This week on the Podcast, we are joined by Dr Amr Hanbali.

During Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Guy Martin, news editor at The Pharma Letter, sat down with Dr Hanbali to discuss his experiences treating patients with CAR T-cell therapy in the Middle East.

With extensive experience in hematology and the treatment of blood disorders such as leukemia and myeloma, Dr Hanbali has been closely involved in expanding access to advanced therapies across the region.

Dr Hanbali discussed the evolution of blood cancer treatment in the Middle East, the unique challenges patients face in accessing cutting-edge therapies, and how CAR T-cell treatments are offering renewed hope for long-term remission.

He also shared his personal reflections on the impact of this therapy on patients and families, what needs to happen to improve regional access, and his vision for the future of blood cancer care in the next decade.

This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we’re joined by Marina Udier, chief executive of Nouscom — a biotech company developing cancer vaccines.

Founded in 2015, the firm is working on cancer vaccines that use a viral vector platform to train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer. The company is developing both personalized and off-the-shelf approaches, aiming to treat a range of tumors.

Before taking the helm at Nouscom, Dr Udier built a diverse career across healthcare — working in consulting, big pharma, and venture capital. That breadth of experience now informs her leadership at a company with big ambitions in oncology.

With more than $80 million in new funding and a partnership in place with Janssen, the company is focused on moving its vaccines further through clinical development.

Earlier this year, Nouscom shared data at the annual AACR congress from a study in people with Lynch Syndrome — a genetic condition that increases the risk of certain cancers.

In this episode, we’ll ask Dr Udier about the latest results, how partnerships fit into the company’s strategy, and why cancer prevention may play a bigger role in the future of oncology.

This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we’re joined by Howard Fillit, co-founder and chief science officer at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF).

As the FDA approval of anti-amyloid drugs like lecanemab and donanemab marks a new era in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, questions remain around cost, access, and real-world impact.

A geriatrician and neuroscientist, Dr Fillit has argued for a broader approach to Alzheimer’s—one that targets not just amyloid, but the full biology of aging.
Dr Fillit and the ADDF are working to expand the therapeutic toolbox, backing research into novel mechanisms, smarter diagnostics, and more efficient trial designs.

With new interest in combination therapies, biomarker-driven care, and risk-reduction strategies, the field is evolving fast. In this episode, we’ll talk about what’s coming next in Alzheimer’s R&D, and how philanthropy, biotech, and science are converging to shape the future of care.