A substantial part of the biopharma ecosystem involves deals between biotechs and academics, with smaller companies accessing assets to add to their pipelines and technologies to help solve problems. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss the interplay of biotech and academia , including how deals between the groups often come outside the hubs of Boston and the Bay Area and what types of indications and technologies are common focus points. They also discuss new...
Aug 06, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 245
Europe’s CHMP has again ruled in contrast to FDA for a neurology product, this time on Biogen and Eisai’s Leqembi for Alzheimer’s disease. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury editors discuss the similarities and differences between Leqembi lecenamab and Aduhelm aducanumab, the first anti-amyloid mAb from Biogen and Eisai and what it means for the next in line from that class, Kisunia donanemab from Eli Lilly. The editors also break down last week’s ODAC meeting, which discusse...
Jul 30, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 244
Alpha emitters are the latest trend in the hot radioligand space, but there’s debate about which isotope offers the best attributes for optimizing safety and efficacy. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss the benefits and challenges that come with developing radiopharmaceuticals using lead-212 versus its more well-known counterpart actinium-225. They also discuss Editor-in-Chief Simone Fishburn’s conversation with Susan Galbraith, EVP of Oncology R&D at As...
Jul 23, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 243
Buysiders are upbeat headed into the back half of the year, but uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s timing on interest rate cuts is keeping that sentiment in check. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors preview the public markets’ second half of 2024, discussing the appetite for biotech IPOs and M&A and what investors are looking for as they read the Fed tea leaves. They also discuss Congress’ FDA budget squeeze , the growing momentum of the Biosecure Act — whic...
Jul 16, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 242
The U.K.’s life sciences ecosystem boasts “palpable energy at the very innovation end of the spectrum in biotech, with a lot of really quality science,” BioCentury Editor in Chief Simone Fishburn says on the latest BioCentury This Week podcast. Fishburn assesses the maturation of the country’s biotech industry, including the need for an influx of capital to catalyze the sector’s growth. Washington Editor Steve Usdin discusses the latest developments for the Inflation Reduction and the Biosecure ...
Jul 09, 2024•19 min•Season 5Ep. 241
The impact on FDA and the biopharma industry of the Supreme Court’s move to overturn the legal doctrine that courts defer to federal agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous laws will take years to come into focus; for now, the clearest effects of the Chevron ruling will be on disputes over exclusivity and other non-science issues. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors analyze the court’s decision, including how FDA could adjust how it operates. The editors also discuss ...
Jul 02, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 240
A biomarker breakthrough could shave years off the development of therapies for a group of devastating, progressive ultrarare diseases. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss FDA’s agreement to allow biopharma companies to use a biomarker as the basis for accelerated approval of neuronal mucopolysaccharidoses therapies, which marks an important inflection point , both for MPS and rare diseases in general. The editors also assess FDA’s decision to grant full appr...
Jun 25, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 239
After whisking through Washington for the first half of the year, raising alarms, mutating and causing confusion, the Biosecure Act is now on pause. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss what the delay for the legislation, which seeks to drive Chinese contract development and manufacturing organizations out of the U.S., means, what will happen next, and how it will impact life sciences companies. View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/652771 03:09 ...
Jun 20, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 238
The avian flu outbreak is a fire drill that is showing how poorly the U.S. is prepared for the next pandemic. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury's editors recap last week’s BioCentury Show conversation with Rick Bright, including the former BARDA director’s insights on the opportunities for biotechs to help fill voids in surveillance, point-of-care diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics and the need for the government to provide leadership and funding to empower industry. The...
Jun 18, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 237
BIO’s annual meeting took place amid heightened industry concerns regarding the Biosecure Act, which took yet another unexpected turn this week. On a special edition of the BioCentury This Week recapping the meeting, BioCentury's editors discuss the latest on the anti-China biopharma legislation, including misperceptions of what the bill seeks to accomplish. Special guest Chris Cargill, the CEO of Nxera Pharma, joins the podcast to discuss the expanded APAC presence at this year’s BIO; Japan’s p...
