Life Sciences 360

Harsh Thakkar
  • 4.6 (10)
  • LIFE SCIENCES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Life Sciences 360 is an interview show that educates anyone on challenges, trends, and insights in the life-sciences industry. Hosted by Harsh Thakkar, a life-sciences industry veteran and CEO and co-founder of Qualtivate, the show features subject-matter experts, business leaders, and key life-science partners contributing to bringing new therapies to patients worldwide. Harsh is passionate about advancements in life sciences and tech and is always eager to learn from his guests— making the show both informative and useful.

  1. 08/06/2025

    Why Every Medical Affairs Team Needs Their Own AI Agent in 2025

    Medical misinformation, life sciences burnout, and AI-powered content creation collide in this episode with Dr. Ome Ogbru, founder & CEO of AINGENS and creator of MACg (Medical Affairs Content Generator).  Learn how AI in biotech is tackling the complexities of medical affairs—from literature review and content automation to compliance and regulatory writing. ⚡️ WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: - Why medical affairs and regulatory teams can’t rely on ChatGPT alone. - How MACg integrates real‑time PubMed search, citation generation, and secured collaboration to streamline scientific writing  - Why MACg users report up to 50 % faster writing and 50–70 % faster medical-legal review. - Why AI platforms like MACg must be purpose-built for life sciences (GDPR & SOC 2 compliant). - What is “human-in-the-loop” AI workflow—and how it balances automation and review to maintain accuracy and trust. - Real-world use cases: scientific summaries, medical info letters and more. 🎙️ Guest: Ome Ogbru | Founder and President of AINGENS 🔗 Connect with Ome: LinkedIn For transcripts, check out the podcast website - www.lifesciencespod.com

    49 min

  2. 07/17/2025

    VC Money Tight? Here’s How Startups Still Land Top Talent (2025)

    What happens when 3,500 staffers lose their jobs due to FDA layoffs, venture capital (VC) term sheets shrink, and AI drug-discovery startups raise $600 million rounds?  Executive recruiter William Holodnak (ex-Fidelity, global biotech headhunter) breaks down 2025’s wild hiring market—and how founders can still build A-teams. In this episode you’ll learn: - Why the April-1 FDA layoffs could delay approvals—and open new career doors for ex-regulators.  - The three traits VCs demand in first-time biotech CEOs during a funding slump.  - How AI-driven platforms like Isomorphic Labs raised mega-rounds in a down market.  - Immunology’s surge and why oncology startups are pivoting.  - Board-level recruiting tactics that de-risk your Series B. 🎙️ Guest: William Holodnak | Founder and President of Occam Global 🔗 Connect with Bill: LinkedIn 📌 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 05:45 Cambridge—“the Florence of Biotech” origin story 08:20 FDA layoffs: threat or opportunity? 13:30 Biotech venture capital mood swings & funding checkpoints 18:00 What VCs really screen for in scientific founders 25:05 The “horses for courses” CEO model explained 33:00 Hot therapeutic areas: AI drug discovery, immunology, repurposing 38:30 Why boards need operators, not just investors 47:00 Career improvisation: William’s closing advice For transcripts, check out the podcast website - www.lifesciencespod.com

    47 min

  3. 05/28/2025

    Why Most Healthcare Brands Fail (And How to Fix It)

    Why Most Healthcare Brands Fail (And How to Fix It) In this episode, Holley Miller, Founder and President of Grey Matter Marketing, reveals why most medtech and life sciences companies fail to connect with their audience—and how to fix that with brand clarity and strategic storytelling. You’ll learn how marketing in regulated industries is evolving, why flashy tactics often fall flat, and how brand equity is built through consistency, credibility, and emotional connection. Holley also shares lessons from working with emerging startups and large enterprises, offering a strategy for aligning commercial goals with patient and provider trust. 🎙️ Guest: Holley Miller | Founder and President of Grey Matter Marketing 🔗 Connect with Holley: LinkedIn 📌 Chapters: 00:00 The Journey of Grey Matter: 19 Years in Life Science Marketing 02:45 Evolution of Marketing in Life Sciences 05:59 Category Design: Creating and Owning a Market 08:54 Understanding Problems: The Key to Category Creation 12:02 Building the Right Team for Success 14:57 Painkillers vs. Vitamins: Motivating Change in Healthcare 27:30 Life Sciences Market Domination Framework 34:27 The Four Pillars of Market Success 42:31 Market Domination Scorecard: Assessing Your Strategy 45:09 What Matters: The Impact of Your Work 48:39 Finding Your Superpower Subscribe for more insights on the latest in Life Sciences! For transcripts, check out the podcast website - www.lifesciencespod.com

