pharmaphorum Podcast

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, Aoife Brennan, CEO of Climb Bio, discusses the treatment of immune-mediated diseases. Climb Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutics for immune-mediated diseases, and Brennan talks about the potential of B-cell depletion therapies, as well as the challenges and opportunities in developing novel biotechnology. Brennan also speaks to being a female leader in this field. You can also listen to episode 191a 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 AI to truly revolutionise drug discovery, it must move beyond pattern recognition and predictive analytics to include causality, which is essential for technical and regulatory success in drug discovery. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Ben Sidders, chief scientific officer at Biorelate, a company leveraging advanced data science methods to transform the focus and impact of drug discovery and development. Sidders discusses how integrating causality in AI for biotechnology can drive greater R&D success, and more generally about how AI can contribute meaningfully and transparently to the advancement of biotechnology and drug development. You can also listen to episode 191a 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.

Radiopharmaceutical therapy has attracted increasing attention in the treatment of refractory diseases that are not sensitive to current therapies, such as in oncology. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Greg Piefer, founder and CEO of SHINE Technologies, a nuclear fusion company mastering more immediate applications of fusion – such as in producing cancer-fighting medicine. Piefer provides an overview of the nuclear medicine field and discusses clinical research that demonstrates that radiopharmaceuticals substantially improve the overall survival of patients with certain types of cancer. Additionally, the conversation touches upon why the US is so very behind in developing and commercialising these therapies. You can also listen to episode 190a 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 second annual HLTH Europe conference brought together health leaders, start-ups, investors, and developers from across the globe for a mid-year pulse check on where healthcare innovation stands today – and where it's headed next. Amid economic uncertainty and shifting regulatory priorities, pharma, health tech, and care delivery are all racing to prove value and scale innovation. In this special extended episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, Deep Dive editor Eloise McLennan sat down with editor-in-chief Jonah Comstock for a candid debrief on the key themes, hot topics, and hallway conversations that shaped the event in Amsterdam. From the rise of GLP-1s and the push for true patient-centricity, to the potential (and pitfalls) of AI and the routes to funding bold new ideas, they unpack what's hype, what's real, and what still needs funding to take flight. Plus, exclusive interviews from the show floor: Benedikt von Thüngen, founder and CEO of Sanome, on how AI is helping the NHS predict the risk of hospital-acquired infections Fiona Costello from Brain+, on making cognitive stimulation therapy for dementia more accessible, scalable, and effective Nick Ross, co-founder of Invest in Equity, on why the future of life sciences investment must be built on gender equality You can listen to this episode, as well as previous episodes 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 today's healthcare landscape, there is a pressing need for quantitative methodologies that include the patients' perspective in any treatment decision. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Marc Buyse, founder of IDDI and One2Treat, and also co-founder of CluePoints, about his recent work as one of the editors of – and a chapter contributor to – the first edition of "

At this year's Veeva R&D and Quality Summit, it was revealed that Novo Nordisk and Veeva have entered into a new partnership for clinical development. In this episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Stephanie Bova, chief digital officer at Novo Nordisk, and Rik van Mol, SVP R&D and Quality at Veeva, about the partnership, Novo aiming to accelerate clinical trials and launches by uniting business and IT on the Veeva Development Cloud to enhance collaboration, automation, and data consistency. It's a mutual collaboration for addressing challenges and opportunities within these areas for Novo, while learnings from the collaboration will feedback into what Veeva does for the industry.  You can also listen to episode 188a 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 JCA process was passed into law by the European Union in 2022. The Joint Clinical Assessment is a process that will systematically assess all available clinical evidence for new drugs. Rolled out in stages, starting with oncology drugs and advanced therapy medicinal products this year, it will be fully implemented by 2030. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Tommy Bramley, SVP of market access and healthcare consulting at Cencora, about the JCA, as yet unanswered questions (at the time of the conversation) and the key challenges facing manufacturers. Bramley also discusses the work of Cencora within this changing landscape of drug clinical assessment. You can also listen to episode 187a 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.

Originally employed in atomic physics, mass spectrometry is now an indispensable tool in modern science, and importantly medical science. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Melissa Sherman, CEO of MOBILion Systems, a company pioneering next-generation separation science, by innovating best-in-class instruments that deeply, accurately, and efficiently characterise complex molecules. Sherman discusses the practical impact of this new technology for R&D, MOBILion's work with mass spectrometry technology at the moment, and the future horizon for this and NGS. You can also listen to episode 186a 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.

Onsite at ASCO 2025 in Chicago, web editor Nicole Raleigh sat down with Dr Stacy Lindborg, CEO of IMUNON, to discuss the company's oral presentation at the Congress from the Phase 2 OVATION 2 study of IMNN-001, an IL-12 immunotherapy, in women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer – since published in the peer-reviewed journal Gynecologic Oncology today. Dr Lindborg shares her journey to her present role, the true potential shown in this new data for addressing unmet needs in advanced ovarian cancer, and the oncological space – and ASCO 2025 itself – more generally. You can also listen to episode 185a 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.

