The Readout Loud

Is the biotech industry truly out of its slump? Why are employers dropping coverage of weight loss drugs? And what will the hosts bake for the holidays? We discuss all that and more on this week's episode of "The Readout LOUD," the last episode of the year. We bring on Bruce Booth, partner at venture capital firm Atlas Venture, to reflect on everything that's happened in the biotech industry this year and to look ahead at the trends next year.We also chat about Adam's picks for best and worst biopharma CEOs in 2025, and why Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk's direct-to-consumer offerings may be contributing to employers' decisions to drop coverage of weight loss drugs.

How did Terns Pharmaceuticals and its “hodgepodge” pipeline grab attention at the American Society of Hematology conference? Is Eli Lilly’s new drug making people lose too much weight? And what, exactly, is the Trump administration’s plan for reforming the National Institutes of Health? First, we discuss all things ASH, particularly Tern’s chronic myeloid leukemia data,  Johnson & Johnson’s multiple myeloma data, and Fulcrum Therapeutics’ pill for sickle cell disease. We also get into the latest news in — what else? — obesity drugs. Then, STAT reporters Megan Molteni and Anil Oza join for a conversation on the new series “American Science, Shattered,” which details this fissure and what it means for the future of the country’s scientific institutions.

On this week’s episode of "The Readout Loud": a look at an emerging class of psychedelic drugs that may treat depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions without the hallucinogenic “trip.” Plus, a dash through the week’s biotech news. Our special guest this week is David Olson, director of the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics and the co-founder of Delix Therapeutics, a startup that is developing a new class of neuropsychiatric medicines that are similar to psychedelics in that they can exert strong and rapid therapeutic benefits, but without the hallucinogenic effects.

How much time does Mark Cuban spend thinking about health care? Why does he think TrumpRx, a direct drug purchasing platform that the Trump administration aims to launch, is “the most incredible program ever”? And what are his thoughts on sports betting? We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s weekly biotech podcast. Cuban comes on for an extensive chat about the latest biosimilar launch by his company, Cost Plus Drugs, as well his broader thoughts on the drug industry and how the direct-to-consumer field is changing.We also chat about the news this week, including more M&A deals and an upcoming Alzheimer’s readout from Novo Nordisk.

What does Rick Pazdur's new role mean for the Food and Drug Administration? Has Merck solved the PCSK9 access issue? And how much credit can the president take for lowering GLP-1 drug prices? Dean Li, the head of R&D at Merck, joins us to discuss the long-awaited trial results for the company's oral medicine targeting PCSK9 to lower cholesterol. These types of treatments have proven effective at addressing heart disease, but making them into more accessible pills has proven tricky.We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the resolution of Pfizer and Novo Nordisk's bidding war over Metsera, Pazdur's new role at the FDA, and the end of a decade-long longevity venture.