The Readout Loud

Latest Episodes:

317: VC struggles, drug pricing negotiations, & Novo's abrupt Wegovy decision Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

STAT's Washington Correspondent John Wilkerson joins us to discuss the first round of drug pricing negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, which will wrap up by September 1. We also cover the latest news in the life sciences including the merger of AI drug development companies Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Exscientia, Novo Nordisk's decision to pause its regulatory submission for Wegovy's use in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and the state of biotech VC.

316: The long journey to make malaria vaccines, and Sarepta's ties with patient advocates Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

Andrew Joseph, STAT's Europe correspondent, joins us to talk about his special report on the 40-year quest to develop the world's first malaria vaccines. We also cover the latest news in the biotech industry, including Sarepta Therapeutics' move to censor a patient video, data from a new Duchenne gene therapy, and a campaign by Mount Sinai to stifle debate about its controversial brain research following revelations made by a STAT investigation.

315: UnitedHealth's doctor empire, an FDA departure, and Viking's obesity moves Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

What makes UnitedHealth similar to Standard Oil? Is Viking Therapeutics an attractive acquisition target? And is Adam good at math?

We discuss all that and more in this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. Tara Bannow, our hospitals and insurance reporter, joins us to talk about a new investigation that shows how UnitedHealth wields its unrivaled physician empire to boost its profits and expand its influence.

We also cover the latest news in the life sciences, including Viking's sped-up plans in obesity, the departure of a long time official at the Food and Drug Administration, and Kamala Harris' views on health policies.

314: JD Vance's biotech ties, Cassava resignations, and insulin shortages Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

Our Washington correspondent Sarah Owermohle joins us to talk about how JD Vance, Donald Trump's newly announced running mate, could influence health policy if Trump wins the election. We also discuss the latest news in the biopharma industry, including the latest developments in the ongoing controversy surrounding Cassava’s Alzheimer’s drug, shortages of insulin as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly turn their focus toward GLP-1 drugs, and a shakeup in leadership at Gilead.

313: Biotech layoffs, founder-focused VC, & a big pharma exit Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

STAT's West Coast biotech reporter Jonathan Wosen joins "The Readout LOUD" to discuss what’s driving workforce cuts. Plus, entrepreneurs Alexis Borisy and Zach Weinberg call in to discuss their biotech incubator Curie.Bio and how they hope to “free the founders.” We also discuss a big change in Pfizer’s leadership and the debate over a new side effect tied to the diabetes drug Ozempic.

312: Medicare coverage for GLP-1 drugs, AI, and health care at the presidential debate Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

STAT health tech reporter Brittany Trang guest co-hosts "The Readout LOUD" this week, where we discuss AI for drug development, the latest in the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, a surprise entrant to the GLP-1 field, and more news in the life sciences. And STAT chief Washington correspondent Rachel Cohrs Zhang joins the podcast to talk about a new proposal for obesity drug coverage in Washington and what to expect from the first presidential debate.

311: Fauci's memoir, Alnylam's tenuous trial, and a mid-year review Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

STAT reporter Jason Mast joins us to discuss Anthony Fauci's memoir "On Call," which was published this week. Hosts Allison DeAngelis and Adam Feuerstein also dissect Alnylam's forthcoming clinical trial data and take stock of how the biotech markets are succeeding and potentially falling flat midway through the year.

For more on Fauci's memoir "On Call," go here; for Adam's primer on Alnylam's ATTR-CM trial, go here; read about BridgeBio's plans here; and for more on biotech startup financing, go here.

310: Duchenne gene therapy setback, Alzheimer's drug endorsement & why a STAT reporter buys weed (for journalism) Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

STAT's Nicholas Florko joins to explain what it means to be a reporter writing about the commercial determinants of health. Hint: Florko's most recent stories focus on weed, vapes, and raw milk. And instead of being chained to a desk, he often drives around to convenience stores and buy bad stuff — all in the name of good journalism. But first, co-hosts Adam Feuerstein and Allison DeAngelis chat about Pfizer's Duchenne gene therapy setback, the likely approval of a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease, and Bob Langer's most recent startup.

309: Psychedelics at the FDA, ASCO recap, & MorphoSys update Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

STAT colleague Meghana Keshavan joins us to dissect Lykos Therapeutics' meeting with an FDA advisory committee. We also discuss the latest news in the health and life sciences, including stories from major biotech conferences.

To learn more about Lykos' advisory committee meeting, go here; for more on the tumult at BIO, go here; for a recap of ASCO, go here; to read the latest on Novartis' acquisition of MorphoSys, go here. And you can sign up for Adam’s new newsletter, Biotech Scorecard, here.

308: An ASCO preview & another Duchenne trial failure May 30, 2024

Show notes

We preview some of the research that will be presented at The American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago. We also discuss the latest news in the health and life sciences, including a milestone in lung disease R&D and a Duchenne muscular dystrophy confirmatory trial failure.

To read more about Merus' combination therapy, go here; For more on Johnson & Johnson's mixed data, click here; For more on Nippon Shinyaku's Duchenne drug trial failure, go here; To read more on Insmed's bronchiectasis treatment, click here; To sign up for STAT's ASCO newsletter, click here.

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