Rahul Chaturvedi speaks with Robert Plenge, Executive Vice President and Chief Research Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, about how causal human biology, genetics, novel targets, and emerging technologies are reshaping drug discovery. Robert traces his unconventional journey from aspiring orthopedic surgeon to physician-scientist, human geneticist, and R&D leader, sharing how treating patients with autoimmune disease exposed the gap between controlling symptoms and creating medicines capable of fundamentally changing the course of disease. He explains why understanding causal human biology is critical to improving clinical success rates—and why an industry-wide concentration on the same validated targets risks limiting true innovation. The conversation explores BMS's approach to target diversity and first-in-class innovation, the promise of immune reset and functional cures in autoimmune disease, and how targeted protein degradation is creating new possibilities for patients. Robert also offers a measured view of AI in R&D—from designing higher-quality molecules faster to modeling early clinical data—while emphasizing that technology still depends on understanding the underlying biology. Robert and Rahul also examine the rise of “blended innovation,” where academia, biotech, pharma, and technology partners increasingly work through interconnected ecosystems rather than a traditional linear handoff. Beyond science, Robert shares candid lessons on mentorship, failure, uncertainty, and navigating the “jagged line” of a career—ending with a memorable principle: hold your why tightly and your how loosely. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation on what it will take to move beyond incremental drug development and build the next generation of medicines. Biography: Robert Plenge, MD, PhD is Executive Vice President and Chief Research Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he leads scientific activities across nine research sites around the world, all focused on transforming patients’ lives through science. Prior to his current role, Robert served as head of Discovery & Translational Sciences at BMS, a role that spanned all therapeutic areas at the company. Robert joined BMS as part of the Celgene acquisition in November 2019. At Celgene, he served as vice president, Immunology & Inflammation portfolio, Research & Early Development. Prior to joining Celgene, Robert was vice president and Head of Translational Medicine at Merck. Robert received his MD and PhD from Case Western Reserve University and holds a BS from the University of California, San Diego. He completed his internal medicine residency as a molecular medicine fellow at the University of California, San Francisco. He served as rheumatology fellow at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and postdoctoral research fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. He was an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an associate member of the Broad Institute while practicing clinical rheumatology and running a research laboratory at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. Robert is an author of more than 125 manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals, and frequently posts updates to his personal blog, Plenge Gen, commenting on critical discovery moments with a focus on the resulting patient impact. He is a recipient of several academic and corporate awards and currently serves on the Board of Directors for BioMarin, Alltrna and the PhRMA Foundation.