pharmaphorum Podcast

The M&A market has been rebounding in the US, driven by factors like patent cliffs and improved balance sheets – but the question is whether this will play out in Europe and how the wave could differ. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Andrea Carta Mantiglia, partner and lead of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Focus Team at Italian law firm BonelliErede, about whether the current US biotech M&A surge will indeed extend into Europe. The conversation touches upon the appetite for cross-border dealmaking, the growing role of private equity in European pharma and medtech, generational exits among family-owned pharma groups in Italy, and the role of digitalisation in all this. You can listen to episode 268 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Purespring Therapeutics is a precision nephrology company pioneering first-in-class, targeted genetic therapies designed to preserve kidney function. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Haseeb Ahmad, CEO of Purespring, who discusses transforming the treatment of kidney disease, an area of enormous unmet need, with more than 840 million people worldwide living with chronic kidney disease. Indeed, Purespring’s lead programme is the podocyte-targeted gene therapy PS-002, which is for IgA nephropathy (or IgAN). The conversation also touches upon the evolution of the gene therapy landscape more generally, and where next with this type of innovation in the nephrology space. You can listen to episode 267 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Europe's biotech sector is facing an innovation cliff, with fewer clinical starts, tighter capital, and increasing development complexity. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh caught up with Paul Bridges, president, consulting, at Parexel, and Charlotte Moser, Parexel’s chief medical officer, following BIO-Europe Spring in Lisbon, Portugal. The conversation touches upon regulatory strategy and evolving policy shifts, trial design and execution – and the importance of patient centricity – as well as AI in drug development and medical leadership in drug development today. You can listen to episode 266 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (or CTCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that begins in T lymphocytes, a kind of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system. And Citius Oncology is focused on developing and commercialising a targeted immune therapy for the initial indication of the treatment of persistent or recurrent CTCL. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Leonard Mazur, CEO and Chairman of Citius Pharmaceuticals about the launch of its first FDA-approved drug, Lymphir, for CTCL. Mazur discusses the landscape of unmet need in this space, as well as Citius’ advancement of clinical trials in other areas without approved treatments and the future horizon for such oncological innovations. You can listen to episode 265 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

The radiopharmaceutical sector is in the midst of a transformative year in 2026, with significant developments and challenges, including policy and reimbursement, increasing demand and growth within precision oncology and molecular imaging, and the need for specialised CDMOs when it comes to the intricate nature of radiopharmaceutical manufacturing. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Andrew Cavey, CEO of ITM, about current and future radiopharmaceutical trends. Dr Cavey discusses the evolution of radiopharma, beyond the original “two pillars” of GEP-NETs and PSMA, including the move towards a multi-isotope model, as well as ITM’s pipeline and the potential growth of the broader radiopharma ecosystem going forward. You can listen to episode 263 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

2026 is the year of a major wave of pharmaceutical patent expirations, with numerous blockbuster drugs – spanning diabetes, immunology, cardiovascular, oncology, and other therapeutic areas – on the verge of losing market exclusivity. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Rebecca Guntern, chief commercial officer at Sandoz, for a conversation on the ‘golden decade’ for generics and biosimilars as so many blockbuster drugs come off patent. Guntern discusses why the current wave of blockbuster biologics losing exclusivity is so significant for patient access and healthcare budgets, and the conversation also touches upon policy and regulatory changes still needed in order to unlock the full potential of biosimilars, as well as what should be expected from the next generation of biosimilars. You can listen to episode 263 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Lee-Ann Farrell, Head of National Programmes at Johnson & Johnson, about what delivery will look like in practice when it comes to the National Cancer Plan, the 10-Year Health Plan, and the Life Sciences Sector Plan. The conversation ranges what comes next following the clear policy direction of the Plans, including how the system can move from ambition to implementation, particularly in ensuring innovation is adopted consistently and at pace across cancer care. Farrell discusses the role of innovative medicines within evolving care pathways – as ambitions grow around earlier diagnosis, improved outcomes, and care closer to home – as well the dual role of innovative medicines, both as drivers of better patient outcomes and as contributors to economic growth and system sustainability. You can listen to episode 262 to go here of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Kris Kaneta, chief product officer at Norstella, which is helping life sciences companies speed up development with instant strategy recommendations. Kaneta discusses AI in drug trials and commercialisation and just what’s possible when clinical AI has access to a data set robust enough to allow it to make real strategic recommendations. Kaneta also touches upon why patient-level data is pharma's most important asset in the AI race and the roadblocks that stand in the way of further expanding the efficacy of AI for clinical trials. You can listen to episode 261 to go here of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Ramy Younes, Corporate Vice President, Global Head of Clinical Development, CardioRenalMetabolism, at Boehringer Ingelheim. The conversation explores the crisis beyond obesity that many clinicians and health systems are now grappling with: that obesity can’t be treated as a short-term, weight-loss lifestyle issue. Rather, it needs to be managed as a complex, chronic, multi-organ disease. Younes discusses how liver disease is often missed in cardiometabolic risk and is referred to as the ‘liver blind spot’, as well as what integrated pathways can do to improve outcomes and ease system pressure.

