Last Week in Biomedicine

TrialBreaks
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Every Tuesday, we break down 10 of the most significant biopharma stories and buzzworthy clinical trial breakthroughs from the previous week. The podcast highlights major Phase 2 and Phase 3 trial results, breakthrough therapies, biotech innovations, FDA updates, and emerging treatments shaping the future of medicine. From obesity and cancer to autoimmune disease, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and rare genetic disorders, each episode delivers a fast, accessible look at the data, discoveries, and therapies driving the next generation of healthcare.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    Last Week in Biomedicine | May 30 – Jun 5 | Part 2 of 2: Talzenna Prostate Combo, IgG4 Disease First

    From a prostate cancer combo that uses your tumor's own broken DNA-repair against it, to the first drug ever to succeed in a rare autoimmune disease called IgG4-related disease — Part 2 of our weekly biomedicine recap covers three more major readouts from the week of May 30 – June 5, 2026. In Part 2 we cover: 4. Pfizer — Talazoparib plus enzalutamide for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer with DNA-repair mutations (Phase 3) 5. Zenas BioPharma — Obexelimab for IgG4-related disease (Phase 3) 6. Karyopharm Therapeutics — Selinexor plus ruxolitinib for myelofibrosis (Phase 3) The IgG4-RD result may be the most quietly historic of the week: IgG4-related disease is a rare autoimmune condition where misbehaving B cells form fibrotic masses in organs throughout the body, and there has never been an approved therapy — patients rely on steroids long-term. Obexelimab, a clever 'bifunctional' antibody that calms B cells without killing them, cut the risk of disease flare by 56% in a 52-week Phase 3 trial — the first positive Phase 3 ever in this disease, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. We explain what makes the antibody design unusual and why a positive trial here could change rare-disease drug development more broadly. Catch Part 1 if you missed it. Subscribe at TrialBreaks.com #oncology #prostatecancer #PARPinhibitor #autoimmune #IgG4 #rheumatology #rarediseases #myelofibrosis #hematology #targetedtherapy #precisionmedicine #biomedicine #clinicaltrials #science

    16 min

  2. 6d ago

    Last Week in Biomedicine | May 30 – Jun 5 | Part 1 of 2: Daraxonrasib Pancreatic Cancer, Ivonescimab Lung

    The biggest week in cancer research of 2026 dropped at the ASCO meeting in Chicago, and one drug stole the show: a new RAS-blocking pill that nearly doubled survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest diseases in medicine. In Part 1 we cover: 1. Revolution Medicines — Daraxonrasib for metastatic pancreatic cancer (Phase 3)2. Summit Therapeutics and Akeso — Ivonescimab for first-line squamous non-small cell lung cancer (Phase 3)3. Eli Lilly — Selpercatinib for adjuvant RET fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (Phase 3)Daraxonrasib targets RAS, the 'on switch' that drives roughly a third of all cancers and almost every pancreatic tumor. Unlike earlier RAS drugs that hit only one specific mutation, daraxonrasib blocks the active form of multiple RAS variants at once — and the result was a near-doubling of median overallsurvival from 6.6 months to 13.2 months in patients who had already failed first-line chemo. Doctors at the ASCO Plenary called the data 'transformative' and gave a standing ovation. We break down the science, explain why pancreatic cancer has been so untreatable, and walk through what RAS-ON inhibitors could mean for other tumors in the years ahead.Part 2 drops Thursday morning. Subscribe at TrialBreaks.com#oncology #pancreaticcancer #lungcancer #precisionmedicine #RAS #immunotherapy #bispecificantibody #PD1 #targetedtherapy #ASCO2026 #biomedicine #clinicaltrials #science

    21 min

  3. Jun 4

    Last Week in Biomedicine | May 23–29 | Part 2 of 2: Apogee Eczema, TG Therapeutics MS

    In Part 2 we cover the remaining clinical trial readouts from the week of May 23–29, 2026 — a Phase 2 atopic dermatitis breakthrough and a Phase 3 multiple sclerosis convenience win.4. Apogee Therapeutics — Zumilokibart for Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis (Phase 2)5. TG Therapeutics — BRIUMVI (ublituximab-xiiy) for Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis (Phase 3 ENHANCE)Apogee Therapeutics delivered a strong Phase 2 result in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis — 65.9% of mid-dose patients achieved a 75% reduction in disease severity at 16 weeks, compared with 23.4% on placebo. TG Therapeuticsshowed that a single Day-1 infusion of BRIUMVI gives the same drug exposure as the current two-dose initiation, simplifying multiple sclerosis treatment for thousands of patients.Catch Part 1 if you missed it. Subscribe at TrialBreaks.com#dermatology #atopicdermatitis #multiplesclerosis #neurology #biomedicine #clinicaltrials #science #medicalresearch

    11 min

  4. Jun 2

    Last Week in Biomedicine | May 23–29 | Part 1 of 2: BMS Myeloma, GSK Hep B Cure, Pfizer Lung Cancer

