In this episode of SoCal Edge, we sit down with Adam Watson, co-founder and CEO of MeCo Diagnostics, a San Diego-based biotech startup developing the only clinically validated biomarker test designed to match breast cancer patients with anti-fibrotic therapy.

Adam shares the remarkable journey from cancer biology PhD student to startup founder, explaining how his dissertation research evolved into a venture-backed company aiming to unlock what he describes as a “seventh modality” of breast cancer treatment. The conversation explores how MeCo Diagnostics is taking an unconventional approach to oncology by repurposing existing anti-fibrotic drugs rather than developing entirely new therapies — with the potential to dramatically reduce both cancer recurrence and treatment costs.

We also dive into:

Why the economics of cancer treatment are becoming unsustainable
The challenges of fundraising as a diagnostics company
How biotech founders tailor pitches differently for VCs, angels, and family offices
The realities of leaving academia and becoming a first-time CEO
Lessons learned from building a biotech startup with limited capital
The role EvoNexus and the San Diego biotech ecosystem played in the company’s growth
Founder loneliness, impostor syndrome, and the pressures of startup life
Why Adam believes many people underestimate how difficult entrepreneurship really is

This episode offers a candid look at the intersection of biotech innovation, healthcare economics, and startup building — from someone trying to fundamentally rethink how cancer care is delivered.

Reach out to Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-watson-phd/