The Readout Loud

Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis and the new chairman of PhRMA, joins us to discuss the industry’s struggles in Washington and whether the deflated biotech sector is still overvalued. We also dive into the latest news in the life sciences, including Moderna's promise of no-cost Covid-19 vaccines and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy's potential run for president.

Helen Branswell, STAT’s senior writer covering infectious disease, joins us to explain the sudden resurgence of a bird flu virus called H5N1 and why experts are watching the situation closely.

STAT Washington correspondent Rachel Cohrs joins us to explain the looming end of Covid-19's status as a federal emergency and what that does and doesn't mean for public health. We also dig into the most interesting stories from a busy week of pharmaceutical earnings and discuss a legal setback for Johnson & Johnson.

George Scangos, the CEO of Vir Biotechnology, joins us to discuss his retirement and offer some perspective and lessons from a remarkable, 40-year career in biotech. We also chat about the latest news in the life sciences, including an FDA advisory meeting debating the necessity for annual Covid vaccinations, and a surprising, but perhaps not, rejection of Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s disease treatment...

Journalist Nathan Vardi joins us to talk about his new book delving into the race to develop the lifesaving cancer drug now called Imbruvica, involving a Scientologist CEO and secretive investor seeking redemption after the worst trade of his life. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including new vaccines for a vexing infection and the future of mRNA.

With the 2023 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference drawing to a close, we look back on the biggest news of the meeting, what it means for the year in biotech ahead, and whether the industry's biggest annual gathering might finally have outgrown its host city.

First, we delve into a sweeping congressional investigation into the FDA's approval of the last treatment for Alzheimer's disease and what it means for the next one. We also preview the upcoming J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference and the biggest biotech events of 2023.

We look back on the biggest biotech stories of 2022 and how, despite some meaningful advances in Alzheimer's disease and gene therapy, the industry seems stuck in a sentiment rut. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including a pair of indicted CEOs and the debate over how much an oft-debated new medicine should cost.

Katie Palmer, STAT's health tech correspondent, joins us to explain how the explosive popularity of telehealth is putting sensitive patient information into the hands of Facebook, TikTok, and other big tech firms. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including highlights from a big hematology conference, a disastrous biotech IPO, and the downside of being a good quote.

STAT's Elaine Chen joins us to explain how the escalating demand for a potent diabetes drug is putting patients with obesity in a difficult situation. We also discuss a curious trend in biotech investing, the future of Illumina, and another sentencing in the Theranos saga.

STAT Washington correspondent Rachel Cohrs joins us to explain how PhRMA, the all-powerful lobbying group, lost its edge in a fight over drug-pricing negotiation. Damian gives us the inside scoop on CTAD, the big Alzheimer's disease research conference, where Eisai and Biogen presented groundbreaking data on their treatment called lecanemab. We also discuss the FDA approval of a microbiome drug fo...

How do Alzheimer’s drugs even work? Can biotech people bake? And do we even like one another? Recorded live from the 2022 STAT Summit, we discuss the failure of an Alzheimer’s disease treatment from Roche, the unexpected success of a competing one for Eisai, and some unpredictable questions from our audience.

STAT Washington correspondent Sarah Owermohle joins us to explain how this week's midterm elections will affect health and medicine, and what the politicization of the pandemic means for the future of science in the U.S. We also discuss the incoming CEOs of Biogen and Seagen, plus a pair of biotech collapses.

Our colleague Matthew Herper joins us to discuss his thoughtful, personal story on how the biotech revolution that brought us genome editing, Covid-19 vaccines, and lifesaving medicines could run aground if humanity can't get out of its own way.

Our colleague Sarah Owermohle joins us to discuss how pandemic shutdowns, Covid-19 vaccines, and the prospect of arresting Anthony Fauci have become campaign rallying cries in midterm elections. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the potential effects of federal drug-price negotiation and the virtues of befriending Pharrell Williams.

Lawyer and bioethicist ​​Holly Fernandez Lynch joins us to explain a watershed test of the FDA's authority to revoke drug approvals. And STAT's Helen Branswell calls in to discuss the headline-grabbing research at Boston University involving a lab-developed version of the virus that causes Covid-19.

STAT Washington correspondent Rachel Cohrs joins us to explain the abrupt departure of the CEO of BIO, the lobbying group representing biotech on Capitol Hill, and its wider implications. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the future of mRNA, a promising startup closing its doors, and Biogen’s search for a new CEO.

The newest Nobel laureates got their phone calls from Stockholm this week, and STAT science writer Megan Molteni joins us to explain their prize-winning work in medicine and chemistry. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the state of biotech dealmaking and the evolution of Amylyx Pharmaceuticals.

Lecanemab, a new Alzheimer's treatment from partners Biogen and Eisai, succeeded in a pivotal clinical trial, and we explain the surprising development and its sweeping implications. Then, oncologist Mikkael Sekeres joins us to talk about his new book, which is a history of the FDA and an insider’s look at one of the agency’s most contentious drug approval hearings.

Heidi Tworek, a professor at the University of British Columbia and expert on public health communication, joins us to discuss President Biden's declaration that "the pandemic is over" and how leaders around the world are talking about Covid-19 as it enters its third year. We’ll also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the twilight of the SPAC boom, the coming evolution of geno...

Our colleague Katie Palmer joins us to explain a burgeoning trend in pharmaceutical advertising that has health policy experts alarmed. We also discuss the White House's investment in biotech, a bellwether IPO, and the latest twist in the Merck-Seagen saga.

Our colleague Matthew Herper joins us to discuss how Illumina, the biggest company in genomic sequencing, got into an $8 billion predicament. We also discuss a dramatic development for a new ALS treatment, the latest in cancer research, and a well-funded new player in biotech venture capital.

Our colleague Megan Molteni joins us to explain the scientific discoveries, rampant hype, and Silicon Valley billions behind the burgeoning field of longevity research. Then, we discuss the remarkable career of Stelios Papadopoulos, the venerated Godfather of biotech who faces the daunting task of saving Biogen.

Our colleague Helen Branswell joins to explain the Covid-19 booster debate, the Biden Administration’s monkeypox response, and the long career of the soon-to-step-down Anthony Fauci. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including a milestone for gene therapy, the tentative return of an IPO market, and the venture capital league table.

First, STAT's Tara Bannow joins us to discuss how private equity's mounting interest in autism care has created an untenable situation for many parents in the U.S. We also explain the implications of Bluebird Bio's long-awaited FDA approval, a controversial treatment for ALS, and the ups and downs of Merck's reported interest in buying Seagen.