At Fierce Biotech, we love a big M&A deal, but valuation does not always equal the most exciting. In this week's episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Biotech’s Annalee Armstrong and James Waldron discuss what they think are the best and smartest acquisitions in recent years. From obesity to radiopharmaceuticals, they give you the Fierce Biotech team’s…

In this week’s episode of “The Top Line,” Fierce Pharma’s Zoey Becker sits down with Bobby Sheng, the CEO of Bora Pharmaceuticals, to discuss the concept of “friend-shoring” in drug manufacturing. "Friend-shoring" involves conducting manufacturing processes in countries considered friendly or allied. Sheng discusses the criteria for deeming a count…

Each June, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) hosts a conference that gathers physicians, researchers and the cancer community to share their latest research on treatments, technologies and more. The Fierce team is always on the ground at the ASCO meeting, and this year, Fierce Biotech’s Gabrielle Masson and Fierce Pharma’s Angus Liu …

The Fierce Pharma Marketing team publishes a special report each year on the top pharmaceutical drug ad spenders. This year’s report, which includes numbers for 2023, was published on Monday. AbbVie was the standout in this edition, having spent heavily on ads for Skyrizi and Rinvoq. Overall spending on the top 10 ads also experienced a sizable inc…

The Fierce Biotech team published a four-part series this week exploring cell therapy, a modality that has faced clinical challenges, manufacturing constraints and multiple practice-changing events. In today’s episode, Fierce’s Annalee Armstrong and Gabrielle Masson discuss the series of special reports and key insights from their interviews with m…

This week’s episode of “The Top Line,” is the final part of a three-part series diving into the latest advancements in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. In this episode, Fierce Pharma’s Fraiser Kansteiner is joined by Bruce Levine, Ph.D., who is the co-inventor of Kymriah and the Barbara and Edward Netter Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy at the …

In the fast-paced field of life sciences, digital pathology is poised to be a game-changer. In this episode, we sit down with Grace Lee and Douglas Clark of Agilent Technologies to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with companion diagnostics (CDx). Clark kicks off, shedding light on the current levels of digital pathology adoption…

What is the transformative potential of digital health technologies in advancing health equity? Rabin Martin, a global health consulting firm, explores those possibilities in this engaging episode. The conversation highlights the excitement surrounding digital tools and advanced analytics in achieving deeper insights, consistent care delivery, work…

This week’s episode of “The Top Line” is the second part of a three-part series exploring the latest advancements in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. In this episode, Fierce Pharma’s Fraiser Kansteiner interviews Delara Motlagh, head of cell therapy at Catalent; Becky Butler Cap, senior vice president of biotherapies at Vitalant; and Kevin Kyle…

This week’s episode of “The Top Line,” kicks off a series diving into the latest advancements in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. In this episode, Fierce Pharma’s Fraiser Kansteiner sits down with Ori Biotech CEO Jason Foster and the Cell Therapy Manufacturing Center's CEO, Jason Bock. They delve into the current state of cell and gene therapy …

This week on "The Top Line," we're diving into the details of the spree of big-money biopharma deals in 2023 and examining what that means for this year. Fierce Pharma Senior Writer Kevin Dunleavy sits down with Cody Powers, a consultant who advises companies on business development and franchise growth strategy, to discuss the reasons behind the n…

Fierce Pharma publishes a yearly special report highlighting the top 20 pharmas based on their revenue. The most recent edition, published this month, ranks each pharma based on their total revenues for 2023. This week on "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma Senior Editor Eric Sagonowsky and Senior Writer Kevin Dunleavy break down the numbers, highlight k…

This week on “The Top Line,” we're joined by Fierce Biotech Senior Editor Annalee Armstrong and Fierce Pharma Marketing Senior Editor Ben Adams. We're diving into our recent spin on March Madness at Fierce. This time around, Fierce Biotech kicked off its inaugural Best Biotech Name tournament, while over at Fierce Pharma Marketing, we held our bian…

Jeff Beck of BioCare is in the hotseat for this edition of The Top Line. Beck is the Chief Development Officer at the company, which stands tall as a pioneer in specialty product distribution with over 40 years of experience dating back to hemophilia therapies. During the conversation, Beck provides an inside look at the rapidly evolving specialty …

This week on "The Top Line," we explore biopharma layoffs in the first quarter of 2024. Using data from Fierce Biotech's layoff tracker, Gabrielle Masson and Max Bayer analyze the trends of layoffs in the first quarter of 2024, comparing them to previous years. With a notable number of layoff rounds marking the start of the year, they examine the f…

This week on “The Top Line,” we explore peripheral arterial disease, a serious health issue that is often overlooked and undermanaged. Join Editor-in-Chief of Fierce Life Sciences and Healthcare Ayla Ellison as she sits down with Kumar Madassery, M.D., Director of the Peripheral Vascular Intervention & CLI Program at Rush University Medical Center.…

