At the end of September, President Trump invited Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla to the Oval Office to announce that the company and the administration had reached a "deal" on most-favoured nations drug pricing. This was followed by similar announcements from AstraZeneca and Merck. But are these deals substantive policy or PR sleight of hand? In today’s episode of the pharmaphorum podcast, host Jonah Comstock invites Hogan Lovells Partner Alice Valder Curran back to the show to help get to the bottom of that question, as well as to talk a little about TrumpRx. And this time she's brought along her colleague Elizabeth Jungman who gives us the skinny on the FDA's new priority voucher system and what exactly the government shutdown means for the pharma industry. Despite the many press releases, oval office announcements, and guidance documents, there’s still a lot we don’t know about all these topics. But Curran and Jungman help clarify what we do know so far and provide context and analysis to fill in the gaps. For the rest, we’ll have to wait and see what US policymakers have in store. Tune in for the whole illuminating conversation.

Amid historic advances in cell-based therapies and precision medicine, biotech’s biggest challenge isn’t scientific, it’s political. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, James Roosevelt Jr, a longtime healthcare leader, former associate commissioner of social security for retirement policy, and grandson of FDR, as well as Advisory Board Member for Pluri Inc, discusses regulatory bottlenecks and their stalling effect on cell-based therapies, as well as the real dynamics behind FDA reform, and why biotech CEOs must become more fluent in policymaking now. You can listen to episode 215 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.

Radiation has for over a century been considered one of the most powerful methods of destroying cancer. But, even now, ways to deliver significant doses to a tumour without damaging normal surrounding tissue are few. And this is where targeted radiotherapeutics come in. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Dr Marc Hedrick, president and CEO of Plus Therapeutics, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing targeted radiotherapeutics with advanced platform technologies for central nervous system cancers, today and for the future. You can listen to episode 214 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 Ilya Burkov, global head of healthcare & life sciences at Nebius, a company building one of the world’s leading AI infrastructure companies. Burkov discusses the deployment of AI and cloud-native infrastructure for improving the speed and indeed quality of drug development, as well as why access to compute not enough and how GenAI is helping pharma teams integrate real-world evidence into the pipeline. You can listen to episode 213 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.

Bayer and Veeva have partnered for several years across commercial, R&D, and quality functions. But recently Bayer migrated to Veeva’s Vault CRM, taking that relationship, and Bayer’s connected platform journey, to the next level. In order to discuss this migration further, pharmaphorum spoke with Alexander Alex, head of Veeva Platform at Bayer, and Florian Schnappauf, vice president of enterprise commercial strategy at Veeva. Alex and Schnappauf explain how Vault CRM is a step-change for companies like Bayer, and discuss the benefits of being able to reflect the whole customer journey on a single platform, as well as the importance of collaboration. You can listen to episode 212 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.

As pharmaphorum reported during ESMO 2025, fresh from a return to oncology with the FDA approval of zongertinib as a treatment for HER2-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), tumour shrinkage observed by investigator review - Boehringer Ingelheim is racing to expand its label. As the company reported new data at the Congress from the phase 1b Beamion LUNG-1 study, underpinning the approval of zongertinib (Hernexeos) as a second-line therapy, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Lykke Hinsch Gylvin, chief medical officer of Boehringer Ingelheim, and Itziar Canamasas, Boehringer's head of oncology, offsite in Berlin. Discussing also Boehringer’s novel T-cell engager obrixtamig in combination with standard of care chemoimmunotherapy for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung carcinoma, Gylvin and Canamasas make clear Boehringer’s oncology foothold and commitment to making an unprecedented impact on the lives of those affected by cancer through innovative research. Certainly, patient engagement, patient quality of life, and patient trial co-creation are core Boehringer Ingelheim concerns. This and other reportage from ESMO 2025 can be found here. You can listen to episode 211 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.

