Listen: Big egos in Big Science, the return of Merger Monday, & the fallout over drug pricing

Are biotech’s fortunes finally changing? Is Big Science impeding actual science? And what will Medicare negotiation mean for drug prices?

We cover all that and more this week on “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. STAT’s Jason Mast joins us to discuss Jim Wilson, a pioneering scientist synonymous with the rise of gene therapy who staffers say presided over a toxic, abusive workplace. We also explain the latest news in the life sciences, including a multibillion-dollar deal, a novel approach to treating schizophrenia, and what the Senate drug pricing legislation means for the pharmaceutical industry.

For more on what we cover, here’s the Wilson story; here’s the latest on drug pricing; here’s the news from Pfizer; here’s more on Karuna Therapeutics; here’s where you can find episodes of Color Code; here’s where you can subscribe to the First Opinion Podcast; and here’s our complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Be sure to sign up on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you have any feedback for us — topics to cover, guests to invite, vocal tics to cease — you can email [email protected].