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh sat down with Dr Cedrik Britten, chief medical officer at Immatics, to discuss novel PRAME-directed T-cell immunotherapies. Targeting PRAME unlocks new treatment options for a broad patient population with significant unmet medical need. And to do so safely and effectively requires deep expertise in immunology, drug development, and beyond. Britten explains how finding the right cancer target is only half the equation – the other half is creating the key that fits the lock to that cancer. So it is that, in addition to discovery of tumour-specific targets like PRAME, Immatics designs either engineered T-cell receptors (or TCRs) or bispecific molecules that recognise and bind to those targets. Britten also shares his dreams for the future of the field; his hopes far into the distant horizon. You can listen to episode 259 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Longevity and healthspan have emerged rapidly as an increasingly serious category of healthcare study and investment. But there are a lot of ideas inside the industry and out about exactly what the goal is. Is it about extending lifespans as much as possible? Are we trying to live forever? Or do we just want to experience less physical and cognitive decline as we age? In today’s episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, host Jonah Comstock speaks with Boyang Wang, the founder of Immortal Dragons, a $40 million Singapore-based fund focusing exclusively on moonshot longevity innovations. In a broad-ranging conversation, they talk about popular misconceptions about the longevity space and why it’s something that everyone should care about. They talk a bit about specific areas of investment for Immortal Dragons like organ synthesis and gene therapy. And they try to look ahead into the future of a space which is all about getting us to that future alive and well.

