RealPharma: Conversations with Pharma Pathfinders

  🎙️ Episode Title: Inside the CMC Black Box: A Deep Dive with Reza Oliyai 🧾 Show Notes: What exactly is CMC — and why is it behind more FDA rejections than any other category? In this episode of RealPharma, hosts Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Dr. Reza Oliyai, former SVP of Pharmaceutical & Biologics Operations at Gilead Sciences, and now Founder & CEO of Oliyai Consulting, to demystify the world of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC). With over three decades of experience and a role in advancing 200+ drug candidates and 27 product launches, Reza offers a front-row seat to what goes wrong — and right — in the drug development journey. 🔍 In this episode, we explore: What CMC really means — and why the "controls" part is most overlooked Why 74% of FDA complete response letters involve CMC issues The pitfalls of the “Phase 1 mentality” in late-stage development AI in CMC: helpful tool or overhyped distraction? How to evaluate CDMO partners (and why big pharma’s pick might be your wrong fit) The evolving geopolitical landscape and its impact on global manufacturing What startups, investors, and boards need to understand about CMC before it’s too late Career advice: what it takes to lead in this increasingly complex field 🧠 Key Quote: “CMC is a black box to most executives. That’s a problem. Because it’s also the number one reason drugs get delayed.” — Dr. Reza Oliyai Whether you're in manufacturing, regulatory, executive leadership, or just trying to understand what actually gets a drug to market — this episode is a must-listen. 🔗 Resources & Mentions: Oliyai Consulting Reza Oliyai on LinkedIn FDA’s recent publication of Complete Response Letters 👤 About Our Guest: Dr. Reza Oliyai is a globally recognized leader in pharmaceutical operations, with deep expertise across small molecules, biologics, ADCs, peptides, siRNA, and more. After 28 years at Gilead Sciences, he now advises over 100 organizations worldwide through his firm, Oliyai Consulting.  

In this episode of RealPharma, Ian Wendt and Na-Ri Oh sit down with Dara Katcher Levy, a regulatory attorney at Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C.—widely regarded as one of the nation’s top firms in food and drug law. Dara brings decades of expertise in promotional review, labeling negotiations, and post-market compliance, helping life sciences companies navigate the complex world of FDA regulations. Together, they unpack the most pressing regulatory questions facing biopharma in 2025: DTC Advertising Under Fire: Why the U.S. remains one of only two countries allowing direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug ads, and the political push to restrict them. AI in Pharma Marketing: How AI is being adopted to streamline promotional reviews, where it adds efficiency, and where compliance risks still demand human oversight. FDA Enforcement Trends: Why the Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) has shifted its focus from celebrity DTC ads (think Serena Williams and Brittany Mahomes) to healthcare professional materials, and what that means for manufacturers. Telehealth & Influencers: The murky legal ground when platforms like Hims & Hers Health, Inc. or paid content creators promote prescription drugs. Should they be held to the same standards as manufacturers? First Amendment vs. FDA: A deep dive into recent enforcement controversies—like the warning letter to Sprout Pharmaceuticals over its CEO’s personal Instagram post—and whether FDA is overreaching in regulating speech. Dara also shares how she advises clients to balance responsible communication with compliance, and why she believes patients benefit from more information, not less, so long as it’s presented transparently and fairly. Resources & References Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. – Dara’s firm, specializing in FDA law. FDA OPDP Enforcement Letters Database – Track recent untitled and warning letters. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) – The foundation of FDA authority. FDORA (Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022) – Recent legislation impacting drug development and promotion. Addyi (flibanserin) – Sprout Pharmaceuticals – Case study mentioned in FDA’s 2024 enforcement actions.  

Episode Title: From Rock Star to Rare Disease Revolutionary: Casey McPherson’s Fight for His Daughter’s Life In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, hosts Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Casey McPherson, founder and CEO of AlphaRose Therapeutics—and acclaimed recording artist—to explore how one father’s determination to save his daughter’s life is shaking up the rare disease drug development model. Casey shares his journey from fronting rock bands to founding a biotech company, sparked by his daughter Rose’s diagnosis with an ultra-rare genetic disorder. He discusses why the current rare disease model is broken, how Alpha Rose is reimagining the path from diagnosis to treatment, and the emotional and ethical complexities of innovating in this space. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Casey’s music career prepared him to run a biotech startup. Why rare disease families face a “diagnostic odyssey” and what needs to change. The gap between available technology and systemic barriers to treatment. How AlphaRose Therapeutics is creating scalable models for ultra-rare diseases. The promise—and challenges—of engaging with regulators like the FDA in new ways. Why the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah has become a personal anthem for Casey. Links & Resources: AlphaRose Therapeutics StartEngine – Invest in Alpha Rose (crowdfunding equity round open until August) Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley cover) People Magazine feature on Casey McPherson Follow Casey on Instagram

