Let's Combinate - Drugs + Devices

• 194 - Drug Delivery Innovation, Networking in Pharma, and Building a Career That Matters with Mike Denzer

  In this episode I sit down with Mike Denzer, a mechanical engineer, inventor, and trusted leader in the combination product space. We talk about the power of networking not just as a tool for finding your next job, but as a foundation for building a meaningful and resilient career in pharma and medtech.Mike shares what it’s like to develop life-changing devices like Amgen’s Auto Click autoinjector, how he built credibility across R&D and regulatory teams, and why asking good questions and being generous with your time pays off more than any formal title. If you’ve ever struggled to balance technical depth with approachability or you’re trying to navigate CROs, design controls, or cross-functional chaos, I hope you enjoy this conversation! ⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Welcome and introduction00:56 Why networking matters01:57 Life-changing moments in engineering09:45 Challenges and innovations in autoinjectors14:47 CROs, sponsors, and collaboration18:22 Mike’s favorite projects and final thoughtsAbout Mike Denzer:Mike Denzer is a mechanical engineer, inventor, and combination product leader with over 20 years of experience in drug delivery system development. He’s held leadership roles at companies like Amgen, Teva, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Kymanox, and is credited as an inventor on five U.S. patents related to autoinjector platforms and delivery technology.He’s the founder of Combo Products LLC, where he now consults on combination product design, human factors strategy, and technical development. Mike is widely respected for his collaborative style and clear communication across engineering, clinical, regulatory, and quality functions.Contact Mike: [email protected] Saadeh is a Quality Professional and host of Let’s Combinate. With a background in Quality, Manufacturing Operations, and R&D, he has worked in large Medical Device and Pharma organizations to support the development and launch of hardware devices, disposable devices, and combination products for vaccines, generics, and biologics.Subhi currently serves as the International Committee Chair for the Combination Products Coalition (CPC), is a member of ASTM Committee E55, and has served on AAMI's Combination Products Committee.

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• 193 - Bioengineering Grads: Here’s What Recruiters Actually Want to See in 2025

  In this episode of Let’s Combinate, host Subhi Saadeh is joined by Kirk Petyo, Managing Partner at Talent Factory Medical and founder of Talent Factory Recruiting. If you're a bioengineering student, recent grad, or early-career professional trying to break into medical devices, biotech, or pharma—this one's for you.With extensive experience recruiting for regulated industries like aerospace, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals, Kirk offers grounded, actionable insights for early-career professionals and hiring managers alike.This episode covers how to craft a strong resume, the importance of knowing your career “why,” how to stand out to recruiters, and why onshoring and shifting regulatory trends matter for the next generation of talent in life sciences.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome and Guest Introduction 00:35 – Kirk's Career Journey and Advice 02:18 – Navigating Early Career Challenges 03:12 – Building a Strong Resume and Networking 04:38 – The Importance of Specificity in Job Applications 08:56 – Recruitment Insights and Industry Trends 12:05 – Personal Experiences and Lessons Learned 18:49 – Advice for Upcoming Graduates 23:18 – The Importance of Passion in Job Interviews 24:00 – Evaluating Candidates Beyond Experience 24:58 – Personal Stories and Career Choices 30:55 – Bioengineering vs. Mechanical Engineering 41:34 – Industry Trends and Onshoring 44:18 – Entry-Level Opportunities and Recruitment About Kirk PetyoKirk Petyo is the Managing Partner at Talent Factory Medical and founder of Talent Factory Recruiting. He has spent his career recruiting top talent in highly regulated industries like aerospace, medical devices, biotech, and pharma. Known for his ability to bridge business needs with real human connections, Kirk helps companies grow stronger teams—and helps candidates navigate complex career decisions with clarity and purpose.About the Host Subhi Saadeh is a Quality Professional and host of Let’s ComBinate. With a background in Quality, Manufacturing Operations, and R&D, he has worked in large Medical Device and Pharma organizations to support the development and launch of hardware devices, disposable devices, and combination products for vaccines, generics, and biologics.Subhi currently serves as the International Committee Chair for the Combination Products Coalition (CPC), is a member of ASTM Committee E55, and has served on AAMI's Combination Products Committee.

