What separates exceptional life sciences leaders from merely capable ones? According to veteran biopharma executive Craig Tooman, it often comes down to one deceptively simple skill: asking the right questions.

In this episode of Leading Edge with Ken Banta, Tooman reflects on the lessons from a career journey spanning clinical, operational, financial and capital market roles, including as the CEO of Silence Therapeutics, and shares how curiosity, disciplined thinking and openness to unexpected opportunities have shaped his leadership philosophy. Joined by Ken Banta, The Vanguard Network founder and CEO, and Pharmaceutical Executive's Mike Christel, the discussion examines how leaders can balance prudent risk management with long-term growth, cultivate cultures where cross-functional teams challenge assumptions and avoid the groupthink that often stifles innovation.

The conversation also explores the changing role of AI in decision-making, why human judgment remains indispensable and how today's CEOs must think differently about funding, scientific strategy and organizational adaptability in an increasingly complex industry.

In this episode of the Pharm Exec podcast, Emmanuel Frenehard, executive vice president and chief digital officer at Sanofi, shares how one of the world's largest pharma companies is moving artificial intelligence from proof-of-concept to enterprise scale by embedding AI throughout R&D, manufacturing, commercial operations, and the employee experience. Joining Mike Christel, group managing editor, MJH Life Sciences, Frenehard breaks down Sanofi's three-tiered AI strategy — snackable, specialized, and generative — and explains why the organization views AI as a catalyst for reinvention rather than simply automation.

Frenehard also discusses the governance and cultural changes required to scale responsibly, and outlines how Sanofi's growing AI centers of excellence are helping shape the next generation of pharmaceutical innovation. 

In this episode of Pricing & Policy with Model N, Jesse Mendelsohn, senior vice president at Model N, joins host Mike Christel to offer a candid, expert-driven look at the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) landscape, including the operational complexities confronting biopharma manufacturers and what these companies must understand to protect their revenue and expand patient access. Mendelsohn cuts through the spin to examine where PBM reform efforts are progressing and falling short, how payer vertical integration is compounding financial risk for manufacturers and why the onus increasingly falls on drugmakers themselves to police the data, the contracts and the dollars at stake.

01:32 - PBM scrutiny: Where it’s missing the mark

05:54 - Pharma’s chief PBM concerns 

08:08 - Formulary compliance and transparency

12:00 - Data correlation and rebate accuracy

18:00 - Addressing multipayer-claim complexity

19:03 - Benefit-claim breakdowns: The 340B effect 

20:14 - Why coordination issues persist 

21:16 - Independent PBMs: Is their model game-changing?

26:01 - PBM reform potential and pace

29:09 - Future pressure points for manufacturers

In this episode of the Pharm Exec podcast, Mike Petroutsas, president and head of U.S. commercial at Astellas, shares the secrets to building a more agile commercial operating model — and mindset — equipped for today’s evolving engagement landscape. Drawing on examples from GI oncology, retina care, and women’s health, Petroutsas joins Mike Christel, group managing editor, MJH Life Sciences, to discuss how Astellas is tapping real-world insights, social listening and internal collaboration to refine commercialization efforts and boost patient and physician engagement. 

The PhRMA board member also offers perspective on commercial strategy implications from the Inflation Reduction Act and other healthcare policy, and touches as well on the career leadership lessons that guide his approach today.

In the debut episode of Pricing & Policy with Model N — a new podcast series from Pharmaceutical Executive — Model N VP of product management Michael Grosberg joins host Mike Christel to break down what the company's annual state of revenue survey reveals about the mounting pressures threatening pharma's commercial foundation. From PBM opacity and Medicaid withdrawal to "ghost claims" lurking inside DTC channels, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the industry's most consequential — and perhaps least understood — business challenge: revenue management.

01:50 - Drivers of rising GTN complexity.

05:08 - The Medicaid dilemma: Exiting the program.

08:30 - Coordination of benefits and rebate eligibility: “We’re doing a really poor job at this.”

10:57 - The easiest way to solve the problem. 

12:04 - IRA’s Medicare drug price negotiations: Where we stand.

16:20 - Launch strategy and sequencing considerations.

20:13 - MFN agreements transparency. 

21:51 - Data disconnect blurs pricing and revenue visibility.

24:05 - AI "catch-up" imperatives for revenue management.

27:48 - System strain? DTC’s downstream impacts.

33:36 - Top threats to future model.

In this episode of Leading Edge With Ken Banta, The Vanguard Network founder and CEO is joined by branding strategist Andy Milligan, founding partner of The Caffeine Partnership, where the duo examine why life sciences companies urgently need to rethink how they build, protect, and communicate their brands.

Highlights of the discussion include:

• Relevance + consistency = brand durability
• Trust is pharma’s defining — and fragile — currency
• The science-to-experience disconnect
• Storytelling as a strategic lever, especially in rare disease

In a podcast conversation with Pharm Exec, Ken Banta, founder and CEO of The Vanguard Network, and Andrew Hall, CEO of Consano Bio, discuss what effective leadership looks like in today’s volatile capital and regulatory climates for emerging biotechs. Part 1 of the conversation explores why Banta and Hall believe CEOs of these companies must act as stabilizers and translators—balancing risk with opportunity and turning complex scientific innovation into clear strategy for investors, regulators, and employees alike.

Highlights of the discussion include:

• The EQ imperative: leading through persuasion and influence, not dictates. “It’s not about the science; it’s about the people.”
• The best CEOs follow a four-core formula
• Early stage’s mindset mix (end-game vs journey)—and the rewards of “failing fast”
• Why Series A’s are the “lifeblood of biotech”

•  The impact of tariffs on the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting branded and generics medications
• How tariffs could lead to strategic supply chain changes, including potential US manufacturing shifts. 
• How digital health platforms, like UpScriptHealth, can help reduce friction and costs in healthcare, potentially offsetting tariff impacts
•  The importance of telehealth in ensuring medication availability
• Strategic partnerships between digital health platforms and pharma companies to improve patient care and access
• and more

• The threat of misinformation to public health and how emotional appeal plays a part
• Where patients are turning for trustworthy health information
• Strategies that can be used to verify information
• Pharma's role in helping to ensure patients have access to health insights they can trust
• Why the industry is turning to peer-to-patient platforms,  trusted patient communities, and pharmacies to educate patients
• What kind of role regulatory agencies should play in the battle against misinformation
• and much more!

•  The growing distrust in social media
• Why people trust friends and influencers over companies
• The EMA's departure from X 
• Concerns about information accessibility
• The healthcare industry's trust gap 
• "Dark Social"
• and SO MUCH MORE!

• Counterfeit weight loss drugs (particularly fake Ozempic) and potential health risks
• What can be done to raise awareness among consumers about the dangers of counterfeit medications
• Ways increase access to legitimate weight loss medications, especially for those in underserved communities
• and much more!

• The broader societal implications of these maternal health issues highlighted in The Commonwealth Fund study
• The most critical changes needed to close the gaps in R&D for maternal health solutions and how feasible they are to make
• Specific efforts Organon is undertaking to invest in research, education, and its pipeline to focus on critical areas of need in maternal health
• How her in-practice experience as an OB-GYN are informing Organon's strategic approach to addressing maternal health challenges
• and more!

• Top legal and regulatory concerns for investors considering when financing companies developing or marketing GLP-1 drugs
• How the FDA and other regulators likely to respond to the increased public interest and potential off-label use of GLP-1 drugs
• What needs to be done for GLP-1s to be covered
• Steps companies developing weight-loss medications should take to ensure responsible and ethical practice
• Advice for investors and financiers who are considering entering the weight-loss medication market