The Readout Loud

We discuss the next big trend in obesity drug development — treatments that target the amylin hormone. Companies argue that these types of drugs could lead to less nausea and muscle loss, and the first big readout is coming later this year. We also chat about an upcoming presentation from Summit Therapeutics on its cancer drug that beat Merck’s Keytruda, mixed data from Recursion’s lead AI-derived drug candidate, and more news in the life sciences.

STAT biotech reporter Jonathan Wosen joins us to discuss gene therapy pioneer Jim Wilson's exit from his decades-long tenure at the University of Pennsylvania. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the surprising collapse of a gene editing company, Eli Lilly's pitch to consumers, and more.

This week, STAT's Casey Ross and Bob Herman joined the Boston Globe's "Say More" podcast to talk about their reporting on AI and Healthcare. We're sharing that episode here with you now. Enjoy!

It's a guest-free episode this week, giving Allison, Adam and Elaine ample time to chat about the management shakeup at BioMarin, including the announcement that James Sabry, the former Roche dealmaker, was joining the company as its new chief business officer. We can't seem to go a week without talking about GLP-1 medicines, so in true form, Elaine walks us through new study findings that showed Lilly's Zepbound greatly reduced the risk of diabetes. We also discuss a separate study that potentially links GLP-1 drugs to a higher rate of suicidal thoughts.

Lastly, Adam and Elaine interrogate Allison about her deeply reported corporate profile of AI drug developer Recursion. Is all the hype real?

STAT’s chief Washington correspondent Rachel Cohrs Zhang joins us to discuss the discounts and how this first round of negotiations between pharmaceutical companies and Medicare officials played out. After that, we chat with our colleague Meghana Keshavan about the latest news in the psychedelics world, including the retraction of three research papers.

STAT's Washington Correspondent John Wilkerson joins us to discuss the first round of drug pricing negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, which will wrap up by September 1. We also cover the latest news in the life sciences including the merger of AI drug development companies Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Exscientia, Novo Nordisk's decision to pause its regulatory submission for Wegovy's use in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and the state of biotech VC.

Andrew Joseph, STAT's Europe correspondent, joins us to talk about his special report on the 40-year quest to develop the world's first malaria vaccines. We also cover the latest news in the biotech industry, including Sarepta Therapeutics' move to censor a patient video, data from a new Duchenne gene therapy, and a campaign by Mount Sinai to stifle debate about its controversial brain research following revelations made by a STAT investigation.

What makes UnitedHealth similar to Standard Oil? Is Viking Therapeutics an attractive acquisition target? And is Adam good at math?

We discuss all that and more in this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. Tara Bannow, our hospitals and insurance reporter, joins us to talk about a new investigation that shows how UnitedHealth wields its unrivaled physician empire to boost its profits and expand its influence.

We also cover the latest news in the life sciences, including Viking's sped-up plans in obesity, the departure of a long time official at the Food and Drug Administration, and Kamala Harris' views on health policies.

Our Washington correspondent Sarah Owermohle joins us to talk about how JD Vance, Donald Trump's newly announced running mate, could influence health policy if Trump wins the election. We also discuss the latest news in the biopharma industry, including the latest developments in the ongoing controversy surrounding Cassava’s Alzheimer’s drug, shortages of insulin as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly turn their focus toward GLP-1 drugs, and a shakeup in leadership at Gilead.

STAT's West Coast biotech reporter Jonathan Wosen joins "The Readout LOUD" to discuss what’s driving workforce cuts. Plus, entrepreneurs Alexis Borisy and Zach Weinberg call in to discuss their biotech incubator Curie.Bio and how they hope to “free the founders.” We also discuss a big change in Pfizer’s leadership and the debate over a new side effect tied to the diabetes drug Ozempic.