This week on "The Top Line," we explore our annual special report on the top money raisers in the biotech industry. Which company raised the most funding in 2023? What does the biotech financing landscape look like for this year? Fierce Biotech's Annalee Armstrong and Max Bayer answer those questions and many more in today's episode. They also disc…

This week on “The Top Line,” we explore the European biotech investment landscape. Fierce Biotech’s James Waldron sits down with Maina Bhaman, a Partner at Sofinnova Capital Strategy, who provides insights into how investors are approaching the European biotech sector. To learn more about the topics in this episode: 'The fundamentals are really str…

This week on “The Top Line,” we’re diving into the topic of diversity in clinical trials, examining both the progress made and the ongoing work needed to ensure inclusivity. In this episode, Fierce Biotech Senior Editor Annalee Armstrong engages in a conversation with Karen Correa, Ph.D., Head of Global Clinical Operations at Takeda and Executive S…

In this week's episode of "The Top Line," join Conor Hale, Senior Editor of Fierce Medtech, and Andrea Park, Deputy Editor of Fierce Life Sciences, as they share the highlights of this year's Fierce Medtech Fierce 15. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Fierce Medtech's Fierce 15 of 2023 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati…

This week on “The Top Line,” we’re speaking with Jared Baeten, MD, Ph.D., Vice President, HIV Clinical Development, Gilead Sciences about how advancements in HIV treatment research have enabled individuals to lead longer and healthier lives by taking and staying on medication. Nevertheless, HIV persists as a significant public health challenge. To …

The FDA recently asked the six marketed CAR-T therapies to add a new boxed warning item on their labels to reflect the risk of secondary T-cell cancers. This decision follows an investigation into the new safety signal from postmarketing adverse event reports and clinical trials. In today’s episode, Fierce Pharma’s Angus Liu talks with regulatory e…

This week on “The Top Line,” we explore the impact of environmental, social and governance measures, commonly known as ESG, on the pharmaceutical industry. Fraiser Kansteiner of Fierce Pharma engages in a conversation with Jim Greffet, Head of ESG Strategy at Eli Lilly, to gain insights. Greffet makes a compelling business case for integrating ESG …

Gene editing’s therapeutic application has transitioned from hypothetical to reality, marked by the recent approval of a CRISPR-based therapy for sickle cell and beta thalassemia. In the wake of these developments, new biotech companies are springing up spurred by advancements that redefine what conditions might soon become treatable. One contender…

This week on “The Top Line,” we explore the most anticipated drug launches of 2024. Editor-in-Chief Ayla Ellison engages in a conversation with Fierce Pharma Marketing Senior Editor Ben Adams about the drugs likely to launch this year with the most significant sales potential by 2028. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Top 10 most anti…

Should physicians consider the psychological status of patients more when developing and delivering treatment plans? What knowledge barriers are there to this? And how can these barriers be overcome? These questions lie at the heart of what John Kane has been pursuing as a healthcare communications and education expert for more than 30 years. As Ma…

In this episode, Dr. Beate Mueller-Tiemann, Chief Technology Officer at Cytiva, joins Fierce Life Sciences’s Stephanie Butler. Having spent almost all of her career working within large pharmaceutical enterprises such as Sanofi and Bayer, Beate made the switch to Cytiva in the early part 2023. Her role at Cytiva involves overseeing teams which crea…

While generative AI has dominated the spotlight in the past year, machine learning programs have already been significantly impacting patients and physicians for several years. The question now arises: how will the emergence of programs like ChatGPT, coupled with increasing calls to scrutinize their safety, influence the adoption of new AI programs…

While it’s a known fact that women, on average, live longer than men, a recent report unveils a nuanced reality—women also spend more of their lives grappling with poor health. This week on “The Top Line,” Ayla Ellison, editor-in-chief of Fierce Healthcare and Life Sciences, explores the root causes behind this disparity and the multifacted nature …

At Fierce Pharma, the arrival of a new year is synonymous with the release of our annual special report on drug approvals. This week on “The Top Line,” Fierce Pharma’s Eric Sagonowsky and Kevin Dunleavy, both instrumental in creating the special report, are breaking down the numbers and sharing key insights into the landscape of drug approvals in 2…

This week on "The Top Line," Fierce Biotech staff writer Gabrielle Masson and senior editor Annalee Armstrong look back at the year in biotech, which was defined by massive layoffs across the industry. They also discuss their favorite stories of the year, including an appearance from a popstar whose reputation precedes her. To learn more about the …

Paul Beresford and Lou Welebob of Agilent Technologies discuss how partnerships are vital in addressing the evolving needs of pharma for complex diagnostics and CDx development. Discussions center around the importance of working with pharmaceutical companies to drive medical innovation and improve patient outcomes, helping to speed up the process …

Earlier this year, Fierce Healthcare, Fierce Pharma and Fierce Biotech recognized 50 individuals and companies that are pushing the industry forward. The Fierce 50 honorees range from tech innovators to researchers developing novel therapies to providers on the frontlines of changing care. This week on "The Top Line," senior editor Paige Minemyer s…

