Episode 130 - February 7, 2025

On this week’s episode, Daphne Zohar, Paul Matteis, Brian Skorney, Tim Opler and Abe Ceesay kick off with a more optimistic yet cautious perspective that investor sentiment may be improving. The group notes positive market trends post-JPM with the XBI index rising from 86.5 to around 92 since early January. The discussion also touches on on the re-emergence of wall cross pipes and the impact on generalist investor interest. The hosts discuss the positive M&A outlook for 2025, noting Intra-Cellular’s recent acquisition by J&J. Staying on the neuro theme, GH Research announced impressive data from its Phase 2b trial for a short-acting psychedelic drug for treatment-resistant depression. This extended into a discussion on the broader implications of neuropsych drug development, including the need for experienced management and the challenges of patient selection and managing high placebo responses. Other topics discussed include FDA’s approval of Axsome’s migraine drug, the anti-VEGF therapy competitive dynamics, Trump’s tariffs, and more. This episode aired on February 7, 2025.