Today, the life sciences sector is prioritising recruitment of leaders who can scale efficiently in capital-constrained environments, as well as focusing on hybrid operator-strategists who can integrate AI into R&D, clinical, and commercial workflows. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with John Holodnak, co-founder of Occam, about how AI is beginning to reshape career paths across life sciences. Holodnak discusses AI’s transformation of functional roles in life sciences, such as regulatory, market access, and business development, and explores the breakdown of linear career paths and way ahead for biotech and pharma professionals tomorrow. You can listen to episode 257 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Pharma and tech companies are working more closely together than ever. As proven by the news of Merck and NVidia’s new partnership, for example. But while the idea of using AI for drug discovery has been around for a while now, patient access has an awfully long way to catch up to the promise of these new therapies. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dean Erhardt, founder of D2 Solutions, an end-to-end strategic partner delivering industry-leading consulting and purpose-built technologies to pharma manufacturers, hospitals, pharmacies, payers & PBMs. The conversation focuses on the disconnect between distributions, reimbursements, and patient services, particularly when it comes to speciality medicines, as well as patient access today versus the state of patient access tomorrow, and the benefit or otherwise of price protection guarantees with PBMs, when it comes to new therapies. You can listen to episode 256 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Despite billions spent on new technology and improving data analytics, companies continue to struggle with commercial launch success, with around 35% of launches missing expectations since 2012. Why is launch underperformance such a big problem, and why isn’t technology alone offering a sufficient solution? In a special episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, sponsored by Axtria, we spoke with Amanjeet Singh Saluja, a Principal at Axtria, about the current state of affairs in launch success. In our conversation, Singh Saluja digs into the strategic and institutional causes of failed launches and what strategies can help redeem them. He also discusses some of the external forces that have reshaped the pharma commercialisation industry, and how to keep pace with those trends and changes. Finally, of course, we talk about agentic AI. Even though it may not be a silver bullet, when used correctly, in the right strategic context, it can make a big difference. Meet Singh Saluja and other senior life sciences commercialisation leaders at Axtria Ignite 2026, an invitation-only event where the industry works through these challenges and more. June 10-11th in Princeton, NJ. Register here.   About the Interviewee Amanjeet Singh Saluja is a seasoned leader in AI, analytics, and cloud software. He currently heads a Strategic Business Unit at Axtria Inc., a leading global provider of AI and cloud solutions to the life sciences industry. Singh Saluja has built, scaled, and exited three successful ventures, and is the original inventor of a US patent for collection cycle optimisation through advanced analytics. He brings 26 years of experience advising Fortune 500 clients in financial services, life sciences, and MedTech on risk management, commercial strategies, and artificial intelligence. He has been recognised in Marquis Who’s Who in 2025. Singh Saluja is particularly skilled at driving growth, improving sales efficiency, optimising costs, cultivating high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence through executive leadership. He began his career in process re-engineering and strategy roles at KPMG and Andersen. Singh Saluja holds a degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He is passionate about leveraging AI and analytics to drive business success.   About Axtria Axtria helps life sciences companies harness the potential of data science and software to improve patient outcomes by connecting the right therapies to the right patients at the right time. The company is a leading global provider of award-winning cloud software and data analytics to the life sciences industry. We’re proud to deliver proven solutions that help pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics companies complete their journey from data to insights to action, enabling them to earn superior returns on their investments. As a participant in the United Nations Global Compact, Axtria is committed to aligning strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, and taking actions that advance societal goals. For more information, please visit www.axtria.com.

Here at pharmaphorum we tend to focus on the latest developments in the pharmaceutical space. And to be fair, that’s quite a lot to keep us busy. But the history of pharma is full of incredible stories that might just be new to a lot of people, even those inside the industry. On today’s episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, host Jonah Comstock speaks with Thomas Goetz, former executive editor of Wired; co-founder of Iodine, a drug data company that was acquired by GoodRx; and, most recently, creator and host of the Drug Story podcast. Each episode of Drug Story dives into the story behind a particular drug and the condition that it treats, unlocking fascinating morsels of history and, indeed, current controversies along the way. Goetz discusses the inspiration for the show and what he hopes listeners will take away from it. He also talks about how his perspective is neither pro- nor anti-pharma, but about recognising pharmaceutical medicine as the socially and morally complex market that it is. Take a listen for a taste of how every drug contains a multitude of stories, and then check out season 1 of Drug Story if you want a little more.

In a new episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Lance Baldo, CEO of Beacon Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company harnessing the transformative power of gene therapy to deliver meaningful outcomes for severe ocular diseases. Baldo discusses the ocular disease landscape, as well as Beacon’s work targeting X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) and geographic atrophy (GA), and what the future could look like in terms of innovation in this field. You can listen to episode 253 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it – and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

In a new episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, recorded at BIO-Europe Spring in Lisbon, Portugal, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Kashif Sadiq, founder and CEO of DenovAI Biotech, a company that believes humanity is on the cusp of a protein design revolution that stands to transform both human health and the world around us. Sadiq discusses the company's springboard from AION Labs - with a first-of-its-kind alliance of AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, Teva, the Israel Biotech Fund, Amiti Ventures, and Amazon Web Services, powered by BioMed X with the support of the Israeli Government. He also explores harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and computational molecular biophysics, developing foundational technology platforms that can design proteins de novo, and describes the trends and insights from the conference itself this year.

At BIO-Europe Spring 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Dr Olga Nissan, vice president of business development at Evogene, a computational chemistry company, specialising in the generative design of small molecules for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Nissan discusses recent developments at Evogene, including its extended collaboration with Google Cloud to develop and integrate AI agents into Evogene’s ChemPass AI platform, as well as its collaboration with Queensland University of Technology in the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) space. She also speaks to where industry is at in its integration of cutting-edge AI into scientific research.

