The Readout Loud

When is a press release worth $5 billion? Can biotech stocks replace sports? And how will we know if a coronavirus vaccine actually works?

What can the adult film industry teach us about fighting coronavirus? Does the FDA approve Zoom backgrounds? And is it ethical to fund a study of yourself?

What if the curve just stays flat? How much should a Covid-19 drug cost? And what's it like on the ground in the epicenter of the novel coronavirus?

Just how well does Gilead Sciences' Covid-19 drug work? Is politics getting in the way of public health? And who gets the eventual coronavirus vaccine first?

Why was the infectious disease community in denial about the unfolding pandemic? When can we expect a vaccine? And are ventilators being overused?

What's the proper distance to stand from Sen. Mitch McConnell? How many PowerPoint charts is too many? And when will Theranos get its day in court?

Can the drug industry win over Americans? Will the pandemic put an end to privacy? And could Martin Shkreli save the world?

When will things go back to normal? What if a pandemic strikes when you're already sick? And what does Ken Burns know about genomics?

When can we stop distancing? Does the "deep state" meet over Zoom? And could the amyloid hypothesis come through at last?

Why did the U.S. change its tune on coronavirus? What's it like to be an ICU nurse right now? And when are we getting a vaccine?

How long will this pandemic persist? Are U.S. hospitals going to be overwhelmed? And what’s it like to be quarantined on a cruise ship?

Does “The Art of the Deal” cover vaccines? Is patient privacy a relic of the past? And how big can biotech get in China?

Is the market overreacting to the coronavirus? Why do so many clinical trials go unfilled? And how do you pronounce "Martin Shkreli"?

Can biopharma police itself? Who decides whether something's a disease or a difference? And will fecal matter ever become a drug?

What's the right way to give drugs away? Is $3 billion even a lot of money? And when is biotech hype justified?

Is peer review underrated? Can biotech stop an outbreak? And would you mind giving us a call? We're coming up on the 100th episode of this podcast, and we're using the occasion to actualize our long-held dream of running a call-in show. Dial us at 617-517-6130 and leave a message with any question you'd like us to answer on the podcast, and you may just hear it on air in the coming weeks.

Is it wise to lie to the feds? Is pharma taking Sen. Bernie Sanders seriously? And what constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern?"

Are we dealing with a SARS redux? Has the FDA lost its teeth? And what do billionaires talk to each other about?

Why weren't there any big deals announced this week? What does the word "equivalar" mean? And why is information about prognosis so hard to find?

Does pharma deserve more credit? Will history forgive He Jiankui? And how does a laboratory eureka become a lifesaving vaccine?

Which drug defined the decade? Who's the worst CEO in biopharma? And how does gene therapy actually work?

Has CAR-T lost its luster? Why is colorectal cancer on the rise? And did the FDA forever change in 2016?

How do you know if a "positive" study is positive? And how did one-eyed sheep lead to a drug for certain cancers?

Can Sen. Elizabeth Warren ever go home again? Is it ethical to make little people taller? And when will AI come up with a new drug?

Do you trust Google with your health data? Is "Gattaca" an outdated reference? And what's it like to get dunked on?