pharmaphorum Podcast

Servier’s ASCO 2025 Data: Advancing IDH-Mutated Cancer Treatment with Tibsovo & Voranigo

At ASCO 2025, Servier presented data in the IDH-mutated cancer space.
Onsite at McCormick Place in Chicago, pharmaphorum web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Becky Martin, chief US medical at Servier about the key data from the company’s Tibsovo and Voranigo programmes, as well as the implications for patients and the wider themes of the Congress this year.
Listen to this and other interviews from ASCO 2025 here.

Where innovation meets collaboration: Live from Manchester’s City labs 4.0

In healthcare, some of the most meaningful innovations happen when the right people are brought together in the right place. True progress depends on systems and infrastructure designed to connect ideas, people, and expertise across sectors.
Citylabs 4.0, now open in the heart of Manchester’s Knowledge Quarter on the Oxford Road Corridor, was built with exactly that goal in mind. Bringing the NHS, academia, and life sciences organisations into close, purposeful proximity, providing a structural foundation for collaboration at scale.
In this special live recording of the pharmaphorum podcast, developed in association with Bruntwood SciTech, Bruntwood SciTech’s CSO Dr Kath Mackay, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust T’s Dr Katherine Boylan, and Dr Gillian Dalgliesh from QIAGEN join Deep Dive editor Eloise McLennan onstage at the opening of Citylabs 4.0 to discuss innovation in life sciences and the role of Greater Manchester in accelerating research, industry collaboration, and real-world evidence generation.
Join us as we examine how this deliberate integration of healthcare stakeholders in Manchester is establishing new standards for collaboration and advancing patient outcomes through structured knowledge exchange.
About the interviewees
Dr Kath Mackay
Kath Mackay is Chief Scientific Officer of Bruntwood SciTech - a JV between leading property developer Bruntwood, Legal & General, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund - the UK’s leading creator and developer of innovation districts driving growth of the UK science and technology sector.  She has a keen interest in growing businesses and infrastructure within the sector, ensuring the UK is the best place to establish and scale a science and tech organisation.  
Dr Mackay joined Bruntwood SciTech from the executive board of Innovate UK where she led the team responsible for growing businesses working in the biomedical, health, agriculture, and food sectors, creating and delivering a £800m portfolio of infrastructure, Catapults, grant and loan investments. She is also non-executive director of the Northern Health Science Alliance, the North of England’s health partnership, and an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
Dr Katherine Boylan
Katherine is Director of Innovation at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), a position she has held since April 2020. This role involves overseeing innovation activities within MFT, as part of the wider Research and Innovation function. Innovation at MFT supports the whole pipeline from ideation, through to evidence generation, and ultimate implementation.
She has been a member of the NICE Medical Technologies Advisory Committee since September 2020.
Prior to this position, Dr Boylan worked in the University of Manchester for a number of years, most recently as Operations Director for the MRC funded Molecular Pathology Node, and the Trust-funded Diagnostics and Technology Accelerator.
Dr Gillian L Dalgliesh, PhD
Global Technical lead, Precision Diagnostics
Gillian Dalgliesh has worked for QIAGEN for nine years and is based at their Manchester site, which is the global centre of excellence for molecular diagnostic development. QIAGEN partner with many drug companies to develop companion diagnostic (CDx) tests that enable clinical trials and subsequently launches of novel precision medicines. In recent years they have seen a real move beyond oncology into other disease areas such as immune, neurological and metabolic disorders. Dr Dalgliesh’s role as global technical lead allows her to leverage her oncology precision medicine experience across the portfolio to bring precision diagnostic products to more patients. She has built her experience in precision medicine/oncology through not only her QIAGEN role but also through seven years working in precision medicine in AstraZeneca and prior to that working as part of the cancer genome project at the Sanger institute.
Dr Dalgliesh is also an honorary senior lecturer at University of Manchester where she coordinates and delivers lectures for a QIAGEN sponsored BSc final year elective module ‘The Role of Diagnostics in Medicine’. This is part of a wider outreach role with the University and our NHS hospital. Through these roles she is keen to impact the local UK science community.
About Bruntwood SciTech
Bruntwood SciTech is the UK’s largest dedicated property platform serving the growth of the nation’s knowledge economy to become a global science and technology superpower. It is also the leading developer of city-wide innovation ecosystems and specialist environments, helping companies - particularly those in the science and technology sectors - to form, scale and growA joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), Bruntwood SciTech provides high quality office and laboratory space and tailored business support, offering unrivalled access to finance, talent and markets, an extensive clinical, academic and public partner network and a sector-specialist community of more than 1100 companies.
Bruntwood SciTech is experienced in creating and developing strategic partnerships with UK regional cities, universities and NHS Trusts to drive economic growth. Its unique structure and funding vehicle more easily deploys long-term patient capital in innovation infrastructure, ensuring local economic benefit and growth.
Valued at £1.5bn, Bruntwood SciTech has a portfolio of 5.2m sq ft across 11 campus locations and 31 city centre innovation hubs in Manchester, Cheshire, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Cambridge and London. It has plans to create a £5bn portfolio by 2033 and has a 2.3m sq ft secured development pipeline.
Its campus locations include Alderley Park in Cheshire; West Village in Leeds; Innovation Birmingham; Birmingham Health Innovation Campus in partnership with the University of Birmingham; Melbourn Science Park in Cambridgeshire; Liverpool Science Park as a shareholder in Sciontec Liverpool; White City Deep Tech Campus in partnership with Imperial College London; and a cluster in the heart of Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor knowledge quarter - Manchester Science Park, Citylabs in partnership with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), Circle Square - a joint venture with Vita Group; and the £1.7bn JV partnership with The University of Manchester - Sister, formerly known as IDManchester.
Its city centre innovation hubs include Bloc, Bond, 111 Piccadilly, Pall Mall and Manchester One in Manchester; Platform in Leeds; Cornerblock and Centre City in Birmingham; and The Plaza in Liverpool.
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Live from ASCO 2025: Boehringer Ingelheim on unmet needs and oncology innovation

