The Readout Loud

Latest Episodes:

267: BridgeBio's big week, Lilly's Alzheimer's data, & succession at Stanford Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Neil Kumar, CEO of BridgeBio, joins us to talk about how his small company came to develop what could be a big drug — and why classical Greek literature remains relevant. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the abrupt resignation of the celebrity scientist who led Stanford University and the implications of tornado damage at a Pfizer plant.

266: Wegovy in the brain, pivotal Alzheimer's data, & pulling Threads Jul 13, 2023

Show notes

Our colleague Megan Molteni joins us to explain the evolving science suggesting products like Wegovy are less weight loss drugs than treatments for human desire. We also explain why this summer is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and discuss our befuddlement with the latest social media platform.

265: Novavax's CEO promises a turnaround & how Lilly roiled the obesity market Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Our colleague Elaine Chen joins us to explain how the era of Wegovy could be short-lived in light of powerful new weight-loss medicines from Eli Lilly. Then, John Jacobs, the new CEO of Novavax, stops by to explain his plan to right the ship at a company that has struggled to make the most of its potent Covid-19 vaccine.

264: Messy PBM conflicts, debatable vaccines, & the future of flu season Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

Our colleague Bob Herman joins us to explain his year-long investigation into some brazen conflicts of interest in the world of prescription drug pricing. Then, STAT's Helen Branswell calls in to walk us through a news-packed week for vaccines, including weighty decisions for Covid-19 and RSV.

263: Biogen's messy board, Laronde's data problem, & the downside of a boom Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Our colleague Allison DeAngelis joins us to share her reporting on how the handsomely funded Laronde Therapeutics, billed as “Moderna 2.0,” ran into behind-the-scenes problems with its scientific data. We also discuss how Biogen's boardroom scandal has roiled a company that was supposed to be entering a new era.

262: Merck v. USA, the best of ASCO, and Leqembi at the FDA Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

STAT Washington correspondent Rachel Cohrs joins us to explain Merck's lawsuit against the federal government and why the company believes drug pricing negotiation is “tantamount to extortion." We also discuss the health effects of Canadian wildfires, the highlights of the year’s biggest cancer research conference, and what could be a watershed moment in the treatment of Alzheimer’s.

261: Fake medical devices, real cancer drugs, & curious Ozempic effects Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Our colleague Lizzy Lawrence joins us to explain the shocking story of a medical device company that sold fake implants and the warped system that made the scam lucrative. We’ll also preview the year’s biggest cancer research meeting and discuss a surprising twist with novel weight loss medicines.

260: ChatGPT in medicine, a boom in weight loss pills, & Sarepta at the FDA May 25, 2023

Show notes

As hospitals and health care companies are racing to implement large language models like ChatGPT into their businesses, STAT reporter Casey Ross joins us to explain what experts want the world to know before embracing generative AI. We also discuss the latest twist for Sarepta Therapeutics and the quest to develop more potent weight loss medicines.

259: The FTC v. Amgen, Sarepta's future, & Galapagos' turnaround May 18, 2023

Show notes

Jared Holz, biotech strategist at Mizuho Securities, joins us to explain why federal regulators are suing to block Amgen's $28 billion merger with Horizon Therapeutics and what it means for the drug industry. We also discuss the latest on Sarepta Therapeutics and its gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a turnaround story in the making at the Belgian drug maker Galapagos, and the effort to secure approval for a maternal RSV vaccine.

258: Pharma vs. PBMs, Sarepta at the FDA, & a bold idea gone awry May 11, 2023

Show notes

We discuss a Senate hearing that put major pharma CEOs in the same room with the middlemen they love to blame for rising drug prices, with mixed results. We also explain what is a massive week for Sarepta Therapeutics, the FDA, and the future of gene therapies for rare diseases, plus the latest news in the life sciences.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected