The Readout Loud

Why was the infectious disease community in denial about the unfolding pandemic? When can we expect a vaccine? And are ventilators being overused?

What's the proper distance to stand from Sen. Mitch McConnell? How many PowerPoint charts is too many? And when will Theranos get its day in court?

Can the drug industry win over Americans? Will the pandemic put an end to privacy? And could Martin Shkreli save the world?

When will things go back to normal? What if a pandemic strikes when you're already sick? And what does Ken Burns know about genomics?

When can we stop distancing? Does the "deep state" meet over Zoom? And could the amyloid hypothesis come through at last?

Why did the U.S. change its tune on coronavirus? What's it like to be an ICU nurse right now? And when are we getting a vaccine?

How long will this pandemic persist? Are U.S. hospitals going to be overwhelmed? And what’s it like to be quarantined on a cruise ship?

Does “The Art of the Deal” cover vaccines? Is patient privacy a relic of the past? And how big can biotech get in China?

Is the market overreacting to the coronavirus? Why do so many clinical trials go unfilled? And how do you pronounce "Martin Shkreli"?

Can biopharma police itself? Who decides whether something's a disease or a difference? And will fecal matter ever become a drug?

What's the right way to give drugs away? Is $3 billion even a lot of money? And when is biotech hype justified?

Is peer review underrated? Can biotech stop an outbreak? And would you mind giving us a call? We're coming up on the 100th episode of this podcast, and we're using the occasion to actualize our long-held dream of running a call-in show. Dial us at 617-517-6130 and leave a message with any question you'd like us to answer on the podcast, and you may just hear it on air in the coming weeks.

Is it wise to lie to the feds? Is pharma taking Sen. Bernie Sanders seriously? And what constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern?"

Are we dealing with a SARS redux? Has the FDA lost its teeth? And what do billionaires talk to each other about?

Why weren't there any big deals announced this week? What does the word "equivalar" mean? And why is information about prognosis so hard to find?

Does pharma deserve more credit? Will history forgive He Jiankui? And how does a laboratory eureka become a lifesaving vaccine?

Which drug defined the decade? Who's the worst CEO in biopharma? And how does gene therapy actually work?

Has CAR-T lost its luster? Why is colorectal cancer on the rise? And did the FDA forever change in 2016?

How do you know if a "positive" study is positive? And how did one-eyed sheep lead to a drug for certain cancers?

Can Sen. Elizabeth Warren ever go home again? Is it ethical to make little people taller? And when will AI come up with a new drug?

Do you trust Google with your health data? Is "Gattaca" an outdated reference? And what's it like to get dunked on?

Why hope for China's new Alzheimer's drug turned into skepticism ? Is three a crowd in CAR-T? And what's a Bionomy?

When should a drug be pulled from shelves? How do you pronounce "HLTH?" And how does Ann Coulter decide what to tweet?

What exactly is Biogen doing? When is a press release worth $12 billion? And what should patients make of whiplashing news? We're devoting this entire episode to Biogen's stunning announcement that aducanumab, its once-discarded treatment for Alzheimer's disease, is getting a second life.

Should drug companies be free-speech advocates? Is your retirement dependent on CRISPR? And how useful is a glow-in-the-dark dog?

STAT's Matthew Herper joins us to dig into the history of the infamous pain drug Vioxx and a new effort to bring it back as a rare disease treatment. Then, we discuss how the synthetic biology industry is growing up and getting corporate. Finally, health care journalist Maggie Fox dials in to explain her deep dive on venture capital in biotech.

Does impeachment have a pharma angle? Who's to blame for drug shortages? And why is Wall Street down on biotech?

What do we talk about when we talk about "vape"? Are there limits to business of DNA testing? And how hard is it to get yourself CRISPR'd? STAT's Megan Thielking joins the gang to break down a major week of news in the world of vaping and STAT's Sharon Begley relates the story of a desperate patient seeking off-the-books genome editing and its implications for the future of medical research.

Who puts horns on unicorns? How do graying drug companies find green ideas? And what would mice tweet?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s drug pricing plan is aggressive, but is it viable? Can Moderna turn cells into tiny drug-making factories? What’s it like to cure your own rare disease?

What separates good drug companies from mediocre ones? Have biohackers sold out? And who's going to run the FDA?

What does Dr. Richard Sackler sound like? When is $500 million a small amount of money? And what will come of the drug companies at the heart of the opioid crisis?

How should you talk to friends about rejection? Can Facebook actually improve the lives of children? And how's biotech doing in China?

Is anything too weighty to be explained over the internet? Can a new spin on old technology outfox CAR-T? And does that controversial drug even work?

Why did Novartis (NVS) keep its scandal to itself? Who knew what and when? And is there such thing as too much Peloton time?

Will Canada run out of drugs? Should you ever read your partner's diary? And what does Pepe the Frog know about genomics?

What makes an epidemic newsworthy? Can biotech succession succeed? And what's so novel about digital health?

Can apps treat anxiety? Is Gilead Sciences back on track? And are we all just brains in a vat?

Is drug pricing too complex for the Trump administration? Would you recognize Tom Hanks at a party? And what does it mean when famous executives quit?

Can Botox make Big Pharma attractive? What qualifies as a "cabal"? And will the CRISPR patent fight outlive us all?

Is desire a matter of medicine? Can you convict on genealogy? And what do you get the alleged bride who has it all?

Is biohacking a crime? Who came up with the latest CRISPR trick? And did Rage Against the Machine sell out?

Who won ASCO? Is pharma sandbagging its blockbusters? And what do gladiators have to do with biotech?

What can be done to improve HPV vaccination rates in the U.S.? How does the genetic signature of a tumor lead to an effective cancer drug? What’s it like being a doctor and a cancer patient?

Who's guilty of "clickbait"? Are spit tubes a bad business? And why are academics emulating Pusha T?

What should you watch for at the year's biggest cancer conference? Why are people having 23andMe-induced identity crises? And what's it like to be at once a journalist and a cancer patient?

Has drug price reform already stalled? How far has tech come in medicine? And should there be an app for that?

Are law-breaking pharma executives the new mob bosses? Can genome editing preventing heart attacks? And can the FDA regulate drug prices?

Is Biogen bracing for a fight? What does Jack Daniels have to do with immunotherapy? And will "micro-dosing" light the way to actual therapies?

Who gets to be "influential"? Should you be skeptical of for-profit hospitals? And should George Lucas fire his attorneys?