The Pharma Letter Podcast
The Pharma Letter Podcast offers in-depth discussion and analysis of key trends, companies, and events in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Guests come from a broad array of sectors and business functions, including early-stage research, patient engagement, marketing, supply chain management, and life sciences investing. Episodes are typically 20-30 minutes long and are released approximately every two weeks.
Episodes
BenevolentAI CEO on the future of AI-led medicine
This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we’re joined by Kenneth Mulvany, founder and executive chair of BenevolentAI: one of the UK’s earliest and most high-profile attempts to apply machine learning to drug discovery.Founded in 2013, BenevolentAI set out to build what it describes as a science-based AI platform capable of mining vast biomedical data to identify novel targets and accelerate the pa
ConcertAI CEO Eron Kelly on Big Tech's role in biotech
This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we’re joined by Eron Kelly, chief executive of ConcertAI: a company applying artificial intelligence to accelerate oncology research and clinical development.ConcertAI sits at the intersection of life sciences and large-scale data, working with biopharma companies, research networks, and technology partners to turn real-world clinical and genomic information
How blood cancer treatment is evolving in the Middle East
This week on the Podcast, we are joined by Dr Amr Hanbali.During Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Guy Martin, news editor at The Pharma Letter, sat down with Dr Hanbali to discuss his experiences treating patients with CAR T-cell therapy in the Middle East.With extensive experience in hematology and the treatment of blood disorders such as leukemia and myeloma, Dr Hanbali has been closely involved in
Nouscom bets on dual vaccine strategy to outsmart cancer
This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we’re joined by Marina Udier, chief executive of Nouscom — a biotech company developing cancer vaccines.Founded in 2015, the firm is working on cancer vaccines that use a viral vector platform to train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer. The company is developing both personalized and off-the-shelf approaches, aiming to treat a range of tumors.
Is this a revolution in Alzheimer's?
This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we’re joined by Howard Fillit, co-founder and chief science officer at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF).As the FDA approval of anti-amyloid drugs like lecanemab and donanemab marks a new era in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, questions remain around cost, access, and real-world impact. A geriatrician and neuroscientist, Dr Fillit has argued for
Why Boehringer and GSK are betting on Ochre
This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we’re joined by Quin Wills, co-founder and chief scientific officer of UK biotech Ochre Bio.A physician-scientist with a background in genomics and computational biology, Quin has spent much of his career focused on the biology of liver disease — a path that has shaped Ochre’s approach to RNA-based therapies and human-based validation models.Founded in 2019,
ICON's AI strategy: faster, smarter trials
This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we are joined by Tony Clarke, senior VP of IT digital operations at ICON (Nasdaq: ICLR).As a leader in digital transformation within clinical research, Tony has been at the forefront of implementing AI-driven solutions to enhance drug development. A global contract research organization (CRO), ICON has been tracking industry attitudes toward digital innovati
How real-time data could transform clinical trials
In this week’s podcast, we welcome Iddo Peleg, CEO and co-founder of Yonalink, who provides insights into the current and future state of the clinical trial industry. As we move headlong into 2025, a year that appears set to be characterized by global economic and political turmoil, Iddo discusses major trends in the industry, including challenges posed by the COVID-19 aftermath and the potential
Japanese pharma in the UK
In this episode, we’ll take a look at the role of Japanese pharmaceutical groups in the UK, with Jackie Davis, general manager at Astellas Pharma.Tokyo-headquartered Astellas (TYO: 4503) has developed a strong portfolio in urology, oncology and immunology, most recently with US FDA approval for Vyloy (zolbetuximab), a key addition to its cancer treatments.It’s one of many Japanese companies with a
How can we use AI to program antibodies?
This week, we discuss a novel AI-driven approach to drug development, and its potential to transform the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.We are joined by Yanay Ofran, chief executive and founder of Israel-based Biolojic Design, a company that is working on programmable antibodies.Biolojic's platform has already yielded a first-of-its-kind computationally designed antibody, now in
Breakthroughs in MASH, with 89bio CEO
This week we’re focusing on an area of clinical research that has been of great interest for a number of years, that is NASH, also known as MASH. It’s a high area of unmet medical need, with over 20 million diagnosed cases across Europe and the USA, and while there are more than 80 therapies currently in the pipeline, only around 5% of these are in Phase III development.One company working in this
How to develop cancer drugs faster, with Ellipses Pharma
This week we are speaking with the chief executive of British drug development company Ellipses Pharma. Founded in 2018 to create new cancer therapies, the firm is following a unique multimodal approach to clinical development, leveraging a variety of technologies.That’s not the only way that Ellipses is rethinking drug development. The company uses a consultative model to provide an unbiased vett
CRO sector surges in bio revolution
In the world of outsourced clinical research, ICON is a big fish in a pond full of other increasingly big fish.In this episode of The Pharma Letter Podcast, we chat with the company’s chief commercial officer, George McMillan.Like many in the industry, the Dublin-headquartered clinical research organization (CRO) has sought to grow in size to take advantage of increasing demand for its services.A
Lilly looks to lead in Alzheimer's
With an Accelerated nod for Aduhelm (aducanumab) and now full approval for Leqembi (lecanemab) in the USA, Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) and Eisai (TYO: 4523) have overturned decades of failure in Alzheimer’s.But at the annual meeting of the Alzheimer’s Association (AAIC), it’s another neurology heavyweight taking center stage, as Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) makes clear its intention to remain a leader in the t
AAIC preview with Eisai deputy CCO Michael Irizarry
In the runup to the annual meeting of the Alzheimer’s Association, this week we are speaking with Michael Irizarry, deputy chief clinical officer at Eisai US.At the event in July, there will be plenty to discuss, with recent new data from Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) suggesting its anti-amyloid candidate, donanemab, is likely to provide healthy competition for Eisai's (TYO: 4523) own Alzheimer’s pro
A new way to innovate, from Flagship Pioneering
Set against a backdrop of foundering confidence in biotech stocks, the success of some companies incubated by Massachusetts-based Flagship Pioneering has been remarkable.Flagship has invested billions of dollars getting startups off the ground, many of which, such as Foghorn Therapeutics (Nasdaq: FHTX), Codiak Biosciences (Nasdaq: CDAK) and Rubius (Nasdaq: RUBY), have gone on to become publicly-tr
Will radical new EU regs hobble industry?
A draft of the European Commission’s ongoing review of pharmaceutical legislation has leaked, prompting a bitterly-worded reaction from drugmakers, which accuse legislators of “sabotaging” the industry.There is no doubt that the proposals represent serious change. Maarten Meulenbelt, partner and expert on EU regulatory affairs at Sidley Austin, describes them as the most far-reaching for decades.O
Galapagos update—with CEO Paul Stoffels
This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we are joined by Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG) chief executive Paul Stoffels.After an illustrious career as chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Dr Stoffels is ready for a new chapter in his home country of Belgium.His instalment as Galapagos CEO is also a kind of homecoming. Founded in 1999, the firm emerged from a joint venture betwe
US midterms and beyond: the outlook for pharma
The outcome of the recent midterm elections in the USA surprised many by returning a Democrat-led Senate, preventing Republicans from gaining control of the next Congress.Analysts, having expected a stronger showing for Republicans, put some of the blame on former president Donald Trump, whose endorsements and active involvement in campaigning were said to frighten off moderates.In this week’s epi
Focus on rare liver diseases, with Albireo CEO Ron Cooper
*Partnered contentIn Boston, Massachusetts, one company is now making significant headway in the development of an innovative treatment for rare pediatric liver diseases.Led by president and chief executive officer Ron Cooper, Albireo (Nasdaq: ALBO) has since 2021 boasted both US and EU approval for the novel bile acid modulator Bylvay (odevixibat).The oral medicine addresses an unmet need by prov
Inflation Reduction Act: quick take
As President Joe Biden signs the Inflation Reduction Act into law, drugmakers in the USA are poring over the likely impact on drug prices, and how best to respond to its enactment.The legislation passed in the US Congress with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the decisive vote in an otherwise deadlocked Senate.That evident lack of bipartisanship put the kibosh on Democrats’ more ambitious plan
EQRx plots radical disruption on pricing
For years, commentators have observed that drug prices in the USA are significantly higher than elsewhere in the world. Pointing to the high levels of innovation in the USA, a country where new drugs and biologics tend to get launched first, argue that market-based pricing funds essential research and development.As the US Congress debates more government intervention to improve access, including
Can AI find new drugs for metabolic diseases?
Interest in the potential for artificial intelligence to transform different aspects of the drug discovery and development process is at an all-time high.According to industry analyst GlobalData, the number of AI deals in pharma has doubled in the last three years, reaching 85 in 2021, and more pharmaceutical companies are hiring for AI roles than ever before.Another way of gauging interest is to
A vaccine for Alzheimer's?
