The Readout Loud

With the first CRISPR-based medicine expected to win FDA approval any minute now, STAT’s Megan Molteni joins us to discuss how we got here and what it means for the future. Then, Bruce Booth from Atlas Venture joins us to discuss what was yet another downbeat year for biotech and whether there’s reason for optimism heading into 2024. To keep up with biotech news throughout the week, here's where y...

We discuss why AbbVie is spending $10 billion on a cancer-focused company that spent four decades on the path to its first FDA approval, a deal with implications for biotech in 2023 and for a burgeoning area in oncology. We’ll also talk about the latest news in the life sciences, including safety concerns for CAR-T cancer treatment, the slumping industry job market, and some curious explanations f...

Our colleague Casey Ross joins us to tell the bombshell story of how the nation's largest health insurer used a computer algorithm to deny patient care and boost its profitability. Then, biotech veteran Michael Gilman calls in to offer a behind-the-scenes peek at what it’s like to be a startup CEO in this economic downturn — and which cocktail recipes help make it bearable. We also discuss a pione...

From our reporting partners at Tradeoffs: Congress banned most surprise medical bills back in 2020, with one major exception: ambulance rides. Most people agree that patients should be shielded from these unexpected charges. But who should pick up the tab instead? This week, as state and federal policymakers grapple with that question, we delve into why finding a fair solution is harder than you’d...

As so-called radiopharmaceuticals make headlines in oncology, we explore their fascinating scientific backstory and the biotech gold rush to make them. We also discuss the approval of Eli Lilly’s curiously named treatment for obesity, the latest implosion for a promising biotech company, and some news in the world of shareholder activism. To keep up between podcast episodes, here’s where you can s...

Biotech consultant Frank David joins us to explain the wild world of subgroup analyses and how to discern science from spin. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the future of Sarepta and the retirement of a biotech stalwart. For more on what we cover, here's where you can read Frank's work; here's more on Sarepta; here’s where you can find episodes of Color Code; here’s...

Our colleague Andrew Joseph joins us to explain the decades-old cancer-treating technology that had its star turn at this week's big oncology conference in Europe. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the future of Alzheimer’s disease treatment, a multibillion-dollar deal, and the return of the biotech mega-round. For more on what we cover, here's STAT's coverage of the...

Live from Boston at the 2023 STAT Summit, we discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including a milestone in genome editing, a twist in the search for ALS treatments, and the polarizing process of saying words in biotech.

We discuss Bristol Myers Squibb’s multibillion-dollar acquisition of Mirati Therapeutics and what it means for a biotech sector still in a slump. We also explain the latest news in the life sciences, including Wall Street’s freakout over GLP-1, CRISPR’ing animals, and the latest in the NASH saga.

It’s Nobel week on the podcast, and reporter Megan Molteni details the unique story of this year’s winners for medicine, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman. Then, our colleague Jason Mast joins us to explain the scientific and ethical quandaries facing the teams attempting to develop HIV vaccines.

Our colleague Elaine Chen joins us to explain the story of Svetlana Mojsov, a chemist who played a vital role in the discovery of GLP-1 who has spent decades fighting for proper recognition. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the FDA hearing on a BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics' polarizing ALS treatment, the end of the road for a once-vaunted drug developer, and the sorry...

Our colleague Lizzy Lawrence joins us to explain the promise of artificial wombs and the debate over how to ethically develop them. We also discuss a momentous upcoming meeting in which FDA will consider the thorny case of a potential medicine for ALS whose supporting evidence has polarized patients and physicians.

Our colleague Helen Branswell joins us to discuss the state of the Covid-19 pandemic heading into the fall and the rollout of boosters shots aimed at the latest viral variants. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including an IPO implosion, a debate at the FDA, and the ups and downs of a career in biotech.

Josh Schimmer and Eric Schmidt, two longtime analysts teaming up at Cantor Fitzgerald, join us for a back-to-school conversation as biotech enters the busy back third of 2023. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including some scientific evolution at Biogen, new leadership at Illumina, and the future of CRISPR medicine.

We discuss how Vivek Ramaswamy, fresh off his headline-grabbing debut at the first Republican presidential debate, went from a drug industry entrepreneur to a GOP rising star — and how his former biotech colleagues are reacting to it. We also explain the latest news in the life sciences, including a curious data leak and the family business of a famed biotech inventor.

Our colleague Jason Mast joins us to explain how the approval of a landmark gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy set in motion a frantic race to get children treated before their 6th birthdays. Then, HSBC Managing Director Jonathan Norris calls in to discuss why so many biotech startups are facing financial bridges to nowhere.

In the wake of a massively important clinical trial of Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy, our colleague Elaine Chen joins us to explain what we know and don’t know about data that could change the practice of medicine. Then, Mizuho Securities biotech strategist Jared Holz calls in to discuss whether explosive popularity of obesity treatments could help create the first trillion-dollar drug compan...

First, we discuss how some recent layoffs and a reverse merger mean for biotech in 2023. We’ll also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including a dramatic saga in ocular medicine, the volatile business of Covid-19, and some major milestones in gene therapy.

First, we discuss why Wall Street was less than convinced by Biogen's attempt to assuage concerns about its credibility. Then we explain an insider trading scandal that bridges biotech and elite-level soccer, the latest concerns over Wegovy, and the rest of the week's news in the life sciences. We also break some bittersweet news, with the help of some headline names from around biotech.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.