Michelle Andrews built a career inside the pharma machine long before anyone knew what “DTC” meant. She helped launch Rituxan and watched Allegra commercials teach America how to ask for pills by name. Then she landed in the cancer fun house herself, stage 4 breast cancer, and learned exactly how hollow all the “journey” slide decks feel when you’re the one circling the drain.

We talk about what happens when the insider becomes the customer, why pill organizers and wheat field brochures still piss her off, and how she fired doctors who couldn’t handle her will to live. You’ll hear about the dawn of pharma advertising, the pre-Google advocacy hustle, and what she wants every brand team to finally admit about patient experience.

If you’ve ever wondered who decided windsurfing was the best way to sell allergy meds—or what happens when you stop caring if you make people uncomfortable—listen up.

RELATED LINKS

Michelle Andrews on LinkedIn

Trinity Life Sciences – Strategic Advisory

Jade Magazine – Ticking Time Bombs Article

NIHCM Foundation – Breast Cancer Story

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