Adam Walker’s Pharma Prescribed Podcast

Adam Walker’s Pharma Prescribed Podcast

Steven Thompson on AI, Clinical Trial Activation & Why 85% of Trials Are Delayed | Pharma Prescribed

33 min · 27 de abr de 2026
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Portada del episodio Steven Thompson on AI, Clinical Trial Activation & Why 85% of Trials Are Delayed | Pharma Prescribed

Descripción

Steven Thompson — founder of Next Trial AI — joins Adam Walker to explain why 85% of clinical trials are delayed before a single patient is enrolled, and what he's building to fix it. Steven spent two decades in high-stakes regulatory environments: first with American Airlines on FAA compliance, then with Embraer in Brazil, then building data engineering pipelines for oncology and vaccines at Biogen and Takeda. When his father died of cancer — after going through an informed consent process based on static eligibility data that couldn't predict whether he'd even tolerate the trial — it became personal. Now, from his base in Brazil, Steven is building the infrastructure that makes clinical trials predictable. Trial ready in 30 days. Zero rejection packets. AI that is provably right — not probably right. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR PREFERRED APP Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/episode/0w2wWweDIb8K95Q5Yymjef Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pharma-prescribed-with-steven-thompson-ceo-of-nextrial/id1829715970?i=1000763824689 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1a43eb87-b83e-441d-9a87-321263e3f821/adam-walker%E2%80%99s-pharma-prescribed-podcast Podbean → https://pharmaprescribed.podbean.com/ 📖 WHAT WE COVER - Why 85% of clinical trials are delayed — and it's not the science, it's the paperwork - IRB rejection rates of 25–30% and sponsors burning $55,000 a day on delays - Why 97% of capable physicians are locked out of clinical research — and how AI unlocks them - From American Airlines FAA compliance to pharma: why regulations are architecture, not constraint - The story of Steven's father: static eligibility data, an unknowable trial trajectory, and a choice he could have made differently - Trial activation intelligence: from 60–120 days to 30 days using deterministic, auditable AI - "Provably right, not probably right" — why probabilistic AI is a regulatory liability - Physics-informed trajectory modelling: patients aren't data points, they're differential equations - Stanford/Harvard formal verification frameworks and what they mean for FDA and MHRA submissions - Brazil's 200 million patient records, willingness to collaborate, and why it's becoming a clinical research powerhouse - Meet Selena — Next Trial AI's coordinator-facing AI persona - The human in the loop: what it actually means in practice - The jobs question: will AI replace clinical trial coordinators? - The roadmap: pay-for-outcomes models and what's next ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction & podcast mission 2:56 Steven's mission — building infrastructure that makes trials predictable 5:52 From aviation compliance to pharma purpose 8:48 His father's cancer trial — the moment it became personal 11:44 Next Trial AI explained — trial activation intelligence 14:40 Physics-informed verified AI — provably right, not probably right 17:36 The team: physicists, rocket scientists and brilliant people in Brazil 20:32 Brazil's healthcare data opportunity — 200 million patient records 23:28 The role of AI in clinical trials — what changed when ChatGPT arrived 26:24 Human in the loop — what it really means in practice 29:20 Results: faster activation, better screening, fewer rejections 32:16 Meet Selena — Next Trial AI's coordinator-facing AI persona 35:12 Jobs, the future and personal balance 38:08 Roadmap: pay-for-outcomes models 41:04 Quick-fire round 44:00 Conclusion and final thoughts 👤 ABOUT STEVEN THOMPSON Steven Thompson is the founder of Next Trial AI and an expert in high-stakes regulatory environments, having spent over two decades building infrastructure for American Airlines, Biogen and Takeda. Based in Brazil for the last eight years, he specialises in trial activation intelligence, physics-informed prediction engines and human-centred design for clinical research. 🌐 https://www.nexttrial.ai 💼 LinkedIn: Search "Steven Thompson Next Trial AI" 🎙️ ABOUT PHARMA PRESCRIBED Pharma Prescribed is the podcast for people who want the conversations the life sciences industry rarely makes time for — hosted by biometrics consultant Adam Walker. New episodes every week covering clinical research, digital health, mental wellbeing and leadership. 🌐 https://pharmaprescribed.com 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-walker-2327951/ #StevenThompson #NextTrialAI #ClinicalTrials #AIinPharma #TrialActivation #ClinicalResearch #PharmaPrescribed #AdamWalker #ArtificialIntelligence #DrugDevelopment #RBQM #FDA #MHRA #BrazilHealthcare #LifeSciences

