Power to the Patients – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we sit down with Doug Drysdale, CEO of Cybin, to discuss the growing interest in psilocybin as a potential treatment for depression and other mental health conditions. Doug talks candidly about his initial skepticism and how the data convinced him to dive into the world of psychedelic medicine. With decades of experience in drug development, Doug shares why he believes psilocybin represents a new approach to mental health care—one that could provide alternatives to traditional treatments like SSRIs.

We explore Cybin's ongoing research, the results from their recent phase two studies, and what’s next as they prepare for phase three trials. Doug also discusses the challenges of working in a field that still faces regulatory hurdles and public stigma, and how his company is navigating these complexities.

This conversation is a thoughtful look at the potential of psychedelics in medicine—what's real, what's still uncertain, and what the future might hold for patients seeking new options for managing depression and anxiety.

If you're curious about the science behind psilocybin or want to understand where the field of psychedelic medicine is headed, this episode offers an honest and grounded perspective from a leader in the space.

In this episode, Dr. Dan Karlin, Chief Medical Officer at MindMed, talks about the potential of psychedelic therapies, especially LSD, to help treat anxiety. He shares his personal journey through psychiatry and addiction medicine, discussing the limitations of traditional treatments and the hope that psychedelics might bring. We dive into MindMed’s research on how LSD could impact generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with Dr. Karlin explaining how it works and the importance of therapy alongside these treatments. This insightful conversation explores how MindMed is leading the way in developing new solutions for mental health, which could change the way we treat anxiety.

In today’s healthcare landscape, the term ‘patient-centric’ has been showing up more and more. It emphasizes the importance of considering the patient’s needs, experiences, and preferences. In the realm of oncology clinical trials, patient-centricity plays a pivotal role. But achieving it isn't easy. 

In this episode, our guest Deb Kientop, a pharmaceutical professional with 27+ years of experience, including research, clinical, medical affairs, strategy and management, explores the complex world of patient-centric oncology clinical trials. Deb shares her personal experiences, and provides a unique perspective on the intricacies involved in achieving patient-centricity in these trials. Tune in to explore the hurdles that exist in crafting patient-centric clinical trials, the role that collaboration plays in clinical trials, and how to dismantle barriers that deter patients from accessing clinical trials. 

Topics Discussed: 

• Deb's personal experiences with clinical trials and how it highlights the importance of patient-centricity in oncology clinical trials.
• Challenges in designing patient-centric clinical trials for oncology patients due to varying patient pathways and needs.
• The role of patient advocacy groups and advisory boards in incorporating the patient voice into clinical trial protocol design.
• Practical considerations like time, effort, and potential travel that affect protocol inclusivity. 
• Importance of understanding data in context, technology use, and timelines when designing protocols and selecting sites. 
• Necessity of alignment between CRO and sponsors and the approach needed for successful clinical trials. 
• The critical role of collaboration among the sponsor, CRO, and investigator. 
• Importance of removing barriers for patients to access clinical trials and equipping patients and caregivers with the necessary information. 
• Logistical considerations in clinical trials, such as frequency of visits, travel assistance, and insurance coverage.

Links: 

Deb Kientop 

In this episode, Scott Schliebner, a life sciences and digital health executive with experience across the biopharma, CRO, medtech, and non-profit sectors, discusses the evolution of patient-centricity. With over 30 years of experience, Scott provides insights into patient-centered design in clinical research. 

The discussion also covers the necessity of using more humanizing terms for patients, the crucial balance in patient recruitment, the role of patient advocacy, and the future of the industry.

Topics Discussed:

• Introduction to Scott Schliebner, a life sciences and digital health executive
• Evolution of patient involvement in clinical research
• Discussion on the current state of the industry and areas for improvement
• Introduction to Power's platform, designed to streamline interactions between patients and researchers
• Future developments in healthcare and the role of patient-centricity
• Consideration of the administrative burden of clinical trials and potential ways to accelerate the process
• Importance of building relationships with advocacy groups and providing a range of clinical trial opportunities for patients
• Closing remarks on the future of patient-centricity in clinical research, and an invitation to listeners to join the ongoing conversation

Links:

Scott Schliebner

Today, we sit down with Robin and Dave Dubin from the AliveAndKickn Foundation, who share their inspiring journey with Lynch Syndrome. Robin explains the genetic intricacies of this hereditary cancer predisposition, emphasizing the crucial role of genetic counseling and the proactive measures taken for their children as previvors.  

