BioCentury This Week

Pressure is on FDA, policymakers and academic centers in the U.S. to respond to challenges from China, Australia, and beyond to run first in human trials faster and more efficiently. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss how stakeholders in the U.S. are responding to the challenge.
The analysts also discuss the next frontiers of federated learning in drug discovery and the latest crop of biotech IPOs on NASDAQ, which raised over $1.2B in strong IPO run last week.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660433

#ClinicalTrials #BiopharmaPolicy #DrugDevelopment #BiotechIPO #FederatedLearning

00:00- Introduction
01:15 - Academic Centers
10:42 - Policy Picture
15:48 - Grand Rounds Europe Highlights
18:01 - Federated Learning
28:15 - NASDAQ IPOs

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text

Rumors flew this weekend about a mega-merger of AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers — but would such a deal make sense? On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts explain why they aren’t buying it.
The team also discusses what lessons can be learned from the regulatory roller-coaster ride of Replimune’s RP1 vusolimogene oderparepvec and psychedelic therapies’ inflection point in treating depression.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660376

#BiotechMA #FDA #Psychedelics #Depression #OncolyticVirus

00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - AZ-BMS Rumors
08:07 - Replimune
20:46 - Psychedelics

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text

Argenx the tier-jumping European biotech, believes its proposed $2.2 billion purchase of Forte Biosciences will add a second multi-indication product upon which it can run the strategy that has made autoimmune drug Vyvgart efgartigimod alfa a blockbuster. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss the deal and put it in the context of a new cohort of large-cap companies increasingly active in biotech M&A.
The analysts also assess how recent releases from Anthropic, NVIDIA, Google, OpenAI and Amazon fit into biopharma R&D workflows — and with one another. Finally, they analyze the 1H26 clinical and regulatory catalyst scorecard, which therapies hit their milestones, which missed, and what’s next through year-end. This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660296

#BiotechMA #ArtificialIntelligence #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalTrials #Biopharma

00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE
01:57 - BioCentury AI Connector
05:47 - Argenx Acquires Forte
08:06 - Rise of Biotech Buyers
13:12 - AI Giants' Tech Stack
24:20 - Anthropic Enters Drug Development
27:41 - 2026 Catalyst

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text

The departure of U.K. Science Minister Patrick Vallance is a blow for U.K. biotech. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss what Vallance’s exit, the appointment of John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer and other changes arriving with the new Prime Minister could mean for life sciences in the country. BioCentury’s analysts also discuss an ambitious U.K. data initiative launched this month. The Health Data Research Service is intended to be a single front door to all NHS health records, offering large-scale longitudinal health data across diverse populations.

Beyond the U.K., the team turns to companies to watch in Taiwan, what’s next for Biogen’s anti-tau therapy, Eli Lilly’s proposed acquisition of psychedelics company AtaiBeckley, and the latest changes at FDA. This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660194

#Biotech #LifeSciences #UKBiotech #HealthData #FDA

00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE
02:23 - U.K. Leadership Changes
09:21 - U.K. Data Initiative
10:52 - Taiwan Biotech
16:44 - Biogen’s Tau Data
27:18 - Lilly’s Psychedelics Takeout
28:20 - FDA

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text

After nearly three years of sluggish job growth, hiring is turning a corner in the U.S. life sciences industry, while the talent pool is expanding beyond the sector’s traditional hubs. On a special episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast, Ian Anderson, senior director, head of U.S. life sciences & healthcare research at CBRE, joins BioCentury’s analysts to discuss the company’s recent report on life sciences talent trends, and how those trends are driving property demand. This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660118

#LifeSciences #BiotechJobs #Workforce #LifeSciencesRealEstate #Talent

00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE
00:45 - Industry Inflection Point
04:17 - Report Methodology
10:08 - Growth Beyond Big Hubs
15:28 - Capital Markets Signals
18:48 - AI and Space Use
20:50 - Emerging Talent
26:34 - Up-and-Coming Cities