Jun 14, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 236
A snub by an FDA advisory committee for an MDMA-psychotherapy combination is unlikely to read through to other psychedelic therapies in the pipeline. On the BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss the shortcomings of the Lykos Therapeutics product’s clinical development program and why other psychedelics likely won’t face the same hurdles. The editors also assess FDA’s new platform technology designation and the first-in-human clinical trials described at this year’s American ...
Jun 10, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 235
Four takeouts with upfront payments north of $1 billion to close out May mark the latest run of VC exits from biotech M&A and help expand the pipelines of large biopharmas in renal, ophthalmic and immunologic indications. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss how two of the takeouts -- Asahi Kasei’s buy of Calliditas and Biogen’s acquisition of HI-Bio -- showcase how the renal field is on the rise. Turning to Washington, the editors explain why the House Se...
Jun 03, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 234
A theme among late-breaker presentations at this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting is the push by companies to move targeted therapies into earlier lines of treatment. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss what they’re watching for in ASCO’s headline presentations and deliver highlights from abstracts released late last week as the oncology meeting readies to kick off on Friday. The editors also discuss the interest by FDA’s Janet Woodcock in...
May 28, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 233
New BIO CEO John Crowley is reorganizing BIO in a bid to reshape how the organization communicates and enhance its focus on patients. BioCentury’s editors also recap the 24th annual Bio€quity Europe conference that was held in San Sebastián, Spain last week, as well as highlights from last week’s American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy conference. The editors also discuss impressive early data from Endeavor BioMedicines in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and Phase Ib obesity data from Roche. Thi...
May 20, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 232
“I’m a short-term pessimist and a long-term optimist” about the potential for AI to transform drug development, Derek Lowe, author of the In the Pipeline blog, told BioCentury Washington Editor Steve Usdin on the latest BioCentury Show . Lowe's skepticism about claims that AI will rapidly transform the field is driven by a belief that the “problems that we have in the drug industry that we want to solve are almost inversely proportional to the ability of AI to solve them." Lowe also discussed th...
May 16, 2024•33 min
Lawmakers’ changes to the Biosecure Act create breathing room for U.S. biopharma companies to move on from Chinese CDMOs, Washington Editor Steve Usdin said. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, Usdin and his BioCentury colleagues discuss what the revisions mean for biotechs and what’s next for the legislation, plus how WuXi AppTec is defending itself against the bill’s allegations. Director of Biopharma Intelligence Paul Bonanos discusses last week’s surge in venture activity , including...
May 14, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 231
It sounds obvious, but still needs saying, says Ysios Capital's Karen Wagner. “How do you rise above the noise? By having the most spectacular data.” In conversation with Editor in Chief Simone Fishburn on The BioCentury Show , Wagner discussed the theme of the upcoming Bio€quity Europe conference — rising above the noise: in a sea of competition where companies vie for attention among investors and pharmas, what are the characteristics that allow them to differentiate? Wagner explains what she ...
May 09, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 231
Next week's Bio€quity Europe conference in San Sebastián will focus on how European biotechs can rise above the noise to attract investors, partners and talent. McKinsey & Co.’s Alexandra Zemp and Paula Olazábal of Ysios Capital joined BioCentury to outline the opportunities and challenges faced by Spain’s biopharma ecosystem and preview some of the conference’s networking events, fireside chats and panel discussions. EBD Group's Claire Macht also joined to detail what to expect in terms of ...
May 09, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 230
One of the big themes of this week’s ASGCT meeting will be CAR T cells in cancer and beyond. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors preview the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy’s annual meeting. Much of the CAR T field has reoriented from cancer to autoimmune diseases over the past year. Now, researchers are looking even farther afield. According to abstracts released ahead of ASGCT, the engineered T cell modality may have new benefits to offer patients with as...
May 07, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 229
Led by CBER Director Peter Marks, FDA is moving forward with policies that aim to improve access to gene therapies for patients with rare diseases. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss how FDA plans to use regulatory policies to overcome barriers that are slowing gene therapy, as well as how Pfizer hopes to ensure access to its newly approved hemophilia gene therapy. The editors also assess the $2.4 billion acquisition of Massachusetts oncology company Deciphe...
