In this episode of The BITE Pod, Anne sits down with Beth Lomax, founder of Lomax Associates and a expert trade compliance consultant specializing in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. Beth walks us through her career journey—from early roles in procurement to leading global trade compliance at Novartis and now advising companies across the life sciences industry.

We dive into the unique regulatory landscape pharma companies face, including the roles of the FDA, USDA, DEA, and even the Fish & Wildlife Service. Beth shares why classifying Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (the chemical compounds responsible for a drug’s effects) requires specialized knowledge, how manufacturing constraints impact compliance decisions, and what companies need to know about potential new tariffs.

We also touch on practical tools, resource limitations for smaller firms, and the value of even basic automation to support compliance efforts. Whether you're new to trade compliance or navigating complex pharma supply chains, this episode is packed with valuable insights.