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46 episodios

Portada del episodio Dr. Pat Boulogne on Functional Medicine, Fasting Since 17 on Zero Medications @71 | Pharma Prescribed

Dr. Pat Boulogne on Functional Medicine, Fasting Since 17 on Zero Medications @71 | Pharma Prescribed

Dr.Pat Boulogne — performance optimisation strategist, functional medicine expert and bestselling author — joins Adam Walker for one of the most practical wellbeing conversations on the Pharma Prescribed Podcast. Dr.Pat is 71, takes zero medications, works 14-hour days with full mental clarity, and has spent 30+ years helping high performers close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Her father wanted her to be an electrical engineer. She chose to become an engineer of life and health instead. Her approach is pharma unprescribed. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR PREFERRED APP Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Xda2P6nkvkSzHwKyRr02f?si=8sT0tSfNQf-E1m6MApUnwQ Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dr-pat-boulogne-on-functional-medicine-fasting-since/id1829715970?i=1000774232267 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1a43eb87-b83e-441d-9a87-321263e3f821/adam-walker%E2%80%99s-pharma-prescribed-podcast 📖 WHAT WE COVER - 71 years old, zero medications, 14-hour days — how she does it - Root cause medicine vs symptom masking: the sleep medication story - Intermittent fasting since age 17 — before anyone called it that - How to pair foods so your body isn't stressed — and why timing matters - Alkaline tide: why you crash after lunch and what to do about it - The three brains: lizard, mammalian and conscious — and how they talk - Why affirmations only work if you ask "why" at the end - The organic broccoli dating analogy — and the woman who stole it - "If it's brown, don't eat it in the morning" - Adam's back surgery, the body keeping score and the V-shaped trees - Be true to yourself — the golden rule ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction & podcast mission 1:00 Meet Dr.Pat Boulogne — performance optimisation strategist 2:00 Mission: saving lives through physical, mental and emotional health 3:00 From electrical engineering to engineer of life and health 4:00 71, zero medications, sharp brain — how 5:00 University of Michigan and the question that got her uninvited 6:00 Outside-the-box medicine and why she never looked back 7:00 85% of headaches are metabolically involved 8:00 The sleep medication story: first full night in weeks 9:00 Intermittent fasting since 17 — one meal a day 10:00 Water intake calculated by body weight 11:00 Brain performance: when to study, eat and exercise 12:00 Alkaline tide: why food makes you crash 13:00 In-a-Gadda-da-Vida: exercise to a heartbeat 14:00 Bread, self-regulation and pushing away from the table 15:00 Scarpetta la piatra: how Italians eat bread right 16:00 Microbiome, labels and knowing your food sources 17:00 Corn syrup, ultra-processed foods and why labels lie 18:00 Injured gut: probiotics won't save you 19:00 Dairy: raw milk vs dead milk — source matters 21:00 Body signals: bloating, cramps and what they mean 22:00 Foot adjustment: five days pain-free after 20 years 23:00 Adam's back surgery and the body keeping score 25:00 Three brains: lizard, mammalian and conscious 26:00 Affirmations plus "why" — rewiring the mammalian brain 28:00 The V-shaped trees, the ring and Adam's daily ritual 30:00 Golfer's pickup and protecting your pelvis 32:00 "I open the fridge and look in the medicine cabinet" 34:00 Organic broccoli is like dating — the story 36:00 Food as medicine: lifestyle not diet 37:00 "Play with your grandkids or watch them?" 39:00 Quick-fire: go to school sooner, say what you think 40:00 Honesty, integrity, action — and cooking 41:00 Golden rule: be true to yourself 👤 ABOUT DR. PAT BOULOGNE Performance optimisation strategist. Functional medicine expert. Author of Why Are You Sick, Fat, and Tired? 30+ years clinical experience. 📚 Amazon UK and US 💼 Search "Dr Pat Boulogne" on LinkedIn 🎙️ ABOUT PHARMA PRESCRIBED Long-form conversations with leaders in clinical research, digital health and mental wellbeing, hosted by Adam Walker. 🌐 https://pharmaprescribed.com 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-walker-2327951/ #DrPatBoulogne #FunctionalMedicine #PerformanceOptimisation #PharmaPrescribed #AdamWalker #IntermittentFasting #RootCause #Wellbeing #Nutrition #ThreeBrains #Affirmations #OrganicFood #Microbiome #GutHealth #HealthyAging

