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Unravel the business of science with BioSpace. We dive into biopharma's top stories and biggest challenges, whether it’s layoffs, pipeline shake-ups, acquisitions, new FDA approvals or how to regulate AI in drug development.

  1. Programmable RNA 2.0: Beyond the First mRNA Revolution

    13 HR AGO

    Programmable RNA 2.0: Beyond the First mRNA Revolution

    In this episode of Denatured, Jennifer C. Smith-Parker speaks to Erik Digman Wiklud, CEO of Circio and Jacob Becraft, CO-founder and CEO of Strand Therapeutics. Since the mRNA vaccine breakthroughs of the COVID-19 era, attention has turned to what's next for programmable medicines. While first- generation mRNA prove the power of transient genetic instruction, its instability, immune reactivity, and short-lived expression have limited its use mainly to vaccines. Emerging platforms like circular and logic circuit RNA are expanding the field's therapeutic horizons. Host Jennifer Smith-Parker, Director of Insights, BioSpace Guests Erik Digman Wiklund⁠, CEO, Circio Jacob Becraft, Co-founder and CEO, Strand Therapeutics Disclaimer: The views expressed in this discussion by guests are their own and do not represent those of their organizations.

    25 min
  2. Pfizer’s Metsera Data, 2025 Earnings, the FDA and REGENXBIO, Psychedelics and IPOs

    1 DAY AGO

    Pfizer’s Metsera Data, 2025 Earnings, the FDA and REGENXBIO, Psychedelics and IPOs

    Pfizer reported the first data from its new obesity pipeline, picked up in the nearly $10 billion acquisition of Metsera last fall. While BMO Capital Markets said in a Tuesday note that the data “look competitive,” analysts clamored for more details on Pfizer’s earnings call the same morning—and were left wanting more. Meawhile, Merck batted away accusations of “modest growth” from analysts on its own earnings call, as CEO Robert Davis touted “probably the broadest and widest pipelinewe’ve had in years.”   These calls followed Roche last week and Johnson & Johnson before that, but earnings season is just getting started. On the docket today is Eli Lilly, which has been acquisitive of late, plus Novo Nordisk, Novartis, AbbVie and more.   On the regulatory front, the FDA is expected to decideon eight products this month, including REGENXBIO’s Hunter syndrome gene therapy RGX-121. The biotech ran into a regulatory snag last week, however, as the FDA placed a clinical hold on two of its programs, including RGX-121. The agency also launched its much-anticipated PreCheck pilot program, which aims to make it easier for companies to build manufacturing plants in the U.S. And President Donald Trump’s TrumpRx platform is delayed, potentially amid anti-kickback concerns.   In ClinicaSpace this week, we took a deep dive intothe resurgent psychedelics space, which could see two companies—Compass Pathways and Definium—submit FDAapplications this year. H.C. Wainwright analyst Patrick Trucchio told BioSpace 2026 is set to be “the biggest year from a clinical data standpoint,” since the firm began covering Compass in 2018.   And check your inboxes Wednesday for BioPharmExecutive, where we take a look back at the banner IPO year that was 2021: Where are these companies now?

    18 min
  3. Biotech’s New Cycle, JPM Deal Hype and Where Alpha Still Hides

    29 JAN

    Biotech’s New Cycle, JPM Deal Hype and Where Alpha Still Hides

    In this episode of Denatured, Jennifer C. Smith-Parker speaks with RTW’s Rod Wong and Stephanie Sirota how shifting JPM deal timing masks record M&A potential; why oncology, obesity, psychedelics, and neuroscience are attracting fresh capital; and how “alpha stacking” shapes their investment edge in an age of chronic uncertainty. They cover topics discussed in RTW's new book, "Innovation is the Best Medicine." Hosts⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Jennifer Smith-Parker⁠⁠, Director of Insights, BioSpace Guests Roderick Wong, Managing Partner, Chief Investment Officer, RTW Investments Stephanie Sirota, Partner, Chief Business Officer, RTW Investments Disclaimer: The views expressed in this discussion by guests are their own and do not represent those of their organizations.

    20 min
  4. Roche Makes Obesity Splash, Moderna Cans Vaccine Trials, Sarepta’s New Data, More

    28 JAN

    Roche Makes Obesity Splash, Moderna Cans Vaccine Trials, Sarepta’s New Data, More

    Roche made the biggest splash this week so far, announcing on Tuesday that GLP-1/GIP injectable CT-388 led to 22.5%weight loss in a Phase II trial. These numbers appear to put CT-388, which Roche acquired in its $2.7 billion Carmot buy, in line with Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, according to William Blair analysts. Roche plans to start a Phase III study of CT-388 in the first half of this year and is also pairing the drug with a therapy from Zealand Pharma, with the aim of offering a weight lossoption with fewer gastrointestinal side effects.   Meanwhile, Baseline Therapeutics debuted to challenge Lilly with a Phase III–ready GLP-1 for alcohol use disorder.   In the vaccines sector, Moderna took perhaps the biggest action to date amid Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s anti-vaccine policies and rhetoric, last week announcing that the company will no longer run late-stage vaccine trials for infectious diseases. “You cannot make a return on investment if you don’t have access to the U.S. market,” CEO Stéphane Bancel saidthe World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, also speaking at Davos, called RFK Jr.’s rhetoric and policies on vaccines “anti-science.”   Finally, Sarepta released new data on Monday for Elevidys, the company’s embattled gene therapy for neuromuscular disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Plus, check out up-and-coming treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

    17 min
  5. From Sound Bites to Signals: Editors Parse Executive and Investor Chatter at JPM

    22 JAN

    From Sound Bites to Signals: Editors Parse Executive and Investor Chatter at JPM

    In this episode of Denatured, BioSpace editorial team members, Senior Editor, Annalee Armstrong, and News Editor, Dan Samorodnitsky, discuss their post-JPM takeaways and 2026 forecasts after speaking to a range of pharma and biotech executives and investors last week. Hosts⁠ Jennifer Smith-Parker⁠, Director of Insights, BioSpace⁠ Guests ⁠Annalee Armstrong, Senior Editor, BioSpace ⁠Dan Samorodnitsky, News Editor, BioSpace Disclaimer: The views expressed in this discussion by guests are their own and do not represent those of their organizations.