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh was joined by Rob DiCicco, vice president of portfolio management at Transcelerate Biopharma Inc, for a conversation on the barriers and the breakthroughs in making AI work in drug development and clinical trials. DiCicco discusses why AI adoption in clinical trials is so different from preclinical research and development, as well as how synthetic control arms and in silico modelling reshape trial design, and he touches upon the need for making AI solutions meet not just regulatory and scientific standards, but ethical standards, also. You can listen to episode 250 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Genetic diseases are notoriously challenging to treat, especially when each condition requires a tailored approach. With over 10,000 known genetic disorders, developing individual therapies for each one has been an immense hurdle, particularly for rare diseases affecting small patient populations. But what if there was a way to address multiple conditions simultaneously, using a single, universal approach? In today’s episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, Michelle Werner, CEO of Alltrna, discusses her company’s approach of leveraging transfer RNA (tRNA) to shift the paradigm in genetic medicine. This approach has the potential to offer hope to millions of patients with rare and ultra-rare diseases, bypassing traditional one-disease-at-a-time models. Werner discusses how engineered tRNA works, how this technology slots into existing regulatory frameworks, and why this could be a game changer for pharmaceutical development. You can listen to episode 249 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

In a new episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Andrew Mackinnon, senior vice president and executive general manager at Medable, about leveraging AI to transform clinical development and accelerate lifesaving therapies to patients. Mackinnon discusses ‘white space’ in R&D, about integrating generative and agentic AI with human-in-the-loop oversight while prioritising patient safety and regulatory, and how all this advances health equity for underserved communities. You can listen to episode 248 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

For 30 years, the AOP Health Group has been dedicated to developing innovative solutions to address unmet medical needs, particularly in the fields of rare diseases and intensive care medicine, and notably in cardiology and pulmonology, as well as haemato-oncology and advanced therapies. As Rare Disease Day approaches, in a special episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, sponsored by AOP Health, we spoke with Melissa Fellner, VP of Global Therapeutic Areas, Commercial Operations, at AOP Health, to discuss AOP Health’s work in the rare disease space. Fellner describes the unique challenges faced in R&D in the rare disease space, as well as how advanced therapies are changing the treatment landscape, and what the future could hold, in terms of technological innovation and personalisation. What becomes clear is the key role that collaboration plays, from the very early stages of clinical trial design and beyond. You can listen to episode 246 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from. About the interviewee Melissa Fellner is Vice President of Global Therapeutic Areas at AOP Health. She holds a Master's in Biology, as well as an MBA from The Rady School of Management at University of California, San Diego. Fellner brings more than 25 years of experience across research, clinical development, commercialisation, and global marketing within the pharmaceutical industry. She began her career in 2000 as a research scientist and moved into clinical trial research in the United States and Canada in 2004 with a global contract research organisation. In 2009, Fellner transitioned into commercialisation consulting, partnering with large pharmaceutical companies on market access and launch strategy. She joined MedImmune, part of AstraZeneca, in 2012 as manager of access services operations, marking her move into the biopharmaceutical industry. In 2017, Fellner advanced into AstraZeneca’s commercial organisation, serving as associate director of consumer marketing for respiratory biologics and later as global marketing director for the same franchise. In 2022, she relocated to Vienna and assumed the role of business unit director for respiratory, immunology, and vaccines, with responsibility for strategy, performance, and commercial leadership. Fellner joined AOP Health in 2025, where she oversees the company’s global therapeutic areas. In this role, she leads lifecycle strategy development and drives international brand integration across functions and markets to accelerate sustainable portfolio growth. About AOP Health AOP Health is a global enterprise group with roots in Austria, where the headquarters of AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals GmbH ("AOP Health") is located. Since 1996, the AOP Health Group has been dedicated to developing innovative solutions to address unmet medical needs, particularly in the fields of rare diseases and intensive care medicine. The group has established itself internationally as a pioneer in integrated therapy solutions and operates worldwide through subsidiaries, representations, and a strong network of partners. With the claim "Needs. Science. Trust." the AOP Health Group emphasizes its commitment to research and development, as well as the importance of building relationships with physicians and patient advocacy groups to ensure that the needs of these stakeholders are reflected in all aspects of the company’s actions.

