Shows
The Syneos Health PodcastConversations on Commercialization: GLP-1 Gold Rush — Who’s Really Winning in the New Obesity Market?A new limited series of the Syneos Health Podcast, Conversations on Commercialization unpacks how biopharma leaders are rewriting the commercial playbook, redefining what it takes to succeed. In this episode, recorded at Fierce Pharma Week 2025, Tyler Cowan, VP Commercial at Syneos Health, joins Hruta Shah, Senior Engagement Manager for Syneos Health Consulting, to break down the high-stakes race in obesity treatment and the commercial boom around GLP-1 therapies. You’ll hear: What emerging launch strategies look like in a crowded, competitive pipeline and how success is being redefined How GLP-1s are accelerating a shift i...
2025-10-2318 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2025 Health Trends | Strategy, Agility and Innovation in Launch ExcellenceHosted by Drew Beck, Head of Strategy, Growth and Innovation for Syneos Health Learning Solutions, this limited series dives into the breakthrough trends redefining health in 2025 and beyond. From bold moves in R&D and medical affairs to next-gen trial design, product launch strategies and the future of healthcare communications, each episode connects you with the minds driving real change. Big ideas. Real-world impact. In this episode, Drew dives into launch excellence in 2025 with Syneos Health experts Larry Dollar, VP of Medical Affairs, and Michael Sarshad, Managing Director, Consulting. Together, they unpack how strategic spending, agile planning...
2025-05-0822 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2025 Health Trends | AI as an R&D Investment2025 Health Trends meets The Syneos Health Podcast for a limited series exploring how Trends come alive in the life sciences industry with host Drew Beck, Head of Strategy, Growth and Innovation for Syneos Health Learning Solutions. Syneos Health experts Brian Carver, Executive Director of Therapeutic Strategy and Innovation, Rare Disease Consortium, Vik Chawla, Managing Director, Syneos Health Consulting and Katya Magonova, Managing Director, Syneos Health Consulting explore the role of AI in rare disease drug development, diagnosis and treatment. They share how AI is accelerating R&D, improving patient identification and enhancing clinical trials. The discussion also...
2025-04-2424 minThe Syneos Health PodcastAsembia AXS25 Series: Navigating Modern Market AccessThe biopharma market is booming—but not without turbulence. In this kickoff episode of our special podcast series in collaboration with Asembia, hosts Michael Sarshad, Managing Director, Commercial Advisory, Syneos Health and Sara Rubin, Senior Vice President, Market Access Strategy at Spherico, a Syneos Health company, unpack the dynamic forces reshaping how therapies reach patients. Recorded ahead of Asembia’s AXS25 Specialty Pharmacy Summit, they dive into the impact of tariffs, the power of AI in streamlining patient support, the ripple effects of the Inflation Reduction Act and how digital transformation is changing the way manufacturers engage popu...
2025-04-2313 minThe Syneos Health PodcastProject Optimus Series: Operationalizing Dose OptimizationIn this episode of The Syneos Health Podcast, we continue our exploration of Project Optimus and the evolution of dose optimization in oncology drug development. Following our discussion on regulatory expectations in the previous episode, we now turn to the operational challenges and strategies required to implement optimized dosing in real-world settings.Host Dr. Wael Harb is joined by Patrick Melvin, Vice President, Oncology & Hematology and Global Head, Novel and Emerging Therapies at Syneos Health, to discuss the complexities of operationalizing Project Optimus. Together, they examine how drug developers, investigator sites and patients are affected by these...
2025-03-1917 minThe Syneos Health PodcastOpportunities Abound for PDTs, with Click TherapeuticsUnlike general health and wellness apps, Prescription Digital Therapeutics (PDTs) are FDA-authorized, prescribed by healthcare professionals, and rigorously studied in clinical trials. With the global PDT market projected to reach $43 billion by 2032, new regulatory pathways, including CMS billing codes in 2025, are set to enhance adoption and accessibility.In his final episode hosting the Syneos Health Podcast, Nick Kenny is joined by Dr. Shaheen Lakhan, Chief Medical Officer, and Laura Taraboanta, Director of Medical Operations and Strategy, both from Click Therapeutics, to explore the evolving landscape of PDTs.Together, they discuss how PDTs work and for...
2025-02-1220 minThe Syneos Health PodcastProject Optimus Series: The Regulatory Implications of Project OptimusIn this episode of the Syneos Health Podcast, series host Dr. Wael Harb, Vice President of Medical Management at Syneos Health, continues the exploration of FDA's groundbreaking Project Optimus and its profound implications for oncology drug development. He is joined by Zohra Lomri, Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs at Syneos Health, to discuss how this initiative is transforming dose optimization strategies and reshaping the clinical trial landscape.The conversation delves into the FDA’s emphasis on balancing efficacy and tolerability, the shift away from maximum tolerated doses, and the integration of patient-reported outcomes. Zohra provides valuable insights on th...
2025-01-1718 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCNS Summit Series: Celebrating 15 Years of Innovation with Dr. Amir Kalali of CNS SummitIn this special series of the Syneos Health Podcast, we celebrate 15 years of innovation in collaboration with CNS Summit, a community of innovators and life science industry leaders devoted to discovering better, more efficient ways to advance the industry through innovation, collaboration, and technology. Over the course of the series, we will feature conversations with key experts and members of the community on how the life sciences industry is continuing to reinvent itself in the pursuit of better outcomes for more patients.In this episode, guest host Dr. Alexandria Wise, SVP and Global Neuroscience Head at Syneos...
2024-12-0312 minThe Syneos Health PodcastProject Optimus Series: Navigating the Realities of Project OptimusLaunched in 2021 by the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence, Project Optimus seeks to reshape traditional oncology trial designs and dosing paradigms, shifting from maximum tolerated doses to precision dosing strategies. While the FDA's hope was that the added time and cost of collecting comprehensive dose and exposure response data would benefit both patients and sponsors, there is also concern and debate in the biotech community that, if the Optimus formula is closely followed, the additional time, cost, and patient needs may, in fact, be crippling to cash-strapped emerging companies. So what is the reality around Project Optimus? A...
2024-11-2620 minThe Syneos Health PodcastPsychedelics 3.0: Challenges and Opportunities in an Evolving FieldThere is a significant unmet need for medicines to treat neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions in underserved patient populations. Recently, there has been renewed interest in psychedelic, hallucinogenic and dissociative compounds to meet those needs. In clinical trials, a wide array of these compounds are showing efficacy across a variety of indications. Syneos Health experts Andy Moniz, Dr. Leslie Moldauer, Zelma Gandy Don Sing and Lindsay Crampton—along with Dr. Aaron Koenig, CMO of Delix Therapeutics—convened in a roundtable discussion to provide their own unique perspectives about the current and future state of psychedelic drug devel...
2024-10-301h 02The Syneos Health PodcastDecoding Gen AI’s Potential to Drive More Effective Clinical TrialsAI is seemingly everywhere now in our lives, including healthcare and drug discovery and development. AI certainly has the potential to enable major advances than development of more effective and safe medical products. And in fact, GenAI has already been successfully used in drug discovery. But are we fully leveraging the current AI yet in practical ways? Are our trial designs informed appropriately by AI and data? From the mundane document generation and handling to the complex patient engagement, what is the here and now of how we can and should apply AI to support more informed, m...
