Revisionist History: The Future of Healthcare Technology with Eli Lilly and Company's Diogo Rau
Revisionist History, hosted by Malcolm Gladwell and produced by Pushkin Industries, delves into the overlooked and misunderstood aspects of history. In the February 6, 2025 episode titled "The Future of Healthcare Technology with Eli Lilly and Company's Diogo Rau," Gladwell engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Diogo Rau, Eli Lilly's Chief Information and Digital Officer. This detailed summary captures the essence of their discussion, highlighting key topics, insights, and forward-thinking perspectives on the intersection of technology and healthcare.
1. Introduction to Diogo Rau and His Unique Background
Malcolm Gladwell opens the episode by introducing Diogo Rau, emphasizing his unconventional transition from the tech giant Apple to the pharmaceutical behemoth Eli Lilly. Rau's extensive experience in the technology sector, spanning roles at Apple, McKinsey, and various startups, positions him uniquely within Eli Lilly.
Notable Quote:
Diogo Rau: "I think I have that reputation of being unusual. At least I like to try to do things a little bit differently."
[02:26]
2. Transitioning from Silicon Valley to Life Sciences
Rau discusses his move to Eli Lilly, highlighting the rarity of such transitions. He notes that only about five individuals have made a similar shift from Apple to life sciences, underscoring the distinct cultures and operational paradigms between the two industries.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "Before that I was in the startup world. So I've really spent my whole life in technology."
[02:50]
Diogo Rau: "I came to realize, no, actually there's a lot of exciting stuff that's happening outside of just the tech world."
[03:18]
3. Contrasting Tech and Pharmaceutical Industries
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the stark differences between the technology and pharmaceutical sectors. Rau highlights the extended timelines inherent in drug development compared to the rapid pace of the tech industry. He shares his astonishment upon witnessing Eli Lilly's long-term revenue forecasts extending to 2030, a practice virtually nonexistent in Silicon Valley.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "The number one thing that I actually saw was actually the nice people parts."
[04:49]
Diogo Rau: "In tech, like looking like 18 months out in revenue is ridiculous."
[05:17]
Diogo Rau: "It's going to be five, six, seven years... 2036. And there are zero tech companies right now talking about what they're going to launch in 2036."
[05:53]
4. Embracing Long-Term Perspectives in Pharma
Rau delves into how the extended timelines in pharmaceuticals foster a culture of long-term thinking and reduced volatility. This contrasts with the tech industry's focus on short-term gains and rapid iterations.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "It gives it a really long-term perspective, like a crazy long-term perspective."
[07:08]
Diogo Rau: "We're not going to trade off some of the long term to get a little bit of benefit in the short term."
[07:10]
5. Mandate to Innovate and Modernize Eli Lilly
Upon joining Eli Lilly, Rau was tasked with infusing technology into all facets of the company. His mandate was not merely to maintain existing operations but to revolutionize them, bringing a consumer-oriented approach reminiscent of his tenure at Apple.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "My boss... gave me a mandate to really change, to bring in technology into everything that we did."
[07:53]
Diogo Rau: "The whole industry hasn't really focused on how do we make it an amazing experience... just haven't arrived here yet."
[09:09]
6. Implementing a Consumer-Centric Approach
Rau emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the customer experience, a philosophy ingrained during his time at Apple. He advocates for starting projects by envisioning the desired consumer experience and working backward to achieve it, rather than adhering strictly to traditional business pillars.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "At Apple, you would always start by like, what's the customer, the consumer experience that you want to create and then work backwards."
[10:06]
Diogo Rau: "We need to actually focus on making a customer experience better."
[10:06]
7. Combating Counterfeit Medicines with NFC Technology
Addressing the critical issue of medicine safety, Rau introduces Eli Lilly's innovative solution to counterfeit drugs using Near Field Communication (NFC) tags. This technology ensures the authenticity of medications by providing a cryptographically secure verification method that is difficult to replicate.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "I can guarantee you there are zero tech companies right now talking about what they're going to launch in 2036."
[05:53]
Diogo Rau: "I have a box of goodies here... One of the big challenges... is medicine safety."