  Episode Title: Behind the PBM Curtain: Antonio Ciaccia Exposes the Game Show Notes: In this compelling episode of Real Pharma, hosts Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt welcome back Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46brooklyn Research and President of 3 Axis Advisors, for a hard-hitting discussion on the power and pitfalls of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs remain one of the most opaque and influential forces in healthcare—shaping drug prices, patient access, and payer negotiations—often under the guise of cost savings. Antonio, widely recognized as one of the most outspoken voices for transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain, takes us deep inside the systemic problems that have led to distorted pricing models, misaligned incentives, and challenges for manufacturers, payers, and patients alike. Key Topics Covered: The Gross-to-Net Bubble: How rebates, discounts, and government distortions drive higher list prices and undermine value-based formulary design. PBM Consolidation & Vertical Integration: The impact of PBMs owning wholesalers, specialty pharmacies, and even repackaging themselves as drug companies. The 340B Program & Market Distortions: Why hospitals and covered entities are often incentivized to favor higher-priced drugs over clinically superior, cost-effective alternatives. Policy and Reform: What’s being done at the state and federal levels, including the FTC investigations, Medicaid reforms, and disruptive models like Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs. Burn It Down or Fix It? Antonio’s candid take on whether incremental improvements can save the current system or if structural overhaul is the only way forward. What Manufacturers Should Know: Strategies for navigating PBM-driven formularies, access barriers, and rebate-driven contracting. Antonio also shares actionable insights for payers, manufacturers, and policymakers on how to realign incentives and reduce inefficiencies that inflate costs without adding value. Why Listen: If you work in pharma, healthcare policy, or benefit design—or simply want to understand why your medications cost what they do—this conversation is a must-listen. Antonio’s expertise cuts through industry jargon and exposes the real forces driving the drug pricing crisis. Resources & Links: 46brooklyn Research – Data-driven analysis on drug pricing. 3 Axis Advisors – Market intelligence and consulting on drug pricing and PBMs. Related Episodes: 340B or Bust: Is This Program Failing the Sick  

  🎙️ 340B or Bust: Is This Program Failing the Sick? This week on Real Pharma, hosts Dr. Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt dive into the tangled world of 340B with returning guest William “Bill” Sarraille—one of the most respected voices in healthcare law, an active patient advocate, and a rare disease patient himself. The 340B Drug Pricing Program was intended to help vulnerable patients by requiring drug manufacturers to provide discounted medications to covered entities. But as Bill puts it, has the program strayed too far from its patient-first mission? With explosive growth, patchwork state laws, opaque data, and billions on the line, is it still doing what it was designed to do—or are the sick paying the ultimate price? 🔍 In this episode, we explore: ✅ How 340B ballooned from a modest program to a behemoth that may soon outpace Medicare Part D ✅ Why transparency remains elusive—and who’s resisting it ✅ The uncomfortable reality: charity care rates at major hospitals vs. billions in 340B profits ✅ The looming risks to rare disease innovation and patient access ✅ Bill’s insider perspective on why patients often aren’t seeing the savings ✅ What changes might be coming from state houses, courts, and possibly Washington Bill also shares candid insights from his own journey as a rare disease patient—and why that makes him both more hopeful and more skeptical than ever. 💡 Links & Resources Mentioned Bill Sarraille on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-sarraille-634a8827/ ADAP Advocacy Association: https://www.adapadvocacy.org/ 340B Report (for policy resources & updates): https://340breport.com/  

