Don't Just Read the Abstract

Richard Buka
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Monthly

Want to stay up-to-date on the very latest developments in non-malignant haematology? Don't have the time or skills to critically appraise important papers? Join Pip and Rich, two haematology doctors on a journey of learning and discovery. Each episode, they will discuss a seminal trial, critically appraise the paper, interview a study author, and discuss the implications of the trial on clinical practice with a subject expert. CPD credits are available from RCPath. The podcast is sponsored by Sobi as a hands-off educational grant. Sobi have no editorial input whatsoever. This podcast helps you to go beyond the abstract, delving deep into the methods, results, subanalyses, and implications. Interviews with authors gives a real-life perspective on the running of a clinical trial allowing explanations of why they did what they did and good honest discussion on limitations and how they might do it differently next time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. May 26

    Using AI to identify hospital acquired thrombosis

    On this episode, Pip and Rich chat to Consultant Haematologist, Dr Kate Musgrave and Thrombosis Nurse Specialist, Vicky Marr about how they developed and implemented a natural language processing model that identifies cases of hospital acquired thrombosis. Implementing this strategy in their hospital in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne has led to saving thousands of hours of manually trawling radiology reports - enabling them to focus on what matters - interacting with patients. The tool is now available for implementation across the NHS. This is a must-listen for anyone wanting to improve efficiency in their hospital. Read more about the project here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 1m

  2. Mar 17

    Apixaban vs rivaroxaban: the trial we've all been waiting for

    On this episode, Pip and Rich discuss the COBRRA trial: Castellucci et al. Bleeding Risk with Apixaban vs. Rivaroxaban in Acute Venous Thromboembolism. NEJM. 2026. The trial showed a convincing reduction in clinically relevant bleeding in patients treated with apixaban (3.3% vs 7.1%) and no difference in efficacy. It's a compelling study but there were important exclusion criteria and as ever, there are some nuances beyond the abstract. This episode also includes an update on Pip's daughter's school science project where unwitting families were invited for dinner to find out whether there is, indeed, always time for pudding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min

  3. Feb 27

    ENERGIZE: Mitapivat in thalassaemia

    Following its recent US FDA approval, on this episode, Pip and Rich discuss mitapivat, an allosteric activator of red-cell pyruvate kinase. They focus on ENERGIZE, a randomised controlled trial of mitapivat vs placebo (2:1) randomisation in people living with transfusion dependent thalassaemia. It met its primary endpoint of achieving significantly more patients reaching a haemoglobin rise of at least 1 g/L. However, Pip and Rich discuss the relevance of this surrogate endpoint as well as the small effects on fatigue and quality of life. Taher et al. Mitapivat in adults with non-transfusion-dependent α-thalassaemia or β-thalassaemia (ENERGIZE): a phase 3, international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2025 Jul 5;406(10498):33-42. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00635-X. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m

  4. Feb 10

    Ianalumab for ITP: VAYHIT2

    On this episode, Pip and Rich VAY-HIT2, a trial recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This study randomised patients with relapsed/refractory ITP after first line corticosteroids to eltrombopag + ianalumab or placebo.   As the thrombopoietin receptor agonists such as eltrombopag are often given for extensive periods, there's a lot of interest in giving additional treatment that can result in a relatively short course of treatment. Ianalumab is an anti-B-Cell Activating Factor (BAFF) Receptor monoclonal antibody.   VAY-HIT2 was a phase 3, randomised, double-blind trial, assigning, in a 1:1:1 ratio, adults with primary ITP and an insufficient response or a relapse after first-line glucocorticoid therapy to receive eltrombopag + ianalumab at a dose of 9 mg or 3 mg per kilogram of body weight or placebo once monthly for 4 months.   The trial did meet its primary endpoint but there's a lot to discuss, most importantly the quality of life end points - and the interpretation is not straight forward! Conflict of interest disclosure here: Pip has received travel expenses and payment for attending an advisory board for Novartis. Pip is also leading a Novartis-sponsored UK audit of the treatment of warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia on behalf of HaemSTAR (www.haemstar.org/TRUTH). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m
  5. Highlights of 2025 (Episode 2)