2024-08-2131 minThe Syneos Health PodcastConnecting the Global Dots on Carbon Footprint in BiopharmaThe World Economic Forum projects that by 2050, climate change could cause 14 million additional deaths and $12 trillion in global healthcare costs. And this will exacerbate global health inequities with our most vulnerable populations, including women, youth, elderly, lower-income groups, and hard-to-reach communities bearing the brunt of this change. We think we know the culprits…but do we really?The fact is, the healthcare sector is responsible for almost 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and has a carbon footprint equivalent to 514 coal-fired power plants. And if the healthcare sector was a country, it would be the 5th largest polluter on...
2024-07-0927 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCan AI Help Get the Right Patients Into Alzheimer's Clinical Trials?Alzheimer's disease is a challenging and devastating diagnosis that affects memory and cognitive skills, with no known way to predict, track, treat, or cure it effectively. In 2024, around 90 million people over the age of 65 will be living with Alzheimer's. Clinical trials for new treatments have faced high failure rates, partly because it's difficult to identify the right patients at the right stage of the disease. The potential solution to this dilemma might lie in AI, which could help analyze vast amounts of clinical data and provide a practical prognostic tool.Our host Nick Kenny, Chief Scientific Officer...
2024-05-3131 minThe Syneos Health PodcastUnpacking the Role of Adjuvant Therapies in Breast CancerBreast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide, and it can be treated with different modalities, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. However, even after the primary treatment, some cancer cells may remain in the body and cause recurrence or metastasis. This is where adjuvant therapies come in: they are additional treatments that aim to reduce the risk of cancer coming back or spreading to other parts of the body.In this episode, Syneos Health colleagues Dr. Juan Manuel Carrera, Senior Medical Director and Lisamarie Burgio, Executive Director, Therapeutic...
2024-05-2328 minThe Syneos Health PodcastSite and Study Execution for Ophthalmology TrialsThis is an exciting time in the development of new medicines to treat both rare and age-related eye diseases. But what is it like in the trenches to develop and deliver clinical trials that evaluate both the safety and efficacy of these potential new medicines for diseases of the eye?In this episode, Nick Kenny, Syneos Health CSO and interim podcast host, is joined by Eileen Schramm, Senior Clinical Trial Manager, and Nicole Curry, Senior Project Manager, both in the Syneos Health Ophthalmology team, to discuss the challenges and realities of developing and delivering clinical trials for...
2024-05-0818 minThe Syneos Health PodcastPatient Assistance: The Best Deal in PharmaPatient assistance programs can make a huge difference for patients who need expensive medicines but can't afford them. In this episode, Jeff Stewart talks with Dave MacLeod, Managing Director, Value & Access at Syneos Health about the benefits and challenges of patient assistance programs, which provide free or low-cost medicines to eligible patients. They discuss how these programs can improve access, adherence, and outcomes, as well as the operational and regulatory issues involved in running them. Covering key topics such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the impact of technology and AI in patient services, and t...
2024-04-2329 minThe Syneos Health PodcastReal Talk About the Inflation Reduction ActThe Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022, brings significant changes to the U.S. pharmaceutical market as it rolls out over the next 10 years.Today we dive deep into the IRA with Tiffany McCaslin, Managing Director, Value, Access and Health Outcomes at Syneos Health. Drawing from her extensive background in healthcare policy and industry strategy, Tiffany offers invaluable insights into the practical implications of this landmark legislation for the pharmaceutical industry. From dissecting the intricacies of price negotiation to unraveling the complexities of data collection requirements, t...
2024-04-1728 minThe Syneos Health PodcastTurbo-Charging Clinical TrialsFor the first time, the technology behind Wall Street and Formula One racing is being used in pharmaceuticals—and it’s offering unparalleled potential for innovation in clinical trial execution and healthcare delivery.In this episode, host Jeff Stewart is joined by Darren Coleman, the general manager of RxDataScience, a Syneos Health company, who discusses KX technology, the world’s fastest time series database and analytics engine, and how it is now being applied to improve clinical trial efficiency, reduce costs and speed time to market for life-changing therapies for patients. From current applications to optimize site select...
2024-04-0225 minThe Syneos Health PodcastMarket Access for Weight Loss DrugsOne of the biggest trends making headlines and impacting the healthcare industry to date is the rising popularity of GLP-1 drugs. Initially developed for diabetes management, these products have recently gained traction for weight loss indications. But with promising efficacy and growing popularity, is the healthcare industry truly prepared for the challenges posed by these drugs becoming such a hot commodity in the market?Tom Albers, Vice President of Strategy at Syneos Health company Spherico, joins the podcast to discuss his insights on the future of weight loss drugs – payer challenges, the transformative potential of these drugs, an...
2023-09-2121 minThe Syneos Health PodcastTraining MSLs in the MetaverseIn this episode of the Syneos Health Podcast, we embark on a journey into the metaverse – a revolutionary concept that's transforming the way we approach training and learning. As we delve into the world of the metaverse and its implications for healthcare training, Michael Shim, PharmD, National Director, Field Medical Affairs and Marie Latsa, PharmD, Community Medical Director at Syneos Health, will share their firsthand experiences with metaverse-based training for Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs), and provide valuable insights into the current state and future potential of this cutting-edge technology that offers an immersive and efficient training alternative.
2023-09-1325 minThe Syneos Health PodcastBiotech Value CreationThe game continues to change in biotech as continued macroeconomic uncertainty has far reaching implications for the future of the biopharma ecosystem. Biotechs can no longer operate toward the single goal of being acquired by, or of licensing their assets to, large pharma—and players may need to develop products further than in the past, and therefore strategic pathway optionality needs to be weaved into and maintained throughout product and corporate development. But with a multitude of new challenges facing this industry come multifold new opportunities for value creation and chances to reach new heights.
2023-07-2048 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2023 Health Trends: Improved Sophistication in RetentionWhat is the healthcare industry up against in terms of recruiting, hiring, and retention, in the increasingly competitive job markets of China, Korea and Japan? Leigh Householder and Sam Wilson, commercial solutions lead for APAC, Syneos Health, discuss how changing customer needs, evolving market dynamics and shifts in customer engagement continue to be challenges when recruiting top talent in the region.Learn more about 2023 Health Trends here.More Episodes in the 2023 Health Trends Series:Syneos Health Podcast: 2023 Health Trends: Personally, Purposefully Building What's NextTrend Talks: AgeTech with Musician, Actor & Patient Advo...
2023-07-1013 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2023 Health Trends: The Data EffectHow can we use technology and increasing volumes of data to change the future of human health and healthcare as we move forward into 2023 and beyond? In this episode of the limited Trend Talks series, Leigh Householder, Host & Author, 2023 Health Trends: Personally, Purposefully Building What’s Next, sits down with Bob Zambon, VP, Solution Architecture Group, Syneos Health, to discuss how increasing numbers of varying health data − medical data, clinical data, interaction data, program data – will affect a vastly privacy forward industry.Listen to the podcast to find out how data will impact the future of healt...
2023-05-2512 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2023 Health Trends: A New Field for the Field ForceHow will a new field for the field force keep the doors open for customer communication while considering differences in culture, therapy, product lifecycle stage and healthcare professional preference?In this episode of the limited Trend Talks series, Leigh Householder, Host & Author, 2023 Health Trends: Personally, Purposefully Building What’s Next, sits down with Ewan Cuthbertson, SVP, European Deployment Solutions, Syneos Health, to discuss how the field force is reemerging after a global pandemic and how it will impact the healthcare industry.Listen to the podcast to find out what a new field for the field fo...
