The Top Line

President Donald Trump put the pharmaceutical industry on notice early Monday with the signing of his "most favored nation" (MFN) executive order on drug prices. The order seeks to tie U.S. prices to significantly lower costs overseas. Many questions remain about how the measure will be implemented, and legal challenges are almost certain. To assess the seriousness of the threat, Fierce Pharma assembled a team of reporters and editors to break down the executive order and the industry’s response. After examining the MFN executive order, the group dives into other recent policy developments in Washington, D.C., and beyond, including tariffs, Medicare drug price negotiations and more. To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Trump signs sweeping executive order to cut US drug prices by 'up to 90%' Sanofi, Novartis CEOs lambast EU price control as Trump reportedly weighs drug cost parity with other nations As Trump threatens tariffs on drugs, industry warns EU of $100B-plus pharma exodus to US US net drug spending surged 11.4% last year, boosted by obesity and oncology meds: IQVIA This episode is sponsored by Cencora. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angela Hwang shares her journey from a 30-year tenure at Pfizer to leading a biotech startup, driven by a commitment to innovation. Her unique upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa shapes her perspective on diversity and talent development. She discusses the excitement and challenges of her new role, highlighting the innovative potential of drug design through antibody agonists. Hwang emphasizes the importance of aligning personal values with career choices and the collective responsibility to ensure inclusivity in the healthcare sector.

Although East Asians make up a significant share of entry-level roles in U.S. biopharma, few have risen to senior leadership positions. That disparity is what inspired the launch of ElevAAte—a new nonprofit founded this year to support and grow East Asian American leadership in the industry. In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma Deputy Editor Angus Liu speaks with two of ElevAAte’s co-founders: Architect Therapeutics CEO Angie You and Candid Therapeutics CEO Ken Song. The veteran biotech leaders discuss why a group like ElevAAte is needed and how East Asian Americans can harness their collective strength to build the next generation of biopharma executives. You and Song—who led Amunix’s $1.2 billion sale to Sanofi and RayzeBio’s $4.1 billion acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb, respectively—also share insights from their dealmaking careers and offer advice for young professionals entering the field. To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Though prevalent in the lab and middle management, East Asian Americans are underrepresented in biopharma C-suites: report Candid's T-cell engager shopping spree rolls on with WuXi Biologics pact worth up to $925M A reason to fight: Former FDA leader Janet Woodcock inspires 3rd Biotech Sisterhood summit Takeda taps Julie Kim to take over for retiring CEO Christophe Weber   This episode is sponsored by Cencora. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve known for a while that there are two Anguses—both journalists covering oncology at health- and biopharma-focused news outlets. Now, for the first time, we’re bringing them together for a “Variety Studio: Actors on Actors”-style conversation. In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma Deputy Editor Angus Liu and STAT Cancer Reporter Angus Chen share insights into their work covering cancer and their thoughts on racial identity during a tumultuous time. They discuss what excites them most in the oncology field, how their reporting approaches differ and how they’ve often been mistaken for one another. To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Judge permanently blocks NIH grant caps, prompting HHS appeal Cancer research, long protected, feels ‘devastating’ effects under Trump As Trump targets DEI practices, 4 pharmas reaffirm commitment to diversifying clinical trials For struggling cell and gene therapy field, Peter Marks' FDA exit adds even more uncertainty CAR-T cells can arm other immune cells with engineered proteins to fight cancer, study says See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The discussion dives into the impact of recent tariffs on the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Experts uncover the potential disruptions in supply chains and manufacturing strategies due to escalating trade pressures. Highlighted are the financial challenges and the significant uncertainties regarding sector-specific duties. Innovative approaches and the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing operational efficiency and drug development are also explored, emphasizing the need for strategic planning amidst these shifting landscapes.

In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Deputy Editor Andrea Park and Fierce Biotech Senior Editor Gabrielle Masson discuss how workforce reductions impacted the biopharma industry in the first quarter.  The pair examine industry trends, company closures, developments in the cell and gene space—and the reductions in force happening at federal health agencies alongside them. To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Biopharmas laid off staffers at least 63 times in Q1: Fierce Biotech analysis Fierce Biotech Layoff Tracker 2025: Pfizer sells site, cuts staff; Opthea reduces workforce by 65%  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Biotech’s Gabrielle Masson and Darren Incorvaia sit down to discuss a recent special report from Fierce Biotech, ranking the top 10 R&D budgets from 2024.  Did Merck hold on to its 2023 crown? And did any new faces crack this year’s list? Listen to find out! To learn more about the topics in this episode:  The top 10 pharma R&D budgets for 2024  This week's episode is brought to you by Cencora.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the first days of the new Trump administration, the White House has handed down orders to ban work focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across the federal government. Some in the private sector—both inside and outside of healthcare—have followed the same path, eliminating DEI officer positions and ending initiatives that in some cases have been tied to millions of dollars in research funding. What does the field—and, ultimately, the patient—stand to lose from this effort? In this week’s episode of The Top Line, we hear from Nada Hanafi, co-founder of MedTech Color, a professional network aimed at building and supporting diverse leadership in the industry. Hanafi joins Fierce Medtech’s Conor Hale to discuss how studying diversity in a healthcare context has become integral to developing new medical breakthroughs and realizing the promise of precision medicine. To learn more about the topics in this episode: FDA issues draft guidance on ensuring pulse oximeter accuracy across skin tones  How Trump's DEI executive orders could impact healthcare  After White House transition, FDA’s diversity guidance for clinical trials no longer available  As Trump targets DEI practices, 4 pharmas reaffirm commitment to diversifying clinical trials  Amid Trump's push to abolish DEI, Roche and Novartis adjust hiring initiatives: reports  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Top Line, sponsored by PatientPoint, Andrew Schultz, President of PatientPoint Precision, discusses how hypertargeting and contextual relevance are redefining patient marketing. Traditional direct-to-consumer (DTC) campaigns often rely on educated guesses, but PatientPoint Precision blends EHR data and patient context to deliver hyper-personalized, high-impact messages. By engaging patients at critical touchpoints—like logging into a portal or checking in for an appointment—marketers can deliver tailored, valuable content that enhances patient experiences and drives better health outcomes. Schultz emphasizes the importance of trust, consent, and privacy in utilizing this treasure trove of data securely. With PatientPoint Precision’s ability to integrate data and context, brands can now create robust, personalized campaigns that truly resonate with their target audiences. Listen to the full episode to learn how this new DTC approach is transforming patient engagement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johnson & Johnson’s Stelara, Regeneron’s Eylea and Amgen’s Prolia are just some of the drugs facing off against new biosimilars or generics in 2025, as featured in the latest edition of Fierce Pharma’s annual special report documenting the 10 biggest losses of U.S. exclusivity expected throughout the year. In this week’s episode of The Top Line, we dig into the report, which details the stories behind 10 key medicines that are set to face off against new generic or biosimilar competitors this year as their patents expire. Fierce’s Eric Sagonowsky and Angus Liu recap the report, sharing their perspectives on several of the drugs and discussing the industry effects of 2025’s sizable patent cliff. To learn more about the topics in this episode: The top 10 drugs losing US exclusivity in 2025  After patent settlement, Amgen scores FDA nod for its biosimilar version of J&J's Stelara  Amgen grabs FDA thumbs-up for Soliris biosim, eyes 2025 launch  Novartis wins 11th-hour bid to block generic version of blockbuster heart med Entresto  Amgen settles Prolia patent suit with Celltrion, teeing up potential biosimilar launch in June  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.