Drug Dealin

SUMMARY
In this episode, Shivu and Kenny discuss how you as a caregiver or patient can use public resources like clinicaltrials.gov and Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to discover the latest treatment options for a particular disease and empower yourself to have a more productive conversation with your doctor. Kenny and Shivu discuss an example of this situation from an episode of Apple TV's "Shrinking", starring Harrison Ford. In the episode they go through a demo of how they would find new treatment options for Ford's character, a patient suffering from Parkinson's Disease who has exhausted all available treatment options.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Clinical Trials
03:04 The Importance of Patient Involvement
06:13 Navigating Clinical Trials: A Practical Guide
09:06 Using AI to Enhance Patient Care
11:53 Drafting Effective Communication with Doctors
14:27 Empowering Patients Through Knowledge
17:46 Finding the Right Treatment Options
20:30 The Role of Research in Patient Advocacy
23:03 Conclusion and Future Directions
34:38 Outro

Questions? Email us at: ⁠⁠mailto:[email protected]⁠⁠
Follow ⁠Shivu on X⁠(@bigpharmasharma): https://x.com/BigPharmaSharma
Sign up for Shivu's newsletter: https://www.bigpharmasharma.com/⁠ ⁠
Follow ⁠Kenny⁠ on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennylalwani/

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical judgment or guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Summary
In this episode, Shivu and Kenny review their predictions for 2025 and make new predictions for 2026. They discuss trends in mergers and acquisitions, market performance, the impact of AI in drug development, and the rise of digital advertising in the pharmaceutical industry. They also explore the evolving landscape of biotech companies, regulatory changes from the FDA, and the growing interest in metabolic diseases and psychedelics. Finally, they introduce the 'pharm to table' model in pharma, emphasizing direct-to-patient commercial channels and how these increase patient agency.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview of Predictions
04:37 Grading 2025 Predictions
10:35 Shivu's 2025 Predictions and Grades
16:53 2026 Predictions: Emerging Trends
22:50 Regulatory Landscape and the FDA's Role
30:46 Predictability in Drug Approval Processes
30:51 The Metabolic Space and GLP-1s
33:08 Big Pharma's Entry into Obesity and Diabetes
34:56 The Risk of Commoditization in Drug Markets
37:06 Differentiation in the GLP-1 Market
39:40 The Rise of Psychedelics in Psychiatry
47:21 Pharm-to-Table Model in Pharma
54:06 Empowering Patients through Direct Access

Questions? Email us at: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
Follow ⁠Shivu on X⁠: @bigpharmasharma
Sign up for Shivu's newsletter: Big Pharma Sharma⁠ ⁠
Follow ⁠Kenny⁠ on Linkedin

The Disclaimer: "Legal wants us to remind you that while we’re very confident behind these mics, we are not medical professionals. These opinions are for educational and informational purposes only. Please do not swap your doctor’s guidance for our banter—that’s a bad trade. Consult an actual healthcare provider for any real medical conditions. Stay safe, stay informed, and keep the lawsuits to a minimum."

SUMMARY
In this deep dive into biopharma M&A trends, Shivu and Kenny analyze 10 years of acquisition data from major pharma players, revealing rising deal volumes and the increasing prevalence of Contingent Value Rights (CVRs) as risk mitigation tools. The hosts dissect the unprecedented Pfizer-Novo bidding war over Metsera, examining how this “interloper” situation reflects broader industry dynamics around patent cliffs and portfolio diversification strategies. The episode provides insider perspectives on why investors never seem satisfied with “enough” M&A activity and how companies balance internal R&D with external acquisitions in their portfolio approach.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to M&A in Biopharma
03:35 Understanding Contingent Value Rights (CVRs)
06:47 Recent M&A Deals and Trends
13:17 Impact of Patent Cliffs on M&A Activity
17:43 The Portfolio Approach to Drug Development
22:00 Current Trends in Deal Volume and CVR Usage
28:58 Valuation Trends in Late-Stage Companies
32:51 The Buyer-Seller Dynamic in Pharma Deals
38:27 Evaluating CVRs and Acquirer Capabilities
42:31 GenMab’s Strategic Acquisition and Market Positioning
48:11 The Rise of the Biotech Middle Class
55:49 The Aggressive Landscape of Pharma Hiring
56:56 Innovation in RNA Interventions
57:53 The Metsera Bidding War Begins
01:00:11 Pfizer’s Acquisition Strategy Unfolds
01:03:48 Regulatory Implications and Government Influence
01:07:41 The Future of Metabolic Disease Treatments
01:10:27 Interloper Behavior in Pharma Acquisitions
01:15:35 The Role of Government Relationships in Pharma
01:19:05 Concluding Thoughts on M&A Trends
01:22:14 OUTRO