Boehringer Ingelheim’s data presented at ASCO 2025 reflected the company’s broad pipeline and growing body of evidence supporting innovative therapies for various cancers.
In a pharmaphorum podcast recorded onsite at the Congress, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Itziar Canamasas, global head of oncology at Boehringer Ingelheim, for a discussion of the unmet needs in oncology and some of the specifics of the company’s data presentations.
The conversation also touches upon highlights from this year’s annual meeting and hopes for transformation of the oncological field in the future.
Watch this and other interviews from ASCO 2025 here.

Bringing patients to research centres: Using AI to bring efficiencies forward

Trends can be predicted, and trends can unfold. Here, Liz Beatty – co-founder and chief strategy of Inato – speaks to the beginnings of a new era in drug development brought on by key technological advances in AI.
Historically, large urban academic centres have conducted the majority of clinical trials, leading to such issues as inaccessibility, lack of representation, and intense competition for participants. With growing industry pressure for greater trial access, a more focused effort to bring research into communities is unfolding.
At the same time, there seems little that AI can’t be applied to so as to ameliorate speed and efficacy, and also specificity – and Beatty expands on these points and more.
You can listen to episode 181a of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

The need for a science-first mindset: The vaccine landscape today

As has been widely reported on, immunisation rates, including for flu and RSV, have been falling – at a troubling rate – and diseases like whooping cough and measles have seen a worrying resurgence due to anti-vaxxers. And not just in the US.
In a new pharmaphorum podcast, Rebecca Catterick, General Manager for Vaccines, UK & Ireland, at Sanofi, discusses this decline in vaccination rates, as well as what can be done to turn the situation around.
Catterick explores the role of the UK Labour Government’s Child Health Action Plan, aligning as it does with NHS vaccination strategy priorities, and also the criticality of preventative measures, including primary and secondary prevention and its role in the 10-year health plan.
You can listen to episode 180a of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

