If you’re dismissing psychedelics in pharma, think again. Stephanie Sirota and Connor Williams discuss overcoming stigma and regulatory challenges, and the results of a recent clinical trial that could signal a new era for mental health care.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Featuring: Connor Williams, Senior Researcher at RTW Investments, moderated by Stephanie A. Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments.

Stay tuned for a deep dive into psychedelics with the CEO of GH Research, Dr. Velichka (Villy) Valcheva, moderated by Connor Williams.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction

00:21 - The development of psychiatric drugs

03:29 - Treatment resistant patients in the U.S. and the international market

05:50 - The need for new depression treatment drugs

08:05 - The rise of psychedelics & the impact of regulations and policies

13:58 - New areas of study in psychedelics

14:43- The valuation of psychedelics and what it means for investors

17:53 - Discovering GH Research and its novel approach to TRD

22:11 - Outro and disclaimer

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Connor Williams, Senior Researcher at RTW Investments, and moderated by Stephanie A. 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.

Dr. Rekha Kumar, Chief Medical Officer at Found, and Stephanie Sirota explore Rekha’s rise from academia, and her passion for obesity medicine. As new weight management therapies emerge, Rekha emphasizes the importance of lifestyle changes to maximize their potential.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Featuring: Dr. Rekha B. Kumar, moderated by Stephanie Sirota.

Don't forget to listen to part one of Stephanie's discussion on GLP-1s with Rod Wong, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at RTW.

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

00:38 - Dr. Rekha Kumar’s journey into obesity medicine

04:18 - Establishing Found and treating obesity patients

08:56 - Telehealth and its impact on obesity treatment

12:59 - Understanding how GLP-1s work

17:18 - Obesity as an area of study in medicine

18:47 - Thoughts on the future of obesity medicine

20:02 - Outro

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Dr. Rekha B. Kumar, endocrinologist, obesity medicine specialist, and Chief Medical Officer at Found, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Chief Business Officer and Partner at RTW Investments. 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.

Rod Wong and Stephanie Sirota delve into the transformative potential of GLP-1 drugs, focusing on their impact on obesity and related diseases. Rod shares his insights into the next generation of obesity therapies and the opportunities they present for innovation and investment in the biotech sector.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Featuring: Rod Wong, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Chief Business Officer, and Partner at RTW Investments.

Stay tuned for part two of our discussion on GLP-1s where we welcome Dr. Rekha B. Kumar to the studio at RTW HQ.

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 - Introductions

00:39 - Understanding the importance of GLP-1s

02:27 - GLPs in the cycle of obesity drug development

05:13 - Public and private company interest in obesity drugs

06:58 - Cost benefits of GLP-1s and their Impact on the healthcare system

10:30 - The value of GLP-1s in the investor space

12:36 - GLP-1s in the international market

16:12 - The expansion of large companies into GLP-1s

18:35 - Thoughts on recent investments and the potential of Kailera Therapeutics

19:52 - Outro and disclaimer

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Rod Wong, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of RTW Investments, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Chief Business Officer, and Partner 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.

Sarah Boyce from Avidity Biosciences and Piratip Pratumsuwan from RTW Investments explore the strategic decisions and innovations that have driven Avidity's success. They cover her approach to overcoming the challenges of scaling a biotech company, the impact of Avidity’s groundbreaking work on treating rare genetic disorders, and Sarah’s vision for the future of RNA-based therapies.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer: Devon Leaver

Technical Director: Joseph Sebring

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Featuring: Sarah Boyce, President and CEO of Avidity Biosciences, and Piratip Pratumsuwan, Managing Director; Research Analyst 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 - Introducing Sarah Boyce and Piratip Pratumsuwan

01:09 - Avidity Biosciences: Pioneering RNA therapeutics

02:20 - Joining Avidity: A bold decision

03:55 - Navigating challenges and embracing opportunities

12:00 - FSHD and Fortitude

18:21 - Looking Ahead: The future of RNA therapeutics

20:10 - Championing women in biotechnology

21:43 - Credits and disclaimer

DISCLAIMER

This interview and testimonial was given by Sarah Boyce, CEO of Avidity Biosciences, a company in which RTW has made an equity investment on behalf of its managed funds. No compensation was provided to Ms. Boyce.

Mark McKenna from Prometheus Biosciences and Josh Kennedy-Smith from RTW Investments tell us about the white-knuckle ride that is building a pharmaceutical start