With the approval of Aduhelm (aducanumab), the first new Alzheimer’s treatment in decades, people affected by dementia were given new hope that a breakthrough had finally arrived.A year later, the product is yet to gain traction in the USA, the only country to have approved it, and developers Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) and Eisai (TYO: 4523) have been forced to rely on confirmatory trials to open up rei
Is there a data capture crisis in biotech?
In recent years there has been an explosion of digital tools and platforms in the life sciences industry, designed to improve processes ranging from drug discovery and development, through to registration and commercialization.As with everything in pharma and biotech, the value of these tools hinges on the strength of the underlying data, making it essential to capture research in a robust and rel
Mastering the microbiome
Companies developing microbiome-based treatments have garnered a lot of interest recently, following many years of uncertainty over the therapeutic potential of the approach.This has led to more money from venture capitalists, and increased valuations for publicly-listed companies.Life sciences investor Flagship Pioneering, for example, has helped found several new microbiome startups, including K
Should US states control drug prices?
At the national level, drug pricing continues to be a hot button issue for lawmakers, drugmakers and patients in the USA.For many years, successive administrations have proposed a range of regulatory reforms designed to contain what some regard as excessive drug prices, with Congress typically unable to agree on a way forward.Meanwhile, at the state level, regulators have sometimes taken matters i
Will decentralized clinical trials become the new standard?
This week, we look at the potential impact of decentralized clinical trials.During the The COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen increased adoption of this kind of study, as part of a general movement towards greater use of innovative digital platforms for collecting and distributing clinical data.As well as improving the experience for patients and doctors, the approach could enable researchers to coll
The rise of AI in drug discovery
In this podcast, we discuss an exciting new collaboration between pharmaceutical majors in the field of AI.Around the world, ever increasing investments are being made in artificial intelligence, as drugmakers spy an opportunity to drive efficiencies and spur innovation.One estimate puts the total amount of venture capital funding in AI-led biotech startups at around $2 billion in 2020, an increas
Why hasn't the world embraced Sputnik V?
In August 2020, Russia approved its homegrown coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, months ahead of rival programs in the west.But despite the bleak pandemic outlook, there was no clamour in Europe or the USA to place orders, as scientists criticized a lack of transparency over the development process and the available clinical data.Many seemed to regard the seemingly premature approval as an attempt to
Better pharma supply chains
In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, many drugmakers saw major share price declines as investors got to grips with the likely impact on prescribing, developing medicines, and supply chain interruptions.The second half of 2020 pointed to a more positive outlook, with stocks recovering, but economic and supply chain volatility have continued to hamper the sector, as well as the broader eco
The importance of patient empowerment in multiple sclerosis care
Patient empowerment is a hot topic in many areas of medicine. Particularly so for diseases that are more complex to manage, and present with symptoms that aren’t immediately obvious and which vary greatly among individuals.Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one such disease. An estimated 2,500,000 people in the world have MS, a condition which can cause a broad range of symptoms and affect multiple parts
Innovation in preleukemia
High-risk MDS, often referred to as preleukemia, is a chronic form of blood cancer with a significant level of unmet medical need.MDS is a complicated disease, presenting several obstacles to drug developers, and no new therapies have been approved for the condition in over a decade. But that may be about to change, with multiple drugmakers, including some large pharmaceutical companies, including
The state of biotech investing
With all signs pointing to an M&A boom in late 2021 and throughout 2022, our guest will provide valuable insight into current and emerging trends in the biotech investing landscape.In this episode of The Pharma Letter Podcast, we speak with Lance Minor, principal and national co-leader of the life sciences practice at BDO, a global business intelligence firm.With the coronavirus pandemic conti
Psychedelics in medicine
For many years, industry commentators have observed that there could be huge untapped therapeutic potential for psychedelics, should the correct development pathways be found.Investment in this area is now at an all-time high, with waves of neurological research yielding encouraging results, including in depression, where data have shown that people with depressive disorders can react positively t
Non-opioid analgesics
The USA continues to wrestle with the legacy of an epidemic of opioid abuse, believed to have cost the lives of over half a million people through overdose.Until the pandemic struck, it looked as though the tide had turned, thanks to remedial actions on the part of drugmakers - prompted no doubt by a raft of lawsuits - as well as changes to prescribing practices.Now, opioid abuse is on the rise ag
Belong.Life
Israel-based Belong.Life is the creator of the world’s largest social network for cancer patients, and has ambitions to provide a range of networks across therapy areas.The platform may of interest for drug developers and other industry participants looking for opportunities to conduct market research or marketing efforts, or to boost clinical trial enrolment.In this episode, The Pharma Letter dis
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