    In Part 1 we cover the three biggest clinical trial readouts from the week of May 23–29, 2026 — including two ASCO 2026 opening-day announcements that reshape oncology. 1. Bristol Myers Squibb — Mezigdomide for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (Phase 3)2. GSK — Bepirovirsen for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection (Phase 3)3. Pfizer — LORBRENA (lorlatinib) for ALK-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (Phase 3, 7-year update)The biggest story: Bristol Myers Squibb's mezigdomide became the first Phase 3 win for the new CELMoD drug class, cutting disease progression risk in half for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The trial showed medianprogression-free survival of 18 months on mezigdomide combination versus 8.3 months on standard of care — a doubling of how long patients stay disease-stable. Part 2 drops Thursday. Subscribe at TrialBreaks.com #oncology #multiplemyeloma #lungcancer #hepatitisB #biomedicine #clinicaltrials#science #medicalresearch

    36 min

  5. May 28

    Last Week in Biomedicine | May 18–22 | Part 2 of 2: Bladder Cancer Conjugate, HPV Cervical Win

    Part 2 of our May 18–22, 2026 roundup digs into a first-in-class Bicycle Toxin Conjugate for bladder cancer, a non-surgical DNA immunotherapy clearing HPV-driven cervical pre-cancer, anoff-the-shelf cancer vaccine extending remission in ovarian cancer, an engineered IL-2 antibody pulling responses out of melanoma that had resisted every checkpoint inhibitor, and a topical hair-loss drug that may finally give men a side-effect-light alternative to finasteride.In Part 2 we cover:6. Bicycle Therapeutics — Zelenectide Pevedotin (BT8009) for Advanced Bladder (Urothelial) Cancer (Phase 2/3)7. ApolloBio (with INOVIO) — VGX-3100 for HPV-16/18 High-Grade Cervical Pre-Cancer (Phase 3)8. OSE Immunotherapeutics — Tedopi for Platinum-Sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer (Phase 2)9. Aulos Bioscience — Imneskibart (AU-007) for Checkpoint-Inhibitor-Refractory Metastatic Melanoma (Phase 2)10. Cosmo Pharmaceuticals — Clascoterone 5% Topical Solution for Male Androgenetic Alopecia (Phase 3)The Bicycle Therapeutics readout is a fascinating proof-of-concept. Instead of a giant antibody hauling chemo to a tumor, Bicycle uses a tiny constrained peptide as the targeting head — small enough to penetrate solid tumors more deeply and clear from the body faster than a traditional antibody-drugconjugate. Positive Phase 2 data in advanced bladder cancer suggest this 'bicycle' platform could become a new way to deliver targeted chemotherapy across many cancers. We also pull back to identify the big pipeline themes connecting all ten of this week's readouts.Catch Part 1 if you missed it. Subscribe at TrialBreaks.com#biomedicine #clinicaltrials #science #oncology #bladdercancer #ovariancancer #melanoma #immunotherapy #HPV #cervicalcancer #dermatology #hairloss #vaccines#drugdiscovery #ADC

    12 min

  6. May 26

    Last Week in Biomedicine | May 18–22 | Part 1 of 2: Retatrutide Obesity, Sac-TMT Cancer Win

    This week the biggest story in clinical trial results came out of an obesity trial: Eli Lilly's retatrutide — a once-weekly shot that activates three different appetite-and-metabolism hormones (GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon) at the same time — helped adults with obesity lose an average of roughly 30% of their body weight at 80 weeks. That level of weight loss was previously only seen with bariatric surgery. We also unpack a TROP-2 antibody-drug conjugate from Merck and Kelun-Biotech thatscored back-to-back Phase 3 wins in two tough cancers, plus a novel approach to gout and a new mechanism for stubborn high blood pressure. In Part 1 we cover:1. Eli Lilly — Retatrutide for Obesity (Phase 3)2. Merck — Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (sac-TMT) for Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer (Phase 3)3. Kelun-Biotech — Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (sac-TMT) for First-Line Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (Phase 3) 4. Sobi — Pozdeutinurad for Gout (Phase 3)5. Mineralys Therapeutics — Lorundrostat for Uncontrolled and Resistant Hypertension, Including Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (Phase 3) The retatrutide readout matters because obesity affects more than a billion people globally, and an injectable medicine reaching surgery-level weight loss could change how doctors and patients think about treatment — moving it from a'maybe later' option to a frontline tool. The same week's sac-TMT cancer wins point to a new class of 'guided-missile' chemotherapy that homes in on the TROP-2 protein found on many tumors, and the gout and hypertension readoutsboth crack open therapy classes that have been stuck for decades. Part 2 drops Thursday. Subscribe at TrialBreaks.com#biomedicine #clinicaltrials #science #obesity #GLP1 #oncology #breastcancer #endometrialcancer #ADC #cardiology #hypertension #gout #immunotherapy #drugdiscovery

