The Ethos Podcast

In this episode, Dr Nick Broughton is joined by John Dangerfield to explore what it really takes to be a signatory in the pharmaceutical industry. Drawing on John’s extensive experience working with and supporting the development of signatories, the conversation looks beyond knowledge of the Code to the wider skills, judgement and attitude needed to perform the role well. They discuss the importance of ongoing personal development, collaboration and adaptability, as well as how signatories can handle disagreement, uncertainty and the inevitable grey areas that come with the role. The episode also explores the value of strong support networks, the importance of ethical decision-making rather than simply knowing the rules, how signatories can incorporate the voice of patients and caregivers into their work, and what the future may hold as AI is introduced into the MLR process.

In this episode, Dr Nick Broughton is joined by Paul Simms and Brenda Rafferty to explore the relationship between commercial and compliance teams within the pharmaceutical industry.

While these functions can sometimes appear to have competing priorities, they are ultimately working towards a common purpose: creating accurate, meaningful and effective communications that benefit healthcare professionals and patients. It’s therefore crucial that organisations work to build strong working relationships between these teams.

Drawing on Brenda’s extensive experience as a final medical signatory and Paul’s commercial, creative and agency perspective, the conversation explores where tensions can arise, what happens when collaboration works really well, and offers some practical advice on how to improve team working within your own organisation.

Our industry comes under great scrutiny and while complaints to the PMCPA are something we strive to avoid, they're a reality all companies face at some point or another, and they need to be prepared for. In this episode, we are joined by Natalie Whittle (Director of Code Development at the PMCPA) and John Dangerfield (Director of Governance, Process Assurance and Foundational Capabilities at MSD) to delve into the best practices with respect to preparing for and responding to complaints to ensure they are dealt with as efficiently and effectively as possible.

In this episode, Dr Nick Broughton is joined by guest Paul Simms to put pharmaceutical marketing under the spotlight and question whether it is time to provoke our marketing playbook.

In this episode, Dr Nick Broughton sits down with Dr Ravi Pawa to unpack one of the most complex areas of pharmaceutical compliance: how the ABPI Code of Practice applies to congress activity.

Together, they explore the questions keeping compliance teams and medical leaders up at night:

Does Clause 8.2 mean UK clinicians at international congresses fall under the UK Code?

How should companies handle UK delegates who attend global events?

What does recent ABPI guidance mean for who can (and cannot) access congress exhibition areas?

How can pharma balance regulatory expectations with the realities of global science and collaboration?

Drawing on their deep experience as signatories and senior decision-makers in pharma, Nick and Ravi share practical perspectives on maintaining ethical standards without isolating UK science or overburdening compliance teams.

If you work in compliance, medical affairs, or commercial pharma, this conversation will give you fresh insight into how to navigate congresses with confidence under the ABPI Code.

Ethos Podcast: Do Companies Still Need Signatories in Pharma Compliance?

This episode of the Ethos Pharmaceutical Ethics & Compliance Podcast explores a key question in the pharmaceutical industry:

With compliance reviews increasingly outsourced to specialist agencies and AI-powered tools becoming more common, we ask whether in-house expertise is still essential.

Hosted by Dr Nick Broughton with guests Dr Ravi Pawa and Dr Sheuli Porkess, this discussion covers:

The business case for maintaining in-house expertise

Why accountability matters in compliance decisions

The limitations of AI in compliance and ethics

How effective oversight depends on subject-matter knowledge

This is a must-listen for anyone working in:

Pharmaceutical compliance

Ethics and regulation

ABPI code of practice

AI and compliance technologies

🔗 Watch the full discussion and subscribe for future episodes on pharmaceutical ethics, compliance best practices, and the evolving role of signatories in the life sciences industry.