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• 192 - What Is a Drug/Device Combination Product? (Non-Technical, Under 5 Minutes)

  If you’ve ever wondered what a combination product is—or how to explain it—this video breaks it down clearly and simply. This is a non-technical, high-level explanation of what a combination product is. It’s meant for anyone who works in or around pharma, medtech, or biotech and wants a clear, shareable reference—without getting into detailed regulatory definitions or region-specific nuances.I’m Subhi Saadeh, and I’ve spent my career in drug-device combination products. In this short reference video, I walk through:- What defines a combination product- Two key factors: primary mode of action and how components are combined- The difference between drug-led and device-led products- Examples of single-entity, co-packaged, and cross-labeled products00:00 Introduction to Drug Device Combination Products00:31 Defining Combination Products00:54 Philosophical Factors of Combination Products01:10 Drug-Led Combination Products01:51 Device-Led Combination Products02:32 Combination Configurations03:50 Summary and ConclusionAdditional Resources: - 21 CFR Part 4 FDA regulation on Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements for combination products https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-4- FDA Guidance: Current Good Manufacturing Practice Requirements for Combination Productshttps://www.fda.gov/media/90652/download- FDA Combination Products Overview Page https://www.fda.gov/combination-products- 21 CFR Part 3 Regulations on combination product classification and primary mode of action (PMOA) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-3- EU MDR Article 117 Requirements for drug-device combinations under the European Medical Device Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/745) https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2021-10/md_mdr_2017-745_en_0.pdfSubhi Saadeh is a Quality Professional and host of Let's Combinate. With a background in Quality, Manufacturing Operations and R&D he's worked in Large Medical Device/Pharma organizations to support the development and launch of Hardware Devices, Disposable Devices, and Combination Products for Vaccines, Generics, and Biologics. Subhi serves currently as the International Committee Chair for the Combination Products Coalition(CPC) and as a member of ASTM Committee E55 and also served as a committee member on AAMI's Combination Products Committee.For questions, inquiries or suggestions please reach out at letscombinate.com or on the show's LinkedIn Page.

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• 191 - If It’s Not ALCOA+, It Didn’t Happen: The Real Meaning of Data Integrity

  You’ve heard it before: If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen. But in life sciences, documentation isn’t just a formality—it’s the foundation of trust, compliance, and product quality. In this episode, Subhi Saadeh breaks down what documentation actually means by exploring the principles of ALCOA and ALCOA+.Learn where these principles come from, how they’re applied, and why they still matter—even in today's digital systems. From FDA guidances to $500M data scandals, this episode covers what goes wrong when data integrity isn’t taken seriously.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction: Why Documentation Still Matters01:24 – Defining Data Integrity in Regulated Industries03:06 – ALCOA Explained: Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate07:18 – ALCOA Plus: Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available08:54 – Real-World Examples: From Whiteout to Warning Letters11:00 – Why Old SOPs Can Ruin New Inspections12:21 – Final Thoughts: Documentation Is About Trust, Not Just Compliance🔍 What You’ll Learn:How ALCOA originated in the 1990s FDA frameworkWhy banning whiteout in labs is about more than inkThe difference between original vs. accurate vs. complete dataHow legacy documentation can break inspectionsThe role of tribal knowledge in document managementThe limits of electronic systems without strong governanceWhy AI and searchability are the next frontier for data integrityHow to think about documentation as a system of trust📚 Mentioned Resources:MHRA GxP Data Integrity Guidance (2018)FDA Guidance for Industry: Data Integrity and Compliance with CGMPBottle of Lies by Katherine EbanSubhi Saadeh is a Quality Professional and host of Let's Combinate. With a background in Quality, Manufacturing Operations and R&D he's worked in Large Medical Device/Pharma organizations to support the development and launch of Hardware Devices, Disposable Devices, and Combination Products for Vaccines, Generics, and Biologics. Subhi serves currently as the International Committee Chair for the Combination Products Coalition(CPC) and as a member of ASTM Committee E55 and also served as a committee member on AAMI's Combination Products Committee.For questions, inquiries or suggestions please reach out at letscombinate.com or on the show's LinkedIn Page.

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