Shalabh Gupta, MD, CEO and founder of Unicycive Therapeutics, is on a mission to revolutionize kidney disease care by addressing one of its most pressing challenges—patients burdened with the overwhelming number of daily pills.
In a recent Tuesday Talks conversation hosted by Cure CEO Seema Kumar, Gupta shared how his entrepreneurial journey and the development of innovative nanoparticle technology are helping simplify treatments for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which could help them improve their health. Gupta also seeks build a company with a culture centered on collaboration, mentorship, and a shared mission to make a meaningful impact on healthcare.
Kidney disease affects millions worldwide, yet its treatment has stagnanted for decades. Amid this inertia, Gupta, is building a team focused on streamlining kidney disease therapies and improving patient compliance, just as Unicycive has done for other therapeutic areas.
From Medicine to Entrepreneurship
Gupta began his career as a physician-in-training at New York University Hospital, but he quickly realized his future lay beyond clinical practice.
"What I envisioned as a physician was very different from reality," Gupta said. "But my two passions—biology and helping patients—remained. So, I asked myself, what’s the next best way to make an impact?"
This question propelled Gupta into the biotechnology industry. He gained experience as a medical director, worked with the U.S. Food and Drug Administratoin, and later moved to Wall Street as an equity researcher covering U.S. biopharmaceutical companies. At Genentech, Gupta discovered his entrepreneurial spirit.
"Genentech had an incredible mission-driven culture," he said. "Every employee felt like they were contributing to something greater. That’s the culture I wanted to create at Unicycive."
A Pill Burden Too Heavy to Bear
In 2016, Gupta founded Unicycive with a clear goal: to address the challenges faced by patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those on dialysis. These patients often take 20 to 30 pills daily, a staggering burden that many cannot maintain.
"It’s no wonder patients forget or skip medications," Gupta explained. "Phosphate binders—used to manage high phosphate levels—make up half the pills they take."
Gupta saw an opportunity to use nanoparticle technology to shrink pill sizes without sacrificing potency. Acquired in 2018, this innovation became the foundation of Unicycive’s lead drug candidate, which could reduce a patient’s phosphate pills from 12 to 15 daily to just three small tablets.
"We’re not just developing another drug," Gupta said. "We’re creating a simpler solution that patients can actually follow."
Corporate Culture: The Heart of Success
At Unicycive, a carefully cultivated corporate culture connects employees to a shared mission. Gupta emphasizes that strong culture empowers individuals to bring their best selves to work.
"Culture connects people to a mission," Gupta said. "Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating an environment where team members feel free to ask questions, experiment, and learn from mistakes."
Collaboration at Unicycive is essential. Teams work cross-functionally, relying on each other’s expertise to achieve goals. This culture of shared responsibility drives innovation and ensures steady progress.
Gupta actively promotes mentorship and knowledge-sharing within the team. Employees invest in each other’s growth, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability. Open communication, transparency, and trust underpin this collaborative spirit.
"Problems don’t solve themselves if you avoid talking about them," Gupta said. "Transparency and trust are critical for any team."
Building the Right Team
Gupta’s mission-focused culture starts with careful team building. He believes assembling individuals with expertise, humility, and a collaborative mindset is crucial for success in a small company.
"In a small team, you can’t have lone warriors," Gupta said. "You need people who communicate openly, work together, and help each other grow."
Gupta stresses the importance of balancing complementary skills and personalities. At Unicycive, hiring decisions focus on strengthening the collective team dynamic. Even one employee can a significant impact a small team.
"One disengaged person in a team of 20 represents 5 percent of your workforce," Gupta said. "You need to be deliberate about who you bring on board."
The board members at Unicycive reflects this philosophy. Members like Sara Kenkare-Mitra, PhD, bring specialized expertise that complements Gupta’s vision and leadership.
"A company’s strength lies in its diversity of skills and perspectives," Gupta said. "Building a team that challenges assumptions and encourages different viewpoints fosters growth and innovation."
Scaling Up: From Vision to Reality
Unicycive’s journey illustrates Gupta’s belief in breaking large goals into manageable steps. In 2018, as its sole employee, Gupta took the company public to attract long-term investors and accelerate development.
"Taking a company public is a complex process, but it’s achievable," Gupta said. "You break it into smaller pieces: build a strong story, focus on accounting, legal, auditors, and bankers. Anyone can do it, one step at a time."
Since then, Unicycive has raised more than $80 million, filed for regulatory approval of its lead candidate, and expanded its team to 17 full-time employees. Scaling up post-IPO has brought new challenges, but Gupta remains focused on the end goal—bringing the drug to market to help as many patients as possible.
"You’re always juggling the present and the future," Gupta said. "But small, consistent steps keep us moving forward."
Lessons for Future Entrepreneurs
Reflecting on his journey, Gupta advised aspiring founders to seek mentorship and build support systems.
"Entrepreneurship is lonely. Find mentors and support systems—you can’t do it alone," he said.
Gupta also encouraged leaders to enable their teams instead of micromanaging.
"Leadership is about lifting up your team and creating an environment where they can thrive," he said.
Gupta’s vision for Unicycive exemplifies how solving patient needs, fostering a mission-driven culture, and building a collaborative team can help transform healthcare. He proves that bold goals can be achieved by taking small, deliberate steps—one challenge at a time.
"But at the end of the day, it’s not about me,” Gupta said. “It’s about the patients we’re trying to help and the team making it happen. That’s what drives me every single day."
