Ned Sharpless

In this discussion, guests Brian Skorney, a senior research analyst at Baird, Ned Sharpless, former acting FDA commissioner, and Robert Califf, former FDA commissioner, delve into the impact of Vinay Prasad's departure from the FDA. They examine the political turbulence influencing FDA operations and the biotech sector, especially regarding drug approvals and leadership changes. The conversation highlights the challenges of regulatory integrity, the evolving landscape of gene therapies, and the urgent need for improved data collection in post-marketing drug safety.

In this insightful discussion, Ned Sharpless, Director of the National Cancer Institute, and Diane Simeone, a pancreatic cancer surgeon at NYU Langone, tackle the ongoing challenges of cancer research. They emphasize the staggering mortality rates of cancer, especially pancreatic cancer, and the urgent need for novel collaborative platforms to improve outcomes. The conversation highlights the transformative role of telehealth during the pandemic and proposes reforms to align research incentives with better patient outcomes, integrating big data and AI for more effective treatments.