25 de jun de 202641 min
Portada del episodio Andy York on AI, Data Science & Why 80% Accuracy Isn’t Good Enough | Pharma Prescribed

Andy York on AI, Data Science & Why 80% Accuracy Isn’t Good Enough | Pharma Prescribed

Adam Walker sits down with Andy York — statistician, clinical data science leader, and former VP of Clinical Data Science at Novo Nordisk — for a masterclass in where pharma's data revolution has been, where it's heading, and why the AI hype needs a reality check. With over 30 years spanning Roche, Covance, and Novo Nordisk, Andy now advises Verisian, a company building next-generation AI and traceability tools for clinical reporting. He brings rare historical depth and hard-won perspective to one of the industry's most pressing questions: can we actually trust AI with patient safety? In this episode: Why 80% AI accuracy equates to a process out of control — and what the Six Sigma reality check means for drug development The journey from paper CRFs and carbon copies to EDC, CDISC standards, and AI-assisted programming SAS vs R vs Python — what the shift to open source really means for regulatory submissions How guardrails, not raw AI, are the key to hitting 95%+ accuracy in clinical reporting The future of statistical programming: from code developers to validators Why pharma's AI revolution will realistically take a decade — and what to do in the meantime Career advice for the next generation entering clinical data science Whether you're a statistical programmer, data scientist, biometrician, or simply curious about AI's real role in drug development, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and sharpen your thinking. 🎙️ Pharma Prescribed is hosted by Adam Walker, biometrics consultant and independent voice in clinical research and healthcare leadership. 🔗 Listen on all platforms: pharmaprescribed.com 📧 Connect with Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-walker-2327951/ ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Meet Andy York — Career & Mission 02:00 Why Pharma? The Noble Cause Behind the Data 04:30 Lessons From 30 Years — Advice for Newcomers 05:30 From Paper CRFs to EDC: How Data Collection Evolved 07:00 Standards, CDISC, SAS & the Programming Revolution 08:30 AI in Pharma — The Reality Check 10:00 The 80% Problem & Six Sigma Thinking 11:00 Guardrails: How to Make AI Reliable in Clinical Reporting 13:00 Human in the Loop — The FDA's Stance on AI Submissions 15:00 Parallel Streams & Freeing Up Resource Through Automation 17:00 Expanding Drug Indications With AI Efficiency 18:00 Conference Trends — The Move From SAS to R 20:00 Open Source vs Validated Systems — Regulatory Perspectives 23:00 SAS, R, Python — The Right Language for the Right Job 24:30 Future Roles: From Programmer to Data Scientist 27:00 The Next Generation — Gamers, AI Natives & Skills for Tomorrow 29:00 Science Fiction Becoming Science Fact 30:30 Verisian's Roadmap — What's Coming Next 32:30 Andy's Closing Advice for Programmers at Every Stage 🏷️ TAGS clinical data science, statistical programming, AI in pharma, drug development, clinical trials, SAS vs R, open source pharma, CDISC standards, regulatory submission, FDA AI, Novo Nordisk, Verisian, biometrics, data science careers, pharma podcast, clinical research, Adam Walker, Pharma Prescribed, Andy York, EDC, SDTM, ADaM, PharmaVerse, R consortium, double programming, AI accuracy, patient safety, pharmaceutical industry, clinical data management, real world evidence, pharma careers

