Vikram Karnani

Chief Executive Officer, President, Executive Vice President & Director, COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL INC

Search every verified Vikram Karnani interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a January 2026 podcast interview with Kinara co-editor Dr. Chase Feiger, Collegium Pharmaceutical president and CEO Vikram Karnani discussed his leadership philosophy and the company's strategic direction. Karnani described his approach to risk-taking, stating that "taking calculated and educated risks is part of what we do," and compared organizational growth to sports, saying "you're never going to score a goal if you don't take a shot." He also reflected on his first year at Collegium, noting that he joined the company "just under a year ago" and that his pre-joining diligence with board members highlighted the company's "very strong financial foundation" and "very strong commercial execution." Karnani also addressed the role of artificial intelligence in the pharmaceutical industry, remarking that while AI is a widely used term, "I'm not sure people have figured out exactly what it means for them," and emphasized the importance of identifying specific needs before leveraging the technology. He offered advice to executives considering CEO roles at mid-size companies, saying that aspiring leaders should go in "with eyes wide open" about the responsibility and accountability involved, and should have a "really clear understanding" of the appropriate level of risk their organization should take. He also mentioned plans to discuss AI and patient targeting programs in more depth in future appearances.