Osteosarcoma is an extremely challenging and often aggressive cancer that has particular treatment challenges due to location, changing genotypes, and high recurrence rates. It mostly affects children and young adults under 20 years of age. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Paul Romness, president and CEO of OS Therapies, a company focused on the identification, development, and commercialisation of treatments for osteosarcoma (OS) and other solid tumours. Describing the current treatment landscape for primary and secondary bone cancer, Romness explains the potential of their own – OST-HER2, a bioengineered bacterial immunotherapy based on listeria. You can also listen to episode 184a 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 ASCO 2025, Servier presented data in the IDH-mutated cancer space. Onsite at McCormick Place in Chicago, pharmaphorum web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Becky Martin, chief US medical at Servier about the key data from the company's Tibsovo and Voranigo programmes, as well as the implications for patients and the wider themes of the Congress this year. Listen to this and other interviews from ASCO 2025 here.

In healthcare, some of the most meaningful innovations happen when the right people are brought together in the right place. True progress depends on systems and infrastructure designed to connect ideas, people, and expertise across sectors. Citylabs 4.0, now open in the heart of Manchester's Knowledge Quarter on the Oxford Road Corridor, was built with exactly that goal in mind. Bringing the NHS, academia, and life sciences organisations into close, purposeful proximity, providing a structural foundation for collaboration at scale. In this special live recording of the pharmaphorum podcast, developed in association with Bruntwood SciTech, Bruntwood SciTech's CSO Dr Kath Mackay, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust T's Dr Katherine Boylan, and Dr Gillian Dalgliesh from QIAGEN join Deep Dive editor Eloise McLennan onstage at the opening of Citylabs 4.0 to discuss innovation in life sciences and the role of Greater Manchester in accelerating research, industry collaboration, and real-world evidence generation. Join us as we examine how this deliberate integration of healthcare stakeholders in Manchester is establishing new standards for collaboration and advancing patient outcomes through structured knowledge exchange. About the interviewees Dr Kath Mackay Kath Mackay is Chief Scientific Officer of Bruntwood SciTech - a JV between leading property developer Bruntwood, Legal & General, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund - the UK's leading creator and developer of innovation districts driving growth of the UK science and technology sector.  She has a keen interest in growing businesses and infrastructure within the sector, ensuring the UK is the best place to establish and scale a science and tech organisation.   Dr Mackay joined Bruntwood SciTech from the executive board of Innovate UK where she led the team responsible for growing businesses working in the biomedical, health, agriculture, and food sectors, creating and delivering a £800m portfolio of infrastructure, Catapults, grant and loan investments. She is also non-executive director of the Northern Health Science Alliance, the North of England's health partnership, and an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. Dr Katherine Boylan Katherine is Director of Innovation at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), a position she has held since April 2020. This role involves overseeing innovation activities within MFT, as part of the wider Research and Innovation function. Innovation at MFT supports the whole pipeline from ideation, through to evidence generation, and ultimate implementation. She has been a member of the NICE Medical Technologies Advisory Committee since September 2020. Prior to this position, Dr Boylan worked in the University of Manchester for a number of years, most recently as Operations Director for the MRC funded Molecular Pathology Node, and the Trust-funded Diagnostics and Technology Accelerator. Dr Gillian L Dalgliesh, PhD Global Technical lead, Precision Diagnostics Gillian Dalgliesh has worked for QIAGEN for nine years and is based at their Manchester site, which is the global centre of excellence for molecular diagnostic development. QIAGEN partner with many drug companies to develop companion diagnostic (CDx) tests that enable clinical trials and subsequently launches of novel precision medicines. In recent years they have seen a real move beyond oncology into other disease areas such as immune, neurological and metabolic disorders. Dr Dalgliesh's role as global technical lead allows her to leverage her oncology precision medicine experience across the portfolio to bring precision diagnostic products to more patients. She has built her experience in precision medicine/oncology through not only her QIAGEN role but also through seven years working in precision medicine in AstraZeneca and prior to that working as part of the cancer genome project at the Sanger institute. Dr Dalgliesh is also an honorary senior lecturer at University of Manchester where she coordinates and delivers lectures for a QIAGEN sponsored BSc final year elective module ‘The Role of Diagnostics in Medicine'. This is part of a wider outreach role with the University and our NHS hospital. Through these roles she is keen to impact the local UK science community. About Bruntwood SciTech Bruntwood SciTech is the UK's largest dedicated property platform serving the growth of the nation's knowledge economy to become a global science and technology superpower. It is also the leading developer of city-wide innovation ecosystems and specialist environments, helping companies - particularly those in the science and technology sectors - to form, scale and grow A joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), Bruntwood SciTech provides high quality office and laboratory space and tailored business support, offering unrivalled access to finance, talent and markets, an extensive clinical, academic and public partner network and a sector-specialist community of more than 1100 companies. Bruntwood SciTech is experienced in creating and developing strategic partnerships with UK regional cities, universities and NHS Trusts to drive economic growth. Its unique structure and funding vehicle more easily deploys long-term patient capital in innovation infrastructure, ensuring local economic benefit and growth. Valued at £1.5bn, Bruntwood SciTech has a portfolio of 5.2m sq ft across 11 campus locations and 31 city centre innovation hubs in Manchester, Cheshire, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Cambridge and London. It has plans to create a £5bn portfolio by 2033 and has a 2.3m sq ft secured development pipeline. Its campus locations include Alderley Park in Cheshire; West Village in Leeds; Innovation Birmingham; Birmingham Health Innovation Campus in partnership with the University of Birmingham; Melbourn Science Park in Cambridgeshire; Liverpool Science Park as a shareholder in Sciontec Liverpool; White City Deep Tech Campus in partnership with Imperial College London; and a cluster in the heart of Manchester's Oxford Road Corridor knowledge quarter - Manchester Science Park, Citylabs in partnership with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), Circle Square - a joint venture with Vita Group; and the £1.7bn JV partnership with The University of Manchester - Sister, formerly known as IDManchester. Its city centre innovation hubs include Bloc, Bond, 111 Piccadilly, Pall Mall and Manchester One in Manchester; Platform in Leeds; Cornerblock and Centre City in Birmingham; and The Plaza in Liverpool. Website / Twitter / LinkedIn / Instagram

