Hope Lies in Dreams

Nature Biotechnology•www.nature.com

Stan Crooke rose from poverty to found a company that pioneered antisense drugs. After decades of struggle and years of public doubt, the company created a treatment that has saved thousands of children from the brutal disease spinal muscular atrophy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last refreshed: August 26th, 2025 at 4:15 AM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Chapter 10: Dr. Crooke

The biggest deal ⬩ In the black ⬩ End of an era ⬩ n of 1 ⬩ Small places ⬩ A life of control ⬩ The doctor will see you now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 10, 2021•51 min•Ep. 10

Chapter 9: the last of his kind

Award season ⬩ NURTURE, and Gabriel ⬩ Kyle Derkowski’s new future ⬩ The drugs of SMA ⬩ Piece of magic ⬩ Frank’s Super Bowl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 03, 2021•39 min•Ep. 9

Chapter 8: part of something big

Ethics lessons ⬩ Biogen re-ups ⬩ The ultimate sacrifice ⬩ FDA as partner ⬩ Emma’s phase 3 ⬩ Doug Kerr’s bright idea ⬩ Isis to Ionis ⬩ Spinraza approval Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 27, 2021•42 min•Ep. 8

Chapter 7: the SMA gang

The Larsons ⬩ The skunkworks project ⬩ The most unmet need ⬩ Instant synergy ⬩ Another first for antisense ⬩ The clinic, again ⬩ The achievements of Kathie Bishop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 20, 2021•40 min•Ep. 7

Chapter 6: lone voice in the wilderness

Rosanne saves the company ⬩ Ibis is sold ⬩ An approval ⬩ Souring on Genzyme ⬩ The end of Genta ⬩ The discovery of the SMA gene Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 13, 2021•43 min•Ep. 6

Chapter 5: valley of antisense

The genomics bubble ⬩ Affinitak fails ⬩ Lynne saves the company ⬩ Hybridon pivots ⬩ New chemistries ⬩ Regulus formed ⬩ Isis as cult Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 06, 2021•42 min•Ep. 5

Chapter 4: three kinds of failure

Stumbling out of the gate ⬩ Launch of Vitravene ⬩ Questions about antisense ⬩ The field thins ⬩ Clinical failure ⬩ The darkest days Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 29, 2021•44 min•Ep. 4

Chapter 3: San Diego restart

Rosanne ⬩ An investor emerges ⬩ Founding Isis ⬩ The old garage ⬩ A proper space ⬩ A growing antisense scene ⬩ Starting a pipeline ⬩ Isis goes public Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 22, 2021•48 min•Ep. 3

Chapter 2: a winding path

Quits Purdue ⬩ Pharmacy school ⬩ Off to Baylor ⬩ Harris Busch ⬩ Bristol Labs ⬩ SmithKline ⬩ The death of Nancy Crooke ⬩ The end of SmithKline Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 15, 2021•47 min•Ep. 2

Chapter 1: an ugly place

Stan Crooke is born ⬩ A tenuous existence ⬩ Life with his mother ⬩ The Tech Corner ⬩ Arsenal Tech High School ⬩ Nancy ⬩ Hoodlum ways ⬩ Off to Purdue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 08, 2021•32 min•Ep. 1

Hope Lies in Dreams trailer

Trailer for upcoming 10-part series, Hope Lies in Dreams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 01, 2021•2 min

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android