FirstTake on Pharma - Pharma News and Analysis Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The FirstTake Podcast – Bluebird Bio and Vertex provide contrasting gene therapy updates Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

FirstWord Pharma PLUS editors Michael Flanagan, Simon King and Becky Simon discuss the implications of two noteworthy news events in the field of gene therapy this week – bluebird bio’s decision to walk away from Zynteglo reimbursement negotiations in Germany and Vertex’s investment of $900m to increase its share of the economics in CTX001, a gene-editing sickle cell disease therapy being co-developed with CRISPR Therapeutics. They also discuss feedback from a key opinion leader who thinks Bristol Myers Squibb could be poised to lead the neoadjuvant non-small cell lung cancer market with its immunotherapy Opdivo and run the rule over Roche and Biogen’s first-quarter results.

The FirstTake Podcast – Use of J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine paused in US amid safety concerns Apr 15, 2021

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FirstWord Pharma PLUS editors Michael Flanagan and Simon King discuss fallout from the decision by US authorities to pause roll out of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine; take a look at new data for an investigational treatment being developed for essential tremor by Biogen and Sage Therapeutics; shed light on results from a physician survey suggesting safety concerns could dent confidence in JAK inhibitors for the treatment of atopic dermatitis; and ask whether GlaxoSmithKline can afford any further R&D slip-ups.

The FirstTake Podcast – Two US biotechs run into trouble at the FDA Apr 08, 2021

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On this week’s episode FirstWord editors Simon King, Michael Flanagan and Becky Simon delve into the potential implications of FibroGen’s newly disclosed safety data for the investigational anaemia drug roxadustat ahead of an FDA advisory committee meeting, catch up with drug safety expert Anthony Cox to discuss the latest pharmacovigalence developments concerning AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in Europe and take a closer look at Acadia Pharmaceuticals’ efforts to expand approval of the drug Nuplazid to treat dementia related psychosis.

The FirstTake Podcast – A landmark CAR-T approval in multiple myeloma Apr 01, 2021

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FirstWord Pharma PLUS editor Simon King discusses the approval of Bristol Myers Squibb and bluebird bio’s CAR-T therapy Abecma for multiple myeloma with senior Therapy Trends analyst Sarah Harris, speaks to Novartis’ European gene therapy chief Mike Fraser about the launch of Zolgensma and asks FirstWord HealthTech's Tina Tan why the US Federal Trade Commission is looking to block Illumina’s proposed acquisition of Grail in the cancer diagnostics market.

The FirstTake Podcast – Another rollercoaster week for AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine Mar 25, 2021

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FirstWord Pharma PLUS editors Simon King and Michael Flanagan discuss this week’s key industry news stories including more controversy for AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, a setback in the field of drug development for Huntington’s disease and some important cancer immunotherapy updates. We talk to FirstWord HealthTech’s Tina Tan about Amazon’s plan to expand its role as a healthcare provider in the US.

The FirstTake podcast – AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine caught in a new firestorm Mar 18, 2021

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FirstWord Pharma PLUS editors Simon King and Michael Flanagan discuss this week’s key industry news stories, including safety concerns for AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in Europe, the FTC’s plans to scrutinise pharma M&A more closely, Eli Lilly’s latest Alzheimer’s disease data and a noteworthy collaboration between Gilead and Merck in HIV.

What’s going on at the FDA? Novartis’ canakinumab setback and what to expect from detailed donanemab results Mar 11, 2021

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FirstWord Pharma PLUS editors Michael Flanagan and Simon King discuss the week’s most important news in pharma and biotech including suggestions that the FDA is suddenly taking a more cautious approach to some new drug approvals, negative data for Novartis’ canakinumab in second-line non-small cell lung cancer and a preview of detailed Phase II results for Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s disease drug donanemab, which will be presented this weekend at the AD/PD 2021 virtual congress.

Merck steps in to help J&J; Amgen acquires Five Prime Mar 04, 2021

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FirstWord Pharma PLUS editors Michael Flanagan and Simon King discuss the week’s most important news in pharma and biotech including US emergency approval of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine and Merck & Co.’s role in manufacturing it, the FDA’s less lenient stance on accelerated cancer drug approvals, what next for checkpoint inhibitors in China?, Amgen’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Five Prime Therapeutics and more impressive clinical data for Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide in diabetes.

A big week for COVID-19 vaccine updates Feb 25, 2021

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FirstWord Pharma PLUS editors Michael Flanagan and Simon King discuss the week’s most important news in pharma and biotech including imminent US approval of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccine, encouraging real world evidence for Pfizer and AstraZeneca’s vaccines, Moderna gearing up to tackle virus variants, the future for JAK inhibitors and Merck & Co.’s acquisition of Pandion Therapeutics.

Another combo regimen stars in RCC Feb 18, 2021

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FirstWord Pharma PLUS editors Michael Flanagan and Simon King discuss the week’s most important news in pharma and biotech, including positive data for Keytruda and Lenvima in first-line renal cell carcinoma which was presented at ASCO-GU, more data for Eli Lilly’s diabetes treatment tirzepatide, expanded approval for Novartis’ Entresto and gene therapy concerns for bluebird bio.