This week, hosts Daphne Zohar, Brad Loncar, Josh Schimmer, John Maraganore and Grace Colon discuss the news of the week including several early-stage IPO filings that kicked off the year: Kyverna Therapeutics, CG Oncology and Alto Neuroscience. The hosts also cover AI enabled biomarkers following the FDA’s clearance of two AI diagnostic tools, plus the FDA expands approval of Vertex and CRISPR’s Cagevy as a first CRISPR-edited therapy for beta-thalassemia. They also discuss early-stage funding and an amicus brief that many biotech executives have signed, following the decision on Mifepristone. Other topics include BridgeBio Pharma securing capital from Blue Owl Capital and Canada Pension Plan Investments, Regenxbio Phase 2 data, Wiley Chambers retires and Vivek Ramaswamy drops out of the presidential race. Plus, Bernat Olle, Vedanta Biosciences CEO, joins the group to discuss his recent Timmerman Report article on investor and entrepreneur discussions. *This episode aired on January 19, 2024

On this week’s Biotech Hangout, hosts Daphne Zohar, Josh Schimmer, Brad Loncar, Dawn Bell and Sam Fazeli discuss the latest in biotech news, including their takeaways from last week’s JPM 2024 conference and Brad’s BiotechTV interviews with several attendees. The hosts also discuss the many deals from the week including Merck’s acquisition of Harpoon Therapeutics ($680M), Johnson & Johnson’s acquisition of Ambrx ($2B), GSK acquires Aiolos Bio ($1.4B), Boston Scientific acquires Axonics ($3.7B) and several Novartis deals including their dropped pursuit of Cytokinetics, acquisition of Calypso ($250M), their licensed drugs from a China biotech ($185M) and their deal with Eli Lilly and Isomorphic Labs ($3B). Other topics include two preclinical companies, Metagenomi and ArriVent file for IPO, Vertex pauses its diabetes cell therapy trial and Astellas gets a CRL. *This episode aired on January 12, 2024

In the first Biotech Hangout of 2024, RA Capital’s Peter Kolchinsky joins hosts Daphne Zohar, Josh Schimmer, Tim Opler, Paul Matteis and Luba Greenwood to discuss the latest biotech news. They start with the last M&A deals of 2023 including Bristol Myers Squibb’s acquisition of Karuna and Rayzebio, and AstraZeneca’s acquisition of Gracell. They discuss insights from RA Capital’s latest sector analysis and the outlook for the sector in 2024, plus JPM predictions. The hosts also cover news from the first week of 2024 including Longboard Pharmaceuticals and Dyne Therapeutics data, Novartis’ expanded collaboration with Voyager, the FDA’s hold on Iovance’s TIL therapy and their approval of AstraZeneca and Ionis’ rare nerve disease treatment. Other topics include Goldman Sachs life science investment fund and ImmunityBio’s royalty financing. *This episode aired on January 5, 2024

Guest host Nick Shipley, Bio’s policy expert joins Daphne Zohar, Brad Loncar, Mike Yee and Yaron Werber on this week’s Biotech Hangout. The group discusses policy affecting biotech, including march-in rights, PBMs, IRA and FTC involvement plus bipartisan initiatives like the Orphan Cures Act. They also discuss the state of the XBI and industry sentiment, Bluebird Bio’s setbacks following FDA approval and Pfizer’s stock after its 2024 forecast revenue. They cover data from Vertex, Icosavax, Arcellx and Legend, plus several ADC deals including Bristol Meyers Squibb, SystImmune, C4 Therapeutics, Merck, Nona Biosciences and Pfizer. Other topics include updates from ASH, the new Amgen CSO plus the group shares their thoughts on what to expect in 2024. *This episode aired on December 15, 2023

On this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout, Josh Schimmer, Tim Opler, Chris Garabedian, Dawn Bell and guest host Eric Schmidt, Biotech Analyst, discuss the latest industry news. They cover the JPM year in review, XBI performance, plus Abbvie’s acquisition of Cerevel and the implications for Karuna. They also discuss a big GLP-1 deal from Roche and Carmot, the AstraZeneca/ IRA case and EV negative biotechs. They also talk about three big investors days from J&J, Sanofi and Neurocrine Biosciences, plus CVS’s update on how they will cover drugs, Eyepoint Pharmaceutical’s wet AMD data and much more. *This episode aired on December 8, 2023

