# 109 - Protecting Patients at All Costs, Being a CQO in Big Pharma, Supply Chain Security and Generic Drugs with Martin Van Trieste

- Show: [Let's Combinate](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate)
- Published: 2023-11-08
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letscombinate/episodes/109---Protecting-Patients-at-All-Costs--Being-a-CQO-in-Big-Pharma--Supply-Chain-Security-and-Generic-Drugs-with-Martin-Van-Trieste-e2bjm5j

## Summary

Martin Van Trieste, former CQO at Amgen and CEO of Civica Rx, discusses the critical importance of supply chain security and quality leadership in pharmaceutical manufacturing. He details the creation of RX-360 following the heparin contamination crisis and explains how Civica Rx addresses drug shortages by restructuring business models to make essential generic drugs economically viable for manufacturers. Van Trieste argues that systemic design, rather than just compliance, is key to preventing human error and ensuring patient safety across the industry.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu#t=0) Introduction: Martin Van Trieste and the Role of a CQO
- [1:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu#t=111) Daily Operations and Managing Quality at Scale
- [5:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu#t=301) Proactive Quality vs. Reactive Compliance
- [6:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu#t=407) Writing 'Protecting the Patient at All Costs'
- [13:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu#t=802) Early Career Mistakes and the Cost of Training
- [17:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu#t=1022) The Heparin Crisis and the Birth of RX-360
- [25:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu#t=1547) Generic Drug Shortages and Pricing Dynamics
- [33:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu#t=2009) Civica Rx’s Business Model for Drug Security
- [37:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-11-08-109-protecting-patients-at-all-costs-being-a-cqo-in-big-pharma-supply-chain-secu#t=2268) Pharmacy Pricing, PBMs, and Patient Advocacy

## Topics

- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Amgen (company)
- Civica Rx (company)
- RX-360 (other)
- Baxter (company)
- Mayo Clinic (other)
- CVS (company)
- Walgreens (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Supply Chain Challenges in Medical Device Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-06-17-supply-chain-challenges-in-medical-device-manufacturing) (OnTrack)
- [S1E12 Simplifying Quality Management | Jon Speer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-05-s1e12-simplifying-quality-management-jon-speer) (Being an Engineer)
- [HIBT Lab! Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company: Mark Cuban](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-06-16-hibt-lab-mark-cuban-cost-plus-drug-company-mark-cuban) (How I Built This)
- [#390: Building a Non-BS QMS: 4 Core Principles for MedTech Success with Ashkon Rasooli](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2024-11-07-390-building-a-non-bs-qms-4-core-principles-for-medtech-success-with-ashkon-raso) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [#352: Fundamentals of Quality & Regulatory](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2024-01-18-352-fundamentals-of-quality-regulatory) (Global Medical Device Podcast)

## Citing this page

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