Slowly but surely – and just in time for the State of the Union – the full picture of the Trump Administration’s Most-Favoured Nations drug pricing policy is coming into focus. At the end of last year, CMS published the draft guidance for its GLOBE and GUARD pricing models, which establish MFN pricing in Medicare Part B and Part D, respectively. And earlier this month TrumpRx – the government’s promised patient-facing discount portal – finally went live. On today’s podcast, Jonah Comstock is joined by Alice Valder Curran, a partner at Hogan Lovells and a healthcare policy expert, to break down what we know and what we still don’t know about each of these developments. Among other things, Valder Curran breaks down how the two CMS pilot programmes will work, what statutory authority CMS is leaning on (and whether that authority is likely to be challenged), and how the industry is responding. Comstock and Valder Curran also discuss TrumpRx and how impactful it’s shaping up to be, at least based on what’s been revealed so far. And how do those negotiated MFN deals fit in to all this? We can’t give you the answers to all your questions about MFN – too much is still up in the air. But this podcast will at least give you an idea of what those open questions are and how they’re likely to play out. You can listen to episode 246 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Following his return from San Francisco and the JP Morgan Healthcare conference last month, editor-in-chief Jonah Comstock sat down with pharmaphorum web editor Nicole Raleigh to discuss what he heard and learned on the ground in California. 2026 marked the 44th year of the annual meeting: Comstock shares his top insights, goes into the details from the panel he moderated at the Informa Biotech Showcase, and suggests his key takeaway from this year’s conference. You can listen to episode 245 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

The rising cost of drugs in 2025 was driven by several factors, including inflation, supply chain issues, and the demand for specialty drugs – straining already overburdened health systems. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Jeff Harper, head of product at IntelliGuard, about these pressing issues and what hospitals can expect as we progress further into 2026. The conversation also explores the role digital health technologies like RFID and predictive analytics could play in addressing drug waste and ensuring access, as well as why hospital CFOs and pharmacy leaders are reframing medication management as a strategic priority, not just an operational one You can listen to episode 244 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

The term "omnichannel engagement" has become embedded in today’s healthcare conversations. Yet the biopharmaceutical industry often approaches it superficially – treating it as a trendy buzzword instead of a meaningful strategy for connecting with the sector's two most vital audiences: patients and healthcare providers (HCPs). In this episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, developed in partnership with Reverba Global, editor-in-chief Jonah Comstock sits down with Cheryl Lubbert, co-founder and CEO of Reverba Global, and Carolyn Whiting, SVP of clinical and medical client services, to discuss how a thoughtfully executed omnichannel strategy can empower scientific experts to become effective communicators. Today's patients actively seek scientifically robust, yet accessible, information about their health conditions, and a well-integrated medical affairs strategy can help deliver that knowledge through the HCPs they trust most. However, bringing this vision to life requires forward-thinking strategies that build authentic connections, challenge conventional approaches, and dismantle the communication silos that frequently exist in healthcare organisations. Throughout the episode, Lubbert and Whiting share Reverba Global's methodology for authentic omnichannel engagement with patients and physicians, offering real-world examples and practical perspectives on navigating obstacles and establishing this evolved model. You can listen to this episode of the pharmaphorum podcast using the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Outdated training and behaviours impact patient outcomes and can lead to patient risk. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Lisa Sims, executive director of learning strategy & operations at Novartis, for a conversation on modern training for pharma and how AI and data – quality data – can help personalise learning at scale. You can listen to episode 243 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

At the JP Morgan Healthcare conference this year, a lot of the discourse around AI drug discovery focused on making the leap from purely in silico drug discovery operations to real-world operations that are able to incorporate wet lab data in an iterative way. This is easily said, but to do it requires innovating new processes and infrastructures. On the sidelines of the show, pharmaphorum’s Jonah Comstock caught up with Yann Gaston-Mathe, founder and CEO of Iktos, an AI drug discovery company that just signed a billion euro deal with Servier to put this technology into action. In this quick dispatch from JPM (and we apologise for the shaky audio), Gaston-Mathe describes this shift in AI drug discovery, why it needs to happen, and what it takes, as well as giving some insights on why Servier and Iktos are a good fit as partners. “You need to think about how effective you are in the transition between the in vitro world and the in silico world,” Gaston-Mathe says. “Building on the data which is available is not enough.” You can listen to episode 242 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