DOWNLOADS:
M&A and CVR analysis available here

CONTACT US:
Questions? Emal us at: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
Follow ⁠Shivu on X⁠
Sign up for Shivu's newsletter: Big Pharma Sharma⁠ ⁠
Follow ⁠Kenny⁠

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical judgment or guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

SUMMARY: In this episode, Shivu and Kenny discuss the recent developments surrounding Replimune and its interactions with the FDA. They explore the implications of leadership changes at the FDA, the importance of patient advocacy, and the challenges faced by small biotech companies in navigating the regulatory landscape. The conversation highlights the critical role of stability in drug approvals and the potential impact on patient care, particularly in oncology. They discuss the complexities of the FDA's role in drug development, the importance of confirmatory studies, and the impact of leadership changes on regulatory processes. They also talk about the historical evolution of the FDA, its commitment to patient safety, and the challenges it faces in maintaining consistency and transparency. The conversation culminates in a thought-provoking discussion on the potential benefits of an independent FDA, akin to the Federal Reserve, to enhance trust and efficacy in drug approvals.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical judgment or guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 The FDA's Independence and Scope
02:53 Timeline of Instability at the FDA
14:00 Impact of Instability on Drug Development
19:54 Case Study: RepliMune's Regulatory Journey
34:00 Navigating FDA Interactions and Accelerated Approvals
58:03 The Role of a Healthy FDA: History and Function
01:12:40 Organizational Culture and Stability in Regulatory Agencies
01:15:24 Navigating Institutional Changes at the FDA
01:18:45 The Importance of Consistency in Health Guidelines
01:22:27 Transparency and Data Disclosure in Drug Approvals
01:25:18 The Case for an Independent FDA
01:29:53 Lessons from the Federal Reserve's Independence
01:35:11 Engendering Trust in Health Institutions
01:41:49 Final Thoughts

CONTACT US:
Questions?: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
Follow us on X
Follow Shivu on X
Subscribe to Shivu's newsletter, Big Pharma Sharma ⁠⁠
Follow Kenny

Summary:
In this episode we chat with Joe McCann, CEO of Slingshot Insights. Joe estimates he has done somewhere between 5-10K calls interviewing physicians. In today's episode we tap into his insights on how to get more out of your conversations with doctors. Joe opens up his expert playbook on how to prepare and conduct calls with doctors. We also discuss how these tips/tricks can be applied by the everyday person to get more out of your interactions with healthcare practitioners and ensure you are getting the best care possible.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical judgment or guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

PROMO CODE:
DD Pod listeners who sign up for a "Starter" membership at Sling Shot Insights can get their first month FREE by entering the promo code: drugdealinpod25 at checkout
Learn more about slingshot at: www.slingshotinsights.com
Contact Joe McCann:
Email: [email protected]
X: @JMac_SI
Contact us:
Questions?: ⁠[email protected]⁠
Follow us on X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/DrugDealinPod⁠⁠
Follow Shivu : ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/shivusharma⁠⁠
Subscribe to Shivu's newsletter: ⁠https://www.bigpharmasharma.com/⁠
Follow Kenny: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennylalwani/⁠

Chapters
00:00 Recap of Insights from Joe's Conversation
03:05 Introduction to Expert Calls and Their Importance
11:10 Joe McCann's Background and Journey
18:52 Understanding the Value of Expert Calls
26:46 Differentiating Between Academic and Community Physicians
32:33 Risk Profiles and Decision-Making in Medicine
32:49 Managing Patient Care and Treatment Options
34:45 Navigating Expert Calls and Communication Strategies
37:22 Understanding Bias in Medical Opinions
41:34 Identifying Red Flags in Expert Interactions
45:30 Differentiating Client Needs: Investors vs. Industry
47:41 The Importance of Follow-Up Calls
50:42 Patient Engagement and Empowerment
57:09 Utilizing Guidelines and Resources for Better Care
01:00:44 The Importance of Proactive Healthcare
01:05:15 Navigating Clinical Trials and Patient Advocacy
01:08:48 Understanding Quality of Life in Treatment Decisions
01:09:55 Surgery Insights: Complications and Surgeon Selection
01:19:01 Entrepreneurship in Healthcare: Joe's Journey
01:25:20 Recap of Insights from Joe's Conversation
01:27:58 Building Confidence in Patient-Doctor Interactions
01:30:41 The Importance of Communication and Understanding
01:33:35 Navigating the Healthcare System Effectively
01:35:59 The Role of KOLs vs Community Physicians
01:38:37 The Impact of AI in Healthcare
01:41:18 Outro