BioCentury This Week

Hosted by BioCentury

Business Science

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Episodes

391

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

BioCentury's streaming commentary on biotech industry trends, plus interviews with KOLs. For three decades, BioCentury has helped biopharma executives and investors make business-critical decisions and build larger networks with peers across the innovation ecosystem.

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60 recent

August 18, 2026Episode 38225 min

Ep. 382 - Summer’s venture wave; drugging beta-catenin; Capricor & FDA

A baker’s dozen of biotechs shrugged off the summer haze to raise nearly $800 million in venture cash. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss the financings, which included money for a potential challenger to Amgen’s blockbuster Tepezza and a new venture from immunology professor Georg Schett with backing from Deerfield Management, Boulevard Bio. The analysts also discuss new approaches to drug cancer’s “undruggable” β-catenin pathway, and whether Capricor’s latest regulatory move will give Duchenne muscular dystrophy therapy deramiocel new life at FDA. View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660539 #BiotechFinancing #DrugDevelopment #BetaCatenin #DuchenneMuscularDystrophy #Biopharma 00:00 - Introduction 02:18 - Venture Rounds 12:02 - Drugging β-catenin 18:12 - Capricor & FDA To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text

August 11, 2026Episode 38131 min

Ep. 381 - FIH urgency in the U.S. Plus: federated learning, biotech IPOs

Pressure is on FDA, policymakers and academic centers in the U.S. to respond to challenges from China, Australia, and beyond to run first in human trials faster and more efficiently. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss how stakeholders in the U.S. are responding to the challenge. The analysts also discuss the next frontiers of federated learning in drug discovery and the latest crop of biotech IPOs on NASDAQ, which raised over $1.2B in strong IPO run last week. View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660433 #ClinicalTrials #BiopharmaPolicy #DrugDevelopment #BiotechIPO #FederatedLearning 00:00- Introduction 01:15 - Academic Centers 10:42 - Policy Picture 15:48 - Grand Rounds Europe Highlights 18:01 - Federated Learning 28:15 - NASDAQ IPOs To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text

August 4, 2026Episode 38032 min

Ep. 380 - AZ-BMS rumors, Replimune, psychedelics

Rumors flew this weekend about a mega-merger of AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers — but would such a deal make sense? On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts explain why they aren’t buying it . The team also discusses what lessons can be learned from the regulatory roller-coaster ride of Replimune’s RP1 vusolimogene oderparepvec and psychedelic therapies’ inflection point in treating depression. View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660376 #BiotechMA #FDA #Psychedelics #Depression #OncolyticVirus 00:00 - Introduction 00:51 - AZ-BMS Rumors 08:07 - Replimune 20:46 - Psychedelics To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text

July 28, 2026Episode 37934 min

Ep. 379 - Argenx M&A, AI giants and biopharma, catalyst scorecard

Argenx the tier-jumping European biotech, believes its proposed $2.2 billion purchase of Forte Biosciences will add a second multi-indication product upon which it can run the strategy that has made autoimmune drug Vyvgart efgartigimod alfa a blockbuster. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss the deal and put it in the context of a new cohort of large-cap companies increasingly active in biotech M&A. The analysts also assess how recent releases from Anthropic, NVIDIA, Google, OpenAI and Amazon fit into biopharma R&D workflows — and with one another. Finally, they analyze the 1H26 clinical and regulatory catalyst scorecard , which therapies hit their milestones, which missed, and what’s next through year-end. This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE . View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660296 #BiotechMA #ArtificialIntelligence #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalTrials #Biopharma 00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE 01:57 - BioCentury AI Connector 05:47 - Argenx Acquires Forte 08:06 - Rise of Biotech Buyers 13:12 - AI Giants' Tech Stack 24:20 - Anthropic Enters Drug Development 27:41 - 2026 Catalyst To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text

July 21, 202642 min

Ep. 378 - U.K. cabinet shuffle, Taiwan biotech and Biogen data

The departure of U.K. Science Minister Patrick Vallance is a blow for U.K. biotech. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss what Vallance’s exit, the appointment of John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer and other changes arriving with the new Prime Minister could mean for life sciences in the country. BioCentury’s analysts also discuss an ambitious U.K. data initiative launched this month. The Health Data Research Service is intended to be a single front door to all NHS health records, offering large-scale longitudinal health data across diverse populations. Beyond the U.K., the team turns to companies to watch in Taiwan, what’s next for Biogen’s anti-tau therapy, Eli Lilly’s proposed acquisition of psychedelics company AtaiBeckley, and the latest changes at FDA. This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE . View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660194 #Biotech #LifeSciences #UKBiotech #HealthData #FDA 00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE 02:23 - U.K. Leadership Changes 09:21 - U.K. Data Initiative 10:52 - Taiwan Biotech 16:44 - Biogen’s Tau Data 27:18 - Lilly’s Psychedelics Takeout 28:20 - FDA To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text

