The RTW Podcast

Treatment-resistant depression affects four million Americans, and until now, patients have had almost no options. Dr. Steve Levine of Compass Pathways joins RTW's Stephanie Sirota to discuss COMP360, a psilocybin-based therapy for treatment-resistant depression. From the science behind rapid and durable response, to the regulatory path, reimbursement infrastructure, and what's next for PTSD, this is a rare inside look at how the most promising new chapter in psychiatric medicine gets built.
PODCAST TEAM
Producer & Director: Devon Leaver
Editor: Dominique Guerra
Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin
Production Support: Annabelle Chan
Research Consultant: Connor Williams
Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Sirota
Theme Music: Yehezkel Raz
Additional Music: APM Music
Featuring: Steve Levine, Chief Patient Officer of Compass Pathways, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer.
Don't forget to listen to part 1 of Stephanie's discussion, Psilocybin: Counterculture to Cutting-Edge Psychiatry.
FOLLOW US
Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.
To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
1:37 – Steve Levine & Compass Pathways
5:27 - The Treatment Resistant Depression Journey
9:42 - Who are the TRD Patients?
11:06 - Holding Psychedelics to the Same Standard
18:25 - Why PTSD Is the Next Frontier
21:01 - Lifestyle's Role in Treatment Durability
22:41 - Outro
DISCLAIMER
This interview was given by Steve Levine, Chief Patient Officer of Compass Pathways, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Are psychedelics poised to transform mental health treatment? Connor Williams joins Stephanie Sirota for a deep dive into psilocybin, the science behind its effects on the brain, and its potential in treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and other serious conditions. As clinical trials advance and FDA pathways take shape, psychedelics have moved from counterculture to clinic, raising critical questions for patients, clinicians, and investors alike.
PODCAST TEAM
Producer & Director: Devon Leaver
Editor: Dominique Guerra
Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin
Production support: Annabelle Chan
Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Sirota
Research Consultant: Connor Williams
Theme music: Yehezkel Raz
Additional music: APM Music
Featuring: Senior Research Analyst, Connor Williams, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments
Stay tuned for part 2 of Stephanie's discussion on Psychedelics with Dr. Steve Levine, Chief Patient Officer at Compass Pathways.
FOLLOW US
Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.
To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
1:12 - Explaining Psilocybin
4:21 – Recreational Use to Medical Use
6:03 - Compass Pathways’ Story
11:18 - Getting Psychedelics to Patients
16:04 - Myth or Fact: Psilocybin
21:15 - What’s next for Psilocybin?
20:02 - Outro
DISCLAIMER
This interview was given by Senior Research Analyst, Connor Williams, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

For decades, some cancers were a near-certain death sentence. Now, a new generation of cancer drugs—many coming from biotech, not big pharma—is changing that. RTW’s Chris Liu discusses ASCO 2026, and breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and other hard-to-treat tumors. What's driving the progress, why is it happening now, and what does it mean for the future of cancer care?
PODCAST TEAM
Producer & Director: Devon Leaver
Editor: Dominique Guerra
Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin
Production Support: Annabelle Chan
Production Assistant: Nicole M. Rosales
Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie A. Sirota
Research Consultant: Chris Liu
Research Consultant: Julia Harper
Research Consultant: Lauren Lee
Theme Music: Yehezkel Raz
Additional Music: APM Music
Featuring by Chris Liu, Senior Research Analyst, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner, and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments.
FOLLOW US
Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.
To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
1:04 – The Evolution of Cancer Treatments
3:19 - Unmet Needs in Oncology
10:03 - Treating Pancreatic Cancer
14:20 - The Importance of ASCO
16:48 - The Rise of Chinese Biotech
21:54 - Trends in Oncology
23:42 - Outro
DISCLAIMER
This interview was given by Chris Liu, Senior Research Analyst, and moderated by Partner, and Chief Business Officer Stephanie Sirota, at RTW Investments. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Menopause, perimenopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are reshaping the conversation around women’s health and longevity. OB/GYN Dr. Stephanie Lam explains the science, symptoms, and why women’s healthcare may represent a major investing whitespace.
PODCAST TEAM
Producer & Director: Devon Leaver
Editor: Dominique Guerra
Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin
Production support: Annabelle Chan
Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Sirota
Theme music: Yehezkel Raz
Additional music: APM Music
Featuring: Dr. Stephanie Lam, OB/GYN, Carnegie Women’s Health, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner, Chief Business Officer, RTW Investments, LP.
FOLLOW US
Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.
To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
00:55 - Dr. Lam’s Path to OB/GYN
2:01 - Defining Menopause and Perimenopause
5:05 - The Health Impact of HRT
8:08 - A Holistic View of Women’s Health
10:35 - GLPs and Women’s Healthcare
14:25 - Investment Whitespaces in Women’s Health
19:03 - Outro
DISCLAIMER
This interview was given by Dr. Stephanie Lam, OB/GYN at Carnegie Women’s Health in New York, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner, Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, LP. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

What if you could fix disease by rewriting DNA? From CRISPR to next-gen gene editing, Stephanie Sirota and Beam Therapeutics CEO John Evans break down base editing, prime editing, and the path to one-time cures.
PODCAST TEAM
Producer & Director: Devon Leaver
Editor: Dominique Guerra
Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin
Production support: Annabelle Chan
Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Sirota
Research Consultant: Piratip Pratumsuwan
Theme music by: Yehezkel Raz
Additional music: APM Music
Featuring: John Evans, CEO and Board Member of Beam Therapeutics, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments.
FOLLOW US
Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.
To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
1:15 – Gene Editing, Gene Therapy, Base and Prime Editing
4:18 – Challenges in Gene Editing
6:09 – In Vivo and Ex Vivo
9:33 – What is A1AT Deficiency?
13:44 – Safety in Gene Editing
15:52 – AI and Beam Therapeutics
21:25 – John Evans’ Journey into Biotech
23:06 – Outro
DISCLAIMER
This interview was given by John Evans, CEO and Board Member of Beam Therapeutics, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.