Q&A
Exclusive interviews with industry leaders
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Permission granted by Diakanos
How non-traditional investors fuel up-and-coming biotechs when VC funding dries up
Smaller biotechs are finding creative ways to fund R&D at a time when the traditional financing channels have become more constrictive.
Michael Gibney • March 18, 2025 -
Permission granted by Roche
Roche’s obesity deal with Zealand Pharma tees up rival for GLP-1s
The new $5.3 billion deal with the Swiss pharma giant gives Zealand a significant partner to advance its amylin analog obesity shot and create a new combination product.
Amy Baxter • March 17, 2025 -
Permission granted by Recursion
AI deals are surging, and Recursion’s ongoing Exscientia merger points to a new world of integration
Recursion CFO Ben Taylor discusses the state of AI M&A and what companies should look for as the industry moves to new data technologies and systems.
Michael Gibney • Feb. 27, 2025 -
Permission granted by Immunocore
Lilly’s former M&A chief scours the landscape for potential deals as Immunocore’s new CFO
Travis Coy is using his Big Pharma bona fides to prioritize business development at the diversified and growing company.
Michael Gibney • Feb. 20, 2025 -
Stock via Getty Images
Merck, Lilly launch manufacturing R&D consortium to help ‘bolster’ U.S. production
The Young Institute Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium will research and develop new production technologies.
Alexandra Pecci • Feb. 19, 2025 -
Permission granted by Fractyl Health
Beyond GLP-1s? This biotech is exploring longer-term metabolic treatments
Fractyl Health is entering pivotal studies for a procedure that aims to be an ‘off ramp’ to GLP-1s and exploring how a one-time, ‘smart GLP-1’ gene therapy can Treat type 2 diabetes.
Amy Baxter • Feb. 10, 2025 -
Permission granted by Coya Therapeutics
An ALS treatment wave is approaching, and this biotech CEO is ready to surf
Coya Therapeutics is entering into a phase 2b study for its ALS, and the biotech’s CEO believes it’s on the cusp of a game changer.
Amy Baxter • Jan. 27, 2025 -
Permission granted by Candel Therapeutics
After layoffs, a viral immunotherapy biotech bounced back with a late-stage prostate cancer win
Candel Therapeutics’ CEO had to prioritize a phase 3 program amid layoffs and cuts, and an end-of-year clinical success was the redemption he was looking for.
Michael Gibney • Jan. 9, 2025 -
Permission granted by Regeneron
Regeneron’s R&D approach scores dual wins against Alexion’s Ultomiris and in lymphoma
At this year’s ASH conference, Regeneron posted results for treatments that could disrupt the standards of care in two blood-related diseases.
Michael Gibney • Dec. 12, 2024 -
Permission granted by Astellas
How Astellas juggles the moving parts of cancer precision medicine development
While developing its first-in-class gastric cancer drug Vyloy, Astellas had to coordinate with another pharma giant to usher the precision med into the market.
Michael Gibney • Dec. 5, 2024 -
iStock via Getty Images
An RNA biotech draws the blueprint for a late-stage Dravet syndrome trial and beyond
Stoke Therapeutics is entering phase 3 with its RNA medicine designed to treat a rare epileptic condition.
Michael Gibney • Nov. 26, 2024 -
eranicle via Getty Images
How AZ’s respiratory wins are ramping up for a bigger prize in COPD
As AstraZeneca builds up indications for Fasenra, an ongoing trial will determine whether the respiratory drug can make up for past stumbles in COPD.
Michael Gibney • Oct. 29, 2024 -
Permission granted by Katelyn Jetelina
‘It’s been hard to watch.’ A noted epidemiologist talks H5N1 and the U.S.’s fragmented response.
Katelyn Jetelina, well known for her newsletter “Your Local Epidemiologist,” digs into the H5N1 outbreak, the public health response and what’s next for vaccinations.
Alexandra Pecci • Oct. 9, 2024 -
Permission granted by Biocom
California is a life sciences leader. Joe Panetta has been one of its most vocal advocates.
The president and CEO of Biocom California discusses the state’s strengths and weaknesses, current and emerging hubs, and the industry’s future.
Alexandra Pecci • Oct. 1, 2024 -
Permission granted by Roivant Sciences
Roivant’s magic trick: Finding the ‘weird-shaped’ pieces around Big Pharma’s cookie cutters
Roivant CEO Matt Gline leads the company on a unique path by placing bets on misfit drugs and technologies — and it’s working.
Michael Gibney • Sept. 26, 2024 -
Permission granted by CRI
Want better cancer treatments? Make biopharma more like Silicon Valley
Alicia Zhou brings startup bona fides to the nonprofit Cancer Research Institute to promote defragmentation of the cancer research effort.
Michael Gibney • Sept. 24, 2024 -
Michael Vi / Getty Images via Getty Images
How Lilly’s sustainability goals come face to face with massive growth
Eli Lilly’s head of ESG is maintaining a focus on sustainability even as the company’s expansion plans in weight loss drive a larger footprint and more social scrutiny.
Michael Gibney • Sept. 12, 2024 -
Permission granted by Takeda Pharmaceuticals
With a new oncology R&D head, Takeda revamps its strategy
The company is using a “three-by-four” approach to sharpen its cancer R&D aims.
Alexandra Pecci • Aug. 27, 2024 -
Courtesy of 23andMe
23andMe inches closer to cancer immunotherapy, guided by its genetic database
Dr. Jennifer Low, head of 23andMe’s therapeutics division, is taking the company into new territory with a potential cancer treatment that targets a unique pathway.
Michael Gibney • Aug. 20, 2024 -
Getty Images via Getty Images
A biotech’s difficult journey to bring a new kind of Parkinson’s drug to patients
A series of executive turnovers at Gain Therapeutics this year precedes important early-stage Parkinson’s results that could change how the disease is treated.
Michael Gibney • Aug. 13, 2024 -
Stock via Getty Images
Autobahn’s road to a breakthrough depression treatment is paved with high-profile investors
The biotech boasts some Big Pharma backers that drove a $100 million fundraising effort in July to take its depression drug into a mid-stage study.
Amy Baxter • Aug. 7, 2024 -
Permission granted by Mubadala Capital
In biotech’s new market normal, here’s what’s catching this investor’s eye
A VC investor shares how the market is recovering, which kinds of companies he’s hunting for and where he’d love to see more innovation.
Meagan Parrish • July 25, 2024 -
Alex Wong / Staff via Getty Images
Bird flu puts BARDA back in the spotlight
BARDA director Gary Disbrow explains the agency’s focus, how companies can get their “foot in the door” and why platforms are so important for preparedness.
Alexandra Pecci • July 23, 2024 -
Permission granted by Amylyx
Amylyx’s CEOs on their ALS setback and quest to revamp the pipeline
Co-CEOs Josh Cohen and Justin Klee reflect on what they learned from Relyvrio’s failure and how they’re carrying those lessons forward with other drugs.
Meagan Parrish • July 17, 2024 -
Permission granted by BeiGene
How BeiGene is taking on established blockbusters with an expanding blood cancer arsenal
BeiGene’s Brukinsa is the first in a hematology franchise that the company hopes will rival top-sellers and introduce a new lineup of medicines for patients.
Michael Gibney • July 2, 2024