Back in June, pharmaphorum spoke with Entity Risk’s CEO and co-founder, Neal Masia, a leading health economist, about the unknowns unfolding in the US following the commencement of the second Trump administration this year. Tune into today’s podcast for an exploration of the potential scenarios Masia mused might arise, as well as his insights on the 340B Program, PBMs, and risk-based contracts. You can listen to episode 210 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 the final episode of our special Frontiers Health limited series of the pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with the Chairman of Frontiers Health, Robert Ascione. Ascione - a serial entrepreneur & thought leader in health innovation and digital health, global executive, CEO and founder of Healthware Group, and President of Health Innovation at EVERSANA – talks about his favourite memory from Frontiers Health, as well as how his work outside of the conference both informs and is informed by it. Finally, he contemplates what will define the future of health. Listen to this and other episodes from the Frontiers Health limited series here.

As Gain Therapeutics announces positive Phase 1b results for its lead compound, GT-02287, pharmaphorum looks back to a conversation with the company’s CEO Gene Mack earlier in the year, discussing allosteric small molecule therapies in the Parkinson’s disease space. Mack discusses the company’s progress in this field, and explores where next in terms of the unmet needs of Parkinson’s disease and the potential of this specific area of R&D in the future. You can listen to episode 209a 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.

As one of Frontiers Health’s most recognisable faces (and voices), Jessica DaMassa, founder of WTF Health and long-time emcee of the conference, has had a front-row seat to the events evolution over the last decade. In this episode of the pharmaphorum podcast’s special Frontiers Health anniversary series, DaMassa joins Deep Dive editor, Eloise McLennan, for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run the show – both on and off stage. She reflects on her very first visit to Frontiers Health, her evolution from conference-floor reporter to main-stage moderator, and why flexibility, curiosity, and a healthy sense of humour are essential tools for interviewing some of the biggest names in healthcare. A self-described “health tech gossip,” DaMassa shares what she’s most looking forward to at this year’s event, how she prepares for interviews with top leaders across pharma and digital health, and why hype doesn’t always equal impact when it comes to innovation.

Healthcare organisations are facing the simultaneous pressures of demonstrating ROI on AI investments, addressing clinician burnout, and satisfying compliance requirements. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, Dr Jay Anders, chief medical officer for Medicomp Systems, and also host of the Tell Me Where IT Hurts podcast, discusses why he believes that the only way organisations can solve all three of those problems is by first solving data quality issues. Anders talks about this data quality crisis, and the financial and operational impacts of the current situation, and explains why providers must ensure clinical data is validated, cleaned, and optimised. You can listen to episode 208a 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 cell culture media industry is currently experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for biopharmaceuticals, advancements in tissue engineering, and the rising number of research activities in cell biology. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Brandon Pence, who was recently appointed President and COO of Fujifilm Biosciences, a company previously known as Fujifilm Irvine Scientific, about the cell culture media field. Pence also discusses end-to-end life sciences capabilities to create an accelerated path toward greater patient access for advanced care, as well as the shift of late to the US for many large pharma, during Trump’s second administration. You can listen to episode 207a 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.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Frontiers Health. In another episode of our limited Frontiers Health series of the pharmaphorum podcast, we speak with commercial strategy expert Pilar Fernández Hermida, founder of i-Expand, a commercial strategy firm focused on assisting Health Tech and Deeptech companies grow and monetise. Fernández Hermida shares her favourite memory from the conference’s past decade, and discusses commercialisation of new technologies, such as advanced therapies and foundational tech like AI, and how CGTs can become more accessible, as well as much more. Explore this Frontiers Health conversation and others - and find out how to attend the conference - here.

