pharmaphorum Podcast

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.