    51 min

  4. 05/14/2025

    4.5 Billion Molecules, One Mission: Cure the ‘Undruggable’ Diseases

    Solving the “Undruggable” Disease Problem with Goldilocks Molecules In this episode, Christian Schafmeister, Founder and President of Third Law Molecular, reveals a new class of therapeutics designed to target what most consider “undruggable” diseases—conditions like Alzheimer’s, certain cancers, and rare genetic disorders. Christian explains the science behind spiroligomers—modular, mid-sized molecules that act like molecular LEGOs, offering the perfect balance between small molecules and biologics. Learn how his team created a library of 4.5 billion molecules and what makes these structures uniquely suited to bind difficult protein targets, including disordered proteins and intracellular surfaces. We also talk about the Goldilocks Zone of drug design, how Third Law’s chemistry was born out of academic and defense-backed research, and why the future of drug discovery may lie in designing therapeutics that are just right. 🎙️ Guest: Christian Schafmeister | Founder and President at ThirdLaw Molecular 🔗 Connect with Christian: LinkedIn 🔗 ThirdLaw Molecular Website 🔗 Spiroligomers Presentation 📌 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Undruggable Diseases 01:30 Discovering Spiroligomers: A New Class of Molecules 08:04 Challenges in Targeted Drug Discovery 09:31 Building a Library of Molecules 14:47 The Birth of Third Law Molecular 17:19 The Goldilocks Molecule Concept 19:56 Applications in Cancer and Other Diseases 21:24 Collaborations with Big Pharma 23:39 Handling Clinical Trials 27:20 Future Directions and Industry Insights Subscribe for more insights on the latest in Life Sciences! For transcripts, check out the podcast website - www.lifesciencespod.com

    31 min

  5. 04/30/2025

    What Separates Life Science Startup Winners from Losers?

    Why Startups Fail (Hint: It’s Not the Innovation) In this episode, Carlo Odicino, CEO and Founder at One TEAM Partners, shares the real reasons why most early-stage life sciences companies struggle to survive—and it has nothing to do with bad science. Learn the hidden pitfalls of scaling too fast, confusing innovation with execution, and chasing too many priorities at once. Carlo offers practical strategies for building focus, setting boundaries, and creating a people-first culture that actually scales. You’ll also learn why execution beats experimentation when commercial success is the goal—and how to stay aligned with investors without over-promising. This conversation is packed with actionable advice for startup leaders, biotech founders, and anyone facing the complexities of early-stage growth. 🎙️ Guest: Carlo Odicino | CEO and Founder at One TEAM Partners 🔗 Connect with Carlo: LinkedIn 🔗 One Team Partners Website 📌 Chapters: 00:00 The Innovation-Execution Tension 07:30 Managing Investor Expectations 17:48 Establishing Core Values in Organizations 24:56 Work-Life Integration vs. Balance 35:11 The Role of Human Connection in Innovation Subscribe for more insights on the latest in Life Sciences! For transcripts, check out the podcast website - www.lifesciencespod.com

    39 min

  6. 04/23/2025

    Pandora's Box of Secrets EXPOSED in Drug Pricing Transparency!

    The Hidden Math Behind Drug Pricing: Why Patients Pay More Than They Should In this episode, Michael Grosberg, VP of Product Management at Model N, breaks down the complex drug pricing ecosystem—revealing how rebates, PBMs, and outdated pricing models shape what patients actually pay. You’ll learn how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) really operate, why list prices are misleading, and how pricing negotiations impact patient access. Michael also unpacks the mechanics behind patient assistance programs, the role of compounding and independent pharmacies, and how emerging technology can bring transparency and efficiency to a broken system. Whether you’re in life sciences, healthcare tech, or just want to understand why your prescription costs what it does—this is a must-listen conversation. 🎙️ Guest: Michael Grosberg | VP of Product Management at Model N 🔗 Connect with Michael Grosberg: LinkedIn 🔗 Model N LinkedIn 🔗 Model N 🔗 Drug Channels Institute  📌 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Pricing Dynamics 03:00 The Role of PBMs in Drug Affordability 06:13 Challenges with GLP-1 Medications and Independent Pharmacies 09:01 Understanding Drug Pricing and Stakeholder Dynamics 11:55 The Impact of List Prices on Patient Costs 15:05 Innovative Approaches to Healthcare Pricing 18:01 Patient Assistance Programs and Their Implications 20:44 The Role of Technology in Pharmaceutical Pricing 23:54 The Need for Transparency in Drug Pricing 26:59 Resources for Further Learning on Drug Pricing Subscribe for more insights on the latest in Life Sciences! For transcripts, check out the podcast website - www.lifesciencespod.com

