How has the Food and Drug Administration&#x27;s recent decisions on rare disease drugs affected investment trends? Why is Eli Lilly getting into sleep medicine? And where did Allison go on her vacation?<br><br>We discuss all that and more on this week&#x27;s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT&#x27;s weekly biotech podcast. Biotech investor Rod Wong joins us to talk about why an industry-patient coalition he&#x27;s part of sent a letter to President Trump asking for more regulatory flexibility at the FDA.<br><br>We also discuss the U.S. approval of Eli Lilly&#x27;s obesity pill, recent deal-making by large pharma companies, a strange story about promotion of psychedelic drugs on YouTube, and more.

395: Biotech investors' plea to Trump, and a busy M&A week

The Readout Loud

# Full Transcript

**Podcast:** The Readout Loud

## Participants

- **Allison DeAngelis** (STAT)
- **Adam Feuerstein** (STAT)
- **Elaine Chen** (STAT)
- **Rod Wong** (RTW Investments)

## Transcript

Welcome to this week's episode of The Readout Loud, a weekly biotech podcast from STAT. I'm Allison DeAngelis. I'm Adam Feuerstein. And I'm Elaine Chen. It's Thursday, April 2nd. I'm back in the podcasting chair with my co-hosts. And on this week's episode, biotech investor Rod Wong joins us to talk about the FDA, rare diseases and why an industry patient advocacy coalition that he supports is asking for more regulatory flexibility.

But first, a recap of the week's news and a word from our sponsor. I'm Jesse McQuarters, editor of StaffBrand Studio, and I'm joined today by Preeti Hegda, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Research at Kite, a Gilead company. Preeti, can you tell me a little bit about the multitude of platforms that you're working in?

In most companies, the scientific teams engage in one platform or the other. We're really fortunate at Gilead and Kite where we have access to expertise in small molecules. We have expertise in large molecule development and we have expertise in cell therapy as well. And so the question here is what is the right scientific question for the right modality and bringing them together is what ultimately will result to transformative benefit for patients.

Welcome back, Alison. Thank you. Thank you for having me. So last week, we didn't tell people where you went. We just gave them a hint that a camel was involved. Yes. So why don't you tell everyone where you were? I spent 10 days in Morocco, which was amazing. And yes, I did go out into the desert, spent a night in the desert, rode a camel that I named Gerald and just had a fantastic time. It was great. I deleted Slack. I really disconnected.

Couldn't tell you what you two talked about on the podcast. That's not true. You did listen to our podcast. Oh, that's right. Sorry. I didn't. You missed us. You did miss us. You did listen to the podcast. Yeah. You see, you can't quit us all 100%. We know. We were getting some texts from you during the week. So we were on your mind. This is true. That's how important Elaine and I are to you because- You've infiltrated. You've seeded deep into my mind. Even in the Moroccan desert, you were thinking about the readout loud. I was thinking about the podcast.

I had a sixth sense that I was like, it's Thursday morning. It's time to podcast. It was just welcome to this week's readout loud. It was just like muscle memory. I actually said that to Gerald. No, I'm kidding. Well, I'm glad that you guys seem to have survived my vacation. Thank you. And thank you, listeners. And should we talk about some news? Let's do it. Okay. So a new obesity pill has entered the conversation.

On Wednesday, the FDA approved Eli Lilly's medication, Orphoglipron, now known commercially as Foundayo? Foundayo Uh-oh. Here we go again. One of...

395: Biotech investors' plea to Trump, and a busy M&A week

Transcript

Built for investment professionals

Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
edge in conversations you're not hearing.

395: Biotech investors' plea to Trump, and a busy M&A week

Transcript

Built for investment professionals

Every day you wait, your competitors are findingedge in conversations you're not hearing.

Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
edge in conversations you're not hearing.