Real World Talk with COTA

In the latest episode of Real World Talk, host Sandy Leonard sits down with experts Laura Fernandes and Sesh Srinivasan to dive into the pressing issue of bias in clinical research. Sandy sets the stage by highlighting recent regulatory responses and the growing attention on the topic, emphasizing its significance in the realm of real-world data and evidence. Laura Fernandes, with her rich backgro...

In this episode of Real World Talk, host Sandy Leonard sits down with Ulka Campbell, Head of Scientific Strategy at Aetion, and CK Wang, Chief Medical Officer at COTA. They dive into the Aetion CARE program, a cross-industry initiative aimed at understanding real-world data's role in evaluating oncology therapeutics. Campbell explains the importance of the CARE program, emphasizing the collaborati...

In this episode of Real World Talk, Sandy Leonard from COTA hosts a thought-provoking discussion with Laura Fernandes, Senior Statistical Director at COTA, and Sesh Srinivasan, Product Management Lead at Deloitte. The conversation revolves around the future of real world data and the exploration of external control arms (ECAs) in drug development. The guests delve into the intricacies of ECAs, dis...

In the world of clinical trials, having a well-defined research question is key. And that's where fit-for-purpose data sets come in. But what are the factors for defining research questions? In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, we get to hear from Seshamalini Srinivasan, Karla Feghali, Mandy Kelly, and Laura Fernandes. They talk about the criteria for defining research questions, the im...

Real-world data holds great potential for clinical trials, and it can support clinical development and regulatory decision-making. But when working with data, we need to be conscious of potential biases. In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, our host Christie Zettler welcomes Laura Fernandes, Senior Statistical Director at COTA. They talk about the JSM conference, AML response validation...

Real world data (RWD) is data that's collected outside of clinical trials, whereas randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are conducted to measure the effectiveness of a specific medication or treatment. But how can these two work together to improve patient outcomes? In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, our host Mandy Kelly welcomes Seshamalini Srinivasan, Laura Fernandes, and Karla Fegha...

Real world data is changing the pharma industry and allowing companies to maximize value while minimizing the time and money spent. In addition, technology is evolving, and new methodologies are being developed, all of which contribute to the change. However, we still need to work on things such as diversity and inclusion. In this episode of Real World Talk, we are joined by Karla Feghali of Deloi...

Blood cancers make up more than 100 different diagnoses in the current classification system. And there are three main groups of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.  One of the most common leukemias in adults is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In this episode of Real World Talk, our host Ming He welcomes Paul Barr, MD, the medical director of the Clinical Trials Office of the W...

The healthcare ecosystem generates approximately a third of all the new data in the world. And it holds untapped potential for developing new therapies and giving people the opportunity to live longer and healthier. But these data sets are raw and need to be meticulously tabulated into meaningful, targeted information. In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, our host Nick Ritter welcomes M...

Real world data and real-world evidence are powerful tools for scientific researchers, and they have an enormous potential to transform the healthcare space, especially oncology. But, we need to educate the entire ecosystem on the importance of real-world data to be able to reap its full benefits. In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, we introduce our new CEO – Miruna Sasu. She talks abo...

Data has become an inevitable part of every business regardless of its size and industry. But not all companies know how to use it to upgrade operations. Further, they mainly focus on third-party data, neglecting the power of first-party data. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for companies to use both data types to support their overall businesses. In this episode of Real World Talk, Zoe...

All data companies working in the healthcare industry are on a mission to help with the development of drugs and high-quality treatments while aiming for the best patient outcomes. But, unlike controlled conditions under which clinical trials are conducted, real world data is collected from a variety of different sources. It is an unregulated but critical area of clinical research. That's why many...

Almost 10% of the world's population suffers from a type of blood cancer. And despite popular opinion, there are actually hundreds of different types of blood cancer, not just leukemia and lymphoma. But are we doing everything in our power when developing clinical trials to improve cancer treatment? Could we include diversity and make trials more accessible to everyone? Our today's guest thinks we...

In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, Kevin Keogh talks to Matthew Ong, the Associate Editor at The Cancer Letter. With over eight years of experience in writing investigative and enterprise stories about oncology, cancer informatics, drug development, and medical devices, Matt has a direct insight into the industry and works alongside some of the smartest people in the field. Kevin and...

In the period of crisis, what really makes a difference and gives hope is unity and partnership. The outbreak of coronavirus has shown us how valuable shared efforts are. The last year taught us many things and challenged us. However, it remains to be seen whether the healthcare system and we, as a community, will adopt these lessons in the future. In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, A...

In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, Zoe Li talks to Paul Simms, a Managing Partner at Inpatient Health. For 17 years, Paul was running a company called IFA pharma. As he says, it was helpful because it put him in touch with everybody in the industry and allowed him to understand the trends and the beliefs. Paul and Zoe discuss why the pharma industry is science-centric and not patient-...

Episode Summary In this episode of the Real World Talk podcast, Emily Di Capua talks to Dr. William Cance, the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Cance and his colleagues are focused on fighting cancer and finding solutions to provide health care, especially cancer care, to underserved populations. The host and guest discuss the inequity in cancer care. They a...

In this episode of Real World Talk, Nick Gritter talks to Barry Russo, CEO of The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.  They discuss the benefits and challenges of value-based care (VBC), an approach that takes into account every aspect of a patient’s health instead of focusing on just one issue, like cancer.  Getting enough data in a timely manner is one of the biggest challenges. “We...

In this episode of Real World Talk, host Kevin Keogh talks to Dr. Rafael Fonseca, a hematologist who specializes in multiple myeloma, and Interim Director of the Mayo Clinic’s Cancer Center. They discuss the gulf between the idealized world of clinical trials and the reality experienced by patients with an incurable cancer like multiple myeloma — and how real world data can help bridge the gap. “I...

In this episode of Real World Talk, host Emily Di Capua talks to Bruno Villetelle, Global Head of Data and Digital for pharmaceutical company Novartis. They discuss the ways real world data is being used to innovate drug development and delivery so that patients can benefit from new discoveries sooner. For example, real world data is especially valuable in clinical trials with small numbers of par...

In this episode of Real World Talk, host Zoe Li talks to Nancy Dreyer, Chief Scientific Officer of IQVIA, and COTA’s own Chief Medical Officer, Dr. C.K. Wang. They discuss the interactions between real world data and clinical trials, and how the two approaches can complement each other. They also look at why the Lancet retracted a large study into the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 in...

Episode Summary During this episode of Real World Talk, host Emily Di Capua has a discussion with Lili Brillstein, the Chief Executive Officer of BCollaborative (Brillstein Collaborative Consulting). Lili works with Payers, Providers, Pharma, Start-Ups and other stakeholders to progress the movement from fee for service to patient-focused, value based care models. The conversation explores the com...

Episode Summary During this episode of Real World Talk, host Zoe Li has a chat with Michelle Hoiseth, the Chief Data Officer of Parexel. Michelle talks about an exciting time for real world data and the opportunity that exists for the life sciences industry. She pinpoints some of the challenges involved with further adoption of RWD in clinical development and regulated uses and discusses how the i...