Dave, a three-time cancer survivor, offers an account of his experiences, shedding light on the motivations behind the foundation's establishment and the significance of patient advocacy. Together, they reveal how personal battles can transform into movements that champion patient-centric approaches in the healthcare landscape. 

Topics Discussed: 

(00:00:00) Introduction 

(00:01:10) Robin’s background 

(00:05:07) Screening for Lynch syndrome  

(00:07:08) The history of the foundation and what it does  

(00:09:10) The biggest challenges in raising awareness for Lynch Syndrome  

(00:11:12) What is most effective in educating patients’ families on Lynch Syndrome  

(00:12:25) Interacting with larger biopharma and biotech companies pursuing research in this space 

(00:15:43) The vaccine for Lynch Syndrome 

(00:19:29) Increasing awareness for older patients 

(00:22:24) How the foundation tries to educate the clinical community 

(00:26:43) The countries the foundation focuses on 

(00:28:49) Helping patients communicate with their families 

(00:32:46) How people can get involved and support AliveAndKickn 

Links:  

Robin Beth Dubin  

Dave Dubin 

In today's episode, Sasha Sinclair discusses the current challenges and emerging solutions shaping the future of patient recruitment and engagement in clinical trials. Sasha has a comprehensive background in clinical operations that allows her to share an informed perspective about how digital strategies and improved education can transform the landscape of clinical research, making it more accessible and inclusive for patients everywhere. She talks about the problem of patients not having access to trials and how to approach it, the new patient recruitment strategies she's excited about, and how the patient's journey affects the decisions made along the way. 

 Topics Discussed:

• (00:00:00) Introduction 
• (00:00:56) Sasha’s background and her current role 
• (00:02:38) Why patient recruitment is such a struggle currently 
• (00:03:59) The ceiling on the percentage of providers that could feasibly do research and why it's limited 
• (00:04:50) How to crack the problem of patients not having access 
• (00:06:27) What an informal exchange of knowledge is and how it works for the patient 
• (00:08:13) How Power's platform plugs into the broader ecosystem 
• (00:10:39) What modern patient recruitment means to Sasha 
• (00:12:19) The core components Sasha looks for in a modern patient recruitment strategy 
• (00:14:56) New strategies and approaches Sasha is excited about in patient recruitment strategies 
• (00:16:54) Piecing together tools for recruitment strategies 

• (00:20:06) How to think about the incremental investment to be made in recruitment 
• (00:23:06) The proactive versus reactive approach at the beginning of studies 
• (00:24:50) Understanding the patient journey and the decisions that get made as a result 
• (00:26:18) How to think about patient self-advocacy as a sponsor running trials 
• (00:27:15) How a comprehensive effort from all stakeholders could change the game in research 

Links: 

Sasha Sinclair 

How much do you know about the behind-the-scenes process of clinical trials? Our guest today, Farah Meghji, has a unique perspective on the matter through her role at Roche Canada, where patient experience sits at the heart of every stage of solution development. We're thrilled to share her insights on balancing the urgency in clinical trial development with the necessity of embedding patient experiences from the start, transforming the way we think about patient-inclusive culture. Farah also elaborates on how Roche Canada is revolutionizing patient education materials to be more accessible and user-friendly.

Topics Discussed:

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:00:46) What Farah’s current role entails
• (00:01:18) The initiatives that Farah’s team takes on 
• (00:02:13) The patient journey that spans R&Ds through post-marketing
• (00:03:36) What being the chair of the above-brand patient council entails 
• (00:05:19) Examples of things implemented to further the patient experience
• (00:06:41) The differences in patient education communication in Canada
• (00:07:58) How Farah thinks about the patient experience from the R&D side of things
• (00:13:18) Analysis of the top barriers for patients as they think about trials
• (00:16:06) Specific initiatives to address barriers to patients
• (00:19:04) Trends in where patients are going for information and how they’re using the internet to take control of their situation
• (00:22:40) The approaches to finding empowered patients today
• (00:24:20) What Power could do to have the most impact
• (00:31:08) How Farah hopes to see the industry evolve
• (00:35:32) Farah’s final thoughts for the audience
  

Links:

Farah Meghji

Explore the world of clinical trials with our guest, Megan Liles. Drawing from her 25+ years of experience, Megan offers a practical perspective on the importance of prioritizing patients in clinical trials. She discusses the role of patient advisory boards, improving access to clinical trials, and understanding the real-life impact on patients. Megan emphasizes the significance of incorporating patient-centric approaches into clinical trial design.

