The Readout Loud

Latest Episodes:

325: Biden's health care AI czar, a new obesity company, and its dealmaking CEO Oct 03, 2024

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Our colleague Mohana Ravindranath joins us to talk about Micky Tripathi, charged with coordinating how AI is used across different government agencies and more broadly across the health care industry. We also chat about some important biotech study readouts due before the end of the year, a new, well-funded obesity company, and the successful serial CEO running it. Finally, Adam and Allison lament the fact that Elaine hasn't yet watched the first episode of this season's "Great British Baking Show."

From Tradeoffs: Race to the Bottom Sep 28, 2024

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We’re excited to share the first episode in a new podcast series on generic drugs from Tradeoffs. It’s called ‘Race to the Bottom,’ and each week the show examines the problems undermining the generic drugs we all rely on — and how we could fix them. Take a listen, and we’ll see you next week.

324: Genentech's cancer pivot, Pfizer's sickle cell withdrawal, and a new schizophrenia drug Sep 26, 2024

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Our colleague Jonathan Wosen joins us to discuss the recent setbacks and wins in oncology R&D, including Genentech's decision to shut down its cancer immunology group, and the global ambitions of Akeso, the Chinese biotech behind Summit Therapeutics’ recent positive results. We also chat about the latest news in the life sciences, including Pfizer’s sudden announcement to pull its sickle cell drug and the imminent approval of Bristol Myers Squibb’s schizophrenia treatment.

323: Cannabinoids for weight loss, a cancelled ad comm, and the Fed lowers interest rates Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

Mizuho analyst Jared Holz joins us to discuss what the Federal Reserve's long-awaited decision to lower interest rates means for biotech stocks and startups. Elaine, Adam, and Allison also discuss the latest news in life sciences, including the use of cannabinoid receptor drugs in weight loss and the Lasker Awards, a.k.a. "America's Nobel."

322: A new threat to Merck's blockbuster cancer treatment, Moderna's cutbacks, and obesity drugs for kids Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

STAT reporter Matt Herper joins us to break down all the angles of this week's tumultuous week in cancer immunotherapy, including his up-close look at Summit co-CEO Bob Duggan. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including Moderna pruning its pipeline and its spending, plus results from a study that tested a GLP-1 drug in children.

321: Summit's upcoming cancer results, Recursion's mixed data, and the next big obesity target Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

We discuss the next big trend in obesity drug development — treatments that target the amylin hormone. Companies argue that these types of drugs could lead to less nausea and muscle loss, and the first big readout is coming later this year. We also chat about an upcoming presentation from Summit Therapeutics on its cancer drug that beat Merck’s Keytruda, mixed data from Recursion’s lead AI-derived drug candidate, and more news in the life sciences.

320: Jim Wilson's next venture, a surprise startup shutdown, & Lilly's Zepbound strategy Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

STAT biotech reporter Jonathan Wosen joins us to discuss gene therapy pioneer Jim Wilson's exit from his decades-long tenure at the University of Pennsylvania. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the surprising collapse of a gene editing company, Eli Lilly's pitch to consumers, and more.

From "Say More": What Happens When AI Decides Your Medical Coverage Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

This week, STAT's Casey Ross and Bob Herman joined the Boston Globe's "Say More" podcast to talk about their reporting on AI and Healthcare. We're sharing that episode here with you now. Enjoy!

319: BioMarin's executive shakeup, a GLP-1 lowers diabetes risk, and a deep look at Recursion's AI bona fides Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

It's a guest-free episode this week, giving Allison, Adam and Elaine ample time to chat about the management shakeup at BioMarin, including the announcement that James Sabry, the former Roche dealmaker, was joining the company as its new chief business officer. We can't seem to go a week without talking about GLP-1 medicines, so in true form, Elaine walks us through new study findings that showed Lilly's Zepbound greatly reduced the risk of diabetes. We also discuss a separate study that potentially links GLP-1 drugs to a higher rate of suicidal thoughts.

Lastly, Adam and Elaine interrogate Allison about her deeply reported corporate profile of AI drug developer Recursion. Is all the hype real?

318: Drug pricing drops & psychedelics under fire Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

STAT’s chief Washington correspondent Rachel Cohrs Zhang joins us to discuss the discounts and how this first round of negotiations between pharmaceutical companies and Medicare officials played out. After that, we chat with our colleague Meghana Keshavan about the latest news in the psychedelics world, including the retraction of three research papers.

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