Boehringer Ingelheim's data presented at ASCO 2025 reflected the company's broad pipeline and growing body of evidence supporting innovative therapies for various cancers. In a pharmaphorum podcast recorded onsite at the Congress, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Itziar Canamasas, global head of oncology at Boehringer Ingelheim, for a discussion of the unmet needs in oncology and some of the specifics of the company's data presentations. The conversation also touches upon highlights from this year's annual meeting and hopes for transformation of the oncological field in the future. Watch this and other interviews from ASCO 2025 here.

Trends can be predicted, and trends can unfold. Here, Liz Beatty – co-founder and chief strategy of Inato – speaks to the beginnings of a new era in drug development brought on by key technological advances in AI. Historically, large urban academic centres have conducted the majority of clinical trials, leading to such issues as inaccessibility, lack of representation, and intense competition for participants. With growing industry pressure for greater trial access, a more focused effort to bring research into communities is unfolding. At the same time, there seems little that AI can't be applied to so as to ameliorate speed and efficacy, and also specificity – and Beatty expands on these points and more. You can listen to episode 181a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

As has been widely reported on, immunisation rates, including for flu and RSV, have been falling – at a troubling rate – and diseases like whooping cough and measles have seen a worrying resurgence due to anti-vaxxers. And not just in the US. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, Rebecca Catterick, General Manager for Vaccines, UK & Ireland, at Sanofi, discusses this decline in vaccination rates, as well as what can be done to turn the situation around. Catterick explores the role of the UK Labour Government's Child Health Action Plan, aligning as it does with NHS vaccination strategy priorities, and also the criticality of preventative measures, including primary and secondary prevention and its role in the 10-year health plan. You can listen to episode 180a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

Early access programmes (EAPs) for novel medicines are an often-misunderstood strategy outside of western markets. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Cem Zorlular, CEO of Er-Kim Pharmaceuticals, a company that has been serving as a regional affiliate for pharma and biotech since 1981 in the CEE and Mediterranean. Market access strategies in many international markets do not function the same way as they do in the US or Western Europe and require a different approach. Zorlular explains how EAPs can drive revenue for pharmaceutical companies from international unlicensed markets, but that most importantly EAPs allow patients access to life-altering novel medicines. What's more, he says, EAPs can also help shape the biotech space by supporting the opportunity for RWD collection outside of the clinical trial setting and build momentum with local payers, regulators, and the medical community. You can listen to episode 179a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

With the FDA and EMA releasing their annual reports detailing novel drug approvals in 2024, a new pharmaphorum podcast looks at recent trends related to drug approvals, as well as challenges and opportunities both small and large pharma companies face in the year ahead. Host Nicole Raleigh is joined by Cencora's Sandra Anderson, SVP of International Commercialisation, and Chris Williams, SVP & International Managing Director at Alloga Europe and ICS, which are part of Cencora – and the conversation dives into takeaways such as the increase in smaller biotech companies taking their product to market on their own, what is needed to ensure a successful go-to-market strategy, the unique logistics and supply chain considerations specialty pharmaceutical products introduce, and also geographical considerations, with 34 of the 50 novel drugs approved in 2024 being in the US before any other country. You can listen to episode 178a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

ISPOR 2025, the leading global conference for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), takes place 13th-16th May and marks the 30th anniversary of the organisation. Ahead of the event, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Rob Abbott, CEO and executive director of ISPOR – the leading professional society for HEOR globally – about the ins and outs and trends of HEOR. ISPOR's mission is to advance HEOR excellence to improve decision making for health globally, and Abbott explains its focus on the value of particular healthcare interventions, the impact on the quality of life of patients, and how his work is centred around positioning HEOR as a key lever for decision makers and shapers globally to create a world in which healthcare is accessible, effective, efficient, and affordable for everyone. You can listen to episode 177a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

President Donald Trump's April 15th executive order, “Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First”, contained a smorgasbord of policy proposals targeting a variety of industry stakeholders. But how much legal force do these different elements have, and what are the concrete takeaways for pharma? To answer these questions and more, host Jonah Comstock once again welcomes Hogan Lovells attorney Alice Valder Curran to the podcast to pick apart the order piece by piece. They discuss the headline – Trump's intention to eliminate the Inflation Reduction Act's “pill penalty”, and talk about why the language is more ambiguous than it appears and could be good or bad news for pharma. They also talk about PBM reform, closing 340B loopholes, and how much the Federal government can really do to promote drug importation from Canada at the state level. Check out the podcast to learn everything you wanted to know about Trump's Executive Order.

