The RTW Podcast

Are psychedelics poised to transform mental health treatment? Connor Williams joins Stephanie Sirota for a deep dive into psilocybin, the science behind its effects on the brain, and its potential in treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and other serious conditions. As clinical trials advance and FDA pathways take shape, psychedelics have moved from counterculture to clinic, raising critical ques...

For decades, some cancers were a near-certain death sentence. Now, a new generation of cancer drugs—many coming from biotech, not big pharma—is changing that. RTW’s Chris Liu discusses ASCO 2026, and breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and other hard-to-treat tumors. What's driving the progress, why is it happening now, and what does it mean for the future of cancer care? PODCAST TEAM...

Menopause, perimenopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are reshaping the conversation around women’s health and longevity. OB/GYN Dr. Stephanie Lam explains the science, symptoms, and why women’s healthcare may represent a major investing whitespace. PODCAST TEAM Producer & Director: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin Production support: Annabell...

What if you could fix disease by rewriting DNA? From CRISPR to next-gen gene editing, Stephanie Sirota and Beam Therapeutics CEO John Evans break down base editing, prime editing, and the path to one-time cures. PODCAST TEAM Producer & Director: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin Production support: Annabelle Chan Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Si...

Rod Wong joins Stephanie Sirota to trace biotech's evolution. What forces built today’s innovation landscape, and what might the next decade reveal? PODCAST TEAM Producer & Director: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Production Coordinator: YingYu Lin Production Support: Annabelle Chan Theme music: Ganymede by Yehezkel Raz Additional music: APM Music Featuring: Rod Wong, Managing Partner a...

When an FDA panel held her company’s future in the balance, UroGen Pharma CEO Liz Barrett refused to fold, even with the odds stacked, a plunging stock, and one vote deciding it all. PODCAST TEAM Producer and Director: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Production Coordinator: YingYu Lin Production Support: Annabelle Chan Story Consultants: Partner & Research Analyst Tony Nguyen, and Chief...

From a Thanksgiving night emergency to one of the fastest gene therapies ever deployed, this is the story of a family’s relentless pursuit to help their daughter, and how RTW Foundation made it possible. This episode was recorded on June 11, 2025, and the clinical trial details discussed may have changed; please see ellysteam.org for the most current information on Elly’s case. PODCAST TEAM Produc...

Lack of sleep can be deadly and costly. Matthew Walker, author of NYT bestseller Why We Sleep and Stephanie Sirota explore the science of sleep, how not sleeping can hurt our health and economy, and the global sleep epidemic. PODCAST TEAM Producer: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Featuring: Dr. Matthew Walker PhD, Author of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, moderated by...

When Akero’s stock dropped after a trial setback, why did RTW double down that same day? CEO Andrew Cheng joins RTW’s Rod Wong to share how he navigated the biotech storm, why he believed in efruxifermin (EFX,) and what’s next for liver disease treatment. PODCAST TEAM Producer: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Production Coordinator: YingYu Lin Featuring: Andrew Cheng, CEO of Akero Therapeuti...

Connor Williams was shocked when the data came back for GH001. What could this mean for the future of treatment-resistant depression? Listen to his exclusive interview with Dr. Valcheva, the CEO of GH Research, to find out. PODCAST TEAM Producer: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Featuring: Dr. Velichka (Villy) Valcheva MD, CEO of GH Research moderated by Connor Williams, Senior Research Analy...

If you’re dismissing psychedelics in pharma, think again. Stephanie Sirota and Connor Williams discuss overcoming stigma and regulatory challenges, and the results of a recent clinical trial that could signal a new era for mental health care. PODCAST TEAM Producer: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Featuring: Connor Williams, Senior Researcher at RTW Investments, moderated by Stephanie A. Siro...

Dr. Rekha Kumar, Chief Medical Officer at Found, and Stephanie Sirota explore Rekha’s rise from academia, and her passion for obesity medicine. As new weight management therapies emerge, Rekha emphasizes the importance of lifestyle changes to maximize their potential. PODCAST TEAM Producer: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Featuring: Dr. Rekha B. Kumar, moderated by Stephanie Sirota. Don't fo...

Rod Wong and Stephanie Sirota delve into the transformative potential of GLP-1 drugs, focusing on their impact on obesity and related diseases. Rod shares his insights into the next generation of obesity therapies and the opportunities they present for innovation and investment in the biotech sector. PODCAST TEAM Producer: Devon Leaver Editor: Dominique Guerra Featuring: Rod Wong, moderated by Ste...

Sarah Boyce from Avidity Biosciences and Piratip Pratumsuwan from RTW Investments explore the strategic decisions and innovations that have driven Avidity's success. They cover her approach to overcoming the challenges of scaling a biotech company, the impact of Avidity’s groundbreaking work on treating rare genetic disorders, and Sarah’s vision for the future of RNA-based therapies. PODCAST TEAM...

Mark McKenna from Prometheus Biosciences and Josh Kennedy-Smith from RTW Investments tell us about the white-knuckle ride that is building a pharmaceutical start-up, their passion for providing better care solutions for patients, the recent deal with Merck and the power of a strong partnership with your investor. Host: Josh Baldwin, RTW Investments Featuring: Mark McKenna, CEO of Prometheus Biosci...