The antifungal agent Amphotericin B is highly effective against a wide range of deadly fungi and resistance is rare, even after decades of use. But it comes with a virtual guarantee of kidney damage, earning it the nickname “Ampho-terrible.” Now, a better alternative might be on the way. Fierce Biotech Research’s Helen Floersh spoke with Martin Bur…

In this episode of "The Top Line," we're highlighting the remarkable women featured in our annual Fiercest Women in Life Sciences special report. The list comprises 10 trailblazers changing the leadership landscape in pharma, biotech and medtech. Join Deputy Editor Andrea Park and Senior Editor Annalee Armstrong as they reflect on the inspiring sto…

This episode of "The Top Line" is dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease, exploring the latest treatments and what lies ahead. In the first segment, Fierce Pharma’s Fraiser Kansteiner engages in a conversation with Alexander Scott, senior vice president of integrity at Eisai, to discuss the full approval of Leqembi and what it means for Eisai and, most i…

In this episode of “The Top Line,” we explore the next potential wave of mental health therapy: psychedelics. Fierce Biotech's Max Bayer sits down with Scott Aaronson, M.D., a seasoned clinician and psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience in the field. They discuss how psychedelics might be used in the treatment of conditions such as depressi…

While the new Alzheimer’s disease medicine Leqembi has generated lots of buzz since its debut this year, one research team is investigating whether the medicine holds promise in preventing disease progression before any Alzheimer’s symptoms are evident. In this week's episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma’s Eric Sagonowsky talks with the study l…

In this episode of “The Top Line,” we delve into the FDA's controversial approval of Aduhelm, a drug for Alzheimer's disease, despite an independent advisory committee's resounding rejection. The decision has sparked questions about potential bias within the regulatory body. Genevieve Kanter, Ph.D., a professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public…

In this episode of "The Top Line," Fierce's Fraiser Kansteiner engages in a conversation with Alexander Scott, senior vice president of integrity at Eisai, to discuss the full approval of Leqembi and what it means for Eisai and, most importantly, for Alzheimer's patients. To learn more about the topics in this episode: With full Alzheimer's approva…

In this episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Biotech's Annalee Armstrong engages in a conversation with Howard Fillit, M.D., an expert in the field of Alzheimer's research and the co-founder and chief science officer at the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. They delve into the pioneering work being done in Alzheimer's research, discuss the latest…

“Essentially, this allows our clinical researchers to improve the chances of success for the trial leading to faster, more efficient drug development… Ultimately, this is going to benefit patients.” Greg Lever is speaking about the use of flexible modeling to allow real-time changes to be made to clinical trial design and processes. As a Director w…

In this episode of "The Top Line," we delve into the uncharted territory that pharma marketers face, from harnessing AI's potential to navigating the Inflation Reduction Act. Ayla Ellison, editor-in-chief of Fierce Life Sciences and Healthcare, engages with three industry experts to unravel the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. In the fi…

AstraZeneca has made several news headlines for its environmental sustainability pledges, including deals for renewable natural gas and a commitment to plant hundreds of millions of trees. In this episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma's Eric Sagonowksy talks with Pam Cheng, the AstraZeneca executive who is playing a key role in driving the compa…

In this episode of "The Top Line," Annalee Armstrong and Gabrielle Masson shine a spotlight on some of the most promising companies in the biotech world. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to hear from Kevin Dunleavy as he engages in a conversation with Ray Pressburger from Accenture, discussing drug commercialization and the models that are…

In this podcast interview, Dan Fisher, managing director and practice lead for IPM.ai, a division of Real Chemistry, explains how weekly data from 300 million patients can help brands assess a patient population, accelerate clinical trial recruitment, and optimize commercial outcomes. Machine learning and artificial intelligence have emerged as key…

In this episode of "The Top Line," our Fierce reporters tackle topics like the trends we saw at Cannes Lions, the cancer drug shortage, and the top compensated CEOs in the industry. To learn more about the topics in this episode: National cancer group reports widespread chemo shortages, calls on government and industry to help resolve them FDA to a…

In this episode of "The Top Line," Teresa Carey talks with Dr. Sebastian Ocklenburg, Department of Psychology at MSH Medical School Hamburg, Germany, about how significant left-handedness is to clinical research. It is International Left-Hander's Day, so we dive deep into understanding brain hemisphere asymmetry and its significance in the context …

In this episode of "The Top Line," Zoey Becker talks with Dr. Andrew Norden, Chief Medical Officer at OncoHealth, about the ongoing chemotherapy shortage sweeping the nation and what oncologists and health insurance companies can do to best support patients amidst these supply chain issues. We also cover the a single-injection treatment for sickle …

In this episode of 'The Top Line' we reply an important show from April 28, 2023 regarding Narcan. On March 29th, the FDA approved the Narcan nasal spray for over-the-counter sales. It is the first naloxone product approved for use without a prescription. In this episode of The Top Line, Fierce Pharma staff writer Fraiser Kansteiner launches a mini…