Michael S. Weiss ’88 is a seasoned biotech entrepreneur who currently serves as chairman, president, and CEO of TG Therapeutics, a company focused on developing treatments for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. With a career spanning law, venture capital, and executive leadership, Weiss has founded or led several biotech firms, including ACCESS Oncology and Keryx Biopharmaceuticals. He also helps nurture early-stage companies as vice chairman of Fortress Biotech and chairman of both Checkpoint Therapeutics and Mustang Bio.

In this Q&A, Weiss shares insights on the biotechnology field and offers his perspective on where it’s headed.

‍You began your journey at the University at Albany, then transitioned from law to life sciences. What first sparked your interest in the world of biotech?

As you can imagine, biotech was not on my radar at first. After graduating from Albany, I went on to Columbia Law School and began a pretty traditional path, starting my career as a corporate lawyer at Cravath, Swaine& Moore. It was a great place to start, smart people and great training, but I realized it wasn’t my passion.

I started exploring other opportunities, initially looking at investment banking, but ultimately, I made a jump into a smaller company that was focused on launching and funding biotech startups. At the time, I wasn’t drawn to the role because of the science but was attracted to the entrepreneurial energy and creativity behind building new companies.

Once I got there, however, the science began to pull me in. These startups were doing some cutting-edge work—gene therapy, antisense technology and novel targeted cancer drugs. The more science and medicine I learned, the more fascinated I became. So what started as an interest in the business of entrepreneurship gradually evolved into a real passion for science itself.

You’ve led companies through major changes in the biotech landscape over the past two decades. What has surprised you most about how the industry has evolved? And with AI, are we on the precipice of a "Golden Age" in biotech?

When I first got into biotech in 1993, the science was undeniably exciting but looking back, our understanding of complex biological systems was still in its infancy. What’s surprised me the most over the years is just how many novel and meaningful therapeutic targets have been uncovered, many directly stemming from the work of the Human Genome Project, that have led to life-changing medicines.  At the time, I really didn’t fully appreciate how transformative that work would be.  And yet, despite all the progress, there’s still a mountain of genetic information that remains untranslated [into therapies.]

That’s where I believe AI comes in. By applying AI to this vast trove of genomic data, we have the potential to uncover new biological insights and identify the next generation of therapeutic targets. If we get that right, it could very well usher in another golden age of biotech.

Setbacks and even failure are inherent to the process of any company—perhaps even more so in biopharma. How do you weather the setbacks to get to success?

In a field like biopharma, setbacks are inevitable. And I’ve had my fair share of those failures. Whether it's a trial that didn’t go as planned or a scientific hurdle that takes longer to overcome, you have to anticipate challenges. What separates long-term success from failure is how you respond. If you view a setback through a purely negative lens, if you let it define you or take a defeatist stance, it can be paralyzing.   The only way to weather a setback is by viewing it as an opportunity: an opportunity to learn, to recalibrate, and to rebuild something even stronger.  Staying optimistic in the face of adversity is key to overcoming setbacks.

One of the best ways to stay optimistic is being prepared for failure and having contingency plans in place.  Knowing exactly what you will do in the worst-case scenario is essential.  Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.  

When you see adversity as the opportunity to re-focus and adapt, you create the conditions for long-term success. For me, maintaining a resilient and positive mindset and a well-thought-through Plan B has been essential to persevering setbacks.

There’s a lot of public conversation around the cost and accessibility of breakthrough therapies. How do you think the biotech industry can better serve both innovation and equity?

It’s interesting, the overall perception is that drug prices are too high leading to affordability and access issues to breakthrough therapies.  Unfortunately, what most people don’t realize is that nearly every drug company offers generous assistance programs for their branded drugs—whether it's free drug programs for uninsured patients or co-pay support for those who are underinsured. I always encourage people who are struggling to afford their medications to visit the product's website; in most cases, help is readily available.

However, one of the biggest issues is that Medicare and Medicaid do not permit individuals to receive co-pay support from biotech and pharma companies.  I believe if that were permitted, that would close one of the largest holes in patient access and affordability to novel new therapies.  

So for most patients there are already programs available to ensure affordability and access to breakthrough therapies and I believe there are relatively simple solutions available to close the gap for the rest.

What areas of medicine or technology do you think hold the most promise in the next 5–10 years? Are there emerging trends that excite you personally?

=As I mentioned earlier, I think we’re just beginning to tap into the potential of the intersection of AI and biology. Beyond identifying novel therapeutic targets, we’re starting to see breakthroughs in areas like brain-computer interfaces, another area where AI could ultimately play a significant role. If you think about the future of longevity, AI has the potential to help extend cognitive function, which is going to be an incredibly important piece of the puzzle.

Personally, I’m particularly excited about innovations aimed at resetting the immune system in people with autoimmune diseases. This is an area we’re actively exploring at TG with our CD19 CAR-T therapy.  Today, it’s estimated that up to 15–20% of the U.S. population may be affected by one or more autoimmune conditions—a sharp rise over the last 50-100 years.

We’re learning every day that many more conditions may have autoimmune components, including, for example, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.  If we can develop therapies that truly reset or reprogram the immune system, it could have a profound impact, not just on chronic illness, but on healthy aging and overall longevity. I believe the next 5 –10 years could bring major breakthroughs in this area.

You’ve built and led several companies. What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned that’s as relevant in the lab as it is in the boardroom?

I’d offer a few interrelated lessons rather than just one.

First and foremost, effective leadership starts with a clear vision and a plan to bring that vision to life. But it’s not enough to simply define it once. That vision and plan need to be communicated early, often, and consistently to all key stakeholders. You can’t assume people remember or internalize it the first, second, or even third time. Repetition, clarity, and reinforcement are critical.

Second, once that vision and plan are formulated, success comes down to the team. At TG everyone has bought into my hiring philosophy, which is hiring the most talented, most experienced, and just as importantly, the nicest people we can find. That last part might surprise some, but I’ve learned it’s essential. Teams thrive when there’s trust, collaboration, and mutual respect. When people are aligned around a shared vision and can work together without unnecessary friction, that’s when great things happen.

So whether you’re in the lab or the boardroom, it all comes down to clear direction and the right people working together in harmony. That’s where real progress is made.

What advice would you give to current UAlbany students who want to make an impact in science, medicine, or businessFind something you’re passionate about and then commit yourself fully to it. There’s no shortcut to success. Hard work is the only proven path, which is why it’s so important to love what you do. When you’re passionate, the long hours and tough moments don’t feel like a burden; they just become part of the journey.

When I was a lawyer, I was working 90+ hour weeks, and I felt every one of them, not because of the hours, but because the work didn’t speak to me. When I made the move into biotech and startups, the hours didn’t change, if anything, they increased, but suddenly it didn’t feel like work. I was energized. I’d stay late, work weekends, pull all-nighters. Even now, I’m always “on” and love it.

And one more piece of advice: don’t stress if you haven’t found your passion by the time you graduate. That’s okay. Focus on doing your best in whatever you’re doing now; stay curious and keep exploring.  Sometimes your passion finds you — that’s what happened to me.

And with all the incredible progress happening in biotech, I’m hopeful you’ll have plenty of time to figure it out.

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