2023-05-0417 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2023 Health Trends: Digital Transformation: Start, Stall, RestartHow will Digital transformation continue to impact the healthcare industry and help drive automation, efficiencies, quality and other changes to how we engage and operate in the future?In this episode of the limited Trend Talks series, Leigh Householder, Host & Author, 2023 Health Trends: Personally, Purposefully Building What’s Next, sits down with Skye Hodson, PhD, Senior Director, Product Solutions & Asset Team, Syneos One, to discuss how various aspects of digital transformation continue to impact the healthcare industry.Listen to the podcast to find out what the future holds for healthcare and digital transformation. Le...
2023-04-0417 minThe Syneos Health PodcastGene Therapy for HemophiliaLast year the FDA approved the first gene therapy for hemophilia B. This year, the first gene therapy may be approved in the US for hemophilia A. What does the gene therapy revolution mean for patients, payers, and pharma? Ankita Chowdhury, Senior Engagement Manager, Commercial Advisory at Syneos Health®, joins the podcast to discuss the landscape of recent hemophilia gene therapy approvals, the state of upcoming additional therapies to market, and key considerations for developers to address in order to optimize access, pricing and reimbursement for patients impacted by this rare disease. F...
2023-03-3019 minThe Syneos Health PodcastReg Ops Edition: Attracting and Retaining TalentThis new podcast mini-series features interviews with industry leaders, focusing on hot topics within Regulatory Operations (Reg Ops).Reg Ops is evolving in response to a rapidly changing regulatory landscape as well as the industry’s focus on achieving operational efficiency and excellence. Technological innovations such as advancements in Regulatory Information Management (RIM) capabilities are accelerating Reg Ops in their transition from traditional operational roles to more strategically focused roles, including a shift toward Delivery Excellence. Organizations must adapt to the evolution of Reg Ops, including rethinking their approach to attracting and retaining talent, to remain competitive an...
2023-02-2037 minThe Syneos Health PodcastLife Sciences Dealmaking: Dealmakers' Intentions 2023It’s a volatile time for biopharma, and a unique juncture in our industry’s history. War in Ukraine, a bearish market and supply chain chaos are just a few of the factors that kept much of the industry away from the table. Entering 2023, the investment and dealmaking panorama remains a puzzle. Despite worries and uncertainties, there are hints that dealmaking intensity may be poised for a rebound after a year of inertia that mirrored the slump in major biotech stock indexes. What lies ahead for dealmaking in the biopharmaceutical industry in 2023?Our 13th Dealmakers’ Intentions Survey attemp...
2023-02-1517 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2023 Health Trends: Personally, Purposefully Building What’s NextWhat’s Changed, What’s Changing and What Matters Most Right NowIn this inaugural episode of the limited podcast series on 2023 Health Trends, we’re setting the stage with Host & Author, 2023 Health Trends: Personally, Purposefully Building What’s Next, Leigh Householder. Leigh provides a high-level look at what will be different this year. First, she discusses urgent optimism and the personal, purposeful commitments we have; to take our industry and our world to next. She goes through 12 Health Trends spanning technology, healthcare advancement and human engagement. These trends help us imagine what could be; our next...
2022-11-2934 minThe Syneos Health PodcastReal World Evidence and Rare Diseases, Part 3: The Value of RegistriesWhen it comes to the generation and use of real-world data (RWD), there are variable and evolving stakeholder needs. Put it in the context of a rare disease, where patient samples are decreasing as diseases splinter with increasing specificity in diagnosis, and the prospect of meeting these stakeholder needs becomes more daunting. Layer on special circumstances—like a required 15 years of post-approval follow-up data for cell and gene therapies (CGT)—and the cards seem to be stacked against you. One way companies can alleviate the burden of RWD generation is through patient registries.Mike D’Ambrosio, VP, Head o...
2022-11-0323 minThe Syneos Health PodcastDecentralized Clinical Trials: Implications for BiotechCommon misconceptions surrounding decentralized research often deter sponsors from attaining its key benefits—and this is especially true for small or emerging biotechs with limited shots on goal. But by separating fact from fiction and understanding how to identify fit for purpose solutions, these companies can lay the roadmap for successful implementation of a decentralized clinical trial (DCT) strategy. Stephanie Gonzalez, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Biotech Solutions at Syneos Health and Alison Holland, Executive General Manager for Decentralized Clinical Trials at Medable debunk some common myths and provide an overview of the benefits decentralization can...
2022-10-0523 minThe Syneos Health PodcastFull-Service CommercialEarly stage biotech companies have traditionally had limited options to get their first asset to market: in most cases, they pursue deals with larger partners, losing control of their intellectual property and limiting their future financial returns, or become a fully integrated company through heavy investment and a great deal of risk. Opportunities for outsourcing some—or all—of a company’s commercial operations can be an option, but many companies have misconceptions about the highly viable “third option” of commercializing with a proven outsourced partner.Lee Taurman, Executive Vice President and Head, Full-Service Commercial and Carl Sa...
2022-09-2120 minThe Syneos Health PodcastMAPS Edition: Value Demonstration - A View From the TopThis podcast series features interviews with industry leaders, focusing in on the impact and value of Medical Affairs today, where the function is heading and how we are going to get there. In this continuation from our previous episode, Colin Oliver, PhD, MBA, Managing Director, Medical Affairs Consulting at Syneos Health, steps in as guest host to dig in more deeply with Eisai’s Dr. Kirk Shepard on a critical question: How do we make the case to our cross-functional partners that Medical Affairs deserves a seat at the leadership table? And how can we demonstrate the valu...
2022-08-0812 minThe Syneos Health PodcastOpportunities and Challenges in Cell and Gene TherapyCell and gene therapies have come a long way in the past 20 years. And more recent advances and successes with CRISPR and CAR-T technologies have left the field of opportunity wide open for treatments that can potentially move the needle, particularly for patients with oncologic or rare diseases. But with great advancements come significant challenges.Pete Robinson, Vice President, Medical and Scientific Strategy and Head of the Cell & Gene Therapy Consortium and James Barwick-Silk, Director, Scientific Strategy, Cell & Gene Therapy at Syneos Health discuss the latest exciting developments, as well as hurdles the biopharmaceutical industry must overcome – fr...
2022-07-1422 minThe Syneos Health PodcastMAPS Edition: Measuring the Immeasurable: Value and Impact of Medical AffairsReporting from the floor of the Medical Affairs Professionals Society (MAPS) Global Annual Meeting, this podcast series features interviews with industry leaders, focusing in on the impact and value of Medical Affairs today, where the function is heading and how we are going to get there.It’s no question that Medical Affairs has historically struggled to show value and impact within its organization. In this second episode of the series, Arshi Gupta, Managing Director, Medical Affairs at Syneos Health and Deb Crawford, Director, MSL Team at Teva Pharmaceuticals discuss the intricacies involved in measuring what seems, wel...
