The Readout Loud 339: RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearings, MASH drugs, and a controversial obesity ad
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Jan 30, 2025 Rachel Korsdreng, STAT’s chief Washington correspondent, dives into the hot-button issues surrounding RFK Jr.'s contentious confirmation hearings. She sheds light on intense exchanges about vaccines and autism, particularly with senators like Bernie Sanders. The conversation also covers a groundbreaking study on reversing cirrhosis in patients with MASH, critiques of a provocative obesity ad, and innovative funding approaches in biotech aimed at tackling ALS. A fascinating mix of politics and healthcare advancements!
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Hims & Hers Super Bowl Ad Controversy
- Hims & Hers' Super Bowl ad criticizes the pharmaceutical industry's approach to obesity while promoting their own compounded GLP-1 drugs.
- This has sparked controversy due to Hims selling copies of drugs developed by the companies they criticize.
Curie.Bio's Investment Approach
- Curie.Bio, a biotech VC firm, has raised a new fund and invests in early-stage startups with smaller checks.
- This strategy contrasts with the current trend of larger initial investments in biotech.
Gene Therapy for ALS
- Curie.Bio is funding a stealth-mode startup developing a gene therapy for ALS.
- The therapy targets harmful TDP protein aggregates in the brain while preserving the beneficial wild-type protein.