How SkinPass Went From Bedside Insight to Retail Scale with Dr. Christopher Otiko

Drug launches don’t succeed at the finish line. They succeed or fail years earlier, when teams decide what evidence they’ll generate, how they’ll publish it, and which assumptions they’ll pressure-test before it’s too late. In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Ana Bozas, Director of Clinical Evidence Strategy and Scientific Communications at Vera Therapeutics, to dive into what launch readiness really means from the medical side. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations.

After treating thousands of complex diabetic foot wounds and performing more amputations than he could count, Dr. Christopher Otiko returned to his biochemistry roots to solve a brutal clinical reality: systemic drugs often don’t reach the foot with enough efficacy, and the skin is an exceptional barrier to localized treatment. That bedside frustration became SkinPass, ViaDerma’s patented topical delivery platform designed to move actives through the skin using FDA-approved inactive ingredients.

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Dr. Otiko, Director of Clinical Evidence Strategy and Scientific Communications at Vera Therapeutics, to unpack his 16-year journey to a patent, the hard lessons about mentors and partners, and the ‘engineering, not medicine’ breakthrough that reframed the problem as building a bridge.

What You’ll Learn:

How to recognize when a clinical problem is actually a business opportunity
The FDA monograph pathway as a strategic shortcut for biotech founders
How Dr. Otiko has maintained motivation through 16 years of setbacks, including a $40M patent lawsuit
Why distribution partnerships with major retailers require giving up margin

Dr. Christopher Otiko is a physician, medical entrepreneur, and founder of ViaDerma, a biotechnology company focused on transforming how medicines are delivered through the skin. Dr. Otiko’s work began at the bedside, treating complex wounds, burns, and infections, where he saw firsthand the limitations of traditional drug delivery. That clinical insight led to the creation of ViaDerma’s patented SkinPass topical delivery platform, which is now being applied across wound care, dermatology, sexual wellness, general medicine, and beyond.

Disclaimer: Pharma Sessions is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Guest opinions are their own and do not reflect the views of the host or sponsors. Use of any information provided is at the listener’s own risk and does not imply endorsement of specific products or strategies.

Episode Highlights

[00:00] Introduction
[02:40] From 500 Amputations to a Breakthrough in Drug Delivery
[04:54] The Core Problem with Systemic Antibiotics
[07:48] The Cost of the Wrong Partners
[09:27] Advice to Innovators
[10:08] The Christmas Eve Turning Point
[14:13] Mid-Roll Ad
[15:01] The FDA Monograph Pathway Explained
[16:55] Scaling Through Distribution Partners
[19:03] Mission Over Margin
[19:58] What’s Next

Episode Resources:

ViaDerma Website: https://viaderma.com/
Jonathan Kaskey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/
XSUNT Corporation Website: http://www.xsunt.com/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
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Disclaimer: Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.