    30 min

  7. 04/16/2025

    A CCO’s Brutally Honest Advice if You Want to Succeed in Pharma Commercialization

    Early Commercialization Strategies That Actually Work (Especially for Startups!) In this episode, John Harlow, Chief Commercial Officer at Melinta Therapeutics, shares real-world strategies for how lean pharma startups can win the commercialization game—without Big Pharma budgets. Discover how small companies can pivot fast, creatively optimize distribution, and make strategic decisions without endless red tape. John breaks down the critical mindset shift from R&D to commercial readiness, how to build high-performing teams in resource-constrained environments, and why smaller organizations often out-execute the giants. We also discuss how to prioritize spend, what leaders should know before leaving Big Pharma, and the overlooked advantages of smaller teams. 🎙️ Guest: John Harlow | CCO of Melinta Therapeutics 🔗 Connect with John Harlow: LinkedIn 📌 Chapters: 00:00 The Challenges of Small Pharma 02:31 Understanding Melinta Therapeutics 04:44 Resource Constraints in Small Companies 08:30 The Speed of Decision-Making in Startups 10:15 Building a Cross-Functional Team 11:34 The Benefits of Small Team Dynamics 16:51 Case Study: Distribution Strategy Pivot 19:52 Creative Problem Solving in Resource Constraints 23:40 Staying Updated in the Pharma Space 27:34 Trends in Biotech and Pharma Startups 29:49 Building vs. Buying in Pharma Subscribe for more insights on Biotech and Pharma Startups! For transcripts, check out the podcast website - www.lifesciencespod.com

    32 min

  8. 04/02/2025

    Digital Health Expert: THIS is the No.1 Roadblock to Healthcare AI Adoption

    Healthcare AI adoption is transforming the way we address risk, confidentiality, and patient care. In this episode, RJ Kedziora, co-founder of Estenda Solutions talks about the practical steps to safely integrate AI in clinical workflows. Learn how to manage data privacy, mitigate algorithmic bias, and keep a human in the loop to prevent misdiagnoses. Discover real-world strategies for using AI ethically, from ambient listening to second-opinion checks, and why it’s irresponsible not to harness AI’s potential. The discussion also highlights how AI can enhance the roles of healthcare professionals, ultimately improving patient outcomes. 🎙️ Guest: Richard Kedziora | co-founder/COO of Estenda Solutions 🔗 Connect with Richard Kedziora: LinkedIn  📌 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to AI in Healthcare 03:01 Understanding Risks in AI Implementation 06:02 Confidentiality and Data Protection 09:03 Ethics and Explainability in AI 11:52 Bias in AI and Its Implications 15:09 Mitigating Risks in AI Usage 17:51 The Role of Humans in AI Decision Making 21:04 AI Enhancing Healthcare Professionals' Roles 24:10 Future of AI in Healthcare 26:57 Final Thoughts and Resources Subscribe for more insights on AI in Healthcare! For transcripts, check out the podcast website - www.lifesciencespod.com

    35 min
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4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Life Sciences 360 is an interview show that educates anyone on challenges, trends, and insights in the life-sciences industry. Hosted by Harsh Thakkar, a life-sciences industry veteran and CEO and co-founder of Qualtivate, the show features subject-matter experts, business leaders, and key life-science partners contributing to bringing new therapies to patients worldwide. Harsh is passionate about advancements in life sciences and tech and is always eager to learn from his guests— making the show both informative and useful.

Information

  • Creator
    Harsh Thakkar
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Life Sciences 360
  • Show Website
    Life Sciences 360