Pharma Sessions

Dr. Paul Peter Tak, President and CEO of Candel Therapeutics, sits down with Jonathan to discuss the company's sprint from positive Phase III results to commercial launch. They explore how Candel is redefining the biotech playbook — using an externalized, dynamic model to build commercial capabilities with speed and agility, without the burden of premature fixed costs. Topics include Candel's viral immunotherapy CAN-2409 for localized prostate cancer, the overnight financing triggered by Phase III success, the "one team" approach to culture and external partners, and how a lean 80-person organization is delivering the output of a mid-sized pharma company.0:00 — Introduction: Dr. Paul Peter Tak and Candel Therapeutics1:19 — What CAN-2409 does differently for prostate cancer patients3:19 — Integrating a viral immunotherapy into existing radiation workflows4:48 — The day after Phase III: shifting from R&D to launch readiness6:10 — Overnight financing and pressing the button with Merck Millipore9:16 — Starting with the patient journey, not "medical affairs vs. commercial"12:10 — Speed without fixed costs: the advantage of externalization15:51 — The "one team" approach: culture over credentials21:14 — The Halloween party: building trust through fun23:21 — Six years without missing a single catalyst26:06 — What success looks like after approval29:07 — Leading remotely from Portugal: the hybrid model33:24 — 80 people, mid-sized pharma output: freedom and accountability34:41 — AI with RI: real intelligence Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Annel Duckels, who leads worldwide commercialization learning at Bristol Myers Squibb, to talk about modernizing pharma training through data and AI.Annel's unconventional path into pharma L&D after a career in mining and heavy engineering — and what that industry taught her about listening to frontline workersWhy pharma lagged decades behind other industries in training technology, and what that reveals about corporate prioritiesMoving past "check-the-box" training: building programs from the bottom up instead of top downDesigning individualized learning experiences instead of one-size-fits-all contentHow AI creates a "safe space" for reps to practice and get anonymous, judgment-free feedbackWhy clean CRM and call-note data is the invisible foundation of every AI training strategyHow AI is changing HCP engagement as physicians increasingly self-serve medical literatureUsing AI to scale and personalize learning content developmentGiving reps granular, per-conversation performance feedback — beyond what any manager could deliver manuallyA look ahead: what pharma L&D and field enablement could look like a year from nowPharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Pharma Sessions — ACTO Client Summit: Hallway InterviewsAt ACTO's 2026 client summit in Boston, we pulled some incredible minds out of the hallway for quick, candid conversations about where field excellence, AI, and learning & development are headed. No scripts, no slides — just honest takes from the people doing the work.In this episode, you'll hear from six pharma L&D leaders on how AI is changing their roles, what they're doing differently at national sales meetings, the adoption challenges they're navigating, and why L&D may be the most strategically important function in any AI rollout.Timestamps:1:43 — Andrea Penn, Senior Director of Field Training & Customer Training, Autolus Therapeutics7:38 — Sarah Barrett, Associate Director of Medical Affairs Training, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals13:10 — Brian McCann, Dupixent Market Access Training, Regeneron18:49 — Nicole Payne, Director of Global Commercial L&D, BioMarin23:08 — Erin Gigliello, Senior Product Owner & Project Manager in L&D, Accord Biopharma30:48 — Chris Richards, Head of Commercial L&D, Nuvations Bio Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

What happens when you put blockchain underneath AI in healthcare? According to Archita Samant, Head of Data Strategy & Analytics for Global Vaccines at Merck — you finally solve the interoperability problem that's been holding the industry back for decades.In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Archita to unpack the real-world challenges of fragmented health data, why agentic AI demands a better data foundation than we currently have, and how blockchain could be the base layer that makes personalized medicine actually possible.They cover:Why copilots and ChatGPT aren't enough — and what agentic AI actually needs to workHow blockchain addresses data privacy, ownership, and interoperability across systems like Epic and Oracle HealthThe concept of patients owning their own health data and consenting to share it for better outcomesWhy the EMR ecosystem is so siloed — and what it would take to fix it at an industry levelReal-world examples from Archita's experience with Teva's DigiHaler and predictive asthma algorithmsThe global vaccines data problem and why even measuring disease prevalence (like dengue) is harder than you'd thinkWhy AI alone can't fix data fragmentation — and what the next five years might look likeArchita also shares her winding path from pharmacist to founding a blockchain-based NFT charity platform to leading global data strategy at Merck — and her go-to karaoke song.🎙️ Pharma Sessions is a podcast where host Jonathan Kaskey has candid conversations with interesting people across the healthcare and life sciences industry.The views expressed are those of the individuals and do not reflect the positions of their respective employers. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

What separates a good pharma sales rep from a great one? According to Jennifer Muszik, it's the ability to understand the question behind the question — the real need behind what a customer is asking.In this episode, Jonathan Kaskey sits down with Jennifer Muszik, Head of Learning & Development at Alkermes and board member of LTEN, to unpack what it takes to build world-class training programs in the pharmaceutical industry. Jennifer shares her journey from 17 years at Pfizer to leading L&D across some of pharma's most recognized organizations — and why she almost always hires people who've actually done the job they're training others to do.They get into the nuances of training new hires vs. seasoned veterans, how to engage your highest performers without making them feel attacked, and why former teachers and coaches often make the best pharma reps. Plus: a candid conversation about where AI can genuinely help — and where human connection is still irreplaceable.Topics covered:Why field experience makes better trainersThe "pull-through" problem after POA meetingsUsing AI for knowledge transfer (and its limits)How LTEN is shaping the future of pharma L&D Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Frank Sorce, Chief Commercial Officer at UPM Pharmaceuticals, to share insights into the critical decisions involved in selecting contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs).Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice.The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations.Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.comEpisode Resources:Frank Sorce on LinkedInUPM Pharmaceuticals WebsiteJonathan Kaskey on LinkedInXSUNT Corporation Website Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Dr. Simon Chowdhury, a Consultant Medical Oncologist based at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, to talk about Open Medicine, a platform designed to take what’s inside the minds of the world’s leading oncologists and make it accessible to any clinician on a mobile phone.Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice.The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations.Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Timothy Smith, Senior Director of AI Innovation and Head of the Data Sciences Communities at Takeda, to explore how AI is transforming drug discovery and development, why trust and governance are still major hurdles, and why the biggest bottleneck in pharma innovation might not be technology but people. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey welcomes back Danie du Plessis, the first-ever guest on Pharma Sessions, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it takes to lead in medical affairs today. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Here’s what keeps pharma leaders awake at night: 70% to 80% of ChatGPT usage is healthcare-related; however, most pharmaceutical organizations still treat AI as a future consideration rather than an immediate competitive necessity. In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Emily Lewis, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Lead for Digital Care Transformation at UCB, to explore why LLMs alone won’t move medicine forward, how to build cross-functional AI literacy across your organization, and the regulatory workflows where AI will deliver impact fastest. Disclaimer: Pharma Sessions is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Guest opinions are their own and do not reflect the views of the host or sponsors. Use of any information provided is at the listener’s own risk and does not imply endorsement of specific products or strategies. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com