21 de jun de 202637 min
Portada del episodio Dermot Whelan on Burnout, Anxiety & the Science of Mindfulness | Pharma Prescribed

Dermot Whelan on Burnout, Anxiety & the Science of Mindfulness | Pharma Prescribed

Dermot Whelan — broadcaster, comedian, bestselling author and certified meditation teacher — joins Adam Walker for one of the most personal and practical conversations on the Pharma Prescribed Podcast. This episode holds a special place — meeting Dermot in Prague in early 2025,  in the middle of my own grief, was one of the moments that led to this podcast existing. Dermot left his radio show at Today FM at the height of its ratings to dedicate himself full-time to making mindfulness accessible. In this conversation, he shares the panic attack in 2007 that changed everything, why stress has terrible marketing, and the simple tools — including Navy SEAL box breathing — that can shift your nervous system in just 16 seconds. Adam opens up about his own breakdown following his father's stroke, and how meeting Dermot at a conference in Prague in early 2025 became a turning point. Raw, warm, and full of practical frameworks you can use today. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR PREFERRED APP Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wcigm9yKnpbvD86nGPRRV Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pharma-prescribed-with-dermot-whelan-broadcaster/id1829715970?i=1000771679527 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1a43eb87-b83e-441d-9a87-321263e3f821/adam-walker%E2%80%99s-pharma-prescribed-podcast Podbean → https://pharmaprescribed.podbean.com/ 📖 WHAT WE COVER - Why Dermot walked away from radio at the peak of his career - The 2007 panic attack that woke him up — and what he learned from it - Why stress has terrible marketing (and the study that proves it) - The 'busyness badge of honour' and how modern society got addicted to overwhelm - The DRAMA framework: a science-backed filter for choosing hobbies that actually reset you - Box breathing: the 16-second Navy SEAL technique for immediate calm - Why your heart is a better compass than your brain - What Everest Base Camp taught Dermot about values and simplicity - The moment Adam asked Dermot for a hug — and why vulnerability changes everything ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Meet Dermot Whelan 3:40 Audience Softening and Curiosity 7:20 Early Anxiety Signs 11:00 Adam Shares His Breakdown 14:40 Reframing Stress as Helpful 18:20 Modern Busyness and Noise 22:00 Everest Base Camp Reset 25:40 Advice to a Younger Self 29:20 Skateboards and the DRAMA Framework 33:00 Protect Your Reset Rituals 36:40 Heart as Compass 40:20 16-Second Box Breathing 44:00 Gratitude and Farewell 👤 ABOUT DERMOT WHELAN Dermot Whelan is one of Ireland's most recognised broadcasters and the author of the bestselling books Mind Full and Busy and Wrecked. A certified Masters of Wisdom and Meditation teacher, he hosts The Mind Full Podcast and has helped thousands reframe stress and reclaim their wellbeing. 🌐 https://www.dermotwhelan.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dermotwhelanofficial/ 🎙️ ABOUT PHARMA PRESCRIBED Pharma Prescribed is the podcast for people who want the conversations the life sciences industry rarely makes time for — hosted by biometrics consultant Adam Walker. New episodes every week covering clinical research, digital health, mental wellbeing and leadership. 🌐 https://pharmaprescribed.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-walker-2327951/ #DermotWhelan #Mindfulness #BusyAndWrecked #MentalHealth #Meditation #Burnout #BoxBreathing #PharmaPrescribed #Wellbeing #StressManagement

