About this episode

The episode discusses biotech market volatility, Eli Lilly's acquisitions, and recent developments in clinical trials and regulatory outcomes.

On today’s episode, Yaron Werber, John Maraganore, Sam Fazeli, and Matt Gline open with a discussion of biotech market volatility, with Matt noting that it often seems driven more by opaque factor dynamics than company-specific fundamentals. The group then turns to Eli Lilly’s continued “Amazonification” and reinventing the pharma business as it acquires a variety of different companies, including this week’s $2.8B upfront acquisition of Atai Beckley, a psychedelic-focused company. The conversation turns to BioCentury’s reporting on Asia-to-West NewCos, prompting a debate about whether China is uniquely changing the market or simply reflects broader shifts in cheaper, faster development. On policy, the group covers BIO’s response to the OMB proposal that could inject political review into federal grant decisions. The co-hosts also debate Kalshi’s move to create prediction markets around clinical trial and regulatory outcomes. On pipeline updates, the group discusses Merck’s approval of Lipfendra, the first oral PCSK9 drug, and the broader class implications. In CNS, Biogen and Ionis’ diranersen tau ASO data spark a discussion of aconfusing dose response, ASO tolerability, tau as…

People in this episode

Hosts: Daphne Zohar, Josh Schimmer, Brad Loncar, Tim Opler

Guests: Yaron Werber, John Maraganore, Sam Fazeli, Matt Gline

Topics covered

• biotech market volatility
• pharma business
• M&A activity
• clinical trials
• regulatory outcomes
• CNS developments
• Asia-to-West NewCos

Keywords

• biotech
• Eli Lilly
• M&A
• clinical trials
• regulatory
• CNS
• Alzheimer's
• market dynamics
• pharma

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Eli Lilly, Atai Beckley, BioCentury, Kalshi, Merck, Biogen, Ionis, Arrowhead, Alnylam, AstraZeneca

Products: Lipfendra, sunvozertinib

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