The Art Of Finding And Keeping The Right KOL
A conversation between Incyclix Bio CEO Patrick Roberts and Clinical Leader Executive Editor Abby Proch
Working with the right key opinion leader (KOL) can have a profound impact on a company’s clinical development trajectory. Emphasizing a relationship-driven approach built through collaboration, referrals, and outreach, Incyclix Bio CEO Patrick Roberts highlights contributions from his company’s experts: Drs. Antoinette Tan, Shom Goel, and Erik Knudsen. Learn how Incyclix identifies its KOLs, tailors engagement to their expertise, measures collaboration success, and sustains long-term partnerships through ongoing dialogue, data sharing, and research opportunities that keep KOLs aligned with the company’s scientific and clinical goals.
Tell us about some of Incyclix Bio’s KOLs. How did you meet them? And why did you ultimately choose to work with them?
Incyclix has built long-standing relationships with KOLs through a variety of pathways. In some cases, these collaborations began through prior work together and, in others, through referrals from existing KOL partners or direct outreach. In each instance, we identify KOL partners based on their expertise, reputation in the field, research interests, and interactions with our team at advisory board meetings and scientific meetings.
Examples include Dr. Antoinette Tan, Dr. Shom Goel, and Dr. Erik Knudsen. Dr. Tan was integrally involved in our triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) program at G1 Therapeutics, and this relationship has continued at Incyclix Bio. Dr. Tan has helped shape our clinical development strategy, led safety monitoring committee (SMC) meetings, participated in advisory board meetings, and presented clinical data at clinical conferences. Drs. Goel and Knudsen have provided ongoing scientific advisory support and led and executed preclinical collaborations through their laboratories, and their institutions have served as key enrolling sites for our clinical trial.
Is identifying and selecting a KOL a formal, systematic process or is it something more akin to networking?
Identifying and selecting a KOL is primarily relationship-driven and closely aligned with professional networking. It builds on long-standing relationships, peer referrals, and prior collaborations, as well as organically developing new connections with experts who are respected in their field. These relationships typically evolve over time through scientific dialogue and shared interests, allowing us to engage KOLs who are not only highly knowledgeable but also genuinely invested in the science and aligned with our development goals.
KOLs can serve a variety of purposes. For what roles or responsibilities do you choose KOLs, and why?
Our KOLs support our development programs in a range of roles, selected based on their clinical, scientific, and preclinical expertise. Depending on their background, they may serve as investigators in our clinical trials or as advisory board members, clinical trial steering committee members, or collaborators on preclinical and translational research — areas where many academic institutions are eager to work alongside clinical development efforts.
Incyclix engages KOLs in these roles because they bring deep disease-area knowledge, strong translational and mechanistic insight, and hands-on experience with both preclinical models and clinical trial execution. Their perspectives help inform target biology, study design, patient selection, and overall development strategy, while also supporting strong trial conduct and rigorous interpretation of data.
Do you engage with different types of KOLs differently, and how?
Engagement with KOLs is generally based on their area of expertise, and the initial approach is largely consistent. We engage all KOLs through open scientific and clinical discussions, with the level and focus of interaction tailored to whether their primary contribution is clinical, preclinical, or scientific. This allows for productive collaboration while maintaining a consistent and relationship-driven approach.
How do you evaluate whether the first time working with a KOL was successful and worth repeating?
We evaluate first-time collaborations with KOLs based on their level of engagement, enthusiasm, availability, and the quality of their contributions to the project. We also value KOLs who are open-minded and willing to think creatively or outside the box. Successful engagements are those where there are productive scientific dialogue, mutual respect, and clear alignment on goals, making the collaboration worth continuing.
How do you develop an ongoing relationship with a KOL and keep them engaged and supportive of your efforts at Incyclix?
We develop ongoing relationships with KOLs by maintaining regular, meaningful interactions. This includes meeting them at conferences and congresses, sharing ongoing clinical data, and actively seeking their feedback. We also keep them engaged by presenting new scientific ideas, offering opportunities to participate in translational research, supporting investigator-initiated studies, and providing leadership or authorship opportunities. These interactions help ensure that KOLs remain informed, invested, and aligned with our efforts at Incyclix.
About The Expert:
Patrick Roberts, Pharm.D., Ph.D., is CEO and co-founder of Incyclix Bio, a next-generation cell cycle control company developing INX-315, a novel, potent and selective CDK2 inhibitor for the treatment of advanced and resistant cancer. He previously served as the head of translational medicine at G1 Therapeutics. His scientific, operational, and leadership contributions helped G1 grow from an incubated start-up to a publicly traded company with three compounds in clinical development. His early scientific contributions laid the foundation for the myelopreservation concept and, during his time as project leader, he had the unique opportunity to guide trilaciclib from discovery to patients.