8 de jun de 202655 min
Portada del episodio Sharmila Hume on Brain Injuries, Suicide Prevention & the Body's Hidden Signals | Pharma Prescribed

Sharmila Hume on Brain Injuries, Suicide Prevention & the Body's Hidden Signals | Pharma Prescribed

⚠️ This episode discusses suicide, traumatic brain injury, and grief. Please take care if these topics are difficult for you. Sharmila Hume — known as the "Biomedic Detective" — joins Adam Walker for one of the most profound and wide-ranging conversations on the Pharma Prescribed Podcast. Originally trained as a telecoms engineer, Sharmila rebuilt her life after her own battle with ME and fibromyalgia, then spent months in Mexico rehabilitating her brother Arnie after a near-fatal head-on collision with a drunk driver. When Arnie later died by suicide, Sharmila connected the dots between his unaddressed traumatic brain injury and his death — and turned that grief into a mission. Today she runs the Headstrong campaign and her Bioperformance System, using German bioresonance technology to treat the body as a communication network — identifying and clearing the disruptions that conventional medicine misses. This is a conversation about what we overlook, and what it costs us. Adam also opens up about the death of his sister Naomi by suicide, and the striking connections between viral meningitis, brain function, and the mental health crisis that followed. Recorded during Mental Health Awareness Week. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR PREFERRED APP Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/search/Sharmila%20Hume%20pharma%20prescribed/episodes Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/search?term=Sharmila%20Hume+pharma+prescribed Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1a43eb87-b83e-441d-9a87-321263e3f821/adam-walker%E2%80%99s-pharma-prescribed-podcast Podbean → https://pharmaprescribed.podbean.com/ 📖 WHAT WE COVER - Sharmila's diagnosis with ME and fibromyalgia at age 15 — and how it sparked everything - The 2009 phone call that changed her family's life: Arnie's near-fatal crash in Mexico - Two months of improvised rehabilitation in a foreign country — with a surgeon's blessing - The Will Smith film Concussion that unlocked the connection between TBI and suicide - What bioresonance technology actually does — explained clearly, no jargon - Why viruses, heavy metals and modern technology disrupt the brain's regulatory systems - The link between post-viral infection, long COVID, mood changes and suicide risk - Why "it's all in your head" is the most dangerous thing a doctor can say - How grief and trauma are stored physically in the body — and how to release them - "Receipts for love are grief and anxiety" — the Scott Galloway quote that stopped Adam cold - Why mental health cannot be resolved without first addressing physical health - The DRAMA of Sharmila's golden rule: never stop learning ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction & Trigger Warning 2:15 Meet Sharmila Hume 8:40 Brain Science Meets Innovative Care 21:30 Rethinking Recovery 35:00 What's Next — Headstrong & the Future 👤 ABOUT SHARMILA HUME Sharmila Hume is a healthcare practitioner, biomedic detective and creator of the Bioperformance System. Trained in telecoms engineering, she transitioned into healthcare after her own recovery from ME and fibromyalgia and her experience rehabilitating her brother following a catastrophic road accident. She leads the Headstrong campaign to raise awareness of the long-term impact of brain injuries on male mental health and suicide prevention. 🌐 https://www.holistichub.uk 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bioperformance_uk/ 💼 LinkedIn: Search "Sharmila Hume" 🎙️ ABOUT PHARMA PRESCRIBED Pharma Prescribed is the podcast for people who want the conversations the life sciences industry rarely makes time for — hosted by biometrics consultant Adam Walker. New episodes every week covering clinical research, digital health, mental wellbeing and leadership. 🌐 https://pharmaprescribed.com 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-walker-2327951/ #SharmilHume #BrainInjury #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealth #TBI #Bioresonance #Headstrong #LongCovid #MEfibromyalgia #PharmaPrescribed #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #AdamWalker

29 de may de 202650 min
Portada del episodio Bilal Bham on Life Sciences Strategy, Human Perspective & Building Amodaia | Pharma Prescribed

