Episodes

  • S3 E17 | The Billion-Dollar GLP-1 Boom | Why GLP-1s Are Changing Pharma Forever (And How Brands Must Adapt) Ft. Dr. Evan Nadler | 21 Min Pharma Edge Powered by Game of Pharma
    Apr 7 2026

    The obesity market is experiencing the most explosive growth in modern pharmaceutical history. With the rise of GLP-1 medications and a flood of semaglutide generics entering the market, the landscape is shifting from clinical discovery to a massive battle for market access and positioning.


    In this episode of Game of Pharma, Lokesh sits down with Dr. Evan Nadler to decode the reality of this multi-billion-dollar therapeutic gold rush. We move past the consumer hype and break down the commercial realities of metabolic treatments.


    In this episode, we cover:

    • The GLP-1 Gold Rush: How the massive surge in obesity therapeutics is fundamentally changing pharmaceutical brand strategy.
    • The Access Gap: Why the gap in treatment access is the single biggest opportunity (and hurdle) in healthcare right now.
    • US vs. India: Comparing the structural differences between the US and Indian markets regarding metabolic therapies.
    • Semaglutide Positioning: How pharma companies must position their branded generics to win the long game in a highly saturated market.


    Whether you are a pharma marketer, brand manager, or healthcare executive, this conversation provides a strategic roadmap for navigating the biggest market shift in a generation.


    #PharmaStrategy #GLP1 #ObesityMarket #PharmaMarketing #HealthcareInnovation #GameOfPharma #Semaglutide #BestPharmaPodcast


    Dr. Nadler's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanpnadler/

    Host's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lokesh-sharma-7250a71a9/


    Follow us on social media-

    Website: https://gameofpharma.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gameofpharma/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/game-of-pharma/

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    22 mins
  • S3 E16 | How China Disrupted Global Pharma | Biotech Licensing, Fast Clinical Trials, and the R&D Gold Rush Ft. Dr. Julien Willard | 21 Min Pharma Edge Powered by Game of Pharma
    Apr 7 2026

    Most people still think of China as just a generics producer. They are dead wrong. In just one decade, China has transformed from "copycat" to cutting-edge, and now Big Pharma is licensing assets from China, not just to it.


    In this episode of Game of Pharma, Lokesh sits down with Dr. Julien Willard, former senior intelligence officer, health economist, and strategy executive at Accenture and IBM, to decode what is really happening in global biotech.


    In this episode, we cover:

    • The Big Shift: The single biggest sign China's pharma industry has fundamentally changed.
    • The Gold Rush: Why global pharmaceutical companies are scrambling for Chinese biotech assets.
    • Speed to Market: How clinical trials that take years in the West are being executed in months in Shanghai.
    • The US vs. China: What Western pharma should (and absolutely shouldn't) copy from China's aggressive playbook.


    If you make decisions in pharma, biotech, healthcare strategy, or investment, this conversation will change how you see the next decade of the industry.


    #PharmaStrategy #BiotechTrends #ClinicalTrials #HealthcareInvestment #PharmaMarketing #DrugDevelopment #Pharma #Biotech #Pharmaceuticals #LifeSciences #HealthcareInnovation


    Julien's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julienwillard/

    Host's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lokesh-sharma-7250a71a9/


    Follow us on social media-

    Website: https://gameofpharma.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gameofpharma/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/game-of-pharma/

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    21 mins
  • S3 E15 | Unlocking Wearable Data for Pharma | How ROOK's API is Transforming Clinical Trials Ft. Marco Benitez | 21 Min Pharma Edge Powered by Game of Pharma
    Apr 7 2026

    The future of clinical trials and pharmacovigilance relies heavily on patient data, but integrating that data is a massive challenge. With countless touchpoints and messy data formats across different devices, how can the pharmaceutical industry actually make sense of it all?


    In this episode of Game of Pharma, Lokesh sits down with Marco Benitez, the CEO and founder of ROOK. Marco brings a wealth of experience to the table, having previously served as the Head of Medical Affairs at Roche before founding his tech company. We dive deep into how ROOK is solving the healthcare industry's fragmented data problem.