The global impact of digital transformation in the last few decades cannot be understated. And now, of course, artificial intelligence (or AI) is making headlines for its potential to transform lives. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, Deep Dive editor Eloise McLennan speaks with Mohit Manrao, SVP, head of US oncology at AstraZeneca, and president of the AstraZeneca Foundation. The conversation explores the application of AI in cancer care, some of the most promising potential applications of AI in the life sciences setting generally, as well as AZ’s multi-year partnership with Pangaea Data, focused on advancing precision healthcare with multimodal AI. Additionally, Manrao discusses how equity gaps in oncology can be minimized, but also the importance of maintaining the human touch when it comes to applying AI in the cancer setting. You can listen to episode 241 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

On-site on the sidelines of JP Morgan Healthcare conference in San Francisco this year, pharmaphorum editor-in-chief Jonah Comstock sat down with Andrew Beck, co-founder and CEO at PathAI. The conversation covers what PathAI has been up to lately in AI within diagnostics in pathology, explores what’s been discussed on the ground at the conference, and also touches upon equality and access to precision diagnostics. Additionally, Beck notes the company’s work in prospective clinical trials in life sciences, as well as co-partnering with pharma. Having seen an over 10 x growth of adoption of their technology in 2025, Beck also discusses advances in the MASH field. Listen to this and other conversations from JPM2026 here. You can listen to episode 240 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

An increasing prevalence of immunodeficiency and autoimmune disorders has led to increasing demand for plasma-derived immunoglobulin therapies and a need for scalable and sustainable treatment solutions. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Jörg Schüttrumpf, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Innovation Officer of Grifols and Chief Executive Officer at Biotest, a Grifols company. The conversation explores advancing immunoglobulin (or IG) treatment for immune disorders, looking broadly at the field and current innovation that is working towards redefining how these therapies are delivered, accessed, and optimised for a growing and diverse patient population. Dr Schüttrumpf also discusses emerging platforms such as recombinant polyclonal therapeutics, as well as the integration of Real World Evidence (RWE) and artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of immunodeficiency care. You can listen to episode 239 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

A liquid biopsy is a blood test that detects signs of cancerous tumors, including tumour cells and cancer cell DNA. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Andrew Newland, CEO of ANGLE, about why live cell liquid biopsies should become standard in oncology. Newland explains how current US FDA-approved tests can detect some types of advanced cancers, predict prognosis, and help healthcare providers make treatment decisions. And importantly, Newland describes how live cell liquid biopsies are a UK-developed technology that aligns with national efforts to modernise cancer diagnostics, as well as potentially reduce healthcare costs by minimising ineffective treatments. You can listen to episode 238 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

It goes without saying that drug pricing and accessibility in the United States are complex indeed. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Vinay Patel, an innovative pharmacist who's set out to transform the healthcare industry, about these intricacies. Patel discusses some intriguing stories about crafting innovative solutions for employers, revitalising struggling independent pharmacies, and implementing hybrid care models that can make healthcare more attainable for everyone. The conversation touches upon how biosimilars driving pharmaceutical innovation and reducing health costs, the role of telemedicine, also. You can listen to episode 237 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Gefion is Denmark’s first AI supercomputer, named after a goddess in Danish mythology. It is operated by the Danish Centre for AI Innovation (DCAI), a company established with funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the world’s wealthiest charitable foundation, as well as the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Tarek Samad, Lundbeck’s senior vice president and head of research, for a conversation on AI – specifically, Lundbeck’s agreement with the DCAI to run and operate Gefion – and accelerating drug discovery and development within the neurological and psychiatric field. You can listen to episode 236 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Illumina innovative sequencing and array technologies are fuelling groundbreaking advancements in life sciences research, translational and consumer genomics, and molecular diagnostics. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Markus Vossman, Germany general manager at Illumina, about innovative genomic applications and projects in the region. Vossman discusses the genomics landscape, as well as next-generation sequencing (or NGS), and the Model Project, a large-scale national pilot project aiming to evaluate the utility of genomic sequencing for patients with advanced cancer and rare diseases. You can listen to episode 235 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