Bilal Bham on Life Sciences Strategy, Human Perspective & Building Amodaia | Pharma Prescribed

Bilal Bham — founder and CEO of Amodaia — joins Adam Walker to explore what it really takes to guide a biotech, pharma or medtech company through its most critical decision points. Bilal brings nearly two decades of life sciences experience across regulatory affairs, medical affairs, market access, marketing communications and fundraising. But what sets him apart is the lens through which he approaches all of it: lived experience. His own journey with Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease, alongside family mental health challenges and his experience as an autistic leader, has shaped a consultancy built around the belief that science and human perspective are inseparable. This is a conversation about the gap between clinical data and commercial reality — and what it takes to close it. 🎧 LISTEN ON YOUR PREFERRED APP Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/episode/6gPpTo25uSfdcVQCtcBw2X Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pharma-prescribed-with-bilal-bham-ceo-of-amodaia/id1829715970?i=1000769475494 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1a43eb87-b83e-441d-9a87-321263e3f821/adam-walker%E2%80%99s-pharma-prescribed-podcast Podbean → https://pharmaprescribed.podbean.com/ 📖 WHAT WE COVER - What Amodaia does and why integrated consultancy beats siloed departments - Navigating regulatory, medical affairs and market access as a unified strategy - Why patient-first thinking must drive commercial strategy — not follow it - Bridging the gap between clinical data and the human story payers and providers need to hear - Fundraising realities for emerging biotechs at critical decision points - How lived experience with chronic illness and neurodiversity shapes Bilal's leadership - Why the most important question in drug development is still: does this improve a patient's life? ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction & podcast mission 1:00 Meet Bilal Bham — founder of Amodaia 2:00 The mission: helping biotechs survive & reach patients 3:30 From medical writing to cross-functional consultancy 5:00 "Telling them their baby's ugly" — diagnosing client friction 7:00 The consultation process: NDAs, diagnostics & trust building 9:00 Trust, loyalty, respect — Amodaia's six core values 11:00 Shared experience: redundancy as the spark for independence 12:30 Losing his father, returning home & going freelance 15:00 Growth strategy & the AI reset reshaping life sciences 17:30 Building proprietary AI vs off-the-shelf tools 20:00 Breaking pharma silos — why pillars beat silos 22:00 The AI stack: Claude, ChatGPT, Scite, Perplexity & beyond 24:30 Scaling lean — seven-figure revenue without a big headcount 26:30 It takes a village: mentors inside and outside the industry 30:00 Self-education through audiobooks — dead time to active time 32:30 Empathy as a leadership principle — "it costs nothing to be nice" 33:00 Living with autism, ADHD & the power of neurodiversity 37:30 Masking, diagnosis & finding a methodology that works 40:00 Routine as regulation — bookending the day 42:00 Quick-fire round 44:00 Closing reflections 👤 ABOUT BILAL BHAM Bilal Bham is the founder and CEO of Amodaia, a senior-led life science consultancy supporting biotech, pharma and medtech teams across regulatory affairs, medical affairs, market access, marketing communications and fundraising. With nearly two decades in life sciences, he brings both strategic rigour and a human perspective shaped by his own experience with Graves' disease, thyroid eye disease and life as an autistic leader. 💼 LinkedIn: Search "Bilal Bham Amodaia" 🎙️ ABOUT PHARMA PRESCRIBED Pharma Prescribed is the podcast for people who want the conversations the life sciences industry rarely makes time for — hosted by biometrics consultant Adam Walker. New episodes every week covering clinical research, digital health, mental wellbeing and leadership. 🌐 https://pharmaprescribed.com 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-walker-2327951/ #BilalBham #Amodaia #LifeSciences #Biotech #PharmaStrategy #MarketAccess #RegulatoryAffairs #PatientFirst #PharmaPrescribed #AdamWalker #HealthcareLeadership #Neurodiversity

25 de may de 202644 min