Topics Discussed:

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:01:06) Megan's background and current role
• (00:05:01) What goes into making patients stakeholders
• (00:09:03) Why clinical trials aren't already easier for patients to navigate
• (00:16:24) How sites and site design are part of making patients stakeholders
• (00:19:59) The success of and concerns about physician referrals
• (00:25:07) The unpredictability of clinical trials
• (00:27:54) What Megan thinks everyone is getting wrong today
• (00:29:49) Flexibility in GCPs
• (00:32:45) What's productive in the space of improving awareness and access to patients that should be considering clinical trials
• (00:38:00) Facebook as a tool
• (00:39:47) How a protocol has to be designed for it to be feasible for the patient's real life
• (00:41:12) Ideas that looked promising during the pandemic that haven't worked out

Links:

Megan Liles

Today’s episode features Victoria DiBiaso from Sanofi. Victoria provides a detailed analysis of patient-informed development and the critical importance of diversity and inclusion in clinical trials. With her unique perspective stemming from her nursing background, she explains the significance of patient-centric trials and the future of healthcare. 

Throughout the episode, Victoria elaborates on effective communication with patient communities, the significance of trust-building, and how understanding social determinants of health can aid in forging strong relationships with patient advisors. The episode further explores the world of drug development, from considering patient-relevant endpoints to health scales and label opportunities.  

 Topics Discussed: 

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:00:51) Victoria’s background and how she ended up in her current role 
• (00:02:32) An explanation of patient-informed development 
• (00:03:48) The meaning of patient centricity 
• (00:06:13) Stumbling blocks to patient centricity 
• (00:08:14) What cross-industry collaboration is like 
• (00:09:41) Cross-industry collaboration milestones 
• (00:12:07) The new voice Victoria wants to bring forward 
• (00:16:56) How the new programs will fit into patients’ lives 
• (00:18:48) How to talk about clinical trials in language patients want to hear 
• (00:19:53) Important factors in implementing patient-centric solutions in clinical trial programs 
• (00:21:24) Victoria’s thinking about what parts of patient disease strategy are shareable and standardizable 
• (00:23:28) What the future of patient-centric clinical trials looks like 
• (00:25:16) What modern patient recruitment means  
• (00:26:53) How Victoria would change clinical trials overnight if she had a magic wand 
• (00:29:44) How to learn more about what Victoria is doing 
  

Links:  

Victoria DiBiaso 

In this episode we delve into the topic of patient centricity in clinical trials with Dr. Anthony Yanni, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Patient-Centricity at Astellas Pharma Inc. Dr. Yanni shares what patient-centricity means for him and how it is integrated both operationally and culturally at Astellas.

We explore how specialized teams work collaboratively to transform patient information into practical solutions, and the conscious patient-awareness that is a fundamental part of every role at Astellas. You'll also discover some innovative programs that bring patient-centricity to life.

Topics Discussed:

• (00:00:00) Introduction
• (00:00:52) Dr. Yanni’s career and how he ended up in his current role
• (00:02:14) What patient-centricity means to Dr. Yanni 
• (00:04:12) Bringing in patient-centricity as a culture 
• (00:06:13) Bringing interested patients into the R&D side of operations 
• (00:08:15) Decisions that go a different direction due to more patient-centricity 
• (00:10:38) How to gather impactful insights
• (00:12:02) Presenting to the research team
• (00:14:32) How clinical operations insights translate to the recruitment space
• (00:16:16) How behavioral science factors in
• (00:18:35) What the pharma industry side gets wrong about patient-centricity today
• (00:21:08) Quantifying the impact of a patient’s interest
• (00:25:15) The first things to do when taking a new company on the journey Astellas has been on
• (00:26:49) How to reach out to Dr. Yanni

Links:

Dr. Anthony Yanni