  Episode Title: Paging Dr. ChaptGPT with Bryce Sady AI Adoption in Healthcare: Navigating the Present and Shaping the Future with Bryce Sady Episode Description: On today's insightful episode of RealPharma, hosts Dr. Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Bryce Sady, Vice President of Product Development at PSL Group's Medical Education and Communications Division, a veteran innovator at the intersection of healthcare data, education, and AI. Together, they dive into the fascinating landscape of artificial intelligence in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. From practical applications, barriers, and regulatory hurdles, to how clinicians and pharma professionals are integrating AI into their workflows, Bryce sheds light on current adoption rates and trends across the healthcare ecosystem. Key Highlights: How healthcare professionals' AI adoption rates compare to the general public (hint: it might surprise you!) The real-world, practical AI use-cases currently shaping clinician workflows. Challenges and opportunities around integrating AI into heavily regulated environments. Insights on clinician education and how platforms like PSL Group’s "Doogle" are changing the landscape. Predictions for near-term trends in AI, including the pivotal roles of ambient scribes and patient communication tools. Ethical considerations and liability discussions as AI becomes essential in clinical decision-making. Bryce also shares his personal inspirations drawn from Tracy Kidder's powerful book, Mountains Beyond Mountains, reflecting on the importance of patient-centered perseverance in healthcare innovation. Who should listen? Healthcare professionals, medical educators, pharma marketers, digital health innovators, and anyone curious about the rapidly evolving role of AI in healthcare.   Contact Bryce Sady on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brycesady   Companies and Resources mentioned:   DougallGPT: https://dougallgpt.com/ Instar Research: https://www.instarresearch.com/ PeerDirect: https://peerdirect.com/   Tracey Kidder, Mountains Beyond Mountains. (2003) https://a.co/d/9mDpHgR   How the U.S. Public and AI Experts View Artificial Intelligence. Apr 3, 2025.  https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/04/03/artificial-intelligence-in-daily-life-views-and-experiences/   The state of AI: How organizations are rewiring to capture value. Mar 12, 2025.  https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-state-of-ai   Physician sentiments around the use of AI in heathcare: motivations, opportunities, risks, and use cases. February 2025. https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/physician-ai-sentiment-report.pdf   The Healthcare AI Adoption Index. Apr 18, 2025. https://www.bain.com/insights/the-healthcare-ai-adoption-index

Episode Title: “Hiring Heat Check: What’s Hot in Biotech + Pharma Talent in Mid-2025” 🎙️ Hosts: Ian Wendt & Na-Ri Oh 🎧 Guest: Kristiaan Rawlings, Executive Recruiter at EPM Scientific   Episode Overview: This week, fan favorite Kristiaan Rawlings returns to RealPharma to give us the raw and real insights on pharma and biotech hiring trends as we hit the midpoint of 2025. From compensation curves and BD boom times to the rise of GLP-1s and the return of oncology, this episode is your ultimate pulse check on where hiring is headed—and how to stand out in a crowded field.   Key Topics Covered: 🔹 BD & Search/Eval Roles in Overdrive Why demand is surging—and why having both scientific chops and business fluency makes you the unicorn every company wants.   🔹 Therapy Area Hot List Immunology, inflammation, liver disease (MASH), GLP-1s, and yes—oncology is back, baby.   🔹 Career Advice for Every Archetype Whether you’re a lifer from Big Pharma or a job-hopper with a story to tell, Kristiaan offers smart, tactical advice on how to pitch your value.   🔹 Hiring Manager Intel From pre-reads to leave-behinds to storytelling frameworks like STAR, we cover tools that actually make you memorable in interviews.   🔹 Sales Teams = Prizefighters? Kristiaan breaks down why commercial ops teams are like a boxer’s entourage—and why the whole team needs to hit harder in 2025.   🔹 Show Me the Money Real talk on compensation ranges from Director to SVP (spoiler: the market’s healthy), plus trends in title inflation/deflation.   Mentioned in This Episode: Sadhna Bokhiria's salary benchmark post: Kiria Research LinkedIn Post on Pharma Salary Trends EPM Scientific (Kristiaan’s firm): https://www.epmscientific.com   Connect with Kristiaan Rawlings: 📩 Kristiaan on LinkedIn 🧪 Check out openings at EPM Scientific: https://www.epmscientific.com/jobs   Episode Highlights: “A 16-year tenure at one company? That’s a marriage. But now you’re dating again—and you need to know your story.” — Kristiaan Rawlings   📢 Subscribe to RealPharma Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your dose of biopharma brilliance. 💬 Liked this episode? Let us know what roles or trends you'd like us to cover next time!

