Speakers & Product Presentations
Category: Best Pharmaceutical Product
Steven Burke
Chief Medical Officer and
Chief R&D Officer
Akebia Therapeutics
Joe Rappon
Vice President, Pharma R&D
Alcon
Drew Lewis
Vice President, Clinical Development and Research
Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, Inc.
Cyndee DeKlotz
Global Medical Head, Dermatology
Johnson & Johnson
Wayne Drevets
Vice President, Disease Area Leader, Neuropsychiatry
Johnson & Johnson
Eckhard Liefke
Chief Medical Officer
Phathom Pharmaceuticals
David Bharucha
Chief Medical Officer
Milestone Pharmaceuticals
Dr. James Warburton
VP, Global Program Head, Prostate Cancer
Novartis
Dr. Justin Wahlstrom
Global Program Clinical Head, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Novartis
John V. Heymach
Chair and Professor in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology,
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Kendra Fanara
Executive Director
ZUSDURI Marketing
UroGen Pharma
Steven Burke
Chief Medical Officer and
Chief R&D Officer
Akebia Therapeutics
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Product: VAFSEO® (vadadustat)
Company: Akebia Therapeutics
About the Product:
Joe Rappon
Vice President, Pharma R&D
Alcon
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Product: TRYPTYR® (acoltremon ophthalmic solution)
Company: Alcon
About the Product:
TRYPTYR is the first topical ocular pharmaceutical neuromodulator that leverages the eye's natural mechanism for regulating tear production to replenish basal tears. It stimulates TRPM8 receptors, activating the trigeminal nerve to coordinate secretion from the lacrimal glands, meibomian glands, and goblet cells to replenish the body’s natural tears. Unlike traditional Dry Eye Disease treatments that primarily supplement tears or target inflammation, TRYPTYR increases the neurosensory drive to produce basal tears and has been shown to increase natural tear production as early as Day 1. This innovative approach offers patients and clinicians a faster, evidence-based option for managing Dry Eye Disease.
Drew Lewis
Vice President, Clinical Development and Research
Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, Inc.
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Product: NUZOLVENCE® - XACDURO® -ZEVTERA®
Company: Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, Inc.
About the Products:
NUZOLVENCE (zoliflodacin) for the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older, weighing at least 35 kg represents the convergence of scientific innovation, public health purpose, and global awareness. It delivers the first new antibacterial class for gonorrhea in decades while transforming treatment through a simple, single-dose oral regimen that expands scalable access. Equally important, it demonstrates that a deliberately structured public–private partnership can overcome longstanding economic barriers to antibiotic development and deliver meaningful innovation where it is most needed. In doing so, NUZOLVENCE not only advances the standard of care for a highly resistant and globally prevalent pathogen but also establishes a model for future antimicrobial innovation—one that aligns scientific excellence with societal impact.
XACDURO is the first pathogen-targeted antibacterial developed and approved to treat hospital acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii. Previously, there was no clear standard of care antibiotic regimen for Acinetobacter infections resulting in a mortality rate ranging from 30-70%. The approval of XACDURO addresses a global public health threat and delivers a safe and effective treatment option for patients suffering from these serious and life-threatening infections.
ZEVTERA is an advanced-generation cephalosporin antibiotic uniquely developed to treat resistant bacterial infections especially methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. The innovative and tenacious global development program spanned several companies and culminated in FDA approval for the treatment of adult patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (bacteremia) (SAB), including right-sided infective endocarditis. The approval for this life-threatening indication represented the first for an antibiotic in almost 20 years.
Cyndee DeKlotz
Global Medical Head, Dermatology
Johnson & Johnson
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Product: ICOTYDE™
Company: Johnson & Johnson
About the Product:
Icotrokinra (ICOTYDE™) is a first-in-class, targeted oral peptide that precisely blocks the IL-23 receptor and inhibits IL-23-driven inflammatory signaling. Icotrokinra is approved for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in patients aged ≥12 years (≥40 kg) eligible for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Icotrokinra has demonstrated high, durable efficacy and favorable safety in the simplicity of a once-daily pill, which, together with no routine monitoring or latent tuberculosis infection screening requirements, may support earlier intervention and sustained adherence, ultimately improving outcomes. Ongoing Phase 3 studies in psoriatic arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease may establish icotrokinra as a transformational treatment across multiple immune-mediated diseases.