It can take up to 15 years for a new drug to reach the market, and with only 20% of pharmaceutical professionals adopting AI, one thing is clear: innovation in drug development is lagging behind. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Andrew Stelzer, head of business development at Unlearn.AI, about how the real hurdle in clinical research lies in effectively integrating AI. Stelzer discusses the need for greater coordination within the pharmaceutical industry, particularly between life sciences and software engineering and explains how bridging the cultural divide can significantly enhance the adoption of emerging technologies like AI. Of course, the conversation also touches upon the importance of collaboration, which can positively empower pharmaceutical companies to overcome existing challenges and drive significant advancements in drug development. You can listen to episode 176a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

Therapy initiation, adherence, and health outcomes are being driven by artificial intelligence (AI)-powered personalisation. Today's consumers are more active participants in their healthcare. Marketing in the era of consumer-driven healthcare requires new strategies to reach patients with the information they require, and how and when they need it. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Bill Grambley, CEO of AllazoHealth, for a conversation on leveraging AI for marketing, as well as medication initiation and adherence. Grambley discusses how AI can be leveraged to create highly personalised patient engagement strategies, tailored to individual needs and preferences, as well as the technology can be used to identify patients at risk of medication non-adherence and intervene early to prevent negative outcomes. The conversation touches upon the ethical implications of using AI to collect and analyse patient data, and how pharmaceutical companies are ensuring patient data privacy and security while leveraging AI to improve outcomes, in addition to the regulatory landscape and the future horizon. You can listen to episode 175a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Tomasz Kostriezewski, CSO at CN Bio, about single organ-on-a-chip technology and multi-organ microphysiological systems (MPS), as well as accelerating drug discovery pipelines with these new alternative methodologies (NAMs). Clinical trial success rates are very low, with up to 95% not succeeding, and a wide range of disease states remains untreated. What NAMs permit is a screening of new drugs, of whatever entity – chemical or biological – to better predict how they will behave when put into a patient, says Kostriezewski. From metabolic to neurological diseases, as well as oncological – the applicability of organ-on-a-chip technologies is wide ranging, and regulators have been taking a more active role in trying to understand their role and value, and thereby validate their contextual usage at a future point. Nonetheless, already data is accepted today using this new approach, explains Kostriezewski, providing further insights on the landscape as market adoption continues to grow globally. You can listen to episode 174a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

Across the life sciences, Regulatory Affairs (RA) teams and their colleagues in Quality and Safety are stretched beyond their limits as already impossible demands on their time are compounded by rising health authority expectations. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Sonia A. Veluchamy, CEO and co-founder of Celegence, a company dedicated to improving patient outcomes through intelligent regulatory compliance. For both pharma and medical device companies, time and bandwidth are the number one challenge RA professionals face, closely followed by costs and budgetary pressures (the latter being a more pronounced concern for medical device companies). And, as the medical device sector responds to rising demands internationally around device identification, traceability, safety, and surveillance – designed to reinforce product quality and safety – companies have a chance to expedite their preparations, by looking to the adjacent pharma industry for lessons still being learned. Veluchamy dives into the details and explains what all these endeavours ultimately mean for patients. You can listen to episode 173a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, recorded during Anthropy 2025: Rebooting Britain, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with David Gillen, chief medical officer at Norgine, about the role of prevention in the future of healthcare. Recorded onsite at The Eden Project in Cornwall, the conversation centred around the Adelphi Group-sponsored panel, ‘The Prevention Revolution in Your Healthcare', exploring the key takeaways and exciting possibilities from the panel discussion. Prevention is increasingly seen as contributing to a healthier and more productive society. But, as healthcare resources are stretched and medical science is accelerating, the question remains: how do we make prevention a reality? Encouragingly, healthcare systems are increasingly seeing the health, social, and economic benefits of prevention when it is delivered in an evidence-based way. You can listen to episode 172a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

As we hear of the volcanic and seismic activity taking place in Iceland this week, pharmaphorum turns back to a conversation with Dean Alms, CPO of Aravo, on how extreme weather highlights the need to make adequate supply chain preparations for the seasons in which the planet pulls out all the stops with the worst of its natural disasters. Having a blueprint for supply chain resiliency is critical, as a mature and robust risk programme enables the right emergency protocols and drug reserves to be in place in the worst-case scenarios, and permits plants to return to full operation as speedily as possible. And this is where Aravo, a third-party management software solutions company, comes in, operating at three macro levels: life cycle management, the due diligence process, and providing unified visibility into all this information. Alms talks through the different scenarios and ways of approach to best safeguard the pharmaceutical supply chain, and explains what should be top of mind for chief risk officers when each extreme weather season arrives. You can listen to episode 171a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