🎙 Episode Title: The Future of Biotech Guest: Andrew Craig, Founder of Plain English Finance | Author of Our Future is Biotech     📌 Episode Summary In this bold and wide-ranging conversation, Ian Wendt and Na-Ri Oh sit down with Andrew Craig—British investor, entrepreneur, and author—to explore how biotechnology is poised to shape the next century in the same way physics and computing shaped the last. Craig draws on his decades of experience as a London and New York investment banker and as a former partner at WG Partners, where he advised more than 60 biotech companies and worked on marquee deals like the $7.6B sale of Nordia Bank and IPOs for brands like EasyJet and Burberry. But his latest passion lies at the intersection of finance and innovation: making the case that our future is biotech—without a question mark. 🔍 Topics Covered Why biology will define the 21st century: Andrew outlines the structural and technological reasons biotech is primed for exponential impact. CRISPR, AI, and the "exponential stack": How data storage, ML, and sequencing speed make today's breakthroughs possible. Fixing Europe's biotech lag: The cultural, capital, and regulatory headwinds slowing biotech innovation in the UK and EU. Rebuilding trust in pharma: Why good actors in drug development don’t get headlines—and how that hurts innovation. From Oxford Biomedica to DNA-based storage: Vivid examples of tech cost reductions and where we're headed next. The case for optimism: How to resist the press's negative bias and invest in human progress—literally. 📚 Resources & Links 📘 Andrew’s latest book: Our Future is Biotech on Amazon 📕 His first bestseller: How to Own the World on Amazon 🌐 Plain English Finance: www.plainenglishfinance.com 🔗 Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrewcraigpef 🧠 Memorable Quotes “The last century was about physics and tech. The next one will be about biology—and by extension, biotech.” “If success begets success, then a crop of billion-dollar biotech companies in Europe can kickstart a self-sustaining cycle of innovation and investment.” “People forget that the smartphone they hold was a $100 million science project in the 1990s. Biotech is heading the same direction.” “We need to fight the narrative that pharma is inherently bad. There are good actors, and we must do a better job telling those stories.” 📈 Key Takeaway Biotech isn't just a sector—it's a structural solution to some of humanity’s greatest problems. From disease treatment to environmental restoration, the converging forces of AI, genetics, and biological engineering make this the most consequential time in science since the industrial revolution.  

  🎙 Episode Title: Rooted in Results: The Future of Functional Medicine with Dr. Erica Armstrong    🧬 Episode Summary In this episode, Dr. Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Dr. Erica Armstrong, board-certified family medicine physician and founder of Root Functional Medicine, to explore the promise, challenges, and evolution of functional medicine. Dr. Armstrong discusses how Root’s systems-based, data-driven approach is helping patients uncover the root causes of chronic disease, improve outcomes, and reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals—all while scaling care with smart tech and telehealth. Whether you're in biotech, med affairs, or digital health, this conversation offers an eye-opening look into how patient-centric, preventative medicine could transform our approach to chronic disease—and what pharma can learn from it. 🧪 What You'll Learn: Why traditional medicine may be great at managing symptoms—but not always solving problems How functional medicine complements pharmaceuticals and improves adherence The biomarkers we’re missing (hello, fasting insulin!) Why nutrition might be the most under-prescribed medicine How Root Functional Medicine is scaling personalized care without sacrificing quality The role of AI, telehealth, and tech platforms in building the future of functional medicine 🧵 Resources & Links Mentioned: 🔹 Guest Bio & Links Dr. Erica Armstrong, MD, IFMCP Founder, Root Functional Medicine LinkedIn: Dr. Erica Armstrong Website: rootfunctionalmedicine.com Instagram: @rootfunctionalmedicine 📘 Publications & Tools The PCOS Thyroid Connection by Dr. Erica Armstrong Available on Amazon Root’s Blog & White Papers ➤ rootfunctionalmedicine.com/blog ➤ White paper on Autoimmune Conditions: Read here 💊 Related Guests Mentioned Dr. Grace Magedman — Leadership & functional medicine coach LinkedIn: Dr. Grace Magedman 💡 Topics Mentioned Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) training: functionalmedicine.org GLP-1s and functional complements to pharmaceutical therapies Personalized lab testing and the Root Cause Panel 📱 Follow the Hosts Nari Oh – LinkedIn Ian Wendt – LinkedIn 🧠 Favorite Quotes 🗣 "Functional medicine is not more expensive than missed work, missed vacations, or endless procedures with no answers." – Dr. Erica Armstrong 🧪 "We start with conventionally trained MDs and pair them with dietitians to make the magic happen." 🧠 "Balanced blood sugar—protein, fat, and fiber—is the one thing I tell everyone to start with."  

