Editors’ Choice: Top Stories of 2025

Editors’ Choice: Top Stories of 2025

From Touching Base by Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN)

December 18, 2025 · 41 min · Episode 41

About this episode

The GEN team reflects on impactful stories from 2025, discussing AI in drug discovery, cell and gene therapy, and biotech developments in Africa.

In the final episode of 2025, the GEN team came together to reflect on some of the stories over the last year that they each found impactful. Some of the stories were covered in GEN ’s December issue, but our editors took the time to discuss some topics in a bit more depth during the podcast. The discussion began with an update on the progress of AI use in drug discovery. Cell and gene therapy was a big topic with the positive outcome for Baby KJ, while Sarepta dealt with a rollercoaster of a year with their DMD treatment, Elevidys. Research and biotech in Africa are growing and the discussion ranged from challenges to promise in research and development on the continent. This year’s NIH budget cuts and impacted institutions rounded out the conversation. Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Fay Lin, Phd, Kevin Davies, Phd, John Sterling, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.  Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base :    GEN Editors Reflect on Six of the Biggest Stories of the Year By Alex Philippidis, Savannah Wiegel, Fay Lin, PhD, Kevin Davies, PhD, Uduak…

People in this episode

Hosts: Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Fay Lin, PhD, Kevin Davies, PhD, John Sterling, Uduak Thomas

Topics covered

  • AI in drug discovery
  • cell and gene therapy
  • biotech in Africa
  • NIH budget cuts
  • biopharma news

Keywords

  • AI
  • drug discovery
  • cell therapy
  • gene therapy
  • biotech
  • Sarepta
  • NIH budget
  • biopharma

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: GEN, Sarepta, NIH, FDA

Products: Elevidys

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