Bayer made news this week announcing 1,500 layoffs as part of an effort to save €500 million ($540 million) in 2024 and €2 billion ($2.16 billion) in 2026, reminiscent of BMS’ announcement of a major restructuring that will involve 2,200 layoffs and aims to save $1.5 billion by the end of 2025. Bayer’s news just about rounds out the Q1 2024 earnings season highlighted by strong sales of GLP-1 weight loss drugs. However, it was Amgen that emerged as a big winner, with revenue increasing over 22% from Q1 2023.
In other news this week, Takeda took another deep dive into the Alzheimer’s space with a deal worth up to $2.2 billion with AC Immune for global rights to an immunotherapy that targets toxic forms of amyloid beta. And the BIOSECURE Act got an update, now naming WuXi Biologics among the Chinese firms that U.S. companies are expected to cut ties with, and setting a deadline of 2032.
Finally, we discuss the major takeaways from last week’s 2024 American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) annual meeting. While the cell and gene therapy space faces many challenges, promising updates included Regeneron’s news that its gene therapy improved hearing in two young deaf children. And throughout the week, Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), spoke with positivity on how the community is now working to address the challenges it now faces, touching on topics such as accelerated approval, global regulatory convergence and the Bespoke Gene Therapy Consortium, aimed at accelerating the delivery of AAV-based gene therapies for rare diseases.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.