    In this episode, we cover:

    • The ROOK API Solution: How ROOK integrates data from over 300 wearables—including Apple Watch, Polar, Garmin, and Huawei—into a single API platform.
    • Data Harmonization: The process of cleaning, standardizing, and harmonizing wearable data so that it is AI-ready for clinical trials and insurance companies.
    • The Big Pivot: How the pandemic forced ROOK to pivot from a fitness club hardware model (tracking heart rates on screens) into a massive B2B data science company.
    • Marco's Journey: Marco shares his incredible entrepreneurial path, starting from building a hospital algorithm at just 19 years old, to navigating Big Pharma, to pitching his multi-billion dollar data vision.

    If you are working in clinical trials, healthcare tech, or digital strategy, this episode provides a clear roadmap on how unstructured wearable data is being transformed into actionable insights.


    #WearableTech #ClinicalTrials #DigitalHealth #PharmaInnovation #HealthData #GameOfPharma


    Marco's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcobzg/

    Host's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lokesh-sharma-7250a71a9/


    Follow us on social media-

    Website: https://gameofpharma.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gameofpharma/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/game-of-pharma/

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    21 mins
  • S3 • E14 | Why Most Pharma Brands Fail at Omnichannel (And How to Fix It) | Omnichannel Marketing in Pharma | Ft. Nick Smith - President - Loud Canvas Health & Former Digital Strategist Eversana | 21 Min Pharma Edge Powered by Game of Pharma
    Aug 1 2025

    What does real omnichannel marketing look like in today’s pharma world?


    In this episode of Game of Pharma, we sit down with Nick Smith—Founder of Loud Canvas Health and ex-Eversana leader, to unpack what’s changed in pharma omnichannel, why personalization beats presence, and how behavior data can reshape brand strategy.


    Nick has worked on both niche and large-scale brands and shares powerful insights on:

    • Aligning brand goals with HCP and payer behavior
    • Creating omnichannel journeys that actually convert
    • Why rep visits are still gold (if tracked right)
    • Structuring websites for different stakeholders
    • Using omnichannel maturity models to future-proof brand plans

    Whether you're in brand, marketing, or access strategy, this episode will challenge the way you think about omnichannel in pharma.


    Don’t forget to like, and hit the follow icon to stay updated with new episodes!


    #OmnichannelMarketing #PharmaMarketing #HealthcareStrategy #GameOfPharma #NickSmith #DigitalHealth #PatientCentric #HCPengagement #PayerStrategy #MarketingPodcast


    Nick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealnicksmith/

    Host's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lokesh-sharma-7250a71a9/


    Follow us on social media-

    Website: https://gameofpharma.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gameofpharma/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/game-of-pharma/



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    21 mins
  • S3 • E13 | How Indian Pharmacies Are Going Digital | How Tech Is Changing Indian Pharmacies | Ft. Kaushal Shah - Founder PillO & eVitalRx | 21 Min Pharma Edge Powered by Game of Pharma
    Jul 10 2025

    What if your medicines could be delivered faster than your pizza and by your trusted local pharmacist?


    In this episode of 21 Min Pharma Edge powered by Game of Pharma, we sit down with Kaushal Shah, the visionary behind eVitalRx and PillO, two startups that are redefining how India experiences pharmacy. From disrupting traditional retail chemists to building a digital backbone for pharmacies, Kaushal Shah walks us through his bold vision for the future.


    In this episode, we cover:


    The idea behind delivering medicines in under 60 minutes

    How PillO partners with local pharmacies to challenge the giants

    Balancing speed, safety, and trust in healthcare delivery


    If you're curious about the intersection of healthcare, tech, and Indian innovation — this one’s a must-watch.


    Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Game of Pharma.


    Available on YouTube, Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts.


