Q&A
Exclusive interviews with industry leaders
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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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
‘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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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’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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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