EAPs: Market access outside of the US and Western Europe

Early access programmes (EAPs) for novel medicines are an often-misunderstood strategy outside of western markets.
In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Cem Zorlular, CEO of Er-Kim Pharmaceuticals, a company that has been serving as a regional affiliate for pharma and biotech since 1981 in the CEE and Mediterranean.
Market access strategies in many international markets do not function the same way as they do in the US or Western Europe and require a different approach. Zorlular explains how EAPs can drive revenue for pharmaceutical companies from international unlicensed markets, but that most importantly EAPs allow patients access to life-altering novel medicines.
What’s more, he says, EAPs can also help shape the biotech space by supporting the opportunity for RWD collection outside of the clinical trial setting and build momentum with local payers, regulators, and the medical community.
You can listen to episode 179a of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

The value of a partner, globally and locally

With the FDA and EMA releasing their annual reports detailing novel drug approvals in 2024, a new pharmaphorum podcast looks at recent trends related to drug approvals, as well as challenges and opportunities both small and large pharma companies face in the year ahead.
Host Nicole Raleigh is joined by Cencora’s Sandra Anderson, SVP of International Commercialisation, and Chris Williams, SVP & International Managing Director at Alloga Europe and ICS, which are part of Cencora – and the conversation dives into takeaways such as the increase in smaller biotech companies taking their product to market on their own, what is needed to ensure a successful go-to-market strategy, the unique logistics and supply chain considerations specialty pharmaceutical products introduce, and also geographical considerations, with 34 of the 50 novel drugs approved in 2024 being in the US before any other country.
You can listen to episode 178a of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

The ins and outs of HEOR – A lever for global health

ISPOR 2025, the leading global conference for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), takes place 13th-16th May and marks the 30th anniversary of the organisation.
Ahead of the event, web editor Nicole Raleigh spoke with Rob Abbott, CEO and executive director of ISPOR – the leading professional society for HEOR globally – about the ins and outs and trends of HEOR.
ISPOR’s mission is to advance HEOR excellence to improve decision making for health globally, and Abbott explains its focus on the value of particular healthcare interventions, the impact on the quality of life of patients, and how his work is centred around positioning HEOR as a key lever for decision makers and shapers globally to create a world in which healthcare is accessible, effective, efficient, and affordable for everyone.
You can listen to episode 177a of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!

Unpacking Trumps executive order on drug pricing with Alice Valder Curran

President Donald Trump’s April 15th executive order, “Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First”, contained a smorgasbord of policy proposals targeting a variety of industry stakeholders.
But how much legal force do these different elements have, and what are the concrete takeaways for pharma? To answer these questions and more, host Jonah Comstock once again welcomes Hogan Lovells attorney Alice Valder Curran to the podcast to pick apart the order piece by piece.
They discuss the headline – Trump’s intention to eliminate the Inflation Reduction Act’s “pill penalty”, and talk about why the language is more ambiguous than it appears and could be good or bad news for pharma.
They also talk about PBM reform, closing 340B loopholes, and how much the Federal government can really do to promote drug importation from Canada at the state level.
Check out the podcast to learn everything you wanted to know about Trump’s Executive Order.

AI in drug development: The real hurdle is implementation

It can take up to 15 years for a new drug to reach the market, and with only 20% of pharmaceutical professionals adopting AI, one thing is clear: innovation in drug development is lagging behind.
In a new pharmaphorum podcast, web editor Nicole Raleigh speaks with Andrew Stelzer, head of business development at Unlearn.AI, about how the real hurdle in clinical research lies in effectively integrating AI.
Stelzer discusses the need for greater coordination within the pharmaceutical industry, particularly between life sciences and software engineering and explains how bridging the cultural divide can significantly enhance the adoption of emerging technologies like AI.
Of course, the conversation also touches upon the importance of collaboration, which can positively empower pharmaceutical companies to overcome existing challenges and drive significant advancements in drug development.
You can listen to episode 176a of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!