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text

M&A enthusiasm is carrying biotech amid tepid reception for launches. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss BioCentury’s 3Q26 Public Markets Preview, asking whether M&A momentum can carry biotech through year-end and what happens if the AI trade goes bust?
Editor in Chief Simone Fishburn gives her perspective on what incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s agenda means for U.K. life sciences. The analysts also discuss Ionis’ ATTR-CM miss and Takeda’s orexin program. This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660118

#BiotechMA #BiotechInvesting #PublicMarkets #LifeSciences #DrugDevelopment

00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE
01:46 - 3Q Market Preview
10:54 - Burnham’s Britain
19:40 - Ionis' ATTR-CM Miss
29:12 - Takeda Orexin Program

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text

Novartis is deepening its antibody-drug conjugate capabilities with its $1.1 billion acquisition of U.K. biotech Myricx Pharma. On the latest episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss how the deal fits with the Swiss pharma’s cancer toolkit.
The analysts then discuss MHRA CEO Lawrence Tallon’s Guest Commentary in BioCentury on making regulation a catalyst for U.K. life sciences and why the primary defeat of Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) is a setback for FDA reforms. They also assess how single-cell Parkinson’s atlases reveal neuronal and glial disruptions in specific regions and stages, and the thin evidence underpinning Congress’ probe of China trial consent. This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660033

#ADC #BiotechMA #ParkinsonsDisease #FDA #ChinaBiotech

00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE
01:15 - Novartis Buying Myricx
08:01 - U.K. Regulation
14:44 - DeGette & FDA Reform
21:51 - Parkinson's Atlas Insights
29:39 - China Trials Probe

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text

New Parkinson’s disease programs aim to move beyond the historical norm of symptom management, branching into targeted therapeutics and cell therapies. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts review the most promising targets and trends shaping the Parkinson’s treatment landscape.
The team then turns to AstraZeneca’s build-out of its obesity portfolio, followed by FDA’s Operation TrialBlazer and what the reforms mean for reducing the time to launch a clinical trial in the U.S. — and whether they can help close the gap with China.
Finally, the analysts review recent FDA reversals of controversial regulatory decisions made under former Commissioner Marty Makary’s leadership and whether companies and investors can expect this reversion to the mean to carry forward.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/659958

#ParkinsonsDisease #ObesityDrugDevelopment #FDA #ClinicalTrials #DrugDevelopment

00:00 - Introduction
01:40 - Parkinson's New Targets
11:43 - AstraZeneca's Obesity Pipeline
18:37 - FDA's Operation TrialBlazer
27:33 - FDA Leadership Outlook

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text

AbbVie's $10.9 billion deal to acquire Apogee will expand its immunology pipeline by delivering assets for atopic dermatitis and asthma. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss the takeout and the assets AbbVie gains.
The analysts then discuss moves by FDA to reverse controversial setbacks that occurred under the agency’s former leadership and assess Acting CDER Director Michael Davis’ memo outlining how his predecessor repeatedly overruled career staff to quash a drug approval. The analysts also discuss continuing signs of political involvement at FDA.
Finally, they discuss China NMPA’s first-ever approval of a CAR T for solid tumors, satricabtagene autoleucel (satri-cel) from Carsgen.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/659864

#BiotechMA #Immunology #FDA #CART #ChinaBiotech

00:59 - AbbVie Buys Apogee
05:20 - uniQure U-turn
09:02 - FDA Reversals
12:32 - Tzield Memo
20:53 - Solid Tumor CAR T Approval

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text

Biotech IPOs that are getting out remain hot — but will that continue into the fall? On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss the market for fresh biotech paper on NASDAQ, including the $770 million debut by  Parabilis, the largest IPO in the sector’s history.
The analysts also discuss the Biosecure Act and U.S. policy toward China; the cachexia pipeline; and BioCentury’s updated Innovation Distillery.

View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/659773

#BiotechIPO #NASDAQ #BiosecureAct #Cachexia #ChinaBiotech 

00:36 - Innovation Distillery
03:56 - Biotech IPOs
10:13 - Biosecure Act, WuXi AppTec
16:03 - Cachexia Pipeline
22:03 - Ouster for RFK Jr.?

To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at [email protected].

Reach us by sending a text