The Endpoint Podcast: A Clinical Trial Podcast

On this week's podcast, Liam is joined by Aqil Ahsan, the founder and CEO of Kognitic, and Jaseem Mahmmdla, the co-founder and technologist behind their innovative AI-driven platform. Aqil has a background in mechanical engineering, having worked in automotive and aerospace industries, where he developed a passion for automation. Jaseem brings over 25 years of experience as a technologist with expertise in data analysis and product design, focusing on improving drug development processes. These passions led them to co-found Kognitic, applying automation and advanced technology to the clinical trial space.

In this episode, we explore how automation and AI are reshaping the pharmaceutical industry, delving into the challenges of data collection, patient recruitment, and trial efficiency. We discuss the importance of real-world evidence, efficacy benchmarking, and the critical role of natural language processing in accelerating drug development. The conversation also touches on the gap between pharma and other industries in adopting automation and the potential of AI to revolutionize clinical trials. Prepare for an insightful discussion on the future of drug development and how AI is transforming the industry and much more.

Ilya Gluhovsky and Paul Neyman join Liam on this week’s podcast episode. Ilya has an extensive background in software development, machine learning, and AI, with leadership roles in companies like Ancestry.com and Rally Health, and is now the co-founder of Areti Health, a company focused on revolutionizing patient recruitment in clinical trials using generative AI. Paul, with a background in computer science and sales, has successfully scaled multiple startups and now drives the sales strategy at Areti Health. In our discussion today, we dive into the challenges of patient recruitment in clinical trials, explore how generative AI is transforming the process, discuss the importance of personalized and culturally sensitive patient engagement, and uncover the future potential of AI in improving clinical trial efficiency and outcomes. We also touch on the misconceptions about AI in healthcare and a new standard for patient interaction and retention in clinical research, and much more.

Scott joins Liam on this week’s podcast episode. Scott has built an impressive career focused on patient recruitment and experience and DCT across several prominent companies, including Accenture, Verily, and also is a part of Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) as a Member Board of Directors. In our discussion today, we delve into a range of topics relating to recruitment and patient experience, we discuss what patient centricity means, explore how Scott would deliver clinical trials if he had a blank canvas, we explore what most people don’t know about patient recruitment and uncover what innovations Scott is most excited about and much more.

Sandy joins Liam on this week’s podcast episode. Sandy is the Vice President of Commercial Operations at MMS. Sandy has built an impressive career focused on strategic pricing across several prominent companies, including Syneos, PPD, Quintiles, and more. In our discussion today, we delve into a range of critical topics, including the distinction between price and value in the industry, what’s broken in the current trial model between sponsors, CROs, and sites, and why we shouldn’t rely on past pricing models to shape the future. Additionally, we explore Sandy's backstory on how she entered the clinical trials space, her unique process for helping groups demonstrate value over price, and much more.

Jeff joins Liam on this week’s podcast episode. Jeff is a seasoned executive within the pharma and CRO space. Jeff is currently the President at The Luna Group Consulting. He was previously the CEO of Alimentiv, in which he scaled it from an academic spin out to a specialised CRO focused on GI. In our discussion today we discuss all things CRO, we understand how the space works, the relationships amongst stakeholders, understand where the industry gets it right and wrong and take a deep dive on leadership and so much more.

Ted joins Liam on this week’s podcast episode. Ted is the Director of Business Development at Probity Medical Research. Probity Medical Research (PMR) is a leading clinical research consortium with over 70 clinical trials sites. PMR's network conducts clinical trials in Aesthetics, Allergy / Immunology, Cardiology, Dermatology, Rheumatology and Vaccines. In todays session we explore all things enrollment. We discuss the psychology at sites, how to create a high performing site, the relationships between site, CRO’s and Sponsors, investing in sites, and throw in a few stories and analogies for good measure!

Scott join Liam on this week’s podcast episode. Scott is VP and Global Head of Drug Development at Novotech. Founded in 1997, Novotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on partnering with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase. In todays session we explore Scott’s origin story, discuss it means to him to put patients first, dive into ways we can deliver trials differently and some of his biggest lessons learned over the years in the clinical trial space and much more!

Todays Guest is Kris Larson. Kris has 25+ years of global experience in brand development across a variety of sectors - including Life science. He is currently the Director of Client Engagement at Six Degrees. Six Degrees is a Psycho-Sensory Brand Building Agency. The company focuses on combining psychology-based tools and techniques with sensory branding methods to create real and lasting brand impact.

In this session we dive into understanding what psycho-sentory branding is and the value it has in clinical trials.

Jenn and Richie join Liam on this week’s podcast episode. Jenn and Richie are founders of Canary Advisors. Canary Advisors is a boutique consultancy that works with organizations on patient focused drug and device development. They work with biopharmaceutical, nonprofit, and regulatory groups to better understand disease impacts, unmet needs, and patient preferences. In todays session we discuss what patient advocacy is, where do Sponsors get it wrong and what we can do about it and understand the patient FDA process and much more.

Joel White joins Liam on this week’s podcast episode. Joel founded Marketcap Consulting, LLC in 2021 to help companies increase the valuation and effectiveness of their business by improving their financial performance and strategy. Prior to this he has worked with groups such as Synteract, Chiltern, Parexel, PRA. In todays session we discuss the current clinical trial landscape and economy, discuss how to price services and talk about current tension between CRO’s and sites and much more.