Episode 25: Put the Patient First - Roy D. Baynes, EVP & CMO at Eikon Therapeutics

In this inspiring, masterclass-style conversation, Dr. Roy Baynes, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Eikon Therapeutics, sits down with Patty to reflect on a remarkable career spanning a quarter century in academic medicine and another in industry leadership at Amgen, Gilead, and Merck. A physician-scientist who has never walked into a well-established organization, only rebuilds and turnarounds, Roy shares how a steady commitment to making a difference for patients has guided every role. 

You’ll hear Roy and Patty explore the principles behind building teams that deliver again and again, why simplicity and ownership matter so much in development organizations, and the behind-the-scenes story of how Keytruda went from an overlooked molecule to one of the most important cancer medicines in the world. They also dig into how leaders know when to double down or change course, how AI and precision medicine are reshaping drug development, and what drew Roy out of retirement for one more build. This episode explores what it truly takes to bring life-changing medicines to patients, and why drug development will always be a team sport. 

What you’ll hear about 

• What principles drive repeatable success in developing transformational new medicines? 

• Why do top performers follow certain leaders from company to company? 

• What really set Keytruda apart from competing programs at the time? 

• How do development leaders know when to double down or change course? 

• How are AI and precision medicine changing what’s possible in oncology? 

• What does it take to rebuild a development organization at scale? 

This episode is intended for clinical development and R&D leaders, offering a clear playbook for building high-performing teams and making smarter, phase-appropriate decisions about which programs to advance. 

Timestamps 

00:10 – From physician-scientist to industry leader 

04:30 – The playbook for repeatable success 

07:10 – What sets winning teams apart 

11:35 – Why top talent follows great leaders 

13:20 – A lasting partnership with Roger Perlmutter 

14:25 – The Keytruda story 

18:35 – Rebuilding Merck’s development engine 

23:35 – Reaching patients in record time 

24:55 – When to double down, and when to change course 

28:35 – Drug development in the age of AI and precision medicine 

31:10 – Out of retirement and into Eikon Therapeutics 

34:15 – What still drives him after decades in the industry 

Guest Biography 

Dr. Roy Baynes is Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Eikon Therapeutics, where he leads the company’s clinical development programs. A physician-scientist who spent a quarter century in academic medicine, he went on to hold leadership roles at Amgen, Gilead, and Merck, where as head of global clinical development and Chief Medical Officer he helped shape the development strategy for Keytruda among dozens of important new medicines. Throughout his career, Roy has been guided by a single conviction: bringing forward innovative medicines that make a meaningful difference for patients.