[12:31]
Diogo Rau: "This NFC tag... can't be copied. There's one and only one tag that you can tap and then we can verify it."
[16:00]
8. The Role of Wearables in Enhancing Medication Adherence
Rau explores the potential of wearables in monitoring and improving adherence to medications. He envisions a future where wearables not only track medication intake but also provide real-time feedback to patients, empowering them to stay committed to their treatment plans.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "Version two... will be on the individual medicine itself."
[16:58]
Diogo Rau: "I think we'd say this is a great thing. If adherence can improve for patients across all medicines, all manufacturers, that would be fantastic."
[16:42]
Diogo Rau: "We have scales in our house... imagine if you could just see, oh, hey, actually I'm taking cholesterol medication and... my cholesterol went down versus yesterday."
[21:13]
9. Empowering Patients Through Data Control
Rau advocates for shifting data ownership to patients, allowing them to access and share their health data as they see fit. This empowerment contrasts with the traditional model where data is primarily held by healthcare providers, fostering a more transparent and patient-centric healthcare ecosystem.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "The data really should be with the patient. I think there's a tendency to say... it's really the data is for the patient."
[22:27]
Diogo Rau: "We are moving the primary point of contact from the hospital or the doctor's office to the home."
[24:23]
10. Reducing Barriers to Medication Access
Highlighting systemic challenges, Rau discusses the prevalence of "pharmacy deserts" in the United States and Eli Lilly's commitment to minimizing barriers to accessing medications. By streamlining processes from telehealth consultations to same-day medication deliveries, Eli Lilly aims to make healthcare more accessible and efficient.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "45 million Americans live in pharmacy deserts."
[24:06]
Diogo Rau: "You should be able to go in, get a telehealth appointment and... get it shipped... the exact same day."
[24:23]
11. Vision of Success and Future Aspirations
As the conversation draws to a close, Rau shares his long-term vision for Eli Lilly. He aspires to revolutionize the consumer side of healthcare, ensuring seamless access and adherence to medications, while also advancing drug discovery through artificial intelligence.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "Millions and millions of lives touched by just getting medicine and staying on medicine."
[26:03]
Diogo Rau: "Discovering new medicines, particularly with AI... coming out over the next decade."
[26:03]
12. Concluding Insights on Swift Feedback and Adaptation
Rau underscores the importance of swift feedback and adaptability in both technology and healthcare industries. By minimizing the time between action and response, companies can enhance user experiences and improve treatment outcomes.
Notable Quotes:
Diogo Rau: "Swiftness... would you say the adherence problem be solved if we address the swiftness problem?"
[28:05]
Diogo Rau: "How quickly did you take the feedback and adapt? That's really... swiftness."
[28:05]
13. Closing Remarks
Malcolm Gladwell wraps up the episode by acknowledging the innovative work of Diogo Rau and expressing optimism for the transformative changes Eli Lilly aims to implement in the healthcare landscape.
Conclusion
This episode of Revisionist History offers a visionary glimpse into the future of healthcare technology through the lens of Diogo Rau. By bridging the gap between technology and life sciences, Rau exemplifies how interdisciplinary approaches can address longstanding challenges in medicine safety, accessibility, and patient engagement. His insights not only highlight the potential for technological advancements to revolutionize healthcare but also emphasize the importance of a patient-centric mindset in driving meaningful change.
Notable Timestamps and Quotes:
- [02:26] - Diogo Rau introduces himself as an "unusual" figure at Eli Lilly.
- [05:17] - Rau expresses skepticism about long-term revenue forecasts in tech vs. pharma.
- [07:53] - Rau explains his mandate to bring technological innovation to Eli Lilly.
- [10:06] - Rau details the consumer-centric approach learned at Apple.
- [16:00] - Introduction of NFC technology to verify medicine authenticity.
- [21:13] - Rau envisions real-time feedback mechanisms enhancing medication adherence.
- [26:03] - Rau outlines his vision for consumer engagement and AI-driven drug discovery.
- [28:05] - Discussion on the importance of swiftness in feedback and adaptation.
This summary encapsulates the dynamic interplay between technology and pharmaceuticals as discussed by Diogo Rau, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the episode's key themes and forward-looking perspectives.