In this episode of the Making Medicine Podcast, John Stanford sits down with Daphne Zohar, Founder, CEO, and Board Member of Seaport Therapeutics to explore the forces shaping today’s biotech ecosystem. Daphne shares her entrepreneurial path from PureTech to Seaport, offering a rare inside look at building companies, catalyzing innovation, and scaling breakthrough science. The conversation dives into the Massachusetts biotech flywheel, competitiveness with China, U.S. policy risks like the pill penalty and MFN, and how regulatory uncertainty ripples through capital formation and patient impact. Daphne also highlights why she’s bullish heading into 2026 and offers tactical advice for founders gearing up for JPM.
 
What part of Daphne’s perspective resonated most with you?
Which policy issue do you believe will most affect biotech innovation in 2025?
What should we ask her next time she joins the show?

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Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome & Introduction
1:12 Daphne Zohar’s Path into Biotech
3:05 The Seaport Therapeutics Story
6:10 Biotech Hangout & CEO Sisterhood
8:42 Why Massachusetts Leads in Biotech
10:55 The M&A Flywheel & Metsera Deal
13:40 China’s Biotech Strategy & U.S. Competitiveness
16:20 Pill Penalty, EPIC Act & Drug-Pricing Distortions
18:55 MFN Proposals & Impact on Early-Stage Biotechs
21:30 FDA Uncertainty: Regulation, Capital & Patients
24:00 Positive Signals Heading Into 2026
26:15 JPM Outlook & Advice for Founders

DISCLAIMER: We’re reporting on the headlines, not making medical recommendations. For personal health questions, always consult a doctor.