The Readout Loud

Latest Episodes:

355: Moderna’s vaccine hit, the MAHA report, and an ASCO preview May 29, 2025

Show notes

The American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, kicks off its annual meeting this weekend in Chicago. We discuss what to watch at the meeting. Then, STAT’s infectious disease reporter Helen Branswell joins us to discuss RFK Jr.’s unprecedented move to strike Covid shot recommendations, and the cancellation of a $600 million contract with Moderna to develop, test and license vaccines for subtypes of flu. We also welcome chronic disease reporter Isa Cueto to discuss the key takeaways from a closely watched report from Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again Commission.

354: Uncertainty in CRISPR world and the start of more M&A May 22, 2025

Show notes

We chat about M&A deals picking up, leadership changes at Novo, and recent FDA advisory committee meetings for cancer drugs. We also bring on STAT reporter Jason Mast to talk about the latest research and sentiment at the annual American Society of Cell and Gene Therapy meeting.

353: Trump's drug-pricing plan and a potential Theranos 2.0 May 15, 2025

Show notes

We chat about the mixed sentiment in biotech markets these days and a new blood-testing company formed by Elizabeth Holmes' husband. We also bring on STAT's D.C. correspondent Daniel Payne to talk about President Trump's "most-favored nation" drug pricing policy and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent congressional hearing.

352: A firebrand takes oversight of vaccines, gene therapies May 08, 2025

Show notes

Matt Herper joins Adam and Allison to examine Prasad's appointment and the band of outsiders now in charge of U.S. health agencies. He and Adam debate just how disruptive Prasad's tenure could be.

351: It's gonna be May (in biotech) May 01, 2025

Show notes

On this week’s episode of the Readout LOUD, we review President Trump’s first 100 days, the return of biotech M&A, strong drug launches, and Eli Lilly’s PBM problem.

The first 100 days of the Trump administration have had a profound impact on federal health agencies, medical research, health policy and the biotech and pharmaceuticals industries. To help us make sense of all the cuts and policy shifts, we talk with STAT editors Gideon Gil and Zach Tracer for their perspective overseeing STAT’s reporting on science and politics.

But first, your co-hosts Elaine, Allison and Adam gab about the week’s relatively positive biotech news, including two acquisitions and a series of strong drug launches. What’s a podcast without dipping into obesity, so Elaine will explain the latest maneuverings between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk around patient access and compounding.

350: Pharma tariffs, and a 'sunshine day' for biotech stocks Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

How did Ireland become a hotspot for pharmaceutical manufacturing? What are the products that will come out of Flagship's latest startup centered around "preemptive medicine"? And who among the co-hosts is the best singer?

We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. We chat about the recent bounceback in biotech stocks, disappointing results from Bristol Myers Squibb's schizophrenia drug Cobenfy, new allegations about entrepreneur Sam Waksal, and more.

We also bring on STAT's European correspondent Drew Joseph to talk about the growth of pharma manufacturing in Ireland and how U.S. tariffs would impact global drug supply.

349: BIO's John Crowley on RFK Jr. and tariffs, plus calls for more federal biotech funding Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

John Crowley, the CEO of industry lobbying group BIO, joins us to discuss the layoffs at the Food and Drug Administration, RFK Jr.'s comments on Novavax's Covid-19 vaccine, and how the trade group is communicating with the Trump administration. Then we discuss the latest news on the stock market and a congressional advisory group's recommendation that $15 billion be invested in U.S. biotechnology to ward off encroaching competition from China.

348: Cuts, ousters and drama at the FDA Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

STAT’s FDA reporter Lizzy Lawrence joins to discuss her inside-the-agency reporting on how Robert F. Kennedy Jr. forced top FDA officials to resign at a time when newly sworn-in FDA Commissioner Makary is still figuring out how to get around the agency’s White Oak campus in suburban Maryland. Then: AstraZeneca presented positive mid-stage results this week on a PCSK9 pill that dramatically lowered cholesterol levels on top of traditional statins. R&D executive Sharon Barr joins to talk about why AstraZeneca views this experimental cardiovascular medicine as a key part of its growth strategy.

347: More HHS upheaval, 23andMe's bankruptcy, and AI for cancer survival Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Adam, Elaine, and Allison discuss the Trump administration’s plan for huge job cuts and a restructuring of the country’s top health care agencies, the approval of the first drug to treat a devastating rare disease, and the bankruptcy of 23andMe. Then, they bring on the chief executive of startup Altis Labs to discuss new data from a study they conducted with AstraZeneca on an AI tool for cancer drug development.

346: Zealand's obesity strategy and Immunovant's curious development plan Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

We chat about positive data from Immunovant's autoimmune drug candidate, a patient death linked to Sarepta's gene therapy, and dispatches from our STAT Breakthrough Summit East in New York. We also bring on Zealand Pharma CEO Adam Steensberg to talk about his company’s amylin-targeting obesity treatment, the partnership deal it recently signed with Roche, and his thoughts on the industry's intense focus on weight loss.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected