Biotech Hangout

Latest Episodes:

Episode 84 Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

In the first Biotech Hangout of 2024, RA Capital’s Peter Kolchinsky joins hosts Daphne Zohar, Josh Schimmer, Tim Opler, Paul Matteis and Luba Greenwood to discuss the latest biotech news. They start with the last M&A deals of 2023 including Bristol Myers Squibb’s acquisition of Karuna and Rayzebio, and AstraZeneca’s acquisition of Gracell. They discuss insights from RA Capital’s latest sector analysis and the outlook for the sector in 2024, plus JPM predictions. The hosts also cover news from the first week of 2024 including Longboard Pharmaceuticals and Dyne Therapeutics data, Novartis’ expanded collaboration with Voyager, the FDA’s hold on Iovance’s TIL therapy and their approval of AstraZeneca and Ionis’ rare nerve disease treatment. Other topics include Goldman Sachs life science investment fund and ImmunityBio’s royalty financing. *This episode aired on January 5, 2024

Episode 83 Jan 10, 2024

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Guest host Nick Shipley, Bio’s policy expert joins Daphne Zohar, Brad Loncar, Mike Yee and Yaron Werber on this week’s Biotech Hangout. The group discusses policy affecting biotech, including march-in rights, PBMs, IRA and FTC involvement plus bipartisan initiatives like the Orphan Cures Act. They also discuss the state of the XBI and industry sentiment, Bluebird Bio’s setbacks following FDA approval and Pfizer’s stock after its 2024 forecast revenue. They cover data from Vertex, Icosavax, Arcellx and Legend, plus several ADC deals including Bristol Meyers Squibb, SystImmune, C4 Therapeutics, Merck, Nona Biosciences and Pfizer. Other topics include updates from ASH, the new Amgen CSO plus the group shares their thoughts on what to expect in 2024. *This episode aired on December 15, 2023

Episode 82 Jan 04, 2024

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On this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout, Josh Schimmer, Tim Opler, Chris Garabedian, Dawn Bell and guest host Eric Schmidt, Biotech Analyst, discuss the latest industry news. They cover the JPM year in review, XBI performance, plus Abbvie’s acquisition of Cerevel and the implications for Karuna. They also discuss a big GLP-1 deal from Roche and Carmot, the AstraZeneca/ IRA case and EV negative biotechs. They also talk about three big investors days from J&J, Sanofi and Neurocrine Biosciences, plus CVS’s update on how they will cover drugs, Eyepoint Pharmaceutical’s wet AMD data and much more. *This episode aired on December 8, 2023

Episode 81 Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

On this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout hosts Daphne Zohar, Tim Opler, Josh Schimmer, Chris Garabedian, John Maraganore and Ethan Perlstein discuss the latest industry news including takeaways and sentiment from the recent Jefferies, Stifel, American Heart Association and ACR conferences. They also discuss Ajinomoto acquiring Forge Biologics ($620M), Crispr and Vertex MHRA approval in the UK, Verve data and Novo Nordisk’s SELECT trial details. They hosts discuss Astellas’ acquisition of Propella ($175M) and the differences between Propella and PureTech’s lymphatic-focused technologies, on the back of PureTech’s Phase 2 data. Other topics include three merger agreements: Graphite Bio/ Lenz Therapeutics, Q32 Bio/Homology Medicines and Selecta Biosciences/ Cartesian Therapeutics, adcomm for Merck’s inhibitor for chronic cough and more. *This episode aired on November 17, 2023

Episode 80 Nov 20, 2023

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Hosts Brad Loncar, Tim Opler, Josh Schimmer, Dawn Bell and Yaron Werber discuss the latest industry news on this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout. They cover several upcoming conferences including the American Heart Association, which the hosts say will highlight market moving data and a “biologics revolution”, plus ACR, which will highlight CAR-T data, and the Liver Meeting. The hosts also discuss Eli Lilly’s drug approval for weight management, Cargo Therapeutics’ IPO terms and Adverum’s 3-year AMD data. There is also news in the I&I space from Moonlake Therapeutics, who was off by more than 20% after announcing psoriatic arthritis data and Ventyx Biosciences halting its Phase 2 TYK2 trial. Other topics include BioNTech’s R&D day, Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine data and activist investor Elliot Investment Management buys over $1B stake in BioMarin. *This episode aired on November 10, 2023

Episode 79 Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

On this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout, hosts Daphne Zohar, Tim Opler, Josh Schimmer, Brian Skorney and guest Matthew Gline, Roivant CEO discuss the current market for public biotechs plus Pharma performance including Sanofi, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Biogen and Abbvie. The hosts also discuss Sarepta’s trial miss, and Matt shares additional commentary to Roivant’s deal with Roche. They also share thoughts on Lexeo Therapeutics’ IPO ($100M), 4D Molecular Therapeutics’ CF Phase 1 data and AstraZeneca’s investment in Cellectic ($245M). There were several large funds from the week including Abingworth’s fundraise ($365M), Blue Owl- Cowen Investments acquisition (~$1B) and Bioluminescence Ventures’ fundraise ($477M). Other topics include Bluebird Bio presells its PRV to Novartis, Amgen stops selling PSMA BiTE, Crispr Therapeutics/Vertex adcomm and Pfizer closes several sites. *This episode aired on November 3, 2023

Josh Schimmer disclosures: The disclosures for companies that I cover can be found on the Hangout homepage and none of the comments should be construed as investment advice.

Episode 78 Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

Guest host Paul Matteis, Biotech Analyst at Stifel, joins Daphne Zohar, Brad Loncar, Josh Schimmer, Dawn Bell and Bruce Booth on this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout to discuss market sentiment, biotech’s bear market, CTAD and World Sleep meetings and Roche to acquire Telavant ($7.1B). The hosts also cover industry issues such as the Orphan Cures Act, More Transparency Act, PRVs and more after Daphne attended meetings with senators and congressmen in DC. Additionally, they talk about the second largest A round of funding in 2023 from Aiolos Bio ($245M) plus OrbiMed’s $4.3B raise, CARGO Therapeutics’ IPO and >40 biotechs exploring strategic alternatives. Other topics include CMS expanding Medicare coverage to Alzheimer’s PET scan testing, Senator Bernie Sanders to investigate NIH licensing practices, delays in cancer care and Novartis regulatory filing pushed after data disappoints at ESMO. *This episode aired on October 27, 2023

Episode 77 Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

Guests Jacob Plieth, Madeleine Armstrong and Nuvalent CEO, Jim Porter join Daphne Zohar and Josh Schimmer on this week’s Biotech Hangout to discuss the big deal of the week: Merck and Daichii’s co-development & co-commercialization deal for three ADCs (worth up to $16.5B), plus Nuvalent’s $300M raise and recent data. They also discuss the recent ESMO data breach, PTC Therapeutics’ agreement with Royalty Pharma and Monte Rosa’s partnership with Roche. Other topics include Revolution Medicines’ KRAS data, the FDA’s decision to clear Nkarta’s IND application, Pfizer’s revenue guidance related to Covid products and overall CEO and industry sentiment. *This episode aired on October 20, 2023

Episode 76 Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

On Biotech Hangout this week, hosts Daphne Zohar, Brad Loncar, Josh Schimmer, Mike Yee & Tim Opler discuss biotech sentiment & cover the big news of the week. M&A as a topic including Bristol Myers Squibb to acquire Mirati Therapeutics for $4.8B, plus the 14 biotech acquisitions in 2023 over $1B and Illumina ordered to sell Grail after completing a $7.1B acquisition deal. A lot of data came out this week from companies including Akero, Alnylam, Ventyx, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Immunic and PMV Pharmaceuticals. Mike and Brad also share takeaways from Jefferies CNS Day and HLTH 2023. *This episode aired on October 13, 2023*

Episode 75 Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

On this week’s Biotech Hangout, hosts Brad Loncar, Daphne Zohar, Bruce Booth, Josh Schimmer and Yaron Werber cover the state of the XBI after it hit a 52-week low. They also discuss several deals and financings from the week including Eli Lilly acquiring Point Biopharma ($1.4B) and radiopharma more generally and Sanofi paying Teva to collaborate on inflammatory bowel disease treatment (up to $1.5B). Also Biohaven’s offering (~$225M), Amicus Therapeutics’ financing with Blackstone ($430M), and Orchard Therapeutics acquired by Kyowa Kirin ($478M). Takeda announces withdrawal of EXKIVITY after its accelerated approval gets pulled, Syndax, ALX Oncology and Roche data and Boehringer Ingelheim launches biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira at an 81% discount. Other topics include Amgen’s KRAS inhibitor under FDA review, Exscientia and AI, Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ R&D day and Infinity Pharmaceuticals shuts down. *This episode aired on October 6, 2023

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