Matt Herper

Matt Herper, STAT's senior medicine writer with a knack for dissecting the pharmaceutical industry, joins the conversation to discuss the controversial appointment of Dr. Vinay Prasad as head of the FDA's vaccine division. He and Adam delve into how Prasad's unorthodox views could disrupt public health norms. They also explore the implications for gene and cell therapy approvals and the broader challenges facing biotech innovation under new leadership. The dialogue highlights the tension between regulatory reform and maintaining expert oversight in a rapidly evolving landscape.

In this discussion, Matt Herper, a STAT reporter focused on cancer immunotherapy, joins Bob Duggan, co-CEO of Summit, to delve into recent turbulence in cancer treatments. They explore a groundbreaking drug that outperforms Merck's Keytruda in lung cancer trials. The talk shifts to the complexities faced by Moderna, balancing vaccine production with drug development despite having ample cash reserves. Finally, they examine ethical concerns surrounding obesity drugs tested in children and their implications for future treatments.