If we don't address the mental health of young people, that mental health challenge will advance into the adult population of tomorrow. What can be done to address the issue, though? At Anthropy 2025: Rebooting Britain, web editor Nicole Raleigh sat down with Dr Sebastian Vaughn, CEO of Phytome Life Sciences, for an en plein air and explorative conversation around the topic, live onsite at The Eden Project in Cornwall, following the Adelphi sponsored panel, ‘Revolutionary Thinking for Mental Health', also with: Charlotte Baldwin, Mental Health UK; Dr Lauren Waterman, NHS; Sarah Hughes, MIND; and Dr Sri Kalidindi CBE, klip Global Ltd; and Lloyd Morgan, Adelphi Group, as moderator. Action in the real world resultant from discussions like those held at Anthropy is what is, of course, critical. We are all agents of change. Mental health is not a binary issue, says Vaughn, but rather a continuum of a life-long management process. However, the healthcare system alone is not the only point of delivery, and community-based solutions need to be put in place, too. Indeed, it is this system shift to collaborative efforts that will be key in changing the recent high tide of mental health diagnoses, including training teachers and even parents in the skills necessary to provide support for young people with mental health issues. Also exploring the increase in diagnosis, the lessening of stigma attached to mental health, and potential reasons there – Vaughn posits that ‘healthspan', as opposed to ‘healthcare', should be considered. Arguing against associating addressing mental health with putting people back to work and mere consideration of productivity amelioration, instead we should be asking what helps us thrive as human beings, says Vaughn. We need, simply, to live better, and live well – such strategies currently being implemented in communities such as those in Manchester. But, of course, young people themselves need to be offered a place at the table to make the changes they need for their own mental health; systemic change of the culture around mental health. And novel, holistic approaches that can be scaled – such as those being explored at Phytome – could be part of the necessary shift. You can listen to episode 170a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

Last year, Alice Valder Curran, a partner at Hogan Lovells and a healthcare policy expert in Washington, D.C. joined host Jonah Comstock on the pharmaphorum podcast to talk about the intended and unintended consequences of the drug pricing negotiation provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. On today's episode, Curran joins us once again for an update on the IRA, looking at the second batch of drugs announced in January, recent messaging from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and what it might communicate about their thinking, and more analysis of IRA's consequences, including a recent study on the impact of the IRA on early stage investment. She also talks about the possibility that, because of perverse incentives for pharmacy benefit managers, patient access to medications negotiated under the IRA could actually get worse. And she looks ahead to the third round of negotiations, which will see Part D drugs, including Keytruda, become eligible. While the IRA was the main focus of discussion, Curran and Comstock discuss a lot more about the current chaotic environment in DC, including the potential impact of layoffs on the functioning of agencies like CMS and FDA, the outlook for the possibility of IRA reform under the Trump administration, and the recent dispatch from Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy indicating a change in policy around notice and comment rulemaking.  Things are happening fast in the United States government and the ripples could have big effects for the pharma industry. Tune in for the low-down from an expert insider. 

It takes around seven years to develop a new drug and bring it to market. With the advent of GenAI, businesses in the life sciences sector can speed up the process, wiping months or even years off that average. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Bryan Hill, life sciences chief technology officer at Cognizant, in a conversation on how generative AI is revolutionising life sciences and drug development. Though it might seem an obvious path, not all life sciences companies are jumping on the bandwagon to adopt GenAI. Instead, many are taking a wait-and-see approach, staying put until the course forward is clearer to incorporate the technology. You can listen to episode 169a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

Unique, patient-focused manufacturing models are needed to scale up innovative cell therapies for cancer and one company, CTMC, is challenging the status quo to achieve this and get them to patients. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Jason Bock, co-founder and CEO of CTMC, a first-of-its-kind cell therapy engine aiming to advance novel scientific breakthroughs into medicines developed rapidly and robustly to - ultimately - end cancer. Taking learnings from the monoclonal antibody field to come up with a fit-for-purpose solution, Bock discusses his work in the joint venture between the MD Anderson Cancer Center and biopharmaceutical manufacturer Resilience – combining industrial manufacturing and development capabilities with the work of an academic medical centre. CTMC's is a “patient adjacent” manufacturing model – crucial when it comes to developing personalised therapies (especially when dealing with living cells), and Bock explains how patient-centric approaches streamline manufacturing processes, improve efficacy, and allow for that personalised treatment approach, particularly when the supply chain is local. You can listen to episode 168a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

Prior authorisations (or PAs) have long put a burden on pharmacy and medical practices, ultimately causing delays for patients.  In a new podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Andrew Burns, chief revenue officer at DrFirst, about the ramifications of delayed patient care when it comes to specialty medications. Exploring the current PA landscape, the conversation touches upon specialty pharmacy services and medications, helping to treat rare and complex medical conditions like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Mentioned also are the place of advanced AI and automation technologies, and patient-supportive education, in such services. It is, after all, about better health outcomes for patients. You can listen to episode 167a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

