DarshanTalks Podcast

In this episode, Darshan Kulkarni speaks with Dae Lee about the growing conflict between pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) — and how it’s reshaping the U.S. drug supply chain.

They unpack the recent dispute involving AstraZeneca, which alleges discrepancies between the number of branded claims submitted by pharmacies through PBMs and the rebates invoiced by those PBMs. The issue shines a spotlight on ...

The FDA has criticized the industry for not taking advertising and promotion seriously and is now cracking down, as evidenced by hundreds of non-compliance letters. This raises the question: if similar scrutiny applied to clinical research, what would stand out first? Likely areas include proper informed consent, accurate recordkeeping, and potential upticks in physician enforcement. While this use of AI in research compliance hasn...

Cosmetics companies must now register both their facilities and products with the FDA under the new MoCRArequirements, a shift from the previous voluntary system. Each facility must register, and product listings — including categories, ingredients, and manufacturing sites — must be submitted and updated annually. Growing companies face challenges in tracking reformulations, rebrandings, or acquisitions, as missing updates can trig...

Direct-to-Patient (DTP) models are transforming how medications reach patients, moving beyond clinical research into commercial distribution. Originally developed to help rare disease trial participants avoid long travel to research sites, DTP has become a standard solution for improving patient access and convenience. Today, patients can receive small molecules, complex biologics, and even medical devices directly at home, making ...

Darshan Kulkarni speaks with Thomas Siepka, CEO of HCI Healthcare Consultants, to take a deep dive into the often-misunderstood world of the 340B drug pricing program. Drawing on Siepka’s extensive experience as a pharmacist and healthcare leader, they explore how the 340B program was designed to support covered entities—such as disproportionate share hospitals and federally qualified health centers—by requiring manufacturers to pr...

In this conversation, Edye Edens with Nyssa Towsley from UNLV, examine how today’s shifting funding landscape is reshaping IRB operations. Historically, IRBs were built around the assumption that most research would be government-funded. That assumption is being challenged, with changes in funding priorities and availability beginning to influence the volume and nature of submissions.

At UNLV, for example, faculty research submissio...

In this video, Darshan discusses recent enforcement trends show three weak spots to watch:

1. Encounter Quality – If prescribers are just checking boxes without real patient relationships, it’s not care—it’s exposure. Demand documented standards, ID proofing, intake, decision support, and supervision. Don’t take claims at face value—audit them.
   
   
2. Cash Flow Logic – Murky subscription fees, misuse of facility fees, or volume-d...

In this episode, Darshan Kulkarni talks with Thomas Siepka about the 340B program, rebates, and the crucial role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in today’s healthcare system. Siepka, a pharmacist and CEO of HCI Healthcare Consultants, shared his extensive experience working across health systems, community health centers, and tribal healthcare organizations.

They break down the complex healthcare landscape, explaining the distin...

 In the episode of a new series on academic medical centers, Edye Edens of Kulkarni Law Firm sits down with Cortni Romaine of Florida Atlantic University (FAU) to explore how compliance offices in academia create programs that others aspire to emulate.

Cortni explains FAU’s proactive approach to compliance, emphasizing the importance of partnerships both within the university and across the state. At FAU, new federal, state, or inst...

In one of the largest recent Medicare fraud cases, Peter Roussonicolos, a Florida durable medical equipment (DME) company owner, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme that defrauded Medicare of more than $61 million.

Here’s how the scheme worked:

• Hidden Ownership: Roussonicolos used straw owners to disguise his true role in several DME companies, evading disclosure requirements and regulatory over...

The FDA has recently stepped up its enforcement of pharmaceutical advertising rules, issuing 100 cease-and-desist notices and thousands of letters. These notices were largely non-personalized and intended as general guidance, emphasizing that drug advertisements must not create misleading impressions. While such enforcement has always been possible, this renewed effort signals increased regulatory attention, particularly on direct-...

Darshan Kulkarni and Edye Edens launch an exciting new episode, focusing on the unique challenges academic medical centers (AMCs) face in securing funding in an ever-changing political and regulatory environment. Unlike independent or commercial sites, AMCs operate at a different scale, often managing millions of dollars in government-funded research while navigating complex administrative structures, compliance layers, and interna...

Darshan Kulkarni and Edye Edens are kicking off a brand-new video series diving into the unique world of academic medical centers (AMCs) in clinical research.

While KLF has long worked with sponsors, CROs, and independent sites, AMCs bring their own challenges: complex operations, unique funding models, layers of compliance, and requirements like investigator-initiated trials that don’t exist elsewhere. As Edye—drawing from 10 years...

Edye Edens and Darshan Kulkarni share the origin story of KLF and explain what makes working with licensed attorneys different from hiring non-legal consultants. They highlight three key advantages:

1. Privilege & Confidentiality: Legal privilege means attorneys must keep client information confidential indefinitely—offering stronger protections than standard NDAs.
   
   
2. Broader Strategic Scope: Lawyers approach problems wit...

Telehealth and pharma are facing some of their biggest compliance challenges yet—and the latest enforcement actions prove regulators aren’t slowing down.

On one side, the FTC is investigating Hims & Hers, a popular telehealth company, over allegations of misleading advertising and unfair cancellation practices. This case highlights how patient-facing companies must tread carefully when making claims about access, outcomes, or su...

Darshan Kulkarni and Edye Edens examine whether sponsors should provide feedback to clinical trial sites on why they were selected—or not—for a study. While it is technically possible for sponsors to share this information, they caution that doing so carries significant risks. These include liability concerns, potential miscommunication, and the practical challenge of managing feedback when dozens of sites may be competing for the ...

AI is no longer a distant concept in pharma marketing—it’s here, transforming campaign design, review, and distribution. CEOs and CMOs face a critical question: Can I safely integrate AI into my marketing toolkit?

AI offers speed, cost savings, precise targeting, and scalable personalization. Yet, it introduces significant risks, including data ownership, opaque algorithms, hallucinated content, and potential FDA violations. Account...

Edye Edens and Darshan Kulkarni from KLF discuss the pros and cons for clinical trial sites considering becoming backup sites. Key points include:

• Sponsor Perspective: Signing up as a backup site can give first access to trials and increase the likelihood of being selected, especially since not all primary sites meet recruitment targets. Sponsors may expect some commitment, including potential startup or maintenance costs while ...