🎙️ RealPharma Podcast Episode Title: Cracking the Code on Patient Engagement: Conversational AI with Dan Fox 🗓️ Release Date: May 5, 2025 🎧 Hosts: Dr. Na-Ri Oh & Ian Wendt 🎤 Guest: Dan Fox, Managing Director of Healthcare at Drips Episode Summary: In this eye-opening episode, we welcome Dan Fox, a trailblazer in AI-powered patient communication, to explore how proactive outreach and conversational AI are reshaping healthcare engagement. As the Managing Director of Healthcare at Drips, Dan shares how his team is using SMS-based AI to boost patient adherence, improve outcomes, and build trust—even in the face of complex compliance and tech fluency challenges. From personalized text reminders that get 60–80% response rates to thoughtful strategies for integrating AI without sacrificing patient experience, Dan takes us deep into what’s working (and what’s not) in healthcare communication today. Plus, he shares what excites him most about the future—including AI therapists, ambient scribes, and closing the tech adoption gap in health systems. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: Why “attention” is the biggest communication challenge in healthcare How AI-driven SMS is outperforming traditional channels like email and mail Real-world outcomes: 4.1% improvement in national medication adherence rates Navigating regulatory complexity with Drips' proprietary “rules engine” Why many healthcare orgs use “compliance” as a crutch against innovation Texting seniors? Yes—it works (and they even say “thank you, sweetie” ❤️) The future of AI in healthcare: from virtual triage to AI therapists 🧠 Notable Quotes: “We’re not using generative AI in our consumer outreach—because every single word needs to be approved. But we use AI to scale natural conversations.” – Dan Fox “Trust is everything. We use personalization and omnichannel context to build it—one message at a time.” – Dan Fox “We don’t want PHI. We just want to start the right conversation.” – Dan Fox 📘 Resources Mentioned: Drips.com – Learn more about their AI-powered engagement solutions CMS Star Ratings: Why medication adherence matters Companies like RxAnte mentioned for rules-based healthcare targeting 📩 Connect with Dan Fox: Website: drips.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsweeneyfox/ Role: Healthcare Strategy Lead 🎧 How to Listen: Available wherever you get your podcasts—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and more.  

In this powerful and deeply human episode of RealPharma, we’re joined by Grace Magedman, PharmD—former Chief Pharmacy Officer at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of The Magidman Group. Grace takes us inside her 20+ years of hospital pharmacy leadership, where she navigated high-stakes medication decisions, complex implementation of rare disease therapies, and the ethical strain of resource constraints. But her most transformative leadership moment came not in the boardroom—but in her own experience of burnout. Now a certified high-performance coach, Grace shares how she rebuilt from the inside out, creating the Functional Resilience Framework—a science-based system that blends neuroscience, functional medicine, and leadership development to help others sustain performance without sacrificing purpose. Whether you’re in pharma, hospital leadership, or simply navigating the demands of high-impact work, Grace’s insights offer a roadmap to lead with clarity, energy, and longevity. 📌 Resources & Links:Learn more about Grace’s work: magedmangroup.com Connect with Grace on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/magedman/ Interested in the Functional Resilience Framework? Contact Grace directly for coaching or workshops.

In this second part of our deep dive into hematology and oncology, we welcome back Dr. Yaming Wang, founder of Alphabet Health LTD and an expert in molecular oncology, pharmaceutical strategy, and medical education. Building on our previous discussion, we explore cutting-edge advancements in cancer diagnostics and therapies, including the promise and limitations of liquid biopsies, the evolution of immunotherapy, and the expanding role of CAR-T and antibody-drug conjugates. But innovation alone isn’t enough—how do we ensure these breakthroughs reach the patients who need them most? We tackle the challenges of healthcare communication, provider education, and patient access, examining how AI, public health initiatives, and systemic change can bridge the gap between scientific progress and real-world impact. Join hosts Dr. Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation that not only highlights the science behind cancer treatment but also the urgent need to make these life-saving therapies more widely accessible. Don't miss this critical discussion on the future of oncology!

