The Syneos Health Podcast

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, information has varied around whether or not – and how severely – children are affected by the virus.  In this episode for our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Pierre Omnes , Executive Director, SSU and Regulatory and Alex Cvetkovich Muntañola, MD , Executive Director, Clinical Development at Syneos Health, share what we’ve learned so far about the impa...

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted drug development, and rare disease drug development in particular – and the industry in general grapples with challenges in this new clinical trial environment.  In this episode for our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Zizi Imatorbhebhe, Global Lead of Rare Disease Clinical Development at Syneos Health, discusses the numerous challenges involved in rare diseas...

In this episode of our Biopharma Innovators Series in partnership with NewYorkBIO , we feature an influencer who is passionate about community engagement, and patient education and empowerment. Irfan Khan, MD , CEO of Circuit Clinical , discusses the challenges for patients and physicians in navigating the current clinical trial system and how consumer-related technology platforms could potentiall...

In this episode in our Biopharma Innovators Series in partnership with NewYorkBIO , we feature a leader in the field of real world data and outcomes research. Marc Berger, MD , Head of the Real World Evidence Product Advisory Board for SHYFT Analytics and former Vice President of Real World Data and Analytics at Pfizer, discusses the double-edged sword inherent in the veritable mountain of data av...

Continuing our Biopharma Innovators Series in partnership with NewYorkBIO , we welcome a recognized leader at the forefront of innovation in clinical research and medicine development.   Craig Lipset , former Head of Clinical Innovation at Pfizer, discusses where real world data (RWD) fits within the context of the clinical trial continuum, and innovative ways RWD can be used to drive better plann...

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, clinicians are learning more about the impact of the disease on the body, particularly in the lungs, and it’s shaping the way hospitals need to think about treating these patients – specifically with regard to what type of breath support to use. In this episode in our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Dr. Bill Croft, Ed. D, Ph. D., RRT, RCP , Executive Directo...

In the midst of a pandemic situation that requires social distancing measures to minimize personal contact, how are non-emergency physicians continuing to engage with their patients? Further, what are their expectations around pharmaceutical field representatives and how they need to receive important information on potential products for treating their patients? A recent survey of 263 US clinicia...

In this Coronavirus Special Edition Series, we’ve talked a lot about the clinical implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. But what is the impact on the commercial side? Specifically, how are payers – key players in getting patients access to therapies – continuing to conduct business, and how are current conditions   affecting priorities, if at all? Syneos Health advertising firm GSW conducted a su...

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting clinical trials in many ways, not the least of which being the ability for sponsors to continue traditional oversight activities such as on-site clinical trial monitoring. The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) has issued recommendations for clinical trial monitoring that will help maintain continuity in clinical trials wherever possible. In th...

Ensuring the health and safety of the workforce – while maintaining business as usual – is a delicate balance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.   In this episode of our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Syneos Health CEO Alistair Macdonald discusses the unique decisions to be made as a pharmaceutical organization practicing corporate responsibility in the name of public health. Stay tuned fo...

A critical shortage of mechanical ventilators is anticipated in many countries, including the United States, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A potential emergency solution would be the use of bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP). BiPAP may be used in the hospital setting with appropriate precautions for intubated COVID-19 patients experiencing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (AR...

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, late stage clinical trials are at risk of disruption as shelter-in-place and more restrictive lockdown requirements roll out across the globe. How can these trials continue if patients can’t get to the clinic? In this episode in our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, Lou Boccumini , head of the infectious disease team at Syneos Health, discusses ways that de...

In the midst of a pandemic, industry is looking for ways to ensure continuity of clinical trials while keeping patients safe. Virtual approaches to clinical research leverage digital technologies to bring the study to the patient, and may be – in time – a viable option for limiting personal contact and possible spread of disease during outbreak situations. In the third episode in our Coronavirus S...

As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, increasingly strict measures are being put into place in an attempt to slow it down while the scientific community pushes to identify effective antiviral options.  In the second episode of our Coronavirus Special Edition series, Syneos Health infectious disease experts Gino Girardi, MD and Jaime E. Hernandez, MD dig into the epidemiology of COVID-19, the...

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak continues to grow worldwide – recently declared by the World Health Organization as a global pandemic – with widespread personal, medical, and business implications.  In this first episode of our Coronavirus Special Edition Series, we hear the personal experience of Dr. Siying Zou, a cell biologist on the Syneos Health Consulting team in the United States. Dr. Z...

Recruiting patients into clinical trials is arguably one of the most, if not the most, important aspects of bringing a new therapy to market – and it can be the most difficult, time consuming part of the entire process. Clare Grace , Vice President, Site and Patient Access at Syneos Health discusses the challenges for patients when it comes to clinical trials, the complexities for industry in recr...

It may seem counter-intuitive to use the words “Commercial” and “Medical Affairs” in the same sentence. But with the evolution of Medical Affairs from a tactical support function to a strategy driving organization, it’s become clear that by partnering, the collective and complementary strengths of Medical Affairs and Commercial organizations will drive greater success than ever before.  In part si...

Radical changes in the interface of health are rapidly changing where people find care. Where is that, exactly? Quick answer: everywhere. The point of care has been steadily shifting away from where the clinic exists to wherever the patient goes. Advances in digital care connections and the growth of new customer segments have opened up entirely new ways to make healthcare more scalable and accomm...

FDA approval is no longer the finish line in the race to product launch success. Access and adoption have risen to the forefront as a major post-approval hurdle: recent research from Syneos Health Consulting’s Value and Access team shows that less than half of newly approved drugs appeared on formulary in their launch year. So what’s a drug developer to do? Co-authors of the report on insurance co...

As we’ve hammered home over the last several episodes of this series, Medical Affairs can bring great value to any moment in an asset’s life cycle.  But there is one area where developers may be missing out on an opportunity to gain real traction in their efforts. Today we dive deeper into a Medical Affairs sweet spot with Steve Gomez , Senior Engagement Manager on the Scientific and Medical Affai...

A striking life sciences trend has come into focus the past 12 months. Global regulators—often viewed as taking a conservative approach to transformative technology—have moved into the vanguard in discussions and guidance around real world data (RWD) and real world evidence (RWE). It is not so much the case with payers. According to new research by Syneos Health on payer perceptions of RWE in rare...

Earlier this year on Episode 040 , we discussed the relatively new digital therapeutics landscape and the opportunities and challenges for both biopharma and tech companies. Today, we’ll take a deeper dive from the industry side – and specifically with a European perspective –  with Jessica Shull, European Lead for the Digital Therapeutics Alliance , an international non-profit trade association o...

The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) has gone through a bit of an identity overhaul. A role that used to lean almost exclusively on scientific acumen must now more than ever also rely on business chops and people skills.  A shift akin to moving from Geek Squad…to Apple Genius Bar. Keith Morris , Executive Managing Director, Medical Affairs at Syneos Health Consulting, and Ric Phipps , Senior Vice Pre...

Traditionally, Medical Affairs has served as a support function in later phases of product development, but they now need to play a more strategic and value-based role within the organization – and that means earlier and deeper engagement. In part three of our Medical Affairs Series, Suma Ramadas , Senior Managing Director and Colin Oliver , Director in Medical Affairs at Syneos Health Consulting,...

Patients have been at the forefront of many of healthcare’s most historic moments—not just as subjects, but also as catalysts for change. Some of today’s advocates look to the early ACT UP years for inspiration; others turn to blueprints established by pioneers like Abbey Meyers or Kathy Guisti.  In this episode, Keri McDonough , Lead, Advocacy and Patient Relations at Syneos Health, explores how...