Around 75% of rare diseases are diagnosed in childhood, with most before the age of two. With 30% of rare disease patients dying before the age of five, the need for different treatment methods for children is clear. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Helen Thackray, chief R&D officer at biotech company BioCryst, as well as an alumnus of the Children's National Medical Center. The conversation touches upon incentivisation for manufacturers to develop drugs to treat rare diseases, addressing age-appropriate formulations and recognising the metabolic differences between children and adults, and looks also at clinical trial design. It's clear that the time for action is now, and serving the paediatric patient population through every stage of the drug delivery process will lead to better adherence and more effective disease management. You can listen to episode 166a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with two PharmaLex experts about navigating complex R&D processes to unleash the next wave of biopharma breakthroughs. PharmaLex's Dr Christian Schneider, VP & Chief Medical Officer, Clinical Development Services, together with Dr Christelle Boileau, Director of Regulatory Development Strategy and IPD solution lead at PharmaLex, which is part of Cencora, explore the many challenges faced across the clinical trial landscape when it comes to new therapies, including ATMP development. From preclinical to market access and regulatory considerations, Dr Boileau warns that development is not a linear process, and for both an early-as-possible strategy is paramount. Comparing classical paradigms with the new, traditional endpoints need to be reassessed – for example, when defining dosage – says Dr Schneider. You can listen to episode 165a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

The JP Morgan Healthcare Conference remains one of the most influential events for the life sciences sector, setting the stage for major deal-making, investment trends, and strategic shifts that will define the year ahead. Keen to capture all the key trends and talking points from this year's event, pharmaphorum editor-in-chief, Jonah Comstock, hit the ground running in Philadelphia, live blogging key sessions and interviewing experts to find out what industry insiders foresee for 2025. In this special extended episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, Jonah sits down with Deep Dive editor, Eloise McLennan, to break down the key themes and takeaways from this year's event. From the impact of the new Trump Administration on research and development to advancements in brain health, PBM reform, and the evolving role of GenAI in clinical trials, they explore the discussions and developments set to shape pharma's trajectory in 2025 and beyond. Plus, hear exclusive interviews from experts, including: Catherine Owen Adams from Acadia Pharmaceuticals on trends and innovations in brain health NKarta's Paul Hastings discusses natural killer cells and developments in cell and gene therapies Evidation's Phil Johnson on the role of real world data in drug development Grove AI's Tran Le and Sohit Gatiganti on the immense potential of AI in audio for clinical trials You can listen to this episode, as well as previous episodes 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

Therapeutic antibodies are a vital weapon in combating diseases such as cancer, but developing these treatments through conventional methods is slow and unreliable. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Dr James Field, founder and CEO of LabGenius, a drug discovery company pioneering the discovery of next-generation therapeutic antibodies in order to solve this predicament. Dr Field speaks to how can industry cut through the hype that surrounds AI and optimally assess the technical underpinnings of an AI proposition in medicine. He describes how LabGenius overcomes the so-called “cognition barrier” by using mathematical models to understand how molecules will respond to disease, and then designs novel therapeutics with the right collection of properties. You can listen to episode 164a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

AI might still be in the modish buzzword stage, but discussions exploring the potential for its scaling within life sciences are critical. In a new pharmaphorum podcast with ZS Associates' Sharon Karlsberg, principal and leader of oncology solutions, and Brandi Davis-Dusenbery, principal and partner, web editor Nicole Raleigh explores the potential for scaling advanced technologies in the biopharmaceutical industry. From digital twins and insilico modelling and the potential to reduce experimentation in human populations with simulated populations and differently designed trials, to document authoring and automation for time-saving purposes – the conversation on leveraging AI turns also to the global regulatory landscape.  You can listen to episode 163a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

For women with rare diseases, they often face a double jeopardy, where many of the symptoms they experience can be confused with and misdiagnosed as menopause. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Jennifer Schranz, head of rare diseases at Ipsen, for a conversation focused on rare liver disease primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), which affects nine women for every one man, and the women's health gap more generally. Schranz explains the importance of developing a more individualised approach to management and treatment of PBC for each patient and discusses Ipsen's PBC therapy Iqirvo (elafibranor). You can listen to episode 162a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

With about 92% of new drugs failing in human clinical trials, pharma companies face tremendous financial losses and, more importantly, development and delivery of potentially life-saving treatments are woefully delayed. In today's pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Isaac Bentwich, CEO and founder of Quris.AI, about how AI could revolutionise preclinical research and accelerate the development of potentially life-saving drugs, safely. Exploring the notion of 3D organ modelling, combining AI and ‘advanced' biology such as organ-on-chip, and delving into his research passion of the rare diseases space, including FragileX, Bentwich explains that there might be a long road left to travel, but with the acceleration that has taken place with such technology over the past few years, the horizon of success might not be too far off in the distance. No longer science fiction, we are living in the realm of tangible results and possibilities with AI. You can listen to episode 161a 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 - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Luca Quagliata, Vice President and Global Head of Medical and Scientific Affairs at Thermo Fisher Scientific, a company committed to advancing precision medicine, for a conversation on this space and a new frontier of biomarkers. Quagliata discusses Thermo Fisher's ongoing collaboration with EVERSANA, pharmaphorum's parent company, and that collaboration's investigation of the impact of utilising electronic health record (EHR) data in haematological cancers to support the company's value proposition for ultra-fast next generation sequencing (NGS) with oncomine myeloid solutions. That included a presentation at Frontiers Health 2024, in Berlin, in the deep dive, ‘Overcoming data linkage barriers with tokenization technology: RWE on the use of targeted therapy and its impact on survival in blood malignancies' – presented alongside Dr Pierantonio Russo, Corporate Chief Medical Officer at EVERSANA.

