Listen: An ominous biotech deal, vaccines for kids, & ‘breakthrough’ devices

Can buyouts be bad news? Why can’t Novavax meet a deadline? And what does “breakthrough” actually mean?

We cover all that and more this week on “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. First, we delve into why the latest big biotech acquisition has ominous implications for the downtrodden sector. Then, STAT’s Mario Aguilar joins us to explain how a well-intentioned FDA program is benefiting companies over patients. We also discuss the latest pandemic news, including the ongoing debate over boosters and yet another delay for Novavax.

For more on what we cover, here’s more on biotech deals; here’s the story on the FDA’s breakthrough device program; 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].