STAT+: An obesity drug deep-dive, and peptides move mainstream

PodcastThe Readout LOUD An obesity drug deep-dive, and peptides move mainstream Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Allison DeAngelis, Elaine Chen, and Adam FeuersteinJune 11, 2026 Allison DeAngelis[email protected]Allison covers what hot startups are getting up to, and who’s financing them. She is also co-host of the weekly biotech podcast, “The Readout Loud.” You can reach Allison on Signal at AllisonDeAngelis.01.Elaine Chen[email protected]Elaine’s stories explore the boom in new obesity treatments, new drug payment models, the ways companies are affected by FDA changes, and the emerging psychedelics drug sector. She co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud. You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70.Adam Feuerstein[email protected]Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist, reporting on the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. He is also a co-host of the weekly biotech podcast The Readout Loud and author of the newsletter Adam’s Biotech Scorecard. You can reach Adam on Signal at stataf.54. Can any of the new obesity medications in development stand out from the pack? Which company just broke records with its IPO? And will the Food and Drug Administration allow greater access to experimental peptides? We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast.Advertisement Undark’s Sara Talpos joins the podcast to discuss her reporting on the peptide BPC-157, and how it’s jumped from a Croatian lab to bodybuilding forums on Reddit to the FDA. (STAT co-published Talpos’ articles; the second piece was supported by the Pulitzer Center). We also discuss the latest news in the life sciences, including obesity data from the American Diabetes Association meeting and a record-breaking IPO. To read Sara’s articles, click here and here; for more information on AstraZeneca’s GLP-1 pill, go here; for more on Boehringer Ingelheim’s obesity candidate, go here; to read about Lilly’s new weight loss medication, go here; for more details on GSK’s acquisition of Nuvalent, go here; and for information on Johnson & Johnson’s Firefly Bio acquisition, go here. Be sure to sign up for “The Readout LOUD” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Advertisement biotechnology, drug development, Pharmaceuticals Submit a correction requestReprints Allison DeAngelis Biotech Startups and Venture Capital Reporter Allison covers what hot startups are getting up to, and who’s financing them. She is also co-host of the weekly biotech podcast, “The Readout Loud.” You can reach Allison on Signal at AllisonDeAngelis.01. Elaine Chen National Biotech Reporter Elaine’s stories explore the boom in new obesity treatments, new drug payment models, the ways companies are affected by FDA changes, and the emerging psychedelics drug sector. She co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud. You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70. Adam Feuerstein Senior Writer, Biotech Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist, reporting on the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. He is also a co-host of the weekly biotech podcast The Readout Loud and author of the newsletter Adam’s Biotech Scorecard. You can reach Adam on Signal at stataf.54. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended The Readout June 11, 2026 STAT Plus: Novartis doubles down on molecular glue strategy Biotech June 11, 2026 STAT Plus: Enliven Therapeutics’ leukemia drug shows promise in new study Advertisement Adam's Biotech Scorecard June 11, 2026 STAT Plus: ‘Synthetic lethality’ could trigger another round of biotech M&A The Readout June 10, 2026 STAT Plus: Hope for Kendall Square’s lab market D.C. Diagnosis June 9, 2026 STAT Plus: Trump’s health care affordability czar takes aim at hospitals Subscriber Picks