Apr 30, 2024•23 min•Season 5Ep. 228
A “drive-by analysis of accelerated approval is intellectual malpractice,” argues Washington Editor Steve Usdin on the latest BioCentury This Week podcast. Usdin and his BioCentury colleagues explain why a paper on the expedited regulatory pathway written by researchers at the Program on Regulation, Therapeutics, and Law (PORTAL) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital misleads the public about the value of drugs granted accelerated approval. The paper also fails to grasp the pathway’s purpose, which is...
Apr 22, 2024•23 min•Season 5Ep. 227
Vertex Pharmaceuticals' acquisition of Alpine Immune Sciences will bolster a growing kidney disease franchise that could help diversify Vertex’s business beyond its blockbuster cystic fibrosis franchise. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss what attracted Vertex to Alpine and why it believes its newly acquired therapy can outshine others for IgA nephropathy. The editors discuss how Goldman Sachs aims to scale private biotechs via its venture strategy and the l...
Apr 16, 2024•23 min•Season 5Ep. 226
M&A has been driving a recovery for biotech, with $62 billion in takeouts in the past six months restocking specialist investors’ coffers for their next wave of investments. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors assess the state of the public markets heading into the second quarter, including the outsize role PIPEs have had in financing industry’s comeback. They also discuss their takeaways from analyzing nearly 7,000 abstracts from the American Association for Can...
Apr 08, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 225
Upcoming catalysts could drive value creation at NASDAQ’s newest biotech, Boundless Bio, after it stumbled in its trading debut last week. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss Boundless’ IPO in the context of the current market for fresh paper and profile the “sweat equity” model of Avalon, the VC firm led by Jay Lichter. Turning to Washington, BioCentury’s editors assess possible outcomes for the Supreme Court case on abortion drug mifepristone, and why the c...
Apr 02, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 224
Bills seeking to rein in Chinese CDMOs and genomics companies will deal a massive blow to biotech companies, if passed in their current form, according to results from an industry survey conducted by BioCentury. On The latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss results from the survey, including responses that underscore executives’ concerns that the legislation would cause delays in drug development and a majority’s displeasure with BIO’s about-face to support the measure...
Mar 26, 2024•28 min•Season 5Ep. 223
Putting patients at center stage is at the core of John Crowley’s vision for BIO as he begins his tenure leading the biotech trade group. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast. Washington Editor Steve Usdin details Crowley’s plans to revitalize BIO at a time when effective representation in Washington is more important than ever. BioCentury’s editors also discuss FDA’s landmark approval of Madrigal's liver disease drug and a decision by FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee to support a ...
Mar 18, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 222
A congressional committee meeting last week on biotech and national security provided a glimmer of hope that lawmakers could be persuaded to consider taking steps to bolster the U.S. bioeconomy, BioCentury Washington Editor Steve Usdin explains why the at times cartoonish spectacle of lawmakers pushing anti-China biotech bills highlights the need for scientists and entrepreneurs to build relationships in Washington. Plus: Editor in Chief Simone Fishburn argues that the future of diversity should...
Mar 12, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 221
The $3 billion raised by biotechs in a series of follow-ons and PIPEs last week marked another strong showing for a sector seeking to outrun the bear market. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors assess the state of fundraising for biotechs and their performance in the after-market. They also preview a forthcoming analysis of preclinical papers published in the Distillery, BioCentury’s coverage of translational science, describe the latest on anti-China bills in Congre...
Mar 05, 2024•24 min•Season 5Ep. 220
Asia’s emerging “Arc of Innovation” spans from China, Japan and South Korea through the turf-neutral gateway of Singapore and west to India, with the ecosystems of these countries contributing to the arsenal of therapeutics and diagnostics that benefit patients globally. On a special edition of the BioCentury This Week podcast, Aslan’s Carl Firth, McKinsey’s Franck Le Deu and Wendy Pan of BayHelix and Goodwin join BioCentury on the eve of next week’s BioCentury-BayHelix Biopharma Summit in Singa...
Feb 28, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 219
Arch Venture Partners’ Bob Nelsen is excited about AI’s potential in biotech and convinced the U.S. healthcare system could do a far better job delivering on the promise of the biopharma industry’s innovations. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors discuss takeaways from Nelsen’s appearance on The BioCentury Show , including how the longtime investor in China’s life sciences sector has adopted a more cautious stance on the country given increasing geopolitical tensions...
Feb 27, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 218