The FDA recently announced that it will begin offering faster drug reviews to certain medicines, reducing the drug review process from approximately ten months to one or two months. This news follows a series of rapid changes from the FDA since the Trump administration took office. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Amy Bucher, chief behavioural officer at Lirio, a healthcare personalization platform helping insurers, health systems, and pharmacies deliver precision nudges to move patients into action. Bucher discusses the risks of the declining trust in healthcare institutions from a behavioural science perspective, as well as how regulatory changes, such as fast-tracking drug approvals as seen with the FDA lately, can impact patient perception. You can listen to episode 234 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, guest Patrick Leung – chief technology officer at Faro Health – discusses how AI can transform clinical trials. The conversation touches upon how large language models (or LLMs) can be gotten into production in regulated spaces – and why generic models won’t cut it in this domain – as well as the role of real-world data in quantifying and reducing patient burden. You can listen to episode 233 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

The Women in AI Healthcare event series - hosted by Real Chemistry in collaboration with Pharma Brands – brings together dynamic female leaders to discuss the transformative role of artificial intelligence in life sciences. It is also a call to action: to ensure women are not only present, but pivotal in shaping the future of AI in healthcare. In a new pharmaphorum podcast focused on the important and timely subject of women in AI, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with: Kate Eversole, event director at Pharma Brands; Celine Parmentier, EVP, head of global med comms at Real Chemistry; and Emma Slade, head of applied AI at Tangram Therapeutics. The guests discuss their own work with AI, the risk of training AI models predominantly on male data, and how, within life sciences, women are already shaping, challenging, and advocating for AI. The conversation also touches upon the possible next greatest impacts of AI in the sector, and the need to keep the ‘human in the loop’, as well as the possible negative impacts if AI is relied upon too much. You can listen to episode 232 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.   Resources mentioned within the conversation are as below: Kotek, H., Dockum, R., & Sun, C. (2023). Gender Bias and Stereotypes in Large Language Models. arXiv:2304.02485. UN Women & UNESCO (2020). I'd Blush If I Could: Closing Gender Divides in Digital Skills Through Education. Tatman, R. (2017). Gender and dialect bias in YouTube’s automatic captions. Criado-Perez, C. (2019). Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. King, M. (2020). The Fix: Overcome the Invisible Barriers That Are Holding Women Back at Work.   You can register to be a part of the women in AI community here: https://www.pharmabrands.ca/womeninai   Information on the survey being run by Dr Michelle Penelope King, on AI and workplace motivation, can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eCg87_7w

AI’s growing influence in pharma is transforming traditional drug discovery timelines. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Alan Roth, CEO of Oxford Drug Design, about the use of AI to accelerate discovery of new treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and cystic fibrosis. Roth discusses combining deep enzyme biology expertise with GenAI and targeting leucyl-tRNA synthetase. You can listen to episode 231 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

AI and computational small molecule drug discovery approaches are helping to realise the potential of targeted protein degradation (TPD) in molecular glue development. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Benedict Cross, Chief Technology Officer at PhoreMost, a company that’s specialises in next-gen TPD and which is progressing a pipeline of degrader therapeutics within oncology and inflammation. Cross discusses TPD market growth, PhoreMost’s high-throughput GlueSEEKER platform, and the future horizon of TPD, of molecular glues going forward. You can listen to episode 230 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Blood is a rich source for biomarker development, and CTCs are increasingly proving themselves to be valuable in cancer prognosis and treatment prediction. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Craig Eagle, Chief Medical Officer of Guardant Health, a precision medicine company that offers blood tests to inform cancer treatment decisions. Eagle discusses Guardant’s participation in the National Cancer Institute’s Vanguard Study, as well as screening, recurrence monitoring, and therapy selection focused on conquering cancer with data, with examples especially in the colorectal cancer space. You can listen to episode 229 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

