Ken Ruppel, who recently joined Diaceutics as the VP of Scientific & Medical Services, has an impressive career which spans over 25 years in the medical research, life sciences, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and clinical diagnostic markets. Before joining Diaceutics, Ken served as VP of Precision Medicine at Amplity Health, where his strategic expertise was instrumental in launching over 20 companion diagnostic indications and guiding precision medicine strategies for numerous pharmaceutical brands.
In the following interview, Ken shares his journey, from his early days at a small start-up in cancer diagnostics to his pivotal role in the success of Keytruda. He also discusses his mentors, career milestones, and the lessons he has learned along the way. Join us as we delve into the experiences and insights of a leader committed to advancing precision medicine.
What and when was your first job in the sector?
My first job in cancer diagnostics was with a small start-up back in the early 2000s that could have closed its doors any day. That company grew to one of the largest single-site oncology testing centres in the US. What a great ride.
Who was your biggest mentor and why?
At my first oncology/pathology focused experience, Dr Ken Bloom, a visionary pathologist in the US, helped me understand the value of pathology to patients. Our goal was to partner with pathologists to help them create academic-level care in the community.
This was the time when breast prognostics and Her2 testing really took off. Partnering with pathologists has become my calling card ever since.
What was your biggest career break and how did it happen?
In 2016 I was recruited to support the diagnostic component of drug in a new class of therapies. Our drug was saddled with a companion diagnostic while the competitor and market leader had an all-comer strategy. We had to build value in testing, build value in precision medicine, and operationalise testing throughout many laboratories in the US.
It was extremely difficult, and we were not the market favourite, yet by creating and selling a vision of precision medicine, we soon caught up and passed our competitor. The drug was Keytruda, and I had no idea that would become what it is today – that little drug was passed over and eventually pulled off the shelf by Merck.
Not only that, I believe Keytruda launched a rebirth of precision medicine and showed what is possible when great science meets great execution.
Did you plan your career, or did you take opportunities as they came?
I wish I could say I planned my career, but I didn’t. I was offered an opportunity that I wasn’t exactly qualified for, but I took the “fake it til you make it mentality” and eventually fell in love with pathology, oncology and precision medicine.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known earlier?
I wish I had fostered more relationships early on. Cancer diagnostics is still a relatively small community compared with other industries. I have met such amazing people who are aways willing to help and educate a young midwestern kid trying to make a difference.
I wish I had stayed in touch with so many people so I could thank them personally for their support over the past 20 years.
At Diaceutics, Ken is set to lead the expansion of current offerings and develop innovative solutions in precision medicine. His dedication to diagnostic-enabled therapies aligns perfectly with Diaceutics' mission to make precision medicine globally accessible through the DXRX platform.