    #PharmaTech #eVitalRx #PillO #HealthcareInnovation #GameOfPharma #PharmacyStartup #QuickCommerce #HealthDelivery #IndianStartups #KaushalShah #21minpharmaedge #pharmapodcast #pharmacy #pharmacist


    Kaushal Shah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaushalshah06/

    Host's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lokesh-sharma-7250a71a9/


    Follow us on social media-

    Website: https://gameofpharma.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gameofpharma/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/game-of-pharma/

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    22 mins
  • S3 • E12 Part 2 | This Healthcare Idea Could Be India’s Next Big Startup | Infusion Centers Are the Future—Here’s Why Ft. Dr. Prateek Bhatia - Vice President & GM at Intrafusion by McKesson | 21 Min Pharma Edge Powered by Game of Pharma
    Jun 26 2025

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Prateek Bhatia, Vice President & GM at Intrafusion by McKesson, to uncover his inspiring journey from being a pharmacy student in Pune, India to leading one of the most crucial verticals in the U.S. healthcare system.


    What you’ll learn:

    – Key trends shaping the infusion therapy market

    – The biggest challenge health systems face today

    – Why infusion services are a critical part of modern care

    – Can India become the next big hub for infusion startups?

    – A rapid-fire round with fresh insights and fun!


    This is a must-watch for pharmacy students, young professionals, and anyone curious about global healthcare leadership and innovation.


    Stay tuned with us!


    Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on innovation and disruption in healthcare.


    #Gameofpharma #pharmapodcast #infusionindustry #pharmaindustry


    Available on YouTube, Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts.


    Dr. Prateek's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateek-bhatia/


    Host's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lokesh-sharma-7250a71a9/


    Follow us on social media-

    Website: https://gameofpharma.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gameofpharma/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/game-of-pharma/

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    21 mins
  • S3 • E12 Part 1 | From B.Pharm in Pune to VP at McKesson | How to Succeed in U.S. Healthcare Industry Ft. Dr. Prateek Bhatia - Vice President & GM at Intrafusion by McKesson | 21 Min Pharma Edge Powered by Game of Pharma
    Jun 12 2025

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Prateek Bhatia, Vice President & GM at Intrafusion by McKesson, to uncover his inspiring journey from being a pharmacy student in Pune, India to leading one of the most crucial verticals in the U.S. healthcare system.


    What you’ll learn:

    – His real-life journey from B.Pharm to VP at McKesson

    – Why he chose pharmacy and what kept him going

    – The evolving trend of pharmacy grads moving abroad

    – Key differences in work culture: India vs the U.S.

    – Insights into the infusion and specialty pharmacy industry

    – His leadership learnings and advice for the next generation


    This is a must-watch for pharmacy students, young professionals, and anyone curious about global healthcare leadership and innovation.


    Stay tuned for Part 2—where we dive deeper into the infusion industry!


    Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on innovation and disruption in healthcare.


    #Gameofpharma #globalpharmacareer #pharmawarriors #indianpharma #pharmapodcast


    Available on YouTube, Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts.


    Dr. Prateek's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateek-bhatia/


    Host's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lokesh-sharma-7250a71a9/


    Follow us on social media-

    Website: https://gameofpharma.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gameofpharma/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/game-of-pharma/

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    21 mins
  • S3 • E11 | The Rise of Quick Commerce & What Pharma Must Learn | The Future of Instant Pharma Delivery Ft. Sharad Harjai - Growth Consultant | Ex - Delivery Hero, Blinkit, Pharmeasy | 21 Min Pharma Edge Powered by Game of Pharma
    May 30 2025

    Why is pharma still lagging in the quick commerce revolution?


    In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Sharad Harjai – Startup Growth Consultant and ex-leader at Delivery Hero, PharmEasy, and Blinkit – to explore why the healthcare sector hasn’t yet cracked the 10-minute delivery model.


    We discuss:

    The rapid rise of quick commerce in India

    Why medicines are missing from the top Q-commerce categories

    Challenges unique to pharma logistics and regulations

    How the industry can adopt instant delivery models

    Global trends in Q-commerce that could reshape healthcare delivery


    If you’re in healthcare, pharma, logistics, or just curious about the future of fast delivery, this one’s for you!


    Don’t forget to like, comment, and share for more insights on innovation and disruption in healthcare.


    #Gameofpharma #quickcommerce #instantdelivery #epharmacy #pharmapodcast


    Available on YouTube, Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts.


    Sharad's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharadharjai/

    Host's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lokesh-sharma-7250a71a9/


    Follow us on social media-


    Website: https://gameofpharma.com/


    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gameofpharma/


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/game-of-pharma/

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    21 mins