July 15, 2026Episode 37729 min

Ep. 377 - Trends in life sciences talent with CBRE's Ian Anderson

After nearly three years of sluggish job growth, hiring is turning a corner in the U.S. life sciences industry, while the talent pool is expanding beyond the sector’s traditional hubs. On a special episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast, Ian Anderson, senior director, head of U.S. life sciences & healthcare research at CBRE, joins BioCentury’s analysts to discuss the company’s recent report on life sciences talent trends, and how those trends are driving property demand. This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE . View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660118 #LifeSciences #BiotechJobs #Workforce #LifeSciencesRealEstate #Talent 00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE 00:45 - Industry Inflection Point 04:17 - Report Methodology 10:08 - Growth Beyond Big Hubs 15:28 - Capital Markets Signals 18:48 - AI and Space Use 20:50 - Emerging Talent 26:34 - Up-and-Coming Cities To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text

July 14, 2026Episode 37633 min

Ep. 376 - M&A momentum: 3Q public markets preview

M&A enthusiasm is carrying biotech amid tepid reception for launches. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss BioCentury’s 3Q26 Public Markets Preview , asking whether M&A momentum can carry biotech through year-end and what happens if the AI trade goes bust? Editor in Chief Simone Fishburn gives her perspective on what incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s agenda means for U.K. life sciences. The analysts also discuss Ionis’ ATTR-CM miss and Takeda’s orexin program . This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE . View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660118 #BiotechMA #BiotechInvesting #PublicMarkets #LifeSciences #DrugDevelopment 00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE 01:46 - 3Q Market Preview 10:54 - Burnham’s Britain 19:40 - Ionis' ATTR-CM Miss 29:12 - Takeda Orexin Program To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text

July 7, 2026Episode 37533 min

Ep. 375 - Novartis' ADC gambit & regulation as catalyst for U.K. biotech

Novartis is deepening its antibody-drug conjugate capabilities with its $1.1 billion acquisition of U.K. biotech Myricx Pharma. On the latest episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss how the deal fits with the Swiss pharma’s cancer toolkit. The analysts then discuss MHRA CEO Lawrence Tallon’s Guest Commentary in BioCentury on making regulation a catalyst for U.K. life sciences and why the primary defeat of Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) is a setback for FDA reforms. They also assess how single-cell Parkinson’s atlases reveal neuronal and glial disruptions in specific regions and stages, and the thin evidence underpinning Congress’ probe of China trial consent. This episode of the BioCentury This Week podcast has been brought to you by CBRE . View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/660033 #ADC #BiotechMA #ParkinsonsDisease #FDA #ChinaBiotech 00:01 - Sponsor Message: CBRE 01:15 - Novartis Buying Myricx 08:01 - U.K. Regulation 14:44 - DeGette & FDA Reform 21:51 - Parkinson's Atlas Insights 29:39 - China Trials Probe To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text

June 29, 2026Episode 37434 min

Ep. 374 - Parkinson's deep dive & FDA trial reforms

New Parkinson’s disease programs aim to move beyond the historical norm of symptom management, branching into targeted therapeutics and cell therapies. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts review the most promising targets and trends shaping the Parkinson’s treatment landscape. The team then turns to AstraZeneca’s build-out of its obesity portfolio, followed by FDA’s Operation TrialBlazer and what the reforms mean for reducing the time to launch a clinical trial in the U.S. — and whether they can help close the gap with China. Finally, the analysts review recent FDA reversals of controversial regulatory decisions made under former Commissioner Marty Makary’s leadership and whether companies and investors can expect this reversion to the mean to carry forward. View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/659958 #ParkinsonsDisease #ObesityDrugDevelopment #FDA #ClinicalTrials #DrugDevelopment 00:00 - Introduction 01:40 - Parkinson's New Targets 11:43 - AstraZeneca's Obesity Pipeline 18:37 - FDA's Operation TrialBlazer 27:33 - FDA Leadership Outlook To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text

June 23, 2026Episode 37330 min

Ep. 373 - AbbVie M&A, FDA reversals, a CAR T first

AbbVie's $10.9 billion deal to acquire Apogee will expand its immunology pipeline by delivering assets for atopic dermatitis and asthma. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s analysts discuss the takeout and the assets AbbVie gains. The analysts then discuss moves by FDA to reverse controversial setbacks that occurred under the agency’s former leadership and assess Acting CDER Director Michael Davis’ memo outlining how his predecessor repeatedly overruled career staff to quash a drug approval. The analysts also discuss continuing signs of political involvement at FDA. Finally, they discuss China NMPA’s first-ever approval of a CAR T for solid tumors , satricabtagene autoleucel (satri-cel) from Carsgen. View full story: https://www.biocentury.com/article/659864 #BiotechMA #Immunology #FDA #CART #ChinaBiotech 00:59 - AbbVie Buys Apogee 05:20 - uniQure U-turn 09:02 - FDA Reversals 12:32 - Tzield Memo 20:53 - Solid Tumor CAR T Approval To submit a question to BioCentury’s editors, email the BioCentury This Week team at podcasts@biocentury.com. Reach us by sending a text