Drug Diaries

Kaushik Trivedi

Welcome to "Drug Diaries," the podcast exploring pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and biotechnology. Host Kaushik Trivedi, with over two decades of industry experience, shares his expertise. Kaushik has worked with IQVIA, Cognizant, Wipro, and more, and holds degrees in pharmaceutical chemistry, marketing, and advertising. Kaushik's expertise spans: - Data-Driven GTM & Customer Engagement - CRM, Marketing Cloud, SFE, & Commercial Analytics - AI/ML/NLP in Life Sciences - Population Health Management - IoT & Connected Devices - Content Production & MLR Approval - R&D, Clinical, Pharmacovigilance, Medical, & Regulatory - Business Transformation "Drug Diaries" covers research, drug discovery, AI in health, GTM strategies, customer engagement, analytics, patient safety, product engineering, and more. Join Kaushik for insights and discussions on the ever-evolving pharma and biotech landscape. Each episode is a deep dive into the industry's heart. Welcome to "Drug Diaries."

  1. FEB 3

    Choosing To Listen: The First Test of Patient Centricity

    In this conversation, Chema and Kaushik explore the evolving landscape of the pharmaceutical industry, emphasizing the importance of patient-centric approaches and the integration of technology in enhancing patient experiences. They discuss the challenges faced by the industry, the need for empathy, and the significance of understanding patient behavior. Personal anecdotes highlight the impact of their work, showcasing the human side of healthcare and the potential of digital therapeutics to transform patient engagement. Takeaways - The pharmaceutical industry is undergoing significant changes, requiring a shift towards patient-centric approaches. Empathy is crucial in understanding and addressing patient needs in healthcare. Technology plays a vital role in enhancing patient experiences and engagement. Personal stories can illustrate the real impact of pharmaceutical work on patients' lives. Understanding patient behavior is essential for effective communication and engagement strategies. Digital therapeutics (DTx) have the potential to revolutionize patient care and information access. The industry must move beyond traditional metrics to measure success in patient engagement. Collaboration with health patients is necessary for meaningful change in the industry. There is a need to break down assumptions about patient behavior based on demographics. The future of healthcare lies in understanding and responding to individual patient needs. If you'd like to sponsor the show and elevate your brand with our audience, reach out to show host Kaushik Trivedi on LinkedIn and his team will reach out to fix up a chat to explore. Connect with José Ma. (Chema) Guido Avila: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josemariaguido/ Connect with Kaushik Trivedi: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drugdiaries_/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaushiktrivedi/

    44 min
  2. JAN 27

    The 6-Step Framework to Separate AI Hype From Reality

    The video explores how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare, with AI handling routine tasks to let humans focus on more critical work. This shift highlights the powerful synergy between technology and human expertise, driving significant healthcare innovation. Over 65% of pharma leaders report AI influencing real-time decisions, showcasing its impact on patient outcomes. The future of AI in healthcare emphasizes coordinated teamwork for better patient care. Chapters 00:00 – The Future of AI + Human Healthcare 01:18 – What Will AI Really Change? Hype vs Reality 02:08 – Welcome to Drug Daddies 02:29 – A Heartfelt Message: 93% Haven’t Subscribed 03:15 – Healthcare’s Silent AI Revolution 04:18 – AI Has Already Changed Healthcare 04:52 – Guest Introduction: Mohammed Haq, Cognizant 05:39 – Mohammed’s Journey + 30 Years of Experience 06:32 – The Perception Gap: People Think AI Is Future, Not Present 07:04 – The Biggest Misunderstanding About AI 08:49 – Fear of AI Replacing Jobs vs Reality of Augmentation 09:36 – Why AI Doesn’t Replace Clinicians 10:03 – The Power of Human + AI Teamwork 10:32 – The Moment AI Proved Itself: AlphaFold Breakthrough 11:28 – What’s Actually Real Today vs Still Hype 12:48 – The 6-Step Framework to Separate Signal from Noise 13:36 – Outcomes Matter: How to Evaluate AI Claims 15:15 – Winners Ask: Does AI Make Us Faster, Smarter, More Human? 15:40 – Where AI Is Saving Time, Money, and Lives 16:09 – Cognizant’s 3-Vector AI Strategy Explained 17:51 – Where AI Delivers the Most Value Across Pharma 18:17 – Using All 3 Vectors: What Clients Are Doing Today 19:29 – Agentic AI: How Mature Are These Technologies? 20:24 – Partnerships with NVIDIA, Microsoft, Google 21:53 – Why Ecosystems Win: AI at Global Scale 22:20 – What Patients Really Think About AI 23:46 – From Output to Action: The Rise of AI Agents 24:17 – Next 24 Months: Where AI Will Reshape Pharma 25:56 – The Real Barriers: Not Technology, Mindset 26:43 – BlueBolt: 53,000 People Building 30,000 AI Prototypes 28:09 – Culture Shift: Curiosity, Safety, and Innovation 28:37 – Which AI Use Cases Are Boardroom-Ready 29:30 – Clients Now Want Outcomes, Not Pilots 31:18 – The Market Is Changing Faster Than Ever 31:40 – Culture Eats Tech for Breakfast 32:38 – Democratizing Innovation at Cognizant 33:02 – How Leaders Build Safe + Ambitious AI Teams 33:37 – Predicting the Biggest Breakthrough in 2 Years 34:54 – The Excitement and Risks of AI in Healthcare 36:09 – AI: The New Electricity of Business 37:02 – Final Reflections: AI Completes Human Empathy 37:27 – Inspiring Close: AI Will Amplify the Human Heartbeat

