Listen: Eric Lander’s resignation, FDA’s about-face, & Pfizer’s lucrative pandemic

Does Big Science have a bullying problem? Why did the FDA change its tune on China? And what’s cooler than $100 billion?

We cover all that and more this week on “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. We discuss the scandalous end of Eric Lander’s tenure as presidential science adviser with STAT Washington correspondent Lev Facher and science writer Megan Molteni. Then we dive into the FDA’s about-face on cancer drugs developed in China and what it means for the cost of medicine in the U.S. We also explain how Pfizer’s record-setting year somehow disappointed Wall Street and explore whether it’s a good idea to end mask mandates.

For more on what we cover, the latest on Lander; here’s more on the FDA situation; here’s where you can subscribe to the First Opinion Podcast; and here’s our complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Be sure to sign up on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Interested in sponsoring a future episode of “The Readout LOUD”? Email us at [email protected].