In this episode, Peg Crowley-Nowick speaks with Joseph Elassal, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer of Ankyra Therapeutics, about the strategic, operational, and financial realities of leading clinical development from pre-IND through proof of concept and toward commercialization.

Drawing on experience across large pharma, biotech partnerships, and early-phase oncology, Joe shares a practical roadmap for new and aspiring CMOs. They discuss how to prioritize essential capabilities, including clinical operations, regulatory strategy, biostatistics, and pharmacovigilance, while determining the right time to introduce Medical Affairs. The conversation outlines how to scale teams at critical inflection points such as IND clearance, Phase 2 proof of concept, and advancement into Phase 3.

The episode also examines investor and board expectations, CRO selection, capital efficiency, cash runway management, and the performance metrics CMOs are ultimately judged on—from disciplined milestone execution to generating meaningful clinical data.

This episode offers actionable insight for biotech founders, clinical development leaders, medical affairs professionals, and emerging CMOs navigating the path from early development to launch.

How Medical Affairs leaders can move their organizations from a supporting role to a strategic driver—through accountability, insight translation, and the smart use of AI.

In this episode of Medical Affairs Unscripted, Peg Crowley-Nowick speaks with Greg Carpenter, Global Medical Strategy Leader in General Medicine at Sanofi, for a candid conversation on how Medical Affairs must evolve to remain relevant—and indispensable—in a rapidly changing industry. The discussion focuses on how Medical Affairs leaders can increase their strategic impact across pharma and biopharma organizations. Drawing on experience across commercial, quality, and Medical Affairs functions, Carpenter outlines why broader career paths, business acumen, and accountability are essential to creating Medical Affairs value.

The conversation examines how Medical Affairs can move beyond data delivery to translate medical insights into strategy, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and better support physicians and patients. The episode concludes with a practical discussion on AI in Medical Affairs, including how AI is being used today to improve insights, content development, and efficiency—while reinforcing the importance of human judgment and leadership.

Medical Affairs isn't a downstream function—it's the throughline connecting science, story, and strategy from development through commercialization. This episode features Howard Rutman, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer at Xalud Therapeutics and Peg Crowley-Nowick, PhD, MBA discussing the critical role of early Medical Affairs engagement. Key topics include how early Medical Affairs involvement speeds patient enrollment and data generation, qualities to seek in the first Medical Affairs hire, the value a lean team can bring to BioTech, and the importance of evidence plans that support physician and market access needs. The podcast emphasizes Medical Affairs as a continuous link from development to commercialization.

In this episode of Medical Affairs Unscripted, host Peg Crowley-Nowick talks with Shera Gruen, SVP of Strategy Consulting at Lumanity, about the power of collaboration between medical and commercial teams in pharma. Drawing on her 20 years of industry experience leading commercial teams, Shera shares lessons on aligning science with strategy, preparing for launch success, and managing uncertainty. From cross-functional teamwork to scenario planning and external partnerships, this conversation offers practical insights for anyone involved in bringing new therapies to market — and shows how collaboration can turn complex challenges into opportunities for impact.

In this episode of Medical Affairs unscripted, Peg Crowley-Nowick, PhD, MBA, Senior Advisor, Medical Affairs Consulting at Lumanity, and Cathy Symonds, PhD, Program Lead and Head of New Product Planning at Arbor Biotechnologies, engage in an insightful discussion about the evolving role of new product planning and its intersection with Medical Affairs. Peg and Cathy explore the strategic importance of new product planning in the lifecycle of medical products, emphasizing how early commercial strategy is essential for successful development and market entry. They discuss various frameworks and best practices, including the creation of a Target Product Profile (TPP), which helps align the team on what success looks like and guides the development process from early stages through to commercialization.

The conversation delves into the critical partnerships between new product planning and other functions such as Medical Affairs, clinical development, and market access. They highlight how these collaborations are essential for gathering comprehensive insights from healthcare professionals, patients, and the broader market landscape. They share their experiences and perspectives on the importance of strategic narratives that communicate the value of new products effectively to both internal teams and external stakeholders, including investors. Throughout the discussion, they underscore the necessity of continuous planning and adaptation to ensure that products not only meet regulatory requirements but also achieve commercial success and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

In the latest episode of Medical Affairs unscripted, Peg Crowley-Nowick, PhD and Senior Advisor, Medical Affairs Consulting at Lumanity, engages in a compelling conversation with Eva Gallagher, PhD, CNMAP, VP, Head of Medical Affairs at Agios Pharmaceuticals. They explore the strategic role of Medical Affairs in the rare disease space, discussing best practices for building effective teams, engaging diverse stakeholders, and leveraging digital tools for education. Eva's journey and success in the field offer a blueprint for how Medical Affairs can drive impactful change and enhance patient outcomes.

The discussion delves into the significance of starting Medical Affairs efforts early—sometimes as much as five to seven years before a product launch. Eva explains the critical need for educating healthcare practitioners about rare diseases, especially when those conditions are often not well-known. The episode also highlights the role of medical strategy, publication planning, and patient advocacy in creating a comprehensive approach to rare disease management. With practical examples and real-world insights, this episode provides a detailed roadmap for navigating the complexities of launching therapies in rare disease markets.

In this episode of Medical Affairs unscripted, Peg Crowley-Nowick, PhD, MBA, President of Medical Affairs Consulting at Lumanity, discusses the critical role of social media listening in healthcare with Jamie Doggett, Associate Director of Social Media Insights and Analytics at Lumanity. They explore the insights obtained from Jamie's whitepaper, Transforming Scientific Conversations: Adapting to a New Era of Healthcare Social Media. Jamie highlights how unprompted online conversations among healthcare professionals and patients can reveal critical insights for pharmaceutical companies. They delve into the usage of platforms like Twitter, Bluesky, and Threads, emphasizing the need for agility in adapting communication strategies to meet evolving digital trends.