    20 min

  7. May 21

    Last Week in Biomedicine | May 11–15 | Part 2

    Top 10 significant clinical trial results from last week Part 2: 6. Enterprise Therapeutics (private) — ETD001 (inhaled ENaCblocker) for cystic fibrosis (Phase 2)7. Daré Bioscience ($DARE) — Ovaprene (hormone-free monthly intravaginal contraceptive) for contraception (Phase 3)8. Candel Therapeutics ($CADL) — aglatimagene besadenovec (CAN-2409) for localized prostate cancer (Phase 3)9. Alpha Tau Medical ($DRTS) — Alpha DaRT intratumoral alpha-radiotherapy for recurrent glioblastoma (Phase 2)10. IMUNON ($IMNN) — IMNN-001 (IL-12 plasmid gene therapy) for advanced ovarian cancer (Phase 2)Subscribe for weekly clinical trial breakdowns at TrialBreaks.com#biotech #clinicaltrials #pharma #genetherapy #Duchenne #DMD #GLP1 #obesity #oncology #immunotherapy #headandneckcancer #pulmonology #IPF #cysticfibrosis#womenshealth #prostatecancer #glioblastoma #ovariancancer #sleepmedicine

    23 min

  8. May 19

    Last Week in Biomedicine | May 11–15 | Part 1

    Top 10 significant clinical trial results from last week Part 1:1. REGENXBIO ($RGNX) — RGX-202 microdystrophin gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Phase 3)2. Alkermes ($ALKS) — LUMRYZ (sodium oxybate once-nightly) for idiopathic hypersomnia (Phase 3)3. Viking Therapeutics ($VKTX) — oral VK2735 (GLP-1/GIP dual agonist) for obesity (Phase 2)4. Inhibrx Biosciences ($INBX) — INBRX-106 (hexavalent OX40 agonist) plus pembrolizumab for first-line PD-L1+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (Phase 2)5. United Therapeutics ($UTHR) — Tyvaso (inhaled treprostinil) for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (Phase 3)Subscribe for weekly clinical trial breakdowns at TrialBreaks.com#biotech #clinicaltrials #pharma #genetherapy #Duchenne #DMD #GLP1 #obesity #oncology #immunotherapy #headandneckcancer #pulmonology #IPF #cysticfibrosis#womenshealth #prostatecancer #glioblastoma #ovariancancer #sleepmedicine

    13 min

  9. May 12

    Last Week in Biomedicine | May 4-9

    Last week's biggest biotech story: Cytokinetics hit both dual primary endpoints in the ACACIA-HCM pivotal Phase 3 trial of aficamten in non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — the first cardiac myosin inhibitor to win in nHCM and a major franchise expansion. Moderna's mRNA-1010 flu vaccine also landed in NEJM, and DDW 2026 drove a cluster of IBD readouts. This week we cover: 1. Cytokinetics ($CYTK) — aficamten for non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (Phase 3) 2. Moderna ($MRNA) — mRNA-1010 seasonal influenza vaccine (Phase 3) 3. Avalo Therapeutics ($AVTX) — abdakibart (AVTX-009) for hidradenitis suppurativa (Phase 2) 4. Viridian Therapeutics ($VRDN) — elegrobart for chronic thyroid eye disease (Phase 3) 5. Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) — JNJ-4804 (guselkumab + golimumab) for refractory ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (Phase 2b) 6. Bayer ($BAYRY) — asundexian for secondary stroke prevention (Phase 3 OCEANIC-STROKE late-breaking) 7. AbbVie ($ABBV) — risankizumab (Skyrizi) and upadacitinib (Rinvoq) long-term IBD data (Phase 3) 8. Eli Lilly ($LLY) — mirikizumab (Omvoh) long-term IBD data (Phase 3) 9. Nuance Pharma (private) — nafithromycin (MIQNAF) for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (Phase 3) 10. Bioxodes (private) — BIOX-101 for intracerebral hemorrhage (Phase 2a) The Cytokinetics nHCM win opens up a second indication for aficamten and pressures BMS's Camzyos directly, while Moderna's NEJM publication strengthens its bid for FDA approval and a seasonal flu commercial launch. DDW 2026 was a watershed for combination biologic IBD therapy. Subscribe for weekly clinical trial breakdowns at TrialBreaks.com #biotech #clinicaltrials #pharma #cardiology #HCM #obesity #vaccines #mRNA #immunology #IBD #ulcerativecolitis #Crohns #neurology #stroke #dermatology #hidradenitis #thyroideyedisease #infectiousdisease

    30 min
  • 9 Episodes

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Every Tuesday, we break down 10 of the most significant biopharma stories and buzzworthy clinical trial breakthroughs from the previous week. The podcast highlights major Phase 2 and Phase 3 trial results, breakthrough therapies, biotech innovations, FDA updates, and emerging treatments shaping the future of medicine. From obesity and cancer to autoimmune disease, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and rare genetic disorders, each episode delivers a fast, accessible look at the data, discoveries, and therapies driving the next generation of healthcare.

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