Episode 96: Rethinking Drug Pricing and Accessibility – What Biotech Needs to Know

What happens when patients can’t afford the medicine you’ve worked so hard to create? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Vinay Patel, PharmD—Chief Pharmacy Officer at Proactive MD and Founder of MakoRx—to unpack the hidden complexities behind drug pricing, access, and affordability. Together, they explore how traditional insurance models impact patient care, and what drug developers and startups need to know to ensure their therapeutics actually reach the people who need them. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) influence drug access—and what that means for your commercialization strategy. How cost-plus pricing models are changing the healthcare landscape. Key considerations for biotech innovators to ensure affordability, patient access, and long-term success. Whether you're developing a new therapeutic or trying to understand the real-world implications of drug pricing, this conversation offers a powerful look behind the pharmacy counter. Links: Connect with Vinay Patel, PharmD, and check out Proactive MD and MakoRx. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Learn more about The Study, Elaine’s wine bar. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Check out BIO on the BAYOU and make plans to attend October 28 & 29, 2025. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast. Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.