2022-06-0818 minThe Syneos Health PodcastMAPS Edition: Be Bold - Preparing Medical Affairs for 2030 and BeyondReporting from the floor of the Medical Affairs Professionals Society (MAPS) Global Annual Meeting, this podcast series features interviews with industry leaders, focusing in on the impact and value of Medical Affairs today, where the function is heading and how we are going to get there.As a function uniquely positioned to address evolving market dynamics, how can Medical Affairs prepare for 2030 and beyond? In this first episode, hear from Josh Ziel, Executive Vice President, Scientific Services at Syneos Health as he unpacks how we can get beyond incremental improvements to really be bold and think forward...
2022-05-2006 minThe Syneos Health PodcastTraining the Next Generation of PharmaThe clinical research enterprise faces a clear and present personnel shortage, creating inefficiencies for clinical trial sponsors and contract research organizations, many of whom find themselves in a constant recruitment cycle for qualified clinical research associates (CRAs) in a hyper-competitive job market. While industry has traditionally recruited for these roles from healthcare and scientific programs or settings, we are now seeing a shift from requiring that specific, role-based experience to a more foundational competency-based model. This means potentially looking outside of those traditional sources. But how to we find, recruit and train this next generation?J...
2022-05-1319 minThe Syneos Health PodcastGetting AccessThe medicine may be “transformational,” but doctors won’t write the script if payers don’t reimburse.And there’s a veritable alphabet soup of players – everything from KAMs to NAMs, MSLs to MSOLs, PBMs to IDNs, and more – involved in negotiating the path to reimbursement and, ultimately, access for innovative therapies when they hit the market. Jon Haas, Senior Director, Market Access at Syneos Health, discusses the complex process, how companies can best position their product for access and what really matters to payers in the long run.For more on value and access in b...
2022-04-2721 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpilepsy, the Central Nervous System and Rare DiseaseNobody thinks about epilepsy as a rare disease. But epilepsy syndromes actually make up a large portion of CNS rare diseases. And while progress has been made in developing therapies that treat the symptoms of epilepsy, the true underlying causes can be difficult to pinpoint and treat. But progress is being made, and Nermina Nakas, MD, MPH and Jane Williams, MD, MPH, Executive Medical Directors in CNS at Syneos Health – and contributors to the book Rare Disease Drug Development: Clinical, Scientific, Patient and Caregiver Perspectives – join Jeff Stewart to discuss recent developments in rare disease epilepsy clinical trial...
2022-04-1321 minThe Syneos Health PodcastThe Placebo EffectDid you know that over half of doctors leverage the placebo effect in treating patients? Placebo can be a powerful tool in medical practice—and in clinical research.Veeru Goli, MD, Vice President, Medical and Scientific Management, Syneos Health, unpacks the case for use of placebo in clinical treatment, and if applied properly, how the placebo effect can help in clinical trials.If you want access to more future-focused, actionable insights to help biopharmaceutical companies better execute and succeed in a constantly evolving environment, visit the Syneos Health Insights Hub. The perspectives you’ll find ther...
2022-03-2323 min
The Syneos Health PodcastMental Health in Rare DiseaseLife with a rare disease can have infinite milestones, setbacks, traumas and triumphs—all likely to be interlaced with a variety of factors that can influence mental health and quality of life.In fact, according to Dr. Raymond A. Huml in the February 2020 Journal for Clinical Studies, psychological symptoms are estimated to affect 75% of rare disease patients. Whether the cause is from the physical disease or dynamics surrounding it, it is time to remove the stigma around talking about mental health, understand the unique challenges of this community, and drive support and solutions to address them. In...
2022-02-0921 minThe Syneos Health PodcastNavigating the Rare Disease LandscapePatients with rare diseases and their caregivers face many unique challenges along the road to diagnosis, treatment and—ultimately—optimized quality of life. With all of the complex information and systems out there, the landscape can be difficult to navigate. Where can they go for guidance?Ray Huml, Vice President, Medical & Scientific Strategy and Head of the Rare Disease Consortium at Syneos Health—and editor of the recently published book Rare Disease Drug Development: Clinical, Scientific, Patient, and Caregiver Perspectives—returns to the podcast to discuss his dual experience as a scientist and caregiver, what drove him to creat...
2022-02-0227 minThe Syneos Health PodcastBusiness Continuity Through Strategic OutsourcingThe COVID-19 pandemic had had a considerable impact on biotech and pharma services outsourcing, as companies struggled to overcome supply chain issues in production, manufacturing and talent. This held true not only from an R&D perspective, but throughout the product lifecycle as biopharma continued to bring therapies to an evolving market.Michael Jimmink, Vice President, FSP 360 and Jim Reidy, Vice President, Deployment Solutions from Syneos Health discuss ways to navigate business continuity through strategic outsourcing, including why, how and when to consider outsourcing solutions, as well as ways to utilize fit-for-purpose resourcing while maintaining strategic oversight.
2022-01-0524 minThe Syneos Health PodcastThe Virtual Sales OrganizationCOVID-19 has accelerated adoption of virtual engagement across pharma – but many of these strategies have already been proven over and over again long before the pandemic. The key difference is, what started as a complement to traditional commercialization tactics is now an established best practice and has been core to an inevitable transformation in the pharmaceutical industry. Out of this, the Virtual Sales Organization was born.Mike Minschwaner, Senior Director and Amy Jamison, Senior Vice President of the Syneos Health Engagement Center discuss the evolution and rationale behind the Virtual Sales Organization, where, when and how it is...
2021-11-0318 minThe Syneos Health PodcastThirty Years of Physician AnswersWhat if you had 30 years of longitudinal data, from thousands of HCPs across 30 specialties, on how and why health care practitioners prescribe therapies, and where and how they prefer to receive information on those therapies – or even how a major event, like a pandemic, impacted those behaviors? You would have powerful insights that point the way to new opportunities to engage customers, seize white space in the market and understand where your competitors are engaging.In this episode of the Syneos Health Podcast, Cameron Thompson, Executive Vice President of AnswerSuite, a Syneos Health® company, discusses the value of...
2021-09-1612 minThe Syneos Health PodcastSyneos Short: Talking to Our Families About COVID-19 VaccinesThis week, the US Food and Drug administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. But will this help accelerate the vaccination effort? The US Surgeon General gave a public warning recently: "Health misinformation is an urgent threat to public health. It can cause confusion, sow mistrust, and undermine public health efforts, including our ongoing work to end the COVID-19 pandemic.” Also this week, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report saying the number one reason for those who changed their minds and got vaccinated, the single thing that worked best, was talking with family.In this Syneos Short, ho...
2021-08-2514 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2021 HEALTH TRENDS EDITION: Leading Change in ChinaIn this episode of the Syneos Health Podcast: 2021 Health Trends Edition, we welcome Dr. George Li, Vice President, and General Manager in clinical solutions for mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Together with podcast host and Managing Director, Omnichannel Strategy, Leigh Householder, he discusses the rapid and dramatic growth occurring in the Chinese pharmaceutical and biotech market. If you want access to more future-focused, actionable insights to help biopharmaceutical companies better execute and succeed in a constantly evolving environment, visit the Syneos Health Insights Hub. The perspectives you’ll find there are driven by dynamic research and cra...
2021-08-1125 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2021 HEALTH TRENDS EDITION: Field Force of the FutureIn this episode of the Syneos Health Podcast: 2021 Health Trends Edition, we discuss how to empower and amplify critical field teams as access and engagement evolve and change with the ‘new normal’ of a post-pandemic world. Listen and learn as Ryan Maglione, SVP, Global Commercial Talent at Syneos Health shares his latest thinking with trends expert, podcast host and Managing Director, Omnichannel Strategy, Leigh Householder.Learn More About Commercial Recruiting Solutions from Syneos Health. If you want access to more future-focused, actionable insights to help biopharmaceutical companies better execute and succeed in a const...
2021-07-2819 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2021 HEALTH TRENDS EDITION: Omnichannel ExperienceIn this episode of the Syneos Health Podcast: 2021 Health Trends Edition, we share the latest thinking on the potential for our industry to make healthcare interactions and communications more personal and useful. Many life sciences organizations are quickly moving into that world of right person, right message, right moment messaging and scaling internal expertise and external partnership to move from one-to-one messaging to synchronized personal/nonpersonal communications to truly optimized engagement.Listen and learn from Syneos Health experts, Leigh Householder, Managing Director, Omnichannel Strategy, Howard Brock, Senior Managing Director, Customer Engagement/Consulting, Alex Brock, Managing D...
2021-07-1525 minThe Syneos Health PodcastStorytelling in PharmaA great story creates a connection, elicits feelings of compassion and empathy and can ultimately influence behavior. The rise of digital platforms have enabled richer, deeper storytelling, driving a greater desire for sharing and connection. How can biopharma companies better leverage their own stories to build trust and engagement with their audiences?John Reid, Executive Creative Director and Jeanine O’Kane, President, Public Relations at Syneos Health Communications discuss the evolution of storytelling, the impact of COVID-19 on how we communicate – and the critical importance of transparency and authenticity in the biopharma industry.If you want...
2021-07-0726 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2021 HEALTH TRENDS EDITION: Remote Care in 2021 and BeyondWhen the pandemic took hold, practices and research sites limited physical access to protect people while health systems and industry partners moved to rapidly scale digital and voice channels to maximize patient connectivity. Regulators and payers joined the cause to reduce friction and fuel reimbursement. As that immediacy and urgency fade, there are changed expectations among healthcare providers and patients alike that pivot off a connection, not an office or site. In this episode of the 2021 Health Trends Podcast Miniseries, Leigh Householder, Syneos Health resident trends expert and Managing Director, Omnichannel Strategy, discusses how the ri...
2021-06-3034 minThe Syneos Health PodcastVirtual PharmaAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and in direct response to government advisories limiting nonessential travel, healthcare practitioners (HCPs) were quick to adopt digital platforms for engaging with pharma sales reps. And interestingly, it appears that these virtual engagements are actually increasing the amount of time HCPs spend with these reps. Now, as we move past this transformative time, the future that is emerging is neither fully face-to-face nor solely digital-dedicated.Bryan Roman, Executive Vice President of Creative Technology and Stephan Saba, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience at Syneos Health talk about innovations in technology t...
2021-06-3024 minThe Syneos Health PodcastPharmacovigilance in the COVID-19 Era and BeyondRight now, millions of patients are being dosed with vaccines for COVID-19, which have had accelerated development timelines in order to provide emergency use. This is a first in our industry, and it presents safety monitoring challenges for pharmaceutical companies managing an unprecedented volume of data to ensure that the benefits to patients outweigh the risks. How can they keep up – now, and in the future?Carol Aliyar, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Safety and Pharmacovigilance at Syneos Health, discusses the impact the COVID-19 vaccine rollout on current safety monitoring processes, how biopharma needs to adjust go...
2021-05-1816 minThe Syneos Health PodcastLifecycle ManagementIt is a common misconception in the biopharmaceutical industry that lifecycle management is really meant for the end of a product’s life, generally at the point where exclusivity is lost and generic competition erodes sales and, ultimately, the value of the brand. According to Tim Arendt, Managing Director in the Commercial Advisory Group of Syneos Health Consulting, if done right, a lifecycle management plan developed early will actually pay off in spades in the end. Here, he discusses the importance of lifecycle management in biopharma and how companies can – and should – leverage this tool to ensure their p...
2021-05-0514 minThe Syneos Health PodcastSource Document Review in the Modern WorldSource Document Review and Source Data Verification have been the gold standard for ensuring data quality and patient safety for more than 30 years. This review and verification process covers a wide range of material related to study subjects including anything from consent forms and medical histories to lab results and personal diary entries and beyond, consuming a significant amount of time and budget. In recent years, we’ve seen a drive to find ways to make clinical trial monitoring more effective and cost efficient, especially with the growing use of technologies such as Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems. Aud...
2021-04-0124 minThe Syneos Health PodcastLearning Agility in Medical AffairsBeing prepared for what you know is going to happen is hard enough, but how can you get ready for the unexpected? The answer: learning agility.Learning agility is a set of skills, competencies and mindsets that support an organization’s ability to respond in unforeseen situations. In fact, higher levels of learning agility could help to “future proof” organizations against challenges of turbulent times, and as such will likely become a differentiator for life science companies. Best of all, learning agility is a skillset that can be developed.In this interview with Hasini Jayatilaka, PhD, C...
2021-03-1616 minThe Syneos Health PodcastTrade and Distribution in Pharma: It's ComplicatedGetting a drug product into the hands of patients is not a simple task. What was once a straightforward “back office” operation has, with the advent of oncology, rare disease and other kinds of specialty therapeutics, risen to a level of complexity that requires greater strategy, planning and logistics acumen than ever before. Tony Lanzone, Managing Director, Value, Access and HEOR at Syneos Health provides a deep dive into the art and science of getting therapies from the manufacturer to the patient, and how the right trade and distribution strategy can provide a true competitive advantage.If...
2021-02-2422 minThe Syneos Health PodcastReal World Evidence and Rare DiseasesHow rare is a rare disease? On their own they can be quite scarce, but did you know that one in ten people in the U.S. is afflicted with a rare disease? That’s over 30 million people. And that’s a big problem. But how do you study treatments when it’s so difficult to find patients for each rare disease? That’s when it is time to leave the lab and take a look at the real world. In this episode, we are joined by Syneos Health experts Dr. Raymond Huml, Vice President, Medical and Scientifi...
2021-01-1320 minThe Syneos Health PodcastGlobal PharmaIt may sound obvious that pharmaceutical companies operate according to the unique set of regulations, healthcare environments, market conditions, and cultures of the regions in which they operate, but what do such differences reveal about the industry as a whole? In this episode, Sabine Dettwiler, Managing Director, Commercial Advisory Group at Syneos Health Consulting, shares some learnings from her experience in the U.S., Asia, and Europe – comparing and contrasting the pharmaceutical landscape across all three, including the challenges of clinical trial diversity, cultural barriers, and the differing values and priorities of healthcare providers.For a d...
2020-10-2115 minThe Syneos Health PodcastAPAC EDITION: Clinical Development in JapanIn the past decade, Japan’s biotech and pharmaceutical industries have expanded into global markets, and continue to evolve in light of recent regulatory changes and challenges.Stephane Gouteux, Vice President and General Manager of Japan Clinical Solutions at Syneos Health, discusses overall healthcare trends and pharmaceutical trends in Japan, and also explores the opportunities available for major market players, including contract research organizations (CROs).For a deeper dive into our perspective on the changing immune-oncology landscape in APAC, read this report.If you want access to more future-focused, actionable insights to help bi...
2020-09-0922 minThe Syneos Health PodcastLearning AgilityThe COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies to adapt in unprecedented ways. More than ever, learning agility – the desire, capability, and skillset that allow people to navigate change and uncertainty – has become critical to organizational success and can lead to new opportunities. In this episode, Syneos Health® experts, Karen White, Vice President of Human Resources and Kiely Flanigan, Director of Global Medical Affairs from our consulting team, discuss why learning agility matters and how it can add value to business areas across the pharmaceutical industry, from global drug launches to the increasing number of rare disease therapies. For a...
2020-09-0220 minThe Syneos Health PodcastChina vs. CancerWithin the last two years, the regulatory environment has evolved dramatically in China, allowing clinical trials to get off the ground faster and providing greater opportunity for drug development in the region. Syneos Health® experts Patrick Nealon, Executive Vice President and Head of the Oncology Business Unit, and Nick Kenny, Chief Scientific Officer, discuss the extraordinary pace of investment and innovation in cancer drug development in China, the risks and challenges that arise from scaling clinical operations in the country’s untapped market, and the impact that such changes will have on U.S. pharma. For a...
2020-08-2614 minThe Syneos Health PodcastRapid Early Phase Clinical TrialsIn an industry where time is money, rapid startup in early phase clinical trials – where patients receive a drug for the first time – is critical. But what does rapid mean, exactly, and why is it so important?David Wyatt, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs at Syneos Health discusses rapid early phase startup, explaining the advantages and complications that can arise, as well as the requirements for its success.If you want access to more future-focused, actionable insights to help biopharmaceutical companies better execute and succeed in a constantly evolving environment, visit the Syneos Health Insig...
2020-08-0613 minThe Syneos Health PodcastPayer Power, Part 3The entirety of the US healthcare system was reformed with the advent of Obamacare in 2009 – and we’re still feeling the aftershocks over a decade later.So says Keith Kelly, Senior Managing Director, Value, Access and HEOR at Syneos Health Consulting, who returns to the Syneos Health Podcast to continue the discussion on the trajectory of payer influence in the healthcare marketplace. Listen to our previous episodes in the series, Payer Power and Payer Power, Part 2, to get the full story. And for additional market access-focused content, check out these recent publications:The Great...
2020-07-1517 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 12: COVID-19 and ChildrenOver the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, information has varied around whether or not – and how severely – children are affected by the virus. In this episode for our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Pierre Omnes, Executive Director, SSU and Regulatory and Alex Cvetkovich Muntañola, MD, Executive Director, Clinical Development at Syneos Health, share what we’ve learned so far about the impact of COVID-19 on children’s health, and how approaches to clinical trials for this specific population have been altered.Stay tuned for more installments of the Coronavirus Special Edition Series, which explores, from an operati...
2020-06-1931 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 11: Rare Disease Clinical Trials and COVID-19The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted drug development, and rare disease drug development in particular – and the industry in general grapples with challenges in this new clinical trial environment. In this episode for our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Zizi Imatorbhebhe, Global Lead of Rare Disease Clinical Development at Syneos Health, discusses the numerous challenges involved in rare disease drug development and how the pandemic has heightened the need to adapt innovations and strategic considerations to accelerate development. To read more about rare disease clinical trials in the age of COVID-19, download our white paper.Stay...
2020-06-0225 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 10: Ventilating the COVID-19 PatientAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues, clinicians are learning more about the impact of the disease on the body, particularly in the lungs, and it’s shaping the way hospitals need to think about treating these patients – specifically with regard to what type of breath support to use.In this episode in our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Dr. Bill Croft, Ed.D, Ph.D., RRT, RCP, Executive Director of the North Carolina Respiratory Care Board, discusses the unique physiology of the COVID-19 lung, the pros and cons of BiPAP versus mechanical ventilators, and a more refined, incremental treatment path...
2020-05-0526 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 9: Telemedicine in the Age of COVID-19In the midst of a pandemic situation that requires social distancing measures to minimize personal contact, how are non-emergency physicians continuing to engage with their patients? Further, what are their expectations around pharmaceutical field representatives and how they need to receive important information on potential products for treating their patients? A recent survey of 263 US clinicians provides a glimpse into their perspective.In this episode in our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Jodi Scarbrough, Director of Custom Research at Syneos Health, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the adoption of telemedicine and teledetailing, and how these...
2020-04-2311 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 8: Payers and COVID-19In this Coronavirus Special Edition Series, we’ve talked a lot about the clinical implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. But what is the impact on the commercial side? Specifically, how are payers – key players in getting patients access to therapies – continuing to conduct business, and how are current conditions affecting priorities, if at all? Syneos Health advertising firm GSW conducted a survey to find out. In this episode in our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Adrian Garcia, Senior Vice President, Head of Payer & Integrated Health and Katherine Seay, Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Managed Markets at GSW, discuss the impa...
2020-04-1620 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 7: Continuity in Clinical TrialsThe COVID-19 pandemic is impacting clinical trials in many ways, not the least of which being the ability for sponsors to continue traditional oversight activities such as on-site clinical trial monitoring. The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) has issued recommendations for clinical trial monitoring that will help maintain continuity in clinical trials wherever possible.In this episode in our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Paul Colvin, President, Clinical Solutions and Nicole Stansbury, Vice President, Global Clinical Monitoring at Syneos Health, discuss the role of risk-based monitoring and opportunities for remote options that can potentially ensure continuity, trial v...
2020-04-0225 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 6: The Leader's ExperienceEnsuring the health and safety of the workforce – while maintaining business as usual – is a delicate balance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode of our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Syneos Health CEO Alistair Macdonald discusses the unique decisions to be made as a pharmaceutical organization practicing corporate responsibility in the name of public health.Stay tuned for more installments of the Coronavirus Special Edition Series, which will explore, from an operational standpoint, the impact of COVID-19 on the biopharma industry, the challenges for rapid R&D in an outbreak environment, and the o...
2020-03-3014 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 5: Surviving the Ventilator ShortageA critical shortage of mechanical ventilators is anticipated in many countries, including the United States, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A potential emergency solution would be the use of bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP). BiPAP may be used in the hospital setting with appropriate precautions for intubated COVID-19 patients experiencing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Use of invasive BiPAP on an emergency basis may delay or obviate the need for mechanical ventilation in appropriate COVID-19 patients.In this episode for physicians on the front lines treating patients with COVID-19, Keith Robinson, MD, a critical care pulmonologist...
2020-03-2429 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 4: Clinical Trials Through PandemicsIn the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, late stage clinical trials are at risk of disruption as shelter-in-place and more restrictive lockdown requirements roll out across the globe. How can these trials continue if patients can’t get to the clinic?In this episode in our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Lou Boccumini, head of the infectious disease team at Syneos Health, discusses ways that developers can maintain continuity of their clinical trials during a pandemic – and how to create resiliency in their clinical trials for the future.Stay tuned for more installments of the Coronavirus Spec...
2020-03-2416 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 3: Virtual Clinical TrialsIn the midst of a pandemic, industry is looking for ways to ensure continuity of clinical trials while keeping patients safe. Virtual approaches to clinical research leverage digital technologies to bring the study to the patient, and may be – in time – a viable option for limiting personal contact and possible spread of disease during outbreak situations.In the third episode in our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, David Thompson, Senior Vice President, Real World Evidence at Syneos Health discusses potential applications for virtual research in the real world, and the pros and cons of going virtual, offering a glim...
