Na-Ri Oh & Ian Wendt

Dr. Ron Shigeta – Biotech visionary, co-founder of IndieBio, and food innovation expert.

In this deeply insightful and refreshingly candid episode, Ian and Nari welcome back biotech veteran Dr. Ron Shigeta to explore the evolving landscape where food, health, and biotech collide. From the collapse of the lab-grown meat hype cycle to the challenges of democratizing access to functional food, Ron brings hard truths, historical context, and cautious optimism to the table.

As the U.S. federal government embraces its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda—reforming food policy to prioritize public health—the conversation asks:

If you’ve ever wondered whether the future of wellness lies in your fridge, your pharmacy, or your feed, this one’s for you.

MAHA & Food Policy Shifts:

Cultured Meat's Cautionary Tale:

Ultra-Processed vs. Ultra-Useful:

Food as Preventative Medicine:

Pharma’s Cost Spiral & Innovation Trap:

The Neuroscience of Eating:

Why “Food Tech” is Bad Branding:

“Technology for the public will always win—because once people use it, they can’t let it go.” – Ron Shigeta

“We’ve invented healthcare Americans can’t afford.” – Ron Shigeta

“Nobody buys food because it’s high-tech. Nobody. That’s not how trust is built.” – Ron Shigeta

MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) policy initiative

GLP-1s and the rise of preventative obesity drugs

Blue zones and the elusive science of longevity

Golden rice and biotech’s public trust problem

OneSkin and peptide-based functional cosmetics

Ron’s upcoming book on food, neuroscience, and the future of health

🎙 Episode Title: From Job Search to Power Move: How Top Talent’s Playing 2025

Episode Summary

In this episode, Kristiaan Rawlings returns to RealPharma to deliver a data-backed pulse check on the state of hiring across the industry. Drawing from hundreds of hours of direct conversations with execs, talent leaders, and hiring managers, Kristiaan unpacks:

📈 Which therapy areas and functions are hiring (and which are not)

🧠 How AI is actually being used in recruitment—and where it falls short

👀 Why 70% of senior roles are now confidential

🤝 The traits that are getting candidates hired in 2025

💸 Sign-on bonuses: who’s getting them, how to ask, and what to watch out for

Whether you're job hunting, hiring, or just trying to read the market right—this conversation brings the clarity.

Resources & Links

Featuring Congressman Jake Auchincloss

Episode Summary

Auchincloss, a Marine veteran and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, brings a rare combination of policy depth and industry fluency. Together, they unpack how entrenched middlemen have distorted the system—and what bipartisan solutions could finally restore balance between innovation and access.

What You’ll Learn:

Why PBM reform has momentum but keeps stalling in Congress

How the Pharmacists Fight Back Act could level the playing field for independent pharmacies

The purpose of the Patients Before Monopolies Act and how it targets vertical integration

Auchincloss’s vision for a “biotech social contract” that links innovation, IP protection, and insurance design

The real story behind drug import tariffs and the risks of chaotic trade policy

How U.S. innovation compares to China’s rapidly advancing biotech ecosystem

The importance of aligning drug pricing reform with patient access and national competitiveness

Memorable Moments:

“PBMs deserve to be bulldozed for their behavior over the last two decades.”

Why It Matters:

Guest:

Hosts:

“Conversations, Not Campaigns: The Art of Authentic Engagement in Healthcare”

In this episode, hosts Dr. Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Colin Hung — healthcare technologist, marketing strategist, and co-founder of the long-running #HCLDR (Healthcare Leadership) Twitter community. Colin shares his journey from biomedical engineering to becoming one of the most respected community builders in digital health.

Together, they explore what authentic engagement really looks like in the healthcare and pharma industries — from how companies can move beyond broadcasting to truly listening, to how AI can support rather than replace human connection in patient advocacy.

From Engineer to Connector: How Colin’s early career in biomedical engineering shaped his systems-thinking approach to digital health.

Building #HCLDR: The story behind one of the most influential online healthcare communities — what made it work, and how it evolved over 13 years.

Conversation > Communication: Why genuine listening and empathy are more powerful than any marketing message in healthcare engagement.

Pharma’s Challenge: How manufacturers can engage meaningfully online despite regulatory constraints — and why showing up as people first matters most.

AI in Healthcare: The promise and pitfalls of AI in patient engagement — and how to use it responsibly to empower, not replace, the human touch.

The Future of Digital Communities: What comes next for online healthcare engagement now that #HCLDR has passed the torch to new community creators.