    Jan 9

    Highlights of 2025 (Episode 2)

    In this second of a two-part episode, Pip and Rich discuss their highlights of 2025. They discuss a wide range of developments across medical haematology with a focus on red cells disorders and a bit less naval gazing than the first episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  6. Highlights of 2025 (Episode 1)

    12/26/2025

    Highlights of 2025 (Episode 1)

    In this first of a two-part episode, Pip and Rich discuss their highlights of 2025. They discuss a wide range of developments across medical haematology with a focus on bleeding disorders and immuno-haematology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min
  7. Does anyone care about idiopathic and secondary polycythaemia? We do!

    12/09/2025

    Does anyone care about idiopathic and secondary polycythaemia? We do!

    On this episode, Pip and Rich discuss two of their recent publications on idiopathic and secondary polycythaemia. The first is an audit across two large hospitals in the Midlands. The team screened over 2000 patients who had had a JAK2 mutation screen performed, eventually finding 266 with confirmed idiopathic or secondary polycythaemia. By the time patients were seen, the haematocrit was already dropping. 60% were never venesected and venesection seemed to make no difference to haematocrits and had no association with thrombotic events. In the second paper which was a survey of clinicans, practice was, as expected, shown to be variable. 85% responded to say that they would be willing to randomise patients to a clinical trial of venesection vs no venesection. This is an interesting discussion on a common situation for which there is almost no academic interest whatsoever. However, it is a big clinical problem - there is a lot of work for haematologists here. The evidence does not support treating this group of patients in any way shape or form and a trial to prove non-inferiority of no venesection is very much needed. Here are the links to the papers: Maybury et al. Venesection and resolution of erythrocytosis are not associated with reduced thrombotic risk in secondary and idiopathic polycythaemia: Results from a dual centre, 5-year retrospective study. Br J Haematol . 2025 Sep;207(3):1127-1132. doi: 10.1111/bjh.20235Nicolson et al. Common Themes and Uncertainties in Management of Secondary Polycythaemia: An International Clinician Survey of Practice. EJHaem . 2025 Oct 27;6(6):e70171. doi: 10.1002/jha2.70171 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
  8. Rebalancing haemostasis with marstacimab - an discussion about the BASIS trial

    11/13/2025

    Rebalancing haemostasis with marstacimab - an discussion about the BASIS trial

    On this episode, Pip and Rich discuss the BASIS trial which investigated the efficacy of the rebalancing agent marstacimab in people living with haemophilia. Marstacimab is an inhibitor of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and works by tipping the balance of clotting towards coagulation and away from bleeding. The trial showed that marstacimab works but is not randomised and there are some very interesting critical appraisal points in here even if you are not hugely interested in haemophilia. Matino et al. Marstacimab prophylaxis in hemophilia A/B without inhibitors: results from the phase 3 BASIS trial. Blood (2025) 146 (14): 1654–1663. Want a free monthly newsletter on medical haematology? Sign up at www.dontjustreadtheabstract.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 6m
See All (34)

Trailers

About

Want to stay up-to-date on the very latest developments in non-malignant haematology? Don't have the time or skills to critically appraise important papers? Join Pip and Rich, two haematology doctors on a journey of learning and discovery. Each episode, they will discuss a seminal trial, critically appraise the paper, interview a study author, and discuss the implications of the trial on clinical practice with a subject expert. CPD credits are available from RCPath. The podcast is sponsored by Sobi as a hands-off educational grant. Sobi have no editorial input whatsoever. This podcast helps you to go beyond the abstract, delving deep into the methods, results, subanalyses, and implications. Interviews with authors gives a real-life perspective on the running of a clinical trial allowing explanations of why they did what they did and good honest discussion on limitations and how they might do it differently next time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

You Might Also Like