2020-03-2019 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 2: The Clinical ExperienceAs COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, increasingly strict measures are being put into place in an attempt to slow it down while the scientific community pushes to identify effective antiviral options. In the second episode of our Coronavirus Special Edition series, Syneos Health infectious disease experts Gino Girardi, MD and Jaime E. Hernandez, MD dig into the epidemiology of COVID-19, the experience gained from past pandemics (such as H1N1 or “swine flu”), impact on health systems, and the race to find a treatment.Stay tuned for more installments of the Coronavirus Special Edition Series, which...
2020-03-1732 minThe Syneos Health PodcastCORONAVIRUS SPECIAL EDITION, Episode 1: The Personal ExperienceThe COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak continues to grow worldwide – recently declared by the World Health Organization as a global pandemic – with widespread personal, medical, and business implications. In this first episode of our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, we hear the personal experience of Dr. Siying Zou, a cell biologist on the Syneos Health Consulting team in the United States. Dr. Zou is from Wuhan, China – the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak – and her mother and other family members have been diagnosed with the disease. This is her family’s story from the front lines, from lockdown, to hospitalization, to hope.
2020-03-1319 minThe Syneos Health PodcastRecruiting Patients for Clinical TrialsRecruiting patients into clinical trials is arguably one of the most, if not the most, important aspects of bringing a new therapy to market – and it can be the most difficult, time consuming part of the entire process.Clare Grace, Vice President, Site and Patient Access at Syneos Health discusses the challenges for patients when it comes to clinical trials, the complexities for industry in recruiting these patients – and how enhancing communication to, through, and among physicians could be the key to boosting overall engagement and improving the clinical trial recruitment experience.For a deeper dive...
2020-03-0614 minThe Syneos Health PodcastMedical Affairs Series, Part Six: Commercial Plus Medical AffairsIt may seem counter-intuitive to use the words “Commercial” and “Medical Affairs” in the same sentence. But with the evolution of Medical Affairs from a tactical support function to a strategy driving organization, it’s become clear that by partnering, the collective and complementary strengths of Medical Affairs and Commercial organizations will drive greater success than ever before. In part six of our Medical Affairs Series, Suma Ramadas from our Medical Affairs team at Syneos Health Consulting, and Andy Hurley, who leads the Commercial Integration team at Syneos Health, discuss the intersection and alignment of Commercial and Medical Aff...
2020-02-1922 minThe Syneos Health Podcast2020 Health Trends: Box Store HealthcareRadical changes in the interface of health are rapidly changing where people find care. Where is that, exactly? Quick answer: everywhere. The point of care has been steadily shifting away from where the clinic exists to wherever the patient goes. Advances in digital care connections and the growth of new customer segments have opened up entirely new ways to make healthcare more scalable and accommodating to both baby boomer demands and millennial disruption.A.J. Triano, Senior Vice President, Engagement Strategy at GSW Advertising and Aaron Davis, Managing Director, Value, Access and HEOR at Syneos Health Consulting, d...
2020-02-0529 minThe Syneos Health PodcastDenials, Delays and Deep Discounts in Pharmaceutical LaunchFDA approval is no longer the finish line in the race to product launch success. Access and adoption have risen to the forefront as a major post-approval hurdle: recent research from Syneos Health Consulting’s Value and Access team shows that less than half of newly approved drugs appeared on formulary in their launch year. So what’s a drug developer to do?Co-authors of the report on insurance coverage of new drugs at launch Jeff Stewart, Brian Cotten and Heather Martin discuss the results of their analysis, what developers can expect from payers in launch year, and...
2020-01-2420 minThe Syneos Health PodcastMedical Affairs Series, Part Five: Medical Affairs in the Early StageAs we’ve hammered home over the last several episodes of this series, Medical Affairs can bring great value to any moment in an asset’s life cycle. But there is one area where developers may be missing out on an opportunity to gain real traction in their efforts.Today we dive deeper into a Medical Affairs sweet spot with Steve Gomez, Senior Engagement Manager on the Scientific and Medical Affairs team at Syneos Health Consulting, discussing the ways that today’s Medical Affairs organization can be a shepherd, strategic partner, and even the leader for an organiz...
2020-01-1013 minThe Syneos Health PodcastReal World Evidence and Rare DiseasesA striking life sciences trend has come into focus the past 12 months. Global regulators—often viewed as taking a conservative approach to transformative technology—have moved into the vanguard in discussions and guidance around real world data (RWD) and real world evidence (RWE).It is not so much the case with payers. According to new research by Syneos Health on payer perceptions of RWE in rare diseases, many payers are not entirely receptive to RWE-based representations or health economic forecasts in sponsors’ dossiers or related conversations. What accounts for payers’ hesitation? Michelle Leeds, Vice President, Risk and...
2019-12-2024 minThe Syneos Health PodcastMedical Affairs Series, Part Four: Medical Affairs in the FieldThe Medical Science Liaison (MSL) has gone through a bit of an identity overhaul. A role that used to lean almost exclusively on scientific acumen must now more than ever also rely on business chops and people skills. A shift akin to moving from Geek Squad…to Apple Genius Bar.Keith Morris, Executive Managing Director, Medical Affairs at Syneos Health Consulting, and Ric Phipps, Senior Vice President, Global Field Medical Affairs for Syneos Health Deployment Solutions discuss the increased complexity of the role of as the needs of today’s customer groups are evolving and how, as a res...
2019-11-2019 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 031: Real World Evidence in EuropeAccording to the Syneos Health 2019 Health Trend Ten, perhaps the biggest shift for 2019 and beyond is global focus on understanding what product differentiation looks like in real-world environments. In Europe in particular, countries are implementing more stringent measures that will impact how value is assigned in the future – and real world evidence (RWE) will play a key role.Alastair MacDonald, Senior Vice President, Real World and Late Phase at Syneos Health, discusses the complex landscape in Europe, why “real world” and “late phase” are no longer synonymous, the four key stakeholders driving the need for RWE, and more.
2019-03-2013 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 027: CaregiversIt’s just one word. But it carries the weight of over 43 million people, about a quarter which spends 41 hours or more per week providing care for loved ones with medical conditions. Caregivers are not just influencers for healthcare decision-making; many are the decision makers, according to Carolyn Stephenson, SVP, Director of Insights, and Ilya Vedrashko, Managing Director, Communications Research at Syneos Health. Together, they’ll tease out key findings from their recent survey of over 1,000 caregivers to truly understand these individuals and what lies beneath the surface in their experiences and perception.The information, data, a...
2018-12-1121 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 026: The Health Trend Ten - Clinical PerspectiveAs we head toward the close of the year, we are already looking to see what 2019 has in store. Drawing on the knowledge and experience of more than 200 leaders and experts who work on the front lines of healthcare, we identified 10 critical shifts that will change how we test and commercialize novel new therapies and innovations in the years ahead. In our last episode, we heard about some of the commercial insights from the Health Trend Ten. Today, Leigh Householder, EVP / Managing Director, Insights and Innovation, and Nick Kenny, Chief Scientific Officer at Syneos Health, dis...