In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Anthony Cilento, vice president, data science & customer insights, at Bayer, in a post-Axtria Ignite 2025 discussion on the conference and agentic AI more generally. Cilento speaks to the advancement from GenAI to agentic AI, what’s changed for his own team in this regard and what’s required by way of a culture shift more generally, as well as speaking to the changes necessary in the advanced therapies space when it comes to commercialisation. You can listen to episode 206a 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.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Frontiers Health. In another episode of our limited Frontiers Health series of the pharmaphorum podcast, we speak with founder, director, and global health advisor at D-Health Consulting, Roberta Sarno. Sarno is also director of the APAC Liver Disease Alliance, and consultant on digital health APAC policy at the American Telemedicine Association, as well as advisor to the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association. Sarno discusses her favourite memory from Frontiers Health, as well as the importance of equity and accessibility for patients, and how that needs to be from day one. The conversation also touches upon the rural community experience, and explores global health innovation more widely, Sarno explaining why multistakeholder involvement is key. Explore this Frontiers Health conversation and others - and find out how to attend the conference - here.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Frontiers Health. In another episode of our limited Frontiers Health series of the pharmaphorum podcast, we speak with healthcare innovation consultant Gary Monk. Monk shares his favourite memory from the conference’s past decade, and discusses its ethos, as well as how his work at the moment aligns with that. Explore this Frontiers Health conversation and others - and find out how to attend the conference - here.

Frontiers Health marks its 10th anniversary this year, celebrating a decade of innovation, collaboration, and the connections that drive progress.   In this episode of our Frontiers Health limited series of the pharmaphorum podcast, Deep Dive editor Eloise McLennan speaks with Aline Noizet, founder of Digital Health Connector  – a phrase that she says encapsulates both her personal mission and her 15 years of experience in the industry.   Noizet has built her career on connecting emerging start-ups with the partners who can help them grow, with the goal of ensuring that digital health solutions reach the patients who need them most. For her, Frontiers Health is about more than just ideas – it is about the relationships that make innovation possible.   Here, she reflects on the importance of creating these connections, the unique atmosphere of Frontiers Health, and some of her favourite moments from the past decade.

In Donald Trump's first presidential term, he spoke a lot about "Most Favoured Nations" pricing for pharmaceuticals - that is, bringing the prices that Americans pay for drugs in line with prices paid around the world. In his first term, all that talk didn't amount to much. But this time around the pharma industry is taking the President much more seriously.   In today's pharmaphorum podcast, host Jonah Comstock speaks with Alice Valder Curran, a partner at Hogan Lovells and our go-to expert on US policy in pharma, for an update on what's happening right now with Most Favoured Nations drug pricing.  Curran brings us up to speed on what's happened with the President's Executive Order and the industry response so far, then she and Comstock break down what was in the recent letters sent by the administration to major pharma companies and subsequently posted on Truth Social by the President.  They talk about the short-term and long-term impacts of the policy, to what extent it's likely to come to fruition, and to what extent the industry has already begun to change its behaviour in response. Check out the full episode below to learn more about what could be the most impactful US policy change for pharma's bottom line in decades. 

Frontiers Health is back, and celebrating 10 years of innovation, conversation, and collaboration.   In this episode of our Frontiers Health limited series of the pharmaphorum podcast, Deep Dive editor Eloise McLennan speaks with Denise Silber, founder of Basil Strategies and Doctors 2.0.   Having spent more than two decades working at the intersection of healthcare professionals, patients, and technology, Silber has had a front row seat to the evolution of digital tools in the sector. From the early adoption of electronic health records to the integration of new artificial intelligence, she has witnessed dramatic shifts across life sciences, yet at the heart of her work remains the core focus of patient centricity.   In this interview, she discusses the importance of spotlighting patient centricity at Frontiers Health, what makes the event special, and her favourite moments from years gone by.  

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a unique disorder in the rare disease sector because there are multiple approved therapies for patients and, in the US alone, the prevalence of CML is expected to triple by 2040. In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Amy Burroughs, CEO of Terns Pharmaceuticals, about available treatments for CML, the potential of allosteric TKIs, and the wider oncological landscape today. You can also listen to episode 205a 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.