Colin Hung is a healthcare technologist, community strategist, and co-founder of the #HCLDR community. With more than 25 years in health IT, Colin has been a driving force in bringing together patients, clinicians, and innovators to discuss the future of care. He’s also a writer, speaker, and advocate for inclusive, patient-centered technology.

🔗 Connect with Colin:

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/Colin_Hung

#HCLDR (Healthcare Leadership) — A global online healthcare leadership community founded in 2012 that brought together patients, providers, and industry leaders for weekly discussions on improving healthcare.

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Building the Highway for AI in Pharma: A Conversation with Ilya Burkov

In this episode of RealPharma, hosts Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Dr. Ilya Burkov, Head of AI Cloud at Nebius, to explore the critical infrastructure enabling the AI revolution in drug development.

While the headlines often focus on the promise of AI, Ilya brings us backstage—where the real acceleration happens. From GPU scalability and regulatory compliance to synthetic data and digital twins, this conversation unpacks how the roads, bridges, and power lines of cloud infrastructure are shaping the future of biopharma R&D.

Whether you're a biotech founder, pharma executive, or AI enthusiast, this episode offers a 360° view into the unseen tech powering the next generation of therapies.

Why AI needs more than just models—it needs muscle.

The role of GPUs-as-a-service in reducing drug discovery timelines

How infrastructure and compliance go hand in hand in regulated industries

Why digital twins and synthetic control arms could be the future of clinical trials

Challenges biotech startups face—and how AI-first models could level the playing field

The ethical promise of fully virtual drug pipelines

“Think of AI in pharma as the car. What we’re building is the highway—bridges, power, road signs—so researchers can just drive.”

Nebius AI Cloud

FDA Digital Health Initiatives

Dr. Ilya Burkov is Head of AI Cloud at Nebius, where he leads teams building cloud platforms purpose-built for AI workloads in life sciences. With a background in large-scale computing and a deep understanding of compliance in regulated industries, Ilya bridges the gap between bleeding-edge technology and real-world healthcare impact.

Find RealPharma on your favorite podcast platform:

👉 Don’t forget to rate and review the show—it helps others discover the future of pharma!

Inside the CMC Black Box: A Deep Dive with Reza Oliyai

What exactly is CMC — and why is it behind more FDA rejections than any other category?

In this episode of RealPharma, hosts Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Dr. Reza Oliyai, former SVP of Pharmaceutical & Biologics Operations at Gilead Sciences, and now Founder & CEO of Oliyai Consulting, to demystify the world of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC).

With over three decades of experience and a role in advancing 200+ drug candidates and 27 product launches, Reza offers a front-row seat to what goes wrong — and right — in the drug development journey.

What CMC really means — and why the "controls" part is most overlooked

Why 74% of FDA complete response letters involve CMC issues

The pitfalls of the “Phase 1 mentality” in late-stage development

AI in CMC: helpful tool or overhyped distraction?

How to evaluate CDMO partners (and why big pharma’s pick might be your wrong fit)

The evolving geopolitical landscape and its impact on global manufacturing

What startups, investors, and boards need to understand about CMC before it’s too late

Career advice: what it takes to lead in this increasingly complex field

“CMC is a black box to most executives. That’s a problem. Because it’s also the number one reason drugs get delayed.” — Dr. Reza Oliyai

Whether you're in manufacturing, regulatory, executive leadership, or just trying to understand what actually gets a drug to market — this episode is a must-listen.

Oliyai Consulting

FDA’s recent publication of Complete Response Letters

Dr. Reza Oliyai is a globally recognized leader in pharmaceutical operations, with deep expertise across small molecules, biologics, ADCs, peptides, siRNA, and more. After 28 years at Gilead Sciences, he now advises over 100 organizations worldwide through his firm, Oliyai Consulting.

In this episode of RealPharma, Ian Wendt and Na-Ri Oh sit down with Dara Katcher Levy, a regulatory attorney at Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C.—widely regarded as one of the nation’s top firms in food and drug law. Dara brings decades of expertise in promotional review, labeling negotiations, and post-market compliance, helping life sciences companies navigate the complex world of FDA regulations.

Together, they unpack the most pressing regulatory questions facing biopharma in 2025:

DTC Advertising Under Fire: Why the U.S. remains one of only two countries allowing direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug ads, and the political push to restrict them.

AI in Pharma Marketing: How AI is being adopted to streamline promotional reviews, where it adds efficiency, and where compliance risks still demand human oversight.

FDA Enforcement Trends: Why the Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) has shifted its focus from celebrity DTC ads (think Serena Williams and Brittany Mahomes) to healthcare professional materials, and what that means for manufacturers.

Telehealth & Influencers: The murky legal ground when platforms like Hims & Hers Health, Inc. or paid content creators promote prescription drugs. Should they be held to the same standards as manufacturers?