2018-11-2732 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 025: The Health Trend Ten - Commercial PerspectiveAs we head toward the close of the year, we are already looking to see what 2019 has in store. Drawing on the knowledge and experience of more than 200 leaders and experts who work on the front lines of healthcare, we identified 10 critical shifts that will change how we test and commercialize novel new therapies and innovations in the years ahead.In this first of two episodes on the Health Trend Ten, Leigh Householder, EVP / Managing Director, Insights and Innovation, and Bryan Distefano, EVP, Sales, Selling Solutions at Syneos Health, discuss key commercial trends that will im...
2018-11-2729 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 024: Content that ClicksIn our increasingly digital world, it was only a matter of time before search and social marketing would start to take on an important role in clinical trial patient recruitment. But with shaken trust in data security combined with sensitivities around medical data privacy, will potential patients click?Matthew Snodgrass and Michael Pearlman from the Syneos Health Digital & Social Strategy team discuss the results of a survey of potential clinical trial participants on their perceptions and opinions of online channels as a means for receiving clinical trial information - and the many opportunities this channel offers for p...
2018-10-3125 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 023: The Clinical Trial Marathon, at a SprintClinical trials are arguably the largest investment a biopharma company makes in bringing a product to market - in dollars, and time. Driving the stakes higher: the patient is waiting. How can we improve the process, realize shorter and more efficient trials, and ultimately get the therapy to that patient faster?
Syneos Health Clinical Solutions experts Kellie Malloy, Executive Vice President and General Manager and Eleanore Doyle, Senior Vice President, Strategic Resourcing, share their thoughts on the current state of and future opportunities for clinical trials – including the impact and potential of technology, improvements in recruitment and en...
2018-10-0321 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 022: Spending for Launch SuccessWhen it comes to investing in the launch of your biopharma product, how much is too much? Is there such a thing as too little? Director Sachin Purwar and his colleagues from the Commercial Strategy & Planning practice of Syneos Health Consulting set out to answer these questions - and found the "sweet spot" for launch spending that could mean the difference between success and failure.
The team's review of 19 emerging biopharma company launches was recently published in IN VIVO. In this episode, Sachin discusses with host Jeff Stewart special considerations, pitfalls to avoid, and the implications of s...
2018-09-1915 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 021: The Sales Force Training (R)evolutionBiopharmaceutical sales forces have changed dramatically over the past decade. And not just the sales forces - the industry, customers, technology and more have all undergone tremendous evolution. As a result, the way we train sales forces and other customer-facing roles has and will have to adapt accordingly.
Celeste Mosby, Vice President of Learning Design in the Syneos Health Learning Solutions group, has seen a lot of this change and describes what can be considered a revolution in the development of training approaches that are efficient and effective, intuitive and immersive. In this episode, Mosby discusses some o...
2018-09-0514 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 020: A Syneos Health Short - 21st Century CuresThe 21st Century Cures Act was passed at the end of 2016 in an effort to accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of new therapies. But what's in it? And what does it mean for biopharma companies?
In this first "Syneos Health Short" episode, Jeff Stewart reviews the top ten things you need to know about 21st Century Cures - and how one word changed everything.
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2018-07-0908 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 019: A Decade of Dealmakers' IntentionsThe last decade has seen both depressing lows and astounding highs in biopharmaceutical dealmaking activity. Different therapeutic areas have fallen in and out of favor along with the pace of innovation and there has been a sustained focus on the next "hot spot" with high commercial value and the potential to provide solid returns for stakeholders. But certain trends have been persistent. What has changed? What has remained the same?
Neel Patel, Managing Director and Sachin Purwar, Director at Syneos Health Consulting discuss the last ten years of dealmaking and take a look forward based on the...
2018-06-0816 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 018: Partnering with a CROA relationship with a Contract Research Organization (CRO) is just like any other - to succeed, it requires communication, alignment on goals, respect, and ultimately, trust between two partners.
In this episode, Judy Swilley, Executive Vice President and Head of Strategic Alliance Management at Syneos Health, talks about the value a CRO brings to the table, the importance of an engaged executive team on the sponsor side, and best practices for working together.
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The information, data, and other content contained in this podcast and any...
2018-05-2315 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 016: Payer Power, Part 2Eighteen months is an eternity in the payer world.
Previously on The Syneos Health Podcast (Episode 003: Payer Power), we discussed the payer's rise in influence in the pharmaceutical industry. Today, we're seeing the impact of strategies payers were starting to bring to the marketplace 18-months-to-two-years ago, particularly on the pharmacy benefit side.
Keith Kelly, Managing Director, Global Access Solutions for Syneos Health Consulting, discusses key themes from the Express Scripts Drug Trend Report 2016, impact of payer controls on pharmacy benefit versus medical benefit products, how this plays out based on therapeutic area and ultimately, the...
2018-04-2525 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 015: ICER - Friend or Foe?ICER - the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review - was established as an independent organization to examine the value of pharmaceuticals across disease categories. "But value is in the eye of the beholder," says Leslie Isenegger, principal strategist for Syneos Health Communications Reputation and Risk Management Practice, and ICER's analysis is only one piece of a very complicated puzzle. How should it fit within the broader conversation?
To try and answer this question, Isenegger provides a primer of sorts on ICER, exploring how the organization works to determine cost effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of therapies, the...
2018-03-1427 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 014: MA-"Squared": Medical Affairs Meets Market AccessIn Episode 012: Medical Affairs from Zero, Suma Ramadas talked about the inception and growing value of the Medical Affairs function. Today, in part two of our Medical Affairs Transformation series, Suma is joined by Susan Suponcic, Managing Director and head of the Pricing & Market Access practice of Syneos Health Consulting to discuss the importance of collaboration between the Medical Affairs and Market Access functions in developing a consistent and clear medical narrative.
For a deeper dive into maximizing the impact of Medical Affairs through strategic alignment and collaboration, check out our white paper and recent Pharmaceutical Executive...
2018-03-0720 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 012: Medical Affairs from ZeroImagine two products that are very similar. One became one of the most successful launches the organization ever had; the other one was a flop. The main difference between the two? Medical Affairs.
There was a time - not all that long ago - when the Medical Affairs function did not exist. Today, the Medical Affairs organization is critical to a successful product launch, providing foresight into understanding who all of the stakeholders are and all of their evidentiary needs: getting the right evidence at the right time, communicated in the right way, to the right audience.
2018-02-0615 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 011: Naming, Part 2 - The DrugAs we learned in our previous episode, naming a company is not something you can do by just “winging it.” The same holds true when it comes to naming a drug – especially in a podcast episode under 30 minutes.
In Part 2 of our naming series, Addison Whitney Creative Director Brittany Scott explains the ins and outs of drug naming, addresses a possible conspiracy theory and runs host Jeff Stewart through the process in a quick (and frustrating) game of “Name That Drug.”
See our full list of podcast episodes here.
The information, data, and o...
2018-01-0823 minThe Syneos Health PodcastEpisode 010: Naming, Part 1 - The Pharma CompanyWhat’s in a name? Quite a lot, actually, despite what Shakespeare says.
When it comes to a merger, this can be even more important. With research showing that up to 80% of mergers fail – and one major reason being clashing corporate cultures during post-merger integration – choosing a name and brand that the entire organization can get behind is critical to success.
In this episode, listen to Kristen Spensieri of Syneos Health and Joe Daley of Syneos Health branding firm Addison Whitney discuss how the company is walking the talk – rebranding its own organization after the 2017 merger of...
2018-01-0823 min