Q&A

Exclusive interviews with industry leaders


  • Travis Coy, CFO, Immunocore
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Immunocore
    Image attribution tooltip

    Lilly’s former M&A chief scours the landscape for potential deals as Immunocore’s new CFO

    Travis Coy is using his Big Pharma bona fides to prioritize business development at the diversified and growing company.

    Michael Gibney • Feb. 20, 2025
  • pill manufacturing
    Image attribution tooltip
    Stock via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Merck, Lilly launch manufacturing R&D consortium to help ‘bolster’ U.S. production

    The Young Institute Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium will research and develop new production technologies.

    Alexandra Pecci • Feb. 19, 2025
  • a tech works in a pharma lab
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fractyl Health
    Image attribution tooltip

    Beyond GLP-1s? This biotech is exploring longer-term metabolic treatments

    Fractyl Health is entering pivotal studies for a procedure that aims to be an ‘off ramp’ to GLP-1s and exploring how a one-time, ‘smart GLP-1’ gene therapy can Treat type 2 diabetes.

    Amy Baxter • Feb. 10, 2025
  • Arun Swaminathan headshot against white background
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Coya Therapeutics
    Image attribution tooltip

    An ALS treatment wave is approaching, and this biotech CEO is ready to surf

    Coya Therapeutics is entering into a phase 2b study for its ALS, and the biotech’s CEO believes it’s on the cusp of a game changer.

    Amy Baxter • Jan. 27, 2025
  • Dr. Paul Peter Tak, CEO, Candel Therapeutics
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Candel Therapeutics
    Image attribution tooltip

    After layoffs, a viral immunotherapy biotech bounced back with a late-stage prostate cancer win

    Candel Therapeutics’ CEO had to prioritize a phase 3 program amid layoffs and cuts, and an end-of-year clinical success was the redemption he was looking for.

    Michael Gibney • Jan. 9, 2025
  • Dr. Andres Sirulnik, senior vice president of translational and clinical sciences in hematology, Regeneron
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Regeneron
    Image attribution tooltip

    Regeneron’s R&D approach scores dual wins against Alexion’s Ultomiris and in lymphoma

    At this year’s ASH conference, Regeneron posted results for treatments that could disrupt the standards of care in two blood-related diseases. 

    Michael Gibney • Dec. 12, 2024
  • Dr. Tadaaki Taniguchi, chief medical officer, Astellas
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Astellas
    Image attribution tooltip

    How Astellas juggles the moving parts of cancer precision medicine development

    While developing its first-in-class gastric cancer drug Vyloy, Astellas had to coordinate with another pharma giant to usher the precision med into the market.

    Michael Gibney • Dec. 5, 2024
  • RNA
    Image attribution tooltip
    iStock via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    An RNA biotech draws the blueprint for a late-stage Dravet syndrome trial and beyond

    Stoke Therapeutics is entering phase 3 with its RNA medicine designed to treat a rare epileptic condition.

    Michael Gibney • Nov. 26, 2024
  • An illustration of human lungs with a geometrical effect.
    Image attribution tooltip
    eranicle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How AZ’s respiratory wins are ramping up for a bigger prize in COPD

    As AstraZeneca builds up indications for Fasenra, an ongoing trial will determine whether the respiratory drug can make up for past stumbles in COPD.

    Michael Gibney • Oct. 29, 2024
  • Katelyn Jetelina
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Katelyn Jetelina
    Image attribution tooltip

    ‘It’s been hard to watch.’ A noted epidemiologist talks H5N1 and the U.S.’s fragmented response.

    Katelyn Jetelina, well known for her newsletter “Your Local Epidemiologist,” digs into the H5N1 outbreak, the public health response and what’s next for vaccinations.

    Alexandra Pecci • Oct. 9, 2024
  • Joe Panetta
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Biocom
    Image attribution tooltip

    California is a life sciences leader. Joe Panetta has been one of its most vocal advocates.

    The president and CEO of Biocom California discusses the state’s strengths and weaknesses, current and emerging hubs, and the industry’s future.

    Alexandra Pecci • Oct. 1, 2024
  • A horizontal headshot of Roivant Sciences chief executive officer Matt Gline.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Roivant Sciences
    Image attribution tooltip

    Roivant’s magic trick: Finding the ‘weird-shaped’ pieces around Big Pharma’s cookie cutters

    Roivant CEO Matt Gline leads the company on a unique path by placing bets on misfit drugs and technologies — and it’s working.

