About this episode
What really gets a medicine from the lab bench into clinical practice — and why does one of the most important functions in that journey stay almost invisible?When most people think about pharma, they think about the finished product — the pill, the injection, the treatment in a clinician’s hand. But between discovery and patient access sits a long, complex path shaped by evidence, regulation, stakeholder trust, and real-world decision-making. In this episode, Abdulhamid Al-Khatib pulls back the curtain on medical affairs and shows why it plays such a critical role in turning science into access, data into decisions, and innovation into real patient impact. By listening, you’ll:Understand what medical affairs actually does across the full product lifecycle — from early evidence generation to launch and long-term clinical useLearn how real-world evidence, stakeholder insights, and patient voice influence uptake, payer access, and strategic decision-makingDiscover how trust, scientific credibility, and cross-functional influence shape whether a medicine succeeds in the real worldPress play now to understand the overlooked function that helps move medicines from promising science to meaningful patient access.Link: https://medicalaffairs.org/International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) Code of PracticeDescription: This code sets out a global framework for ethical interactions with healthcare professionals, medical institutions, and patient organizations.Link: https://www.ifpma.org/resource-centre/ifpma-code-of-practice/FDA Guidelines on Scientific ExchangeDescription: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides specific guidance on how pharmaceutical companies can engage in truthful, non-promotional scientific exchange with healthcare professionals, particularly concerning unapproved uses of approved products. These are often referenced in industry training and SOPs.Link (example of related guidance): https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information/guidances-drugsInternational Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR)Description: A leading professional society for health economics and outcomes research. They have published numerous "Good Practices" reports that guide the design and reporting of real-w