There is a world of difference between the NHS from its beginnings in 1948 and the NHS as it is now. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Ruth Chambers OBE, co-director of Raparu Consult CIC and a visiting professor at Staffordshire University, for a conversation on her book, “Our NHS for better or worse?”. Chambers discusses her personal experience as a GP in the NHS, including the discrimination she faced as a woman, and analyses the notion of ‘burden’ in respect of the National Health Service, as well as differences in mental health care now and her proposed ‘Prescription for Change’. You can listen to episode 228 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

CB1 inhibition is an approach that taps into the body’s natural metabolism to burn fat while preserving muscle for more sustainable weight loss. Unlike GLP-1s, which suppress appetite, CB1 inhibition activates fat-burning processes. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Punit Dhillon, CEO of Skye Bioscience, for a conversation on CB1 inhibitor antibodies in the obesity space. Dhillon discusses GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like semaglutide having taken the world by storm, despite the concerns over side effects, as well as what CB1s could mean for the obesity and weight-loss field. You can listen to episode 227 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Technology and AI can help healthcare systems tackle the affordability challenge while ensuring patients still benefit from cutting-edge treatments. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Alfred Olivares, global managing partner, healthcare & medtech, at HTEC, in a conversation addressing how innovation can reach patients in a financially sustainable way. Olivares discusses digital transformation that makes care delivery smarter, faster, and more sustainable, as well as how data-driven platforms can support pharma in negotiating outcomes-based agreements with payers like the NHS. You can listen to episode 226 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

There are many efforts at the moment to transform the expensive, labour intensive, and high failure rate processes of drug discovery into automated drug design. And Simon Kohl, founder and CEO of Latent Labs, knows this intimately. In a new episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, Kohl discusses Latent Labs’ emergence from stealth, as well as protein design and drug discovery acceleration in more detail, as well as the importance of democratizing research. You can listen to episode 225 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

A CDMO plays a crucial role in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries by providing comprehensive drug development and manufacturing services, enabling companies to efficiently bring new medicines to market. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Sigma Mostafa, CSO at KBI BioPharma, about the role of CDMOs and the important factors companies should consider when selecting one. Mostafa sets out what a CDMO does, how they help to advance medicine into clinical and then commercial trials, and the critical role of partnership in drug development. You can listen to episode 224 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Drug shortages are a critical issue in the US, leaving patients and healthcare providers struggling. Compounding pharmacies, however, can curb drug shortages and help lessen this growing threat to the public's health.  In a  new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Shawn Hodges, CEO of Revelation Pharma, a nationwide network of 503A and 503B compounding pharmacies, spanning across various locations. Hodges discusses the true state of drug shortages in the US at the moment, the essential role compounding played during COVID-19, and opportunities for policy reform. You can listen to episode 223 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

Intra-tumourally injected therapeutics represent a novel approach to cancer cell death, with high tumour dispersion and cell penetration properties. To discuss the potential of these therapeutics to kill tumours and elicit an adaptive immune response within mere days of injection, pharmaphorum spoke with Lew Bender, CEO of Intensity Therapeutics Inc. Bender discusses the possibility of shifting the oncological treatment paradigm with intra-tumourally injected therapeutics, even for cancers that do not respond to immunotherapy, as well as how a business-trained mindset has led to outside-the-box – perhaps zigzagging – learnings. You can listen to episode 222 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

There is a growing body of evidence on the role of inflammation in predicting heart health. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Sandeep Kulkarni, CEO of Tourmaline Bio, about addressing inflammation, and also the impact of AI and GLP-1s on cardiology clinical trials and drug development. Kulkarni also discusses Tourmaline’s IL-6 inhibitor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and his hopes for the future of this field of research. You can listen to episode 221 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.

With over 7,000 rare diseases affecting an estimated 30 million people in the US alone, these conditions have long been underfunded and under-researched, leaving patients with limited options. However, virtual trials are emerging as a breakthrough.  In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh is joined by Piet van der Graaf, Senior VP at Certara – a company providing predictive simulation, data-driven modelling, and AI tailored for drug development – for a conversation on the potential of digital twins in rare disease research and drug development. You can listen to episode 220 of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series – on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podbean, and pretty much wherever else you download your other podcasts from.