The Life Science Rundown

• The Power (and Pitfalls) of Real-World Evidence with Dr. Manfred Stapff

  The FDA Group’s Nick Capman sits down with Dr. Manfred Stapff—physician, author, and founder of Candid Advisory Inc., a consultancy specializing in real-world evidence and clinical development—for a wide-ranging conversation about how real-world data is reshaping drug development, regulatory decisions, and public understanding of evidence.Dr. Stapff draws on decades of experience across medical affairs, clinical trials, and RWE analytics to explain why real-world evidence isn’t a replacement for randomized controlled trials—but a necessary complement. He outlines how to transform raw data into credible evidence, how the FDA is using RWE today, and why quality, transparency, and context are essential in data-driven science.He also offers cautionary insight on common pitfalls—from bias in training data and misinterpreted statistics to the challenges of AI integration in healthcare research.What they cover:What real-world evidence is (and isn’t)—and how it differs from clinical trial dataHow RWE is being used by the FDA to support label expansions and safety monitoringKey risks around self-reported data, upcoding, and poor data qualityWhy statistical significance isn’t enough—and how to evaluate clinical relevanceHow AI can accelerate pattern recognition and predictive diagnosticsWhy training data matters—and how bias can infiltrate large-scale AI toolsThe role of educated skepticism in interpreting data-driven claims in both science and societyDr. Manfred Stapff is the founder and principal consultant at a boutique advisory firm focused on real-world evidence strategy, clinical development, and medical data intelligence. He is the author of Real World Evidence Unveiled and a frequent speaker on the role of data integrity, statistical literacy, and AI in advancing medical research. His current work supports life science companies and investors in evaluating drug development strategies, acquisition opportunities, and data-driven innovations.The FDA Group helps life science organizations rapidly access the industry's best consultants, contractors, and candidates. Our resources assist in every stage of the product lifecycle, from clinical development to commercialization, with a focus in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Operations. For project or resource needs, visit ⁠⁠https://www.thefdagroup.com⁠⁠

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• Quality Is Not a Cost Center—It’s a Culture (with Dr. Kimberly Garko)

  The FDA Group's Nick Capman sits down with Dr. Kimberly Garko, Chief Technical Officer and 25-year life science veteran, for a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood concepts in the industry: the cost of quality.Dr. Garko shares why quality should be viewed not as a cost center but as a strategic investment—and how companies can embed that mindset into their culture, systems, and leadership practices. She outlines the difference between good and poor quality costs, explains how to build ROI-focused metrics, and offers practical ways to foster transparency, psychological safety, and proactive decision-making.From regulatory intelligence and scorecard design to audit readiness and AI integration, this conversation is packed with insights for quality leaders and executive teams alike.What they cover:How to shift your organization’s mindset from compliance to value creationThe real financial and operational impact of poor vs. proactive qualityHow to build scorecards, systems, and reporting processes that drive actionWhy culture, transparency, and psychological safety are core to sustainable qualityPractical approaches to audit readiness, supplier oversight, and training_____The FDA Group helps life science organizations rapidly access the industry's best consultants, contractors, and candidates. Our resources assist in every stage of the product lifecycle, from clinical development to commercialization, with a focus in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Operations. For project or resource needs, visit ⁠⁠https://www.thefdagroup.com/

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• From Cost Center to Value Driver: Rethinking Quality in the Life Sciences with Marcia Baroni

  Nick Capman talks with Marcia Baroni—a microbiologist with 27 years in global pharma-quality leadership—about reframing quality from a controllable expense to a strategic asset. Baroni contrasts “bad-quality” costs (scrap, recalls, deviations) with “good-quality” investments (testing, preventive controls, oversight) and explains why the latter pay for themselves in resilience and brand value. She illustrates the stakes with a $600 million nationwide OTC-drug recall caused by chemically treated pallets—an error frontline staff flagged but a weak quality culture ignored. The conversation dives into building psychological safety and metrics that drive the right behaviors, not under-reporting, shifting quality from “policing” to cross-functional partnership, and practical first steps executives can take to gauge their current maturity and start investing for future yield._____The FDA Group helps life science organizations rapidly access the industry's best consultants, contractors, and candidates. Our resources assist in every stage of the product lifecycle, from clinical development to commercialization, with a focus in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Operations. For project or resource needs, visit ⁠⁠https://www.thefdagroup.com/

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• Managing Royalties in Biotech, Pharma, and Medtech with David Marlin

  Nicholas Capman of The FDA Group welcomes David Marlin, Co-Founder and CEO of Metacomet Systems, to explore the often-overlooked complexities of royalty management in life sciences.Drawing from his experience helping over 200 companies automate royalty payouts, David explains how biotech, pharma, and medical device firms struggle to manage licensing agreements as they scale. What starts as a simple once-a-year payment can quickly evolve into a tangled web of tiered rates, stacked IP, country-specific rules, and audit requirements.David breaks down where companies most often go wrong—managing rules in Excel, underestimating the operational burden, and lacking traceability across contracts, SKUs, and sales data. He discusses how automation not only reduces risk and effort but also preserves trust with licensors by ensuring accuracy and transparency.The conversation also covers how organizations can recognize when it's time to move beyond spreadsheets, what a successful royalty system implementation looks like, and why experience matters in such a niche space.Whether you're paying or receiving royalties, this episode offers valuable insight into a critical but often misunderstood area of life sciences operations._____The FDA Group helps life science organizations rapidly access the industry's best consultants, contractors, and candidates. Our resources assist in every stage of the product lifecycle, from clinical development to commercialization, with a focus in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Operations. For project or resource needs, visit ⁠https://www.thefdagroup.com/

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• GMP Compliance in 503B Compounding Pharmacies with Jesse Gillikan

  Nick Capman talks with Jesse Gillikan, President of cGMP Validation, about the challenges compounding pharmacies face with GMP compliance in 2025. After helping over 100 pharmacies navigate FDA regulations since the 2013 Drug Quality and Security Act, Jesse shares candid insights about this industry transformation.The conversation reveals how compounders have moved from resistance to acceptance of GMP requirements, though major hurdles persist. For 503B facilities, the primary challenge isn't knowledge but cost, particularly testing expenses that might be manageable for pharmaceutical giants making millions of units but become prohibitive for compounders producing just thousands.Jesse highlights practical space constraints, with many facilities not designed for GMP manufacturing. He recommends dedicating one-third of facility space to clean operations and another third to compliant warehousing, which targets many smaller operations that struggle to achieve.Jesse also sheds light on validation has shifted from qualifying individual technicians to validating entire processes, requiring completely new approaches to media fills and documentation. Despite these challenges, Jesse notes the industry's impressive information sharing and collaborative spirit.When discussing FDA inspections, Jesse emphasizes the importance of thorough deviation management — a common citation area. He also addresses the FDA shortage list volatility, sharing how clients invested in automated filling lines for GLP-1 products only to have those drugs removed from the list, creating significant business disruption.Jesse maintains that while compliance is non-negotiable, the FDA genuinely wants compounders to succeed. His practical advice focuses on risk-based prioritization, industry collaboration, and maintaining open communication with regulators._____The FDA Group connects compounding pharmacies with specialized consultants who understand the unique challenges of 503B compliance. Our experts provide practical solutions that balance regulatory requirements with business viability – from GMP implementation and environmental monitoring to documentation systems and FDA inspection support. Visit https://www.thefdagroup.com/ for more information.

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