    Michael Gibney • Sept. 26, 2024
  • Alicia Zhou, CEO, Cancer Research Institute
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by CRI
    Image attribution tooltip

    Want better cancer treatments? Make biopharma more like Silicon Valley

    Alicia Zhou brings startup bona fides to the nonprofit Cancer Research Institute to promote defragmentation of the cancer research effort.

    Michael Gibney • Sept. 24, 2024
  • Lilly Biotechnology Center in San Diego, California
    Image attribution tooltip
    Michael Vi / Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How Lilly’s sustainability goals come face to face with massive growth

    Eli Lilly’s head of ESG is maintaining a focus on sustainability even as the company’s expansion plans in weight loss drive a larger footprint and more social scrutiny.

    Michael Gibney • Sept. 12, 2024
  • Dr. PK Morrow headshot
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Takeda Pharmaceuticals
    Image attribution tooltip

    With a new oncology R&D head, Takeda revamps its strategy

    The company is using a “three-by-four” approach to sharpen its cancer R&D aims.

    Alexandra Pecci • Aug. 27, 2024
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of 23andMe
    Image attribution tooltip

    23andMe inches closer to cancer immunotherapy, guided by its genetic database

    Dr. Jennifer Low, head of 23andMe’s therapeutics division, is taking the company into new territory with a potential cancer treatment that targets a unique pathway.

    Michael Gibney • Aug. 20, 2024
  • Brain scan pen blood vessel
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    A biotech’s difficult journey to bring a new kind of Parkinson’s drug to patients

    A series of executive turnovers at Gain Therapeutics this year precedes important early-stage Parkinson’s results that could change how the disease is treated.

    Michael Gibney • Aug. 13, 2024
  • Graphic Abstract head and puzzle pieces against brush stroke textured background
    Image attribution tooltip
    Stock via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Autobahn’s road to a breakthrough depression treatment is paved with high-profile investors

    The biotech boasts some Big Pharma backers that drove a $100 million fundraising effort in July to take its depression drug into a mid-stage study.

    Amy Baxter • Aug. 7, 2024
  • Ayman AlAbdallah header
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Mubadala Capital
    Image attribution tooltip

    In biotech’s new market normal, here’s what’s catching this investor’s eye

    A VC investor shares how the market is recovering, which kinds of companies he’s hunting for and where he’d love to see more innovation.

    Meagan Parrish • July 25, 2024
  • The HHS in DC
    Image attribution tooltip
    Alex Wong / Staff via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bird flu puts BARDA back in the spotlight

    BARDA director Gary Disbrow explains the agency’s focus, how companies can get their “foot in the door” and why platforms are so important for preparedness.

    Alexandra Pecci • July 23, 2024
  • Amylyx co-ceos
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Amylyx
    Image attribution tooltip

    Amylyx’s CEOs on their ALS setback and quest to revamp the pipeline

    Co-CEOs Josh Cohen and Justin Klee reflect on what they learned from Relyvrio’s failure and how they’re carrying those lessons forward with other drugs.

    Meagan Parrish • July 17, 2024
  • Mehrdad Mobasher, chief medical officer, hematology, BeiGene
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by BeiGene
    Image attribution tooltip

    How BeiGene is taking on established blockbusters with an expanding blood cancer arsenal

    BeiGene’s Brukinsa is the first in a hematology franchise that the company hopes will rival top-sellers and introduce a new lineup of medicines for patients.

    Michael Gibney • July 2, 2024
  • Moderna vax
    Image attribution tooltip
    Jens Schluete via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Can Moderna’s COVID-flu combo shot improve flagging vaccination rates?

    A COVID and flu duo could ease manufacturing and administration, potentially driving higher vaccination rates, said Moderna’s VP of North American medical affairs.

    Michael Gibney • June 25, 2024
  • A 3D illustration of a ribosome as part of an biological cell constructing a messenger RNA molecule.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Christoph Burgstedt via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    After an obesity deal with Novo, Omega’s new business head is on the hunt for more partners

    With a career focused on striking deals, Kaan Certel is hoping to lead the Flagship-backed biotech with an mRNA platform into its next phase of growth. 

    Amy Baxter • June 24, 2024
  • Medicine capsules on blue racing lines
    Image attribution tooltip
    Stock via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    In an era of big patent losses, drug launches need years of runway

    Jim Lang, CEO of Eversana, explains the shifting commercial environment and how past drug launch failures are informing the future.

    Amy Baxter • June 3, 2024