First Amendment vs. FDA: A deep dive into recent enforcement controversies—like the warning letter to Sprout Pharmaceuticals over its CEO’s personal Instagram post—and whether FDA is overreaching in regulating speech.

Dara also shares how she advises clients to balance responsible communication with compliance, and why she believes patients benefit from more information, not less, so long as it’s presented transparently and fairly.

Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. – Dara’s firm, specializing in FDA law.

FDA OPDP Enforcement Letters Database – Track recent untitled and warning letters.

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) – The foundation of FDA authority.

FDORA (Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022) – Recent legislation impacting drug development and promotion.

Addyi (flibanserin) – Sprout Pharmaceuticals – Case study mentioned in FDA’s 2024 enforcement actions.

Episode Title: From Rock Star to Rare Disease Revolutionary: Casey McPherson’s Fight for His Daughter’s Life

In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, hosts Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Casey McPherson, founder and CEO of AlphaRose Therapeutics—and acclaimed recording artist—to explore how one father’s determination to save his daughter’s life is shaking up the rare disease drug development model.

Casey shares his journey from fronting rock bands to founding a biotech company, sparked by his daughter Rose’s diagnosis with an ultra-rare genetic disorder. He discusses why the current rare disease model is broken, how Alpha Rose is reimagining the path from diagnosis to treatment, and the emotional and ethical complexities of innovating in this space.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How Casey’s music career prepared him to run a biotech startup.

Why rare disease families face a “diagnostic odyssey” and what needs to change.

The gap between available technology and systemic barriers to treatment.

How AlphaRose Therapeutics is creating scalable models for ultra-rare diseases.

The promise—and challenges—of engaging with regulators like the FDA in new ways.

Why the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah has become a personal anthem for Casey.

Links & Resources:

AlphaRose Therapeutics

StartEngine – Invest in Alpha Rose (crowdfunding equity round open until August)

Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley cover)

People Magazine feature on Casey McPherson

Follow Casey on Instagram

Episode Title: Behind the PBM Curtain: Antonio Ciaccia Exposes the Game

Show Notes:

PBMs remain one of the most opaque and influential forces in healthcare—shaping drug prices, patient access, and payer negotiations—often under the guise of cost savings. Antonio, widely recognized as one of the most outspoken voices for transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain, takes us deep inside the systemic problems that have led to distorted pricing models, misaligned incentives, and challenges for manufacturers, payers, and patients alike.

Key Topics Covered:

The Gross-to-Net Bubble: How rebates, discounts, and government distortions drive higher list prices and undermine value-based formulary design.

PBM Consolidation & Vertical Integration: The impact of PBMs owning wholesalers, specialty pharmacies, and even repackaging themselves as drug companies.

The 340B Program & Market Distortions: Why hospitals and covered entities are often incentivized to favor higher-priced drugs over clinically superior, cost-effective alternatives.

Policy and Reform: What’s being done at the state and federal levels, including the FTC investigations, Medicaid reforms, and disruptive models like Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs.

Burn It Down or Fix It? Antonio’s candid take on whether incremental improvements can save the current system or if structural overhaul is the only way forward.

What Manufacturers Should Know: Strategies for navigating PBM-driven formularies, access barriers, and rebate-driven contracting.

Antonio also shares actionable insights for payers, manufacturers, and policymakers on how to realign incentives and reduce inefficiencies that inflate costs without adding value.

Why Listen:

Resources & Links:

46brooklyn Research – Data-driven analysis on drug pricing.

3 Axis Advisors – Market intelligence and consulting on drug pricing and PBMs.

Related Episodes:

340B or Bust: Is This Program Failing the Sick

This week on Real Pharma, hosts Dr. Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt dive into the tangled world of 340B with returning guest William “Bill” Sarraille—one of the most respected voices in healthcare law, an active patient advocate, and a rare disease patient himself.

The 340B Drug Pricing Program was intended to help vulnerable patients by requiring drug manufacturers to provide discounted medications to covered entities. But as Bill puts it, has the program strayed too far from its patient-first mission? With explosive growth, patchwork state laws, opaque data, and billions on the line, is it still doing what it was designed to do—or are the sick paying the ultimate price?

✅ How 340B ballooned from a modest program to a behemoth that may soon outpace Medicare Part D

Bill also shares candid insights from his own journey as a rare disease patient—and why that makes him both more hopeful and more skeptical than ever.

Bill Sarraille on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-sarraille-634a8827/

ADAP Advocacy Association: https://www.adapadvocacy.org/

340B Report (for policy resources & updates): https://340breport.com/