The Readout Loud

How well does Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine work? What's the difference between efficacy and effectiveness? And should the FDA approve Biogen's Alzheimer's drug?

How bad will this winter be? Is everything coming up Biogen? And who's going to be president on Jan. 20? We discuss all that and more on this week's episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT's biotech podcast. First, STAT's Helen Branswell joins us to discuss what the winter has in store for the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Then, we discuss the latest surprising twist in Biogen’s quest to win FDA approval...

When are we getting Covid-19 vaccine data? Will concerts ever be safe again? And what's a "Bionomy"?

Who's voice rings loudest at the FDA? Is it wise to give hedge funds a blank check? And how will the Biogen saga end?

Is your local lawmaker flush with pharma cash? How does racism in medicine loom over Covid-19 studies? And who decides when a clinical trial goes on pause?

Why is the president making drug ads? Are antibodies the new vaccines? And is it ethical for doctors to talk about President Trump's health?

Can an itchy arm ruin a clinical trial? Does intermittent fasting work? And is pharma more trustworthy than the CDC?

Is superspreading an Olympic event? Will Covid-19 forever change health tech? And what are the limits of Anthony Fauci's patience?

How should governments talk about Covid-19? Can the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rebuild public trust? And when is a steak worth $21 billion?

Is AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine in jeopardy? Why can’t politicians and scientists in Washington get along? Did you miss STAT’s first-ever Health Tech Summit?

Should the FDA commissioner resign? How fast can vaccine trials move? And what do Chelsea Clinton and Chuck Grassley have in common?

Can the Food and Drug Administration survive Trump? Are drug reviewers in the deep state? And what can Elon Musk teach us about the nature of reality?

Did the FDA suddenly get stringent about new drugs? Is longevity research over-hyped? And what can recovered patients teach us about Covid-19 vaccines?

Is pharma scared of Kamala Harris? Are there second acts in biotech? And why don't Covid-19 trials look more diverse?

Does the future of health tech look like Facebook? Can we cut corners with Covid-19 vaccines? And are journalists slowing down Operation Warp Speed?

How much should a Covid-19 vaccine cost? What can basketball teach us about pandemic safety? And just how lucrative is venture capital?

How soon will we get a Covid-19 vaccine? Why is biotech moving airline stocks? And what can we learn from 1860s science?

What do we want from a coronavirus vaccine? Can the U.S.’s Covid-19 response be saved? And how can the field of medicine address structural racism?

Who will stand up to the White House? How can hospitals protect workers from Covid-19? And what ever happened with Biogen?

What’s a fair price for remdesivir? How do we know whether vaccines work? And does AI have a place in end-of-life care?

Is this a second wave or a rising tide? Who’s the real GlaxoSmithKline whistleblower? And what happens to cancer care in a pandemic?

Can a vaccine be an October surprise? Are journal publishers running a racket? And why is genetics so white?

Can a virtual conference feel real? Do scientists have a say in their benefactors' business? And what does it take to get remdesivir in the U.S.?

The killing of George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer has brutally underlined the systemic racism that informs policing, housing, education, and health care in the U.S. This podcast covers the world of biotech, which, like every facet of our society, is affected by racism and inequality. So, first, we talk about how the drug industry has responded to Floyd’s killing and wh...

What happens after we get a coronavirus vaccine? Can virtual medical meetings replace the real thing? And wasn’t Amazon supposed to disrupt health care?