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, editor-in-chief Jonah Comstock speaks with Dr Victoria Richon, CEO of Entact Bio, a company focused on the small molecule space, with its team of scientists, entrepreneurs, drug creators, and problem solvers working together to bring new medicines to patients who currently have few options. Creating new medicines by enhancing protein function, Richon is driven by the desire to bring drugs to these patients. She and Comstock discuss protein inhibition in comparison to protein enhancement, based on the idea that many diseases are caused by too little of a certain protein – for instance, a new wave in small molecule drug discovery is those that bind to the protein of interest, but also to another protein that modifies the protein of interest, also known as induced proximity. They explore the possibilities of PROTAC targeted protein degrader technology, Richon talking through the example of cystic fibrosis and the role of proteins in longevity there – as well as the future possibilities.

Modern medicine moves ever more to precision, personalised medicine, and precision dosing is critical in a world that recognises biological individuality – especially when it comes to paediatric care. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Sharmeen Roy, chief scientist at DoseMe, for a conversation on precision medicine tools and how pharmacokinetic (or PK) and pharmacodynamic (or PD) characteristics are a – long overdue – trend in pharma at the moment, from lead identification right up to final-stage clinical trials. Advancements in technology a key driver to this end, Dr Roy explains why such tools should be used to promote precision patient care, end to end.

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, editor-in-chief Jonah Comstock speaks with Phil Johnson, MD, president and CEO of Interius Biotherapeutics. Working in the in vivo cell therapy space, Johnson discusses the injection of a manufactured vector into a patient to create the CAR-T cells directly inside the body of the patient, without the need for chemotherapy treatment beforehand – hence such hope for in vivo cell therapy's potential. Targeting both T-cells and NK-cells, Johnson notes that this is a distinguishing factor of the work Interius does. On the CAR-T space generally, Comstock and Johnson explore its evolution and how these products can be made faster, better, and cheaper – including the democratisation of these therapies, and the accessibility gains this means for patients.

Since the results of the US election, the news has been awash with what the future might hold under a second Trump Administration, particularly within healthcare and life sciences. In today's podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh is joined by Jesse Mendelsohn, senior vice president of Model N's Center of Excellence, for a conversation that explores multiple aspects of the drug pricing debate in America – speaking before President-Elect Donald Trump confirmed his nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as US Health and Human Services Secretary. Mendelsohn – using history as a guide – suggests there will be a layering of new laws, with, for example, a push for changes to the Inflation Reduction Act, rather than repeal of it. And he explores the potential impacts on pharma, also.

Virtual wards (also known as hospital at home) allow patients to get the care they need at home safely and conveniently, rather than being in hospital. The NHS is increasingly introducing virtual wards to support people at the place they call home, including care homes. In today's podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Samuel Ewing, global head of pharma partnerships at Doccla, about the next generation of digital tools such as wearable medical devices, as well as remote patient monitoring and digital healthcare generally. Although wearables go back decades, the true benefit for patients and healthcare systems allows home monitoring. Explaining a current COPD example, it's about reducing hospital admissions, says Ewing, thereby reducing burden, and its also about more individualised care, on which point Ewing explores the current physician grading scale of Parkinson's symptoms compared to remote and daily patient monitoring. In short, technology is transforming healthcare today, but there's still a lot of work to do. Yet, Ewing caveats against ‘hysteria' around data management and posits that there is perhaps too much concern over data privacy.

Therapeutic or focused ultrasound began being applied to neurologic conditions less than a decade ago, but its potential in a wide spectrum of brain applications is high. In today's podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Neal Kassell, chair and founder of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and previously a neurosurgeon, who created the Foundation in 2006 to improve the lives of millions of people with serious medical disorders by accelerating the development and adoption of focused ultrasound. Focus ultrasound (FUS) has the potential to revolutionise therapy to the same degree that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning revolutionised diagnosis, says Kassell. The effect of the treatment can be observed as it is being administered in real time by using such imaging; it is image-guided therapy. Of the 180 indications in various stages of development using FUS, the number of regulatory approvals and reimbursements is increasing. Dialogue has shifted from ‘if' to ‘when' and the Focused Ultrasound Foundation works to make that when ‘now'. And it all begins with evidence, evidence come from research.

A digital health passport is an app, or online certification, that displays a traveller's health or vaccination record. It can save lives, on both private and public levels. In today's pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Matt Hollingsworth, co-founder and CEO of Carta Healthcare, a company seeking to support the healthcare data registry market by transforming a previously manual clinical data abstraction process. Hollingsworth discusses his own, very personal experiences that led to Carta Healthcare's foundation and progressed its work, as well as the comfort that can be provided patients with chronic diseases – including congenital heart defects – with digital health passports, offering an information safety net for them whilst travelling, circumventing the need to carry veritable folders full of printed health records. Diving into the what's what of EHRs, AI's role in digital health passports, and the pros and cons of a generally digital future, technology is nevertheless very much in our health futures, explains Hollingsworth.

The pandemic served as a catalyst for a revolution in genomic surveillance for tracking pathogens. The technology proved vital in aiding understanding of the evolution of and spread of virus in real time to inform public health measures, ultimately accelerating drug and vaccine development. In today's podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Evan Floden, CEO and co-founder of Seqera, a data orchestration and genomics analysis company, about barriers of entry to genomic surveillance in public health labs and how these can be lowered to support future bioinformaticians, aiding acceleration and quality and accuracy in R&D.

Precision medicine is oft spoken about these days, as it is finally addressing the elephant in the room: one size – or, more appropriately, one dose – does not fit all. Precision medicine hones in on treatment of the individual, rather than just the disease, focusing on the reality that each patient is biologically different. Personalisation is very much key. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Hakim Yadi, PhD, OBE, and CEO and co-founder of Closed Loop Medicine, ahead of his appearance at Frontiers Health next week, 17th-18th October. Closed Loop Medicine is a TechBio company developing prescription combination drug plus software products, with the aim of bring forward the promise of precision medicine. From personalised dosing to the applicability of this approach to the GLP-1 trend in obesity treatment, the conversation covers recent collaborations and harks back to discussions at the Galien Forum earlier in 2024, honing in on the importance of workflow and cost considerations, also.

Investment and strategic partnerships are the lifeblood of innovation in healthcare, driving groundbreaking discoveries and accelerating the development of life-changing therapies. And so, it was no surprise that the 2024 LSX USA Congress in Boston attracted life sciences innovators and decision-makers from around the world, eager to explore the latest trends shaping the industry. Among those attendees was pharmaphorum's editor-in-chief, Jonah Comstock, who took to the floor to uncover the trends and talking points set to influence investment decisions in the coming months. In this special episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, Jonah sat down with Deep Dive editor Eloise McLennan to discuss key takeaways from the LSX conference. From evolving investment trends like AI in biotech and digital to emerging areas such as precision psychiatry, they explore the cautiously optimistic investment landscape, the delicate balance between early- and late-stage investments, and the importance of building honest, productive relationships across the healthcare ecosystem. Tune in to hear their in-depth analysis of the latest investment and partnership trends shaping the future of healthcare innovation.

The ESMO congress always disseminates the latest results of cancer research, a vibrant gathering and sharing of the latest data, communicating the next promising steps in oncological scientific development, ever seeking to address unmet patient needs. So it was that pharmaphorum Web Editor Nicole Raleigh found a quiet spot onsite in Barcelona this year to catch with experts from EVERSANA and discuss their takeaways from the 2024 conference. Tune in to hear more from: Ann Marie Robertson, Chief Commercial Officer, EVP, EVERSANA COMPLETE Oncology, EVERSANA; Barry Vucsko, Senior Vice President, Client Services and Business Development Leader, EVERSANA INTOUCH; Vanitha Sankaran, VP, Medical Strategy, EVERSANA INTOUCH; and Gurdip Daffu, PhD, VP, Medical Strategy (Oncology), EVERSANA INTOUCH. From the unique to the specifics of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and advancements in women's cancers, to the proliferation of AI and where it's all going, and from diagnostics to excitement and hope at what's on the cusp and what's yet to come – the sense of bated breath potential is palpable.

Last month, the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs subject to the drug negotiation provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. The industry has been waiting with bated breath to see these prices, as they give the first real indication of how impactful this unprecedented legislation will be for pharma's bottom line. But this latest release of information raises as many questions as it answers, and on today's podcast host Jonah Comstock is joined by Alice Valder Curran, a partner at Hogan Lovells and a healthcare policy expert, for a broad ranging discussion of some of the next steps and consequences – intended or otherwise – of this legislation. They talk about the many challenges CMS is likely to face in operationalising these prices and how much of the savings is likely to find its way to patients when the dust settles. They also discuss the prices themselves, why they aren't lower, and just how low they really are, contextually. Additionally, they discuss some of the downstream consequences still to come from the IRA, including possible effects on oncolytics and the generics market. For the pharma industry, the IRA drug pricing negotiation provision is shaping up to be one of the most consequential political stories of the decade. Tune in for a lively and in-depth discussion of what those consequences might look like.

The Life Sciences Generative AI Council aims to bring together the best minds in pharma, academia, and technology to advance the use of GenAI in life sciences R&D, seeking through pinpointing and showcasing repeatable use cases to shape the targeted use of next-generation artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI-ML) innovation, particularly in the form of GenAI. In today's pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Manny Belabe, senior VP of customer success at ArisGlobal, about the Council and the role it seeks to play in furthering the success of GenAI in life sciences R&D. Discussing also ArisGlobal's LifeSphere NavaX GenAI features and functionality, Belabe notes too that a platform-centric development approach, based on common modules, can be leveraged to reduce data redundancy and general maintenance of that data. At the present moment, however, there is also the pressing concern of sustainability in all sectors, and Belabe addresses practical issues around cooling infrastructure and space requirements for these technologies, as well.