    19 min
  6. JPM26 Recap, Novo’s Oral Wegovy Soars as Lilly’s Orforglipron Is Delayed, IPOs Return

    21 JAN

    JPM26 Recap, Novo’s Oral Wegovy Soars as Lilly’s Orforglipron Is Delayed, IPOs Return

    The 2026 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference concludedlast week without a big M&A deal. But the meeting was anything but boring, with President Donald Trump’sMost Favored Nation drug pricing scheme and the perpetual battle for supremacyin the obesity space between Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk prime topics of conversation. Meanwhile, other companies like Biohaven refuse tocede the entire weight loss market, stating their intention to carve out apiece of the massive pie.   On the competitive front, Novo took a step forwardMonday with the news that its Wegovy pill reached nearly 3,100 patients since its launch on Jan. 5. Meanwhile, an FDAdecision for Lilly’s own oral offering, orforglipron, has been delayed from March28 to April 10. Orforglipron is being reviewed under the FDA’s new Commissioner’sNational Priority Voucher (CNPV) program, which aims to shorten the reviewperiod from 10–12 months to 1–2 months. Other voucher recipients—includingSanofi and Disc Medicine—have also had their decisions delayed.   While the FDA wasn’t a primary focus at JPM, severalbiotechs sought to make clear during their investor presentations that they hadsecured alignment with the regulator on trial design or pathways to approval. This comesafter a year that has seen many of their peers experience regulatory whiplashas previous FDA guidance was seemingly reversed.   And on the business front, IPOs are back! This week, SpyGlass Pharma and AgomAb Therapeutics joined Veradermicsand Eikon Therapeutics on the rapidly accelerating IPO train. Aktis Oncology,which announced its bid in late 2025, debuted on the Nasdaq earlier this month.   And in BioPharm Executive this week, Annalee Armstrongand Dan Samorodnitsky catch up with execs from Novo Nordisk, Korro Bio, Biohaven and Galapagos.

    21 min

  7. 19 JAN

    Bonus: Q4 2025 Job Market Update

    In this episode, BioSpace’s Vice President of Marketing Chantal Dresner and Careers Editor Angela Gabriel discuss Q4 2025 job market performance, sharing the latest BioSpace data. They touch on positive signs they saw last quarter and what this year might have in store for those seeking employment.  Want to receive our latest quarterly job market reports as soon as they’re published? ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to Career Insider for our job market updates, job trends, career advice and more.

    8 min
  8. Deals Roll at JPM26, Policy Front and Center, IPOs Are Back, FDA Stays Busy

    14 JAN

    Deals Roll at JPM26, Policy Front and Center, IPOs Are Back, FDA Stays Busy

    AbbVie bet nearly $5 billion for the ex-China rights to RemeGen’s PD-1/VEGF bispecific and Novartis struck a $1.5 billion Alzheimer’s-focused deal with China-based SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals as the 2026 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference got underway on Monday. These and other recent tie-ups speak to the therapeutic trends predicted to be hot this year by experts who spoke with BioSpace, who particularly noted that cancer and neuroscience would remain top of the list.   Meanwhile, attendees are still waiting for that “one big M&A deal.” Could it come from Merck? CEO Rob Davis expressed high confidence during the company’s JPM presentation on Monday, revealing that Merck is open to deals in the range of “multi tens of billions of dollars.”   On the weight loss front, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk both updated attendees on the state of play, with Lilly expressingconfidence in its supply chain to support the launch of obesity pill orforglipron and Novo continuing to lament the business it is still losing to compounders.   Just in time for JPM, the IPO window cracked open, with Aktis Oncology debuting on the public markets last week and Veradermics and Eikon Therapeutics announcing their bids to follow suit. A similar thaw occurred last year before the window slammed shut again as myriad policy changes frightened investors. How will this year play out?   2025 had its challenges, especially on the policy front. In his annual letter, Flagship CEO Noubar Afeyan cited “growing contempt” in the U.S. for the scientific method and arapidly emerging Chinese biopharma ecosystem among the greatest challenges facing the industry. And while the funding may now be flowing, it still favors later-stage companies. A .J.P. Morgan report released prior to the conference showed VC funding was down across the board last year, but especially for biotechs recruiting early rounds.   Finally, while JPM is the primary focus, the FDA hasn’t taken the week off. Just prior to recording, the regulator requestedthat Lilly and Novo remove the suicide warning from the labels of certain GLP-1 medications after a comprehensive review found no increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior with these drugs. On the policy front, the FDA continued its quest to accelerate the development of cell and gene therapies with new manufacturing exemptions.   The regulator also took action on two applications this week, approving a rare disease drug developed by Sentynl Therapeutics and Fortress Biotech and denying a cell therapy submitted by Atara Biotherapeutics. To learn about key upcoming FDA action, check out 6 FDA Decisions To Watch in Q1 2026 in ClinicaSpace this week.

    20 min
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About

Unravel the business of science with BioSpace. We dive into biopharma's top stories and biggest challenges, whether it’s layoffs, pipeline shake-ups, acquisitions, new FDA approvals or how to regulate AI in drug development.

Information

  • Creator
    BioSpace
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    198
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © BioSpace
  • Show Website
    BioSpace

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