Biotech Hangout

This episode of Biotech Hangout covers the state of the XBI after hitting a 52-week low, several deals and financings, Amgen's KRAS inhibitor under FDA review, Exscientia and AI, and the consolidation and optimism in the biotech industry.

Matt Gline, CEO of Roivant, joins hosts to discuss recent Phase 1 data from Immunovant, biotech sentiment, M&A, state of the XBI, BridgeBio PIPE funding, Alfasigma acquires Intercept Pharmaceuticals, setbacks for two CD47s, Apellis Favus short report, and drug pricing negotiations.

In this episode of the podcast, the hosts discuss the state of the XBI and the challenges of raising capital. They also dive into the impact of the orphan cures act on the biotech industry. Other topics include the drug sparsent, competition in the ADC space, two-year data for a geographic atrophy drug, messaging and investor reaction, challenges in drug trials, and the growing interest in generative AI in healthcare.

This episode of Biotech Hangout covers the big IPO news of the week, Goldman Sachs' change in price targets for early-stage biotechs, updates from Moderna and Roche, Galapagos' 52-week low, and the FDA ad comm on Anlylam's cardiomyopathy candidate. They also discuss restructuring at 2seventy bio, CymbaBay data, ImmunityBio's financing, and Day One's updated data & FDA filing decision date.

Guest Frank David, Tufts Professor & Author joins the hosts to discuss 'Hub & Spoke' companies. They cover M&A news, Medicare negotiations, IPO landscape, and Nestle's sale of a peanut allergy drug. They also explore the impact of COVID on the biotech market and the importance of measuring waste and efficiency in biotech projects. The podcast highlights the scrappy culture of the industry and the challenge of FTC to the Amgen horizon deal. Lastly, they discuss the Biden administration's actions on Medicare price negotiations and emphasize the importance of acting on knowledge.

Biotech Hangout podcast discusses biotech M&A, FTC's proposed rules, Amgen and Horizon's lawsuit, private equity financings, and data/regulatory updates. They also cover FDA's consideration of mixed data, Blue Shield of California's drug delivery partnerships, and bispecific drug pricing.

On Biotech Hangout this week, Brad Loncar, Chris Garabedian, Sam Fazeli, Rob Perez and Ethan Perlstein discuss the influence of GLP-1s including cost, safety, drawbacks and more in light of Novo Nordisk’s positive semaglutide SELECT study results and Eli Lilly’s earnings, which rose due to their type 2 diabetes drug. Other big topics include last week’s Sage and Biogen news following the FDA’s decision to approve zuranolone for PPD but not MDD and its effect on Sage’s stock, plus progress and setbacks in ultra rare diseases including Taysha Gene Therapies. The hosts also dive into Iveric Bio’s drug approval for geographic atrophy, Nektar suing Eli Lilly over botched data, Bluebird Q2 earnings, Mirati data and the 3rd annual Timmerman Traverse. *This episode aired on August 11, 2023

On this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout, hosts Daphne Zohar, Tim Opler, Brad Loncar, Bruce Booth, Otello Stampacchia and Mike Yee cover industry news from the week. They discuss the latest deals including Alexion acquiring Pfizer’s rare disease gene therapy portfolio and Revolution Medicines acquisition of EQRx and a broader discussion of merging with negative EV companies as a strategy for fundraising and the “fundability” of certain founders. The hosts also dive into the hot topic of the week: Biogen and Sage’s PDUFA for zuranolone in MDD and PPD. Additionally, they cover the busy week of Q2 earnings, which included news from Pfizer, Vertex, Moderna, Regeneron, TG Therapeutics and more. Other topics of discussion included the state of biopharma jobs, Vertex non-opioid data, an SVB healthcare report on VC funds, climate change and Steve Jobs’ son starting a VC firm for cancer treatments. *This episode aired on August 4th, 2023

On this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout, guest Matthew Gline (CEO of Roivant) joins hosts Brad Loncar, Tim Opler and Brian Skorney to discuss Biogen’s heavy news week, including their acquisition of Reata for $6.5 billion, their decision to cut 1,000 jobs by 2025 and their quiet stance regarding their upcoming PDUFA date to treat PPD and MDD in partnership with Sage. The hosts also cover other layoff and leadership changes, including the resignation of FibroGen’s CEO and layoffs from Infinity and Mersana. The group also touches on the $2.8 billion hypertension deal between Roche and Alnylam and the impact this deal could have on patients. Additionally, they discuss Gilead being accused of slow-walking the development of a new version of an HIV therapy to extend their patent protection, British billionaire Joe Lewis being charged with insider trading and the impact that poor data readouts had on Stoke Therapeutics’, Gilead’s and Kodiak’s shares. *This episode aired on July 28, 2023*

On this week’s episode of Biotech Hangout, guest Neil Kumar (CEO of BridgeBio) joins hosts Daphne Zohar, Brad Loncar, Tim Opler, Bruce Booth and Brian Skorney to discuss BridgeBio’s long awaited, positive Phase 3 transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) data, including the company’s ups and downs and some leadership lessons along with the benefits of diversification. The hosts also cover the Acumen Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly positive Alzheimer’s data, in addition to questions around safety for eye disease trials related to Apellis’ Syfovre and Horizon Therapeutics’ Tepezza. With a news heavy week, the group also discusses data integrity issues (including the Marc Tessier-Lavigne case), the impact of priority review vouchers and deals/M&A. *This episode aired on July 21, 2023*