    38 min
  3. JAN 27

    MFN vs Recent Pharma Deals: Why They're Not the Same

    The discussion highlights how "most favored nation" policies have evolved from theoretical policy discussions into tangible business challenges. This shift significantly impacts the "pharmaceutical industry", particularly concerning global strategies and "regulatory compliance". The conversation also delves into the implications of these policies, including the introduction of "tariffs", on international business practices. Chapters 00:00 – The Moment MFN Became Real A senior pharma leader’s launch dilemma turns MFN from theory into a business-critical threat. 02:50 – What Is MFN, Really? (Explained Simply) Chris breaks down MFN in plain language—and why it is not global price harmonisation. 05:00 – Explaining MFN to a 12-Year-Old Simple analogies that cut through the policy complexity. 07:30 – What Problem Is MFN Trying to Solve? Is MFN about affordability, fairness, leverage—or something else entirely? 10:00 – Will MFN Actually Lower Patient Out-of-Pocket Costs? Separating political rhetoric from real patient impact. 12:15 – MFN vs Recent ‘MFN-Like’ Pharma Deals Why recent Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and EMD agreements are not true MFN—and why that matters. 15:15 – Does MFN Reduce Prices or Just Shift Who Pays? Who really benefits: patients, governments, or budgets? 18:15 – “Europe Becomes a Risk, Not a Launch Anchor” Why global launch sequencing is being fundamentally rethought. 20:30 – The Global Ripple Effect: Who Feels MFN First? Which countries are most exposed—and why affordability has limits. 23:45 – MFN and R&D: What Innovation Gets Funded Next? How MFN could quietly reshape drug development priorities. 27:00 – Launch Sequencing, Evidence Strategy & Uncertainty Why companies must plan multiple launch paths simultaneously. 29:30 – Will MFN Spill Into Commercial Pricing? How Medicare and Medicaid policies may reshape the entire US market. 32:00 – Value-Based Pricing in an MFN World Why MFN complicates outcomes-based and value-based contracts. 34:30 – Confidential Discounts Under Threat Could MFN break the global confidential contracting model? 37:15 – Why Value Means Different Things in Different Countries How HTA frameworks, PICO, and comparators collide under price referencing. 40:00 – Could the World Move Toward Standardised Drug Pricing? The iPhone analogy—and why drugs are different. 42:40 – Extreme but Plausible MFN Scenarios (US Perspective) What “MFN-light” vs “MFN-heavy” futures could look like. 45:00 – Extreme but Plausible MFN Scenarios (Global Perspective) Where affordability breaks—and access risks emerge. 47:30 – The One Thing CEOs Should Do Now Scenario planning, signposts, and future-proofing launch strategy. 50:30 – Final Takeaways: MFN Is Not a Policy to Watch—It’s a Shift to Prepare For Why waiting is the biggest risk of all.

    54 min
  4. JAN 27

    Is Immortality Closer Than We Think?

    In this conversation, Kaushik Trivedi interviews Dr. Aubrey de Grey, a prominent figure in longevity science, who challenges the conventional view of aging as an inevitable process. Dr. de Grey presents aging as an engineering problem that can be solved through advancements in technology, particularly in AI and nanotechnology. He discusses the concept of longevity escape velocity, where life expectancy could increase faster than aging, and emphasizes the interconnectedness of aging and diseases. The conversation also explores societal attitudes towards aging, the role of the pharmaceutical industry, and the moral obligation to address the suffering caused by aging. Dr. de Grey's vision for the future includes a shift in public perception and the potential for significant advancements in longevity research. 00:00 Challenging the Inevitability of Aging 02:28 Aubrey de Grey: A Visionary in Longevity Science 05:02 The Turning Point in Aging Research 06:17 Understanding Aging as Repairable Damage 08:00 Longevity Escape Velocity: A Mathematical Perspective 12:40 The Role of Nanotechnology and AI in Aging 15:48 Misunderstandings About Aging 17:12 The First Person to Live to a Thousand 19:11 The Seven Types of Aging Damage 24:06 Exciting Experiments in Aging Research 24:55 Integrating Components for Longevity Research 28:16 The Science of Caloric Restriction and Aging 29:56 The Psychological Barriers to Curing Aging 33:40 Navigating Skepticism in Aging Research 36:39 The Future of Longevity and Societal Change 39:32 Pharma's Role in Longevity Therapies 42:22 Reimagining Life with Extended Longevity 44:26 Aubrey De Grey's Vision for the Future 46:00 Key Messages on Aging and Suffering

    1h 3m

About

Welcome to "Drug Diaries," the podcast exploring pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and biotechnology. Host Kaushik Trivedi, with over two decades of industry experience, shares his expertise. Kaushik has worked with IQVIA, Cognizant, Wipro, and more, and holds degrees in pharmaceutical chemistry, marketing, and advertising. Kaushik's expertise spans: - Data-Driven GTM & Customer Engagement - CRM, Marketing Cloud, SFE, & Commercial Analytics - AI/ML/NLP in Life Sciences - Population Health Management - IoT & Connected Devices - Content Production & MLR Approval - R&D, Clinical, Pharmacovigilance, Medical, & Regulatory - Business Transformation "Drug Diaries" covers research, drug discovery, AI in health, GTM strategies, customer engagement, analytics, patient safety, product engineering, and more. Join Kaushik for insights and discussions on the ever-evolving pharma and biotech landscape. Each episode is a deep dive into the industry's heart. Welcome to "Drug Diaries."