PharmaTalkRadio

This podcast features a fireside chat between Dr Ira Mellman, PICI and Dr Axel Hoos, Former CEO, Scorpion Therapeutics from the 2026 Immuno-Oncology 360° conference. Drawing on Dr Mellman’s extensive experience and current work at the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, this conversation provides:

• Insight into the scientific and clinical trajectory of immuno-oncology
• Perspectives on the evolving role of collaboration and innovative partnership models like PICI
• Discussion of the key opportunities and challenges shaping IO innovation at scale
• A visionary outlook on what the next chapter of immuno-oncology could look like

To learn more about the IO360° Summit, please visit https://www.io360summit.com/

As alternative funding pathways decrease and fewer research grants are administered, the relationship between biotech and academia must shift in order to continue to achieve innovation and development. In this podcast, featuring a panel discussion from the 2026 Chief Medical Officer Summit 360°, CMOs and academics present on these shifts in the global clinical development ecosystem, and how academia and biotech can better partner to develop new therapies for patients, with specific examples.

To learn more about the Chief Medical Officer Summit 360°, please visit CMOSummit360.com.

This podcast feature a panel discussion from the 2026 Chief Medical Officer Summit 360°, biotech CMOs and executives from CROs and consultancies. Together they discuss how small biotechs can accelerate clinical development with fit-for-purpose global clinical trial strategies. Specifically: 

• The benefits and challenges of running clinical trials in different regions
• When and at which phases to run clinical trials in different countries
• Bridging data for approval applications
• Managing global clinical trials in areas with different cultures and health systems

To learn more about the Chief Medical Officer Summit 360°, please visit CMOSummit360.com.

This podcast features a panel discussion from the 2026 Chief Medical Officer Summit 360°, with biotech CMOs and representatives from pharma companies. Together, they address how interactions around partnerships or acquisitions differ from those of investment from biotech companies and how CMOs can support those conversations. This includes:

• How pharma companies analyze potential partners
• What biotech companies can do to best partner with pharma 
• How the CMO fits into various phases of transactions
• Appreciating how different c-suite colleagues and direct reports experience these transactions
• The different pharma teams CMOs will interact with
• Common challenges to partnerships and how to pre-empt them
• What happens after the acquisition

To learn more about the Chief Medical Officer Summit 360°, please visit CMOSummit360.com.

In this podcast, Mike Eckrote, SVP, Strategic Solutions at Advarra, talks about how artificial intelligence is being used to pull insights out of structured and unstructured data sources to help sponsors avoid protocol amendments and delays.  
More specifically, Mike discusses:  

• How Advarra is leveraging past IRB data sources to identify common causes of site burden, study delays and amendments 
• What questions sponsors should be asking of AI vendors, to pick the correct partner 
• How sponsors have responded to the insights surfaced by this technology  
• Why sponsors must adapt to a flexibility mindset in order to truly make changes with downstream impact 

Tapping into research-naïve sites offers a strategic opportunity to expand patient access. That’s exactly what Endo did when faced with challenges activating sites for their orthopedic study. This case study shares how Endo enabled a new site through hands-on mentorship, infrastructure support, and trust-building— resulting in sustainable partnerships and broader patient reach.

• How naïve sites can help address access and enrollment bottlenecks
• How to support inexperienced sites with the right sponsor-led infrastructure
• What it takes to shift internal expectations and foster lasting site partnerships

Speakers:
Carrie Lewis Executive Director, Clinical Program Optimization, Endo
Suzy Montayne Site Relationship Manager, Endo
Terry Oehler, DPM Founder & CEO, Colorado Clinical Research

AstraZeneca’s US Site Engagement Leads will share how they are reimagining sponsor-site relationships through a trust-first, high-engagement operating model that emphasizes flexibility, responsiveness, and co-creation. This session will showcase how their embedded approach to collaboration has enabled faster site activation, stronger recruitment performance, and improved data delivery—backed by real metrics and lessons learned from a three-year initiative. Key topics include:

• How continuous site feedback loops and flexibility with SOPs improved startup timelines
• Metrics from a recent study showing impact: 30% faster budget negotiations, 27% reduced activation times, 68% of recruitment from 42% of sites
• Tools and tactics used to build consistency, transparency, and trust across studies
• Lessons learned and how the program has scaled globally

Speakers:
Shannon Edwards Site Engagement Lead, AstraZeneca
Tina Nghiem Site Engagement Lead, AstraZeneca

A case study highlighting how Eli Lilly partnered with clinical sites to co-design practical, site-centric solutions that enhanced trial execution and operational efficiency.

Fireside Guest: Shafaat Ali Khan Clinical Research Lead (CRL) Director – Investigator Engagement, Eli Lilly & Co
Moderator: Jyoti Angal, PhD Director, Clinical Research, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center

This case study highlights how Basil Clinical Research and Takeda’s first-time partnership became the top global recruiter, exceeding enrollment goals by tenfold through proactive assessments, early collaboration, and inclusive design. Learn how Takeda’s shift from transactional to strategic, long-term partnerships made this success possible.

• Identifying and partnering with highpotential sites
• Incorporating site feedback and early collaboration to improve trial execution
• Building trust and fostering long-term site relationships
• Key actions that led to exceptional enrollment and trial efficiency

Speakers:
Brandon Doyle, MBA Associate Director, Study Site Engagement, Takeda 
Mark Rapp, MD Principal Investigator, Basil Clinical Research