Episode #1: Amylin Pharmaceuticals

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on YouTube

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(00:00:00) - Introduction

(00:04:40) - $50 of Dried Lizard Venom

(00:29:17) - Fax of Death

(00:43:04) - Sleeping Beauty Awakens

(00:52:07) - Carl Icahn Sends a Letter

(01:09:19) - Endgame

(01:13:40) - Postmortem & Playbook

CREDITS

Co-hosted by Alex Kesin and Matthew Pech 

Written, edited, and produced by Alex Kesin

Music: “Food” by nerowski

* Special thanks to the team at NFX for the use of their recording studio.

SOURCES

Last updated: January 2026

I. PRIMARY DOCUMENTS

FDA Regulatory Documents

Symlin (pramlintide acetate) - NDA 21-332

* Approval Letter & Package (March 16, 2005)

* Medical Review

* Statistical Review

* Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics Review

* Administrative Documents & Correspondence

Byetta (exenatide) - NDA 21-773

* Approval Letter & Package (April 28, 2005)

* Medical Review

* Statistical Review

* Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics Review

* Administrative Documents & Correspondence

Bydureon (exenatide ER) - NDA 22-200

* Approval Letter (January 27, 2012)

* Other Action Letters (Complete Response)

* Summary Review

* REMS

* Administrative Correspondence

SEC Filings & Financial Documents

* Amylin 2005 Results Press Release (Ex-99.1, 8-K)

* Amylin 2007 Results Press Release (Ex-99.1)

* Amylin 2011 Form 10-K (Net Product Sales)

* Carl Icahn SEC Filing (Schedule 13D)

Proxy Fight & Legal Documents

* Carl Icahn Letter to Amylin (April 15, 2009)

* Amylin Response to Icahn (April 20, 2009)

* Police Fund v. Bradbury (Amylin) Trial (May 4, 2009)

* Lilly Litigation Ruling (May 25, 2011)

II. ORAL HISTORY & INTERVIEWS

* Howard Greene Oral History (UCSD Library, October 8, 2008) - Primary source for Hybritech founding, Ted Greene’s background, and early Amylin history

III. NEWS & TRADE PRESS

2000

* “The Rumsfeld Resume” - CBS News (December 28, 2000) - Donald Rumsfeld’s board tenure at Amylin (1991-1996)

* “Roller Coasting” - Forbes (July 24, 2000) - Joe Cook narrative, J&J partnership collapse

2005

* “Investing for a Profit and a Daughter’s Health” - NYT (March 19, 2005) - Allen Andersson investment story, “tablecloth deal”

2006

* “Diabetics see hope (and weight loss) in new drug” - NYT (March 2, 2006) - “Lizzie” nickname, patient testimonials

* “4 Diabetes Drugs Are Seen Raising Hope and Profit” - NYT (June 22, 2006) - Manufacturing shortage, 400,000+ patients

* “Don’t kill off life-saving drugs” - Heritage Foundation (August 15, 2006) - Policy perspective on Byetta’s potential impact

* “Byetta Craze Is First Salvo in Promising New Line of Drugs” - diaTribe - ADA conference chaos, “one man cried”

2007

* Dr. John Eng Profile - Diabetes In Control (September 18, 2007) - Eng’s discovery story, patent struggles, Amylin vs. Lilly negotiations

2008

* Xenome/Amylin Partnership - BioSpace (February 5, 2008) - Venom peptide library partnership

2009

* Eastbourne Capital Sells Stake - San Diego Union-Tribune (October 10, 2009) - End of Eastbourne activist campaign

* Survey: Additional Diabetes Dru...