The Readout Loud

416: NIH funding uncertainty thwarts U.S. researchers

415: Mistrust in science and a juicy gene-editing lawsuit

The erosion of public trust in science stems from complex emotional responses rather than simple misinformation, as scientific knowledge frequently collides with fear and frustration. While childhood vaccination rates decline, the pharmaceutical industry’s shift toward marketing GLP-1 products as lifestyle "glow-up" to...

The FDA's Overton era, and dispatches from Shanghai

The FDA faces a pivotal transition as nominee Heidi Overton, a preventive medicine physician with deep ties to the Trump administration, navigates the agency's recent staffing losses and internal political turbulence. Simultaneously, the pharmaceutical industry is witnessing a renewed focus on osteoporosis treatments, ...

Definium's new psychedelics data, and a reprieve for international scientists

International scientists face increasing uncertainty due to proposed U.S. visa restrictions, specifically a four-year cap on duration of status that threatens the stability of the biomedical research workforce. With international researchers comprising roughly 60% of postdocs in life sciences, these policies risk drivi...

Why two promising heart drugs flopped and what's next

The biotech industry faces a significant shift in cardiovascular drug development following the high-profile failure of therapies targeting Lp(a) and IL-6. Despite these setbacks, the FDA continues to maintain a steady pace of approvals, including novel treatments for melanoma and rare diseases. However, growing concer...

411: Capricor's data clash and a fugitive in the C-suite

Sarepta Therapeutics transitions to new CEO Michael Severino, marking a shift after nearly a decade under Doug Ingram, while GSK initiates a $2.5 billion cost-cutting plan to prioritize late-stage pipeline development. Regulatory scrutiny intensifies as an FDA advisory panel rejects Capricor Therapeutics’ Duchenne musc...

410: A father’s mission to save his daughter, and allegations on telehealth GLP-1 prescribing

The biotech industry faces scrutiny over oversight failures and aggressive marketing practices. A fugitive posing as a biotech executive highlights critical gaps in corporate background checks, while investigations into the telemedicine provider LifeMD reveal concerns regarding rapid, high-volume GLP-1 prescribing and ...

409: Predicting biotech clinical trials & a new Alzheimer's drug controversy

Kalshi’s expansion into biotech prediction markets introduces significant ethical and practical concerns regarding the integrity of clinical trials. While these markets aim to aggregate dispersed expertise to improve decision-making, they risk introducing bias by potentially influencing patient enrollment and behavior ...

408: Whistleblower takes on health insurance and FDA commissioner candidates

Employer-based health insurance is failing as soaring costs outpace wage growth, creating an affordability crisis for both workers and businesses. High healthcare prices, driven by hospitals, drug companies, and insurers, force employers to pay unsustainable premiums, often leading them to drop coverage or shift costs ...

407: The mysterious case of Eli Lilly's obesity drug

Biotech mergers and acquisitions are accelerating, with 33 deals valued over $1 billion recorded in the first half of the year as companies scramble to address looming patent cliffs and growth targets. Eli Lilly remains a dominant force, recently expanding into the hair loss market and drawing scrutiny for granting a s...

406: New hope in treating Huntington's disease and a report card on RFK Jr.'s promises

Unicure has secured a path to submit its gene therapy for Huntington’s disease to the FDA, marking a significant victory for patients who previously faced the prospect of an unethical sham surgery control. This development follows a shift in FDA leadership and sustained pressure from patient advocates, including guest ...

405: An obesity drug deep-dive, and peptides move mainstream

The obesity drug market faces a high bar for innovation as recent data from the American Diabetes Association conference reveals underwhelming efficacy and tolerability for new GLP-1 candidates compared to existing treatments like Zepbound. While Eli Lilly’s retatrutide shows potential for superior weight loss, concern...

404: What RevMed's pancreatic cancer drug meant for one patient

Biotech market volatility and clinical breakthroughs from the ASCO conference define the current industry landscape. A significant sector-wide sell-off occurred despite positive maintenance trial data for Abivax’s ulcerative colitis treatment, which faced investor scrutiny over unrelated malignancy reports. Meanwhile, ...

403: Biotech exec Jeremy Levin on the industry's strategic turning point

402: Guarding biotech from China and big bets in longevity

Biotech industry leaders are grappling with shifting geopolitical tensions and the rapid rise of Chinese pharmaceutical research, which threatens traditional U.S. dominance in drug development. Companies like BridgeBio are increasingly guarding intellectual property, even considering misleading publication practices to...

401: Makary’s departure and Cassidy’s tenuous Senate seat

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has resigned following mounting political pressure regarding vaping regulations and the review process for the abortion drug mifepristone. Corporate attorney Kyle Diamantis has stepped in as acting commissioner, signaling a potential shift toward a more stable, process-oriented regulatory ...

400: Seaport's IPO adventure, obesity pill battles, and Makary's troubles

Biotech IPOs are rebounding as investors show renewed interest, highlighted by the recent public offering of Seaport Therapeutics. Seaport CEO Daphne Zohar explains how the company utilizes its proprietary Glyph platform to bypass first-pass metabolism, enabling oral administration of drugs like allopregnanolone for ma...

399: Hair-raising trial results, and Servier’s M&A wishlist

398: A CAR-T biotech's dramatic turnaround, and drugmakers' tactics to drive more scripts

398: A CAR-T biotech's dramatic turnaround, and drugmakers' tactics to drive more scripts