Wayne Drevets
Vice President, Disease Area Leader, Neuropsychiatry
Johnson & Johnson
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Product: SPRAVATO® Nasal Spray
Company: Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
About the Product:
Eckhard Liefke
Chief Medical Officer
Phathom Pharmaceuticals
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Product: VOQUEZNA®
Company: Phathom Pharmaceuticals
About the Product:
VOQUEZNA (vonoprazan) is a first-in-class potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB) approved in the U.S. for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and, in combination with antibiotics, for H. pylori infection. With a novel mechanism of action, VOQUEZNA delivers rapid, potent, and durable acid suppression, with a safety profile comparable to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). In pivotal Phase 3 trials, VOQUEZNA demonstrated key efficacy advantages over a PPI across multiple endpoints. Its approval represents the first major innovation in GERD treatment in more than 30 years, offering the potential to significantly advance care for millions of patients with acid-related disorders.
David Bharucha
Chief Medical Officer
Milestone Pharmaceuticals
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Product: CARDAMYST® (etripamil) Nasal Spray
Company: Milestone Pharmaceuticals
About the Product:
CARDAMYST® (etripamil) nasal spray is the first and only FDA-approved, self-administered treatment for the rapid conversion of acute symptomatic episodes of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) to sinus rhythm in adults. This novel calcium channel blocker is uniquely paired with an intranasal delivery system enabling patients to treat attacks wherever they occur. CARDAMYST provides healthcare professionals with a safe and rapid-acting treatment approach that supports a patients' ability to self-administer a treatment for this serious cardiovascular disease. Currently, etripamil is in Phase 3 development for control of acute AFib-RVR in adults. For more information, visit CARDAMYST.com.
Dr. James Warburton
VP, Global Program Head, Prostate Cancer
Novartis
Product: PLUVICTO®
Company: Novartis
About the Product:
Since launch, PLUVICTO has treated more than 20,000 patients with prostate cancer, helping many live longer or delay disease progression. Following expansion into earlier settings, adoption has continued to grow, with physicians increasingly choosing PLUVICTO for eligible patients. As part of a PSMA-targeted theranostic approach, PLUVICTO delivers targeted radiation directly to cancer cells in patients identified through PSMA-specific imaging. Innovation extends beyond the molecule to specialized manufacturing, educational initiatives such as the RLT Institute, and the introduction of a pre-filled syringe format. Supported by multidisciplinary collaboration, PLUVICTO has established a strong foundation for future advances in RLT and oncology overall.
Dr. Justin Wahlstrom
Global Program Clinical Head, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Novartis
Product: SCEMBLIX®
Company: Novartis
About the Product:
SCEMBLIX® (asciminib)—redefining what’s possible. It’s the first and only approved allosteric inhibitor of BCR::ABL1, which enables SCEMBLIX to maintain high selectivity and potency. In clinical studies, SCEMBLIX delivered fast, deep molecular responses vs standard-of-care therapies, while also demonstrating a safety and tolerability profile that offers patients an additional treatment opportunity. The FDA has also acknowledged that SCEMBLIX has the potential to advance treatment—with 3 FDA Breakthrough Therapy designations, SCEMBLIX offers patients another path forward.
John V. Heymach
Chair and Professor in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology,
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
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Product: HERNEXEOS® (zongertinib tablets)
Company: Boehringer Ingelheim
About the Product:
HERNEXEOS® (zongertinib tablets) is an irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that selectively inhibits HER2 (ERBB2) and the first orally administered, targeted therapy for adult patients with HER2 (ERBB2)-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer. With HERNEXEOS, Boehringer Ingelheim is delivering on the promise to transform care for people with this rare and aggressive cancer. HERNEXEOS is also being evaluated across a range of earlier stages and advanced solid tumors with HER2 alterations. Boehringer has a clear aspiration - to transform the lives of people facing cancer by delivering unprecedented impact, with the ultimate goal to redefine standards of care.
Kendra Fanara
Executive Director
ZUSDURI Marketing
UroGen Pharma
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Product: TALVEY® (talquetamab-tgvs)
Company: UroGen Pharma
About the Product:
ZUSDURI® is the first and only FDA-approved non-surgical medication for adults with recurrent low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC). [JK1.1]Combining mitomycin with UroGen's proprietary reverse thermal hydrogel (RTGel®) technology, ZUSDURI is an intravesical chemoablative therapy that provides potent tumor ablation through, prolonged drug dwell time. Unlike the traditional management of recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC, which relies on repeated transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT), ZUSDURI offers a non-surgical pharmacologic treatment option that can be administered in an ambulatory setting. In the pivotal ENVISION trial, 78% of response-evaluable patients achieved a complete response, with 79% of responders remaining in complete response for at least 12 months. ZUSDURI represents an important advancement by providing an effective non-surgical treatment option for patients with recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC.