🎙 RealPharma Podcast – Oncology Part 1: Understanding the Cancer Universe with Dr. Yaming Wang Cancer is one of the most complex and pressing challenges in modern medicine. But how much do we really understand about it? In this first episode of our two-part oncology deep dive, we sit down with Dr. Yaming Wang, founder of Alphabet Health, to break down the fundamentals of oncology and hematology. From the earliest discoveries in cancer research to today’s cutting-edge targeted therapies and immunotherapy, Dr. Wang shares his expertise on the science behind cancer, why it remains such a difficult disease to treat, and the role of communication in bridging the gap between innovation and patient care. 🔬 Topics we cover in this episode: ✔ The difference between solid tumors and blood cancers ✔ Why cancer is like its own universe in medicine ✔ How early detection and screening can make a difference ✔ The evolution of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy ✔ Why science alone isn’t enough—effective communication is key Whether you're a biotech professional, healthcare communicator, or just curious about the latest in oncology, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Resources: Dr. Yaming Wang on LinkedIn Alphabet Health LTD General Cancer Information & Education:🔹 National Cancer Institute (NCI) – Comprehensive cancer research and education 👉 https://www.cancer.gov 🔹 American Cancer Society (ACS) – Trusted resource for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment 👉 https://www.cancer.org 🔹 World Health Organization (WHO) – Cancer Fact Sheet – Global insights on cancer trends and impact 👉 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer Oncology Research & Innovations:🔹 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) – Latest breakthroughs in cancer treatment and clinical trials 👉 https://www.asco.org 🔹 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) – Guidelines for cancer treatment and best practices 👉 https://www.nccn.org 🔹 ClinicalTrials.gov – Find ongoing cancer clinical trials worldwide 👉 https://clinicaltrials.gov Cancer Screening & Prevention:🔹 CDC Cancer Prevention & Screening Guidelines – Know the recommended screening tests 👉 https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/prevention/index.htm 🔹 Prevent Cancer Foundation – Focus on early detection and prevention strategies 👉 https://www.preventcancer.org Emerging Technologies & Future of Cancer Care:🔹 Caris Life Sciences – Liquid Biopsy & Precision Oncology 👉 https://www.carislifesciences.com 🔹 National Cancer Institute – Immunotherapy Research 👉 https://www.cancer.gov/research/areas/treatment/immunotherapy 🔹 AI in Oncology: How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Cancer Detection (Article from Nature) 👉 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00847-2 #RealPharmaPodcast #Oncology #CancerResearch #Biotech #Pharma #MedicalInnovation #Immunotherapy #Healthcare

In this episode of Real Pharma, hosts Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt engage with Joshua Kettner, co-founder of DreamBody Clinic, to explore the intricacies of stem cell therapy. They discuss the clinic's unique approach to regenerative medicine, the science behind mesenchymal stem cells, and the various applications and limitations of this therapy. The conversation also delves into the regulatory challenges faced in the US and how these impact the availability of such treatments. Kettner shares personal anecdotes and insights from his experience in the field, providing a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of stem cell therapy. In this conversation, Joshua Ketner discusses the complexities of stem cell therapy, including FDA regulations, economic challenges, and the importance of donor vetting. He highlights the risks and efficacy of treatments, the growing interest in longevity and anti-aging, and the vision behind his clinic's approach to regenerative medicine. The discussion emphasizes the need for better accessibility to these treatments for patients in need. Resources: Deam Body Clinic The Ultimate Guide to Stem Cell Therapy Stem Cell Research Learning Center Stem cells: What they are and what they do

In this riveting episode of RealPharma, hosts Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with the renowned ethnopharmacologist, Dennis McKenna, to explore the profound intersection of nature, science, and healing. From Dennis’s storied journey into the world of plant medicines to the evolving landscape of psychedelic therapies, this conversation is as thought-provoking as it is inspiring. Key Topics Discussed: 🌿 Dennis’s Journey: How an early fascination with psychedelics and traditional practices shaped his career in ethnopharmacology. 🌌 Modern Psychedelic Science: The exciting potential of compounds like Ibogaine and psilocybin for treating addiction, PTSD, and neurodegenerative disorders. 🌍 Ethical Dimensions: The importance of honoring indigenous knowledge and the call for reciprocity in drug development. 🔬 Challenges in Biopharma: Why current regulatory frameworks struggle with psychedelics and how innovation can bridge the gap. 🎤 McKenna Academy's Mission: Insights into biodiversity preservation, education, and the Academy’s role in advancing plant medicine research. Notable Moments: Dennis recounts the inspiration behind his 50-year journey in ethnopharmacology. A deep dive into the “set and setting” principle and its importance for both traditional and modern psychedelic practices. Discussion on how biopharma can balance commercialization with ethical responsibilities toward indigenous communities. Insights into the upcoming COCA Summit and its aim to shift perceptions and regulations around this misunderstood plant. Resources: Dennis McKenna on LinkedIn Dennis McKenna on Wikipedia McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy Wisdom of the Leaf Coca Summit Dennis McKenna books Lykos path to MDMA approval