The Readout Loud

Is the next Covid surge upon us? How do you make $350,000 a day in biotech? And when did Seagen find out about its CEO's arrest? First, we discuss the latest alarming trends in the Covid-19 pandemic and explaining the curious case of Moderna's briefly employed chief financial officer. Then we pick apart the implications of Pfizer's $11.6 billion acquisition of Biohaven and the struggles of a once-promising idea in cancer immunotherapy. Finally, we examine the arrest of Seagen CEO Clay Siegall and the unanswered questions about the company's response.

Who's going to run Biogen? Does Aduhelm have a future? And is it OK to shame reporters? This week, we delve into Biogen's twin announcements that the company is pulling the plug on Aduhelm and replacing its embattled CEO, discussing the future of Alzheimer's disease and just who might want to lead the company. We also explain the latest on Covid-19 vaccines, a strange situation for Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and the controversy surrounding the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Can rewired cells cure some patients' cancer? Do biotech stocks ever go up? And why's it taking so long to get kids vaccinated for Covid-19? Immunologist Katy Rezvani of MD Anderson Cancer Center joins us to explain the massive potential of a new approach to treating wily tumors, one that repurposes human immune cells. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including an interesting hire at Novartis, the pediatric Covid-19 vaccine saga, and another negative milestone for biotech.

Can buyouts be bad news? Why can't Novavax meet a deadline? And what does "breakthrough" actually mean? First, we delve into why the latest big biotech acquisition has ominous implications for the downtrodden sector. Then, STAT's Mario Aguilar joins us to explain how a well-intentioned FDA program is benefiting companies over patients. We also discuss the latest pandemic news, including the ongoing debate over boosters and yet another delay for Novavax.

Are we supposed to just get used to superspreader events? What's going with Editas Medicine? And why are people on Twitter so angry? Leana Wen, an emergency medicine physician and public health professor at George Washington University, joins us to talk about the many complexities of living with Covid-19 and the tricky task of defining "normal" in 2022. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including Editas' new CEO, Aduhelm's future, and the data on Covid-19 vaccines for kids.

What's on tap for Roche and its closely followed cancer immunotherapy? Are we all headed for another jab with a Covid-19 vaccine? And what explains the recent success of Vertex Pharmaceuticals' R&D pipeline? This week, reporter Andrew Joseph joins us to discuss the FDA and its meeting with outside advisers that considered questions about Covid-19 boosters and the potential for updated vaccines that better match the circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2. We'll also dive into a look at Vertex and hear from its top executives about two experimental, but potentially groundbreaking, treatments for pain and type 1 diabetes. And as we often do, we’ll kick off the podcast with a Chatty Cathy round of hot takes on this week’s news.

As long as there's been a medical system, it's been one that is rife with instances of mistreatment — both on the individual and community levels — that have harmful effects on how Black Americans view the health care system. In the first episode of the new STAT podcast Color Code, host Nick St. Fleur speaks with doctors, researchers, and a patient who are all trying to repair the relationship between Black people and the medical institution. You can find Color Code on any platform you use to get your podcasts. Episodes are released every other week.

Are Covid-19 vaccines a sustainable business? Was Aduhelm an aberration? And what comes after Omicron? Senior writer Helen Branswell joins us to discuss the latest twists in the pandemic, including rising case counts, next-generation vaccines, and the latest data from pediatric trials. We also dive into the latest news in the life sciences, including Moderna's grand ambitions, Al Sandrock's new job, and the next big FDA debate.

How should pharma treat Russia? Why can't Congress pass a drug pricing bill? And what does wastewater portend for the pandemic? First, we discuss the drug industry's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and STAT reporter Isabella Cueto joins us to explain how the war has affected the quietly vibrant Ukrainian biotech industry. Then, STAT Washington correspondent Nicholas Florko calls in to review Congress' years of failure to pass laws on drug pricing and examine whether bipartisan support can ever result in actual legislation. We also run through the latest news in the life sciences, including Ashish Jha's new job, global Covid-19 surges, and a long-delayed manuscript from Biogen.

Can biotech companies age gracefully? Where did Covid-19 come from? And does Theranos make for good television? We cover all that and more this week. We examine Gilead Sciences' recent struggles and what the company's predicament says about the drug industry. Then, MIT Technology Review reporter Antonio Regalado joins us to discuss his new podcast investigating the origins of Covid-19. We also discuss the latest Theranos trial, playing Elizabeth Holmes on TV, and how we managed to make 200 episodes of this show.