a16z Podcast 2024 Big Ideas: Miracle Drugs, Programmable Medicine, and AI Interpretability
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Dec 8, 2023 
Julie Yoo, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz with expertise in miracle drugs, discusses the transformative potential of GLP-1 therapies for obesity and diabetes, emphasizing access and affordability challenges. Jorge Conde dives into programmable medicine, highlighting innovations in gene and cell therapies aimed at curing diseases. Anjney Midha focuses on AI interpretability, advocating for clarity in AI decision-making processes, especially in critical fields like healthcare. Together, they explore how these big ideas could revolutionize medicine and technology in 2024.
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GLP-1s and Weight Loss
- GLP-1 drugs, initially for type 2 diabetes, also cause weight loss.
- Celebrities tout 20% weight loss on TikTok, sparking hype and the analogy: "GLP-1s are to obesity what eyeglasses are to nearsightedness."
Limited GLP-1 Coverage
- Only about 25% of employer-sponsored insurance plans currently cover GLP-1 drugs.
- Widespread access is limited by immature insurance policies, cost concerns, and questions about reimbursement.
Cell and Gene Therapy Challenges
- Cell and gene therapies offer potential cures for genetic diseases and cancer by reprogramming cells or altering genes.
- These therapies are even more expensive and complex than GLP-1s, posing greater challenges for the current healthcare system.