Biotech mega-rounds, a cancer vaccine setback & CEOs keep their promise

Why is it surprising when drug executives stay true to their word? And can neoantigen cancer vaccines work?

We cover all that and more this week on “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. Oruka Therapeutics CEO Lawrence Klein joins us to discuss how his company raised its first round of financing before competing with major players in the inflammation space. We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including the end of the Amylyx ALS saga, another use case for GLP-1s, and a hurdle in Verve’s gene editing plans. 

For more, here’s the latest on Amylyx drug saga, and Adam and Matt’s column on the decision to remove the company’s ALS drug from the market; here’s the rundown on Gristone Bio’s trial failure; here’s more on Verve Therapeutics’ gene editing setback; here is the results of a Phase 2 trial to test a GLP-1 against Parkinson’s disease; and here’s the details on Oruka Therapeutics’ launch.

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