On this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout hosts Daphne Zohar, Tim Opler, Josh Schimmer, Chris Garabedian, John Maraganore and Ethan Perlstein discuss the latest industry news including takeaways and sentiment from the recent Jefferies, Stifel, American Heart Association and ACR conferences. They also discuss Ajinomoto acquiring Forge Biologics ($620M), Crispr and Vertex MHRA approval in the UK, Verve data and Novo Nordisk’s SELECT trial details. They hosts discuss Astellas’ acquisition of Propella ($175M) and the differences between Propella and PureTech’s lymphatic-focused technologies, on the back of PureTech’s Phase 2 data. Other topics include three merger agreements: Graphite Bio/ Lenz Therapeutics, Q32 Bio/Homology Medicines and Selecta Biosciences/ Cartesian Therapeutics, adcomm for Merck’s inhibitor for chronic cough and more. *This episode aired on November 17, 2023

Hosts Brad Loncar, Tim Opler, Josh Schimmer, Dawn Bell and Yaron Werber discuss the latest industry news on this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout. They cover several upcoming conferences including the American Heart Association, which the hosts say will highlight market moving data and a “biologics revolution”, plus ACR, which will highlight CAR-T data, and the Liver Meeting. The hosts also discuss Eli Lilly’s drug approval for weight management, Cargo Therapeutics’ IPO terms and Adverum’s 3-year AMD data. There is also news in the I&I space from Moonlake Therapeutics, who was off by more than 20% after announcing psoriatic arthritis data and Ventyx Biosciences halting its Phase 2 TYK2 trial. Other topics include BioNTech’s R&D day, Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine data and activist investor Elliot Investment Management buys over $1B stake in BioMarin. *This episode aired on November 10, 2023

On this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout, hosts Daphne Zohar, Tim Opler, Josh Schimmer, Brian Skorney and guest Matthew Gline, Roivant CEO discuss the current market for public biotechs plus Pharma performance including Sanofi, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Biogen and Abbvie. The hosts also discuss Sarepta’s trial miss, and Matt shares additional commentary to Roivant’s deal with Roche. They also share thoughts on Lexeo Therapeutics’ IPO ($100M), 4D Molecular Therapeutics’ CF Phase 1 data and AstraZeneca’s investment in Cellectic ($245M). There were several large funds from the week including Abingworth’s fundraise ($365M), Blue Owl- Cowen Investments acquisition (~$1B) and Bioluminescence Ventures’ fundraise ($477M). Other topics include Bluebird Bio presells its PRV to Novartis, Amgen stops selling PSMA BiTE, Crispr Therapeutics/Vertex adcomm and Pfizer closes several sites. *This episode aired on November 3, 2023

Josh Schimmer disclosures: The disclosures for companies that I cover can be found on the Hangout homepage and none of the comments should be construed as investment advice.

Guest host Paul Matteis, Biotech Analyst at Stifel, joins Daphne Zohar, Brad Loncar, Josh Schimmer, Dawn Bell and Bruce Booth on this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout to discuss market sentiment, biotech’s bear market, CTAD and World Sleep meetings and Roche to acquire Telavant ($7.1B). The hosts also cover industry issues such as the Orphan Cures Act, More Transparency Act, PRVs and more after Daphne attended meetings with senators and congressmen in DC. Additionally, they talk about the second largest A round of funding in 2023 from Aiolos Bio ($245M) plus OrbiMed’s $4.3B raise, CARGO Therapeutics’ IPO and >40 biotechs exploring strategic alternatives. Other topics include CMS expanding Medicare coverage to Alzheimer’s PET scan testing, Senator Bernie Sanders to investigate NIH licensing practices, delays in cancer care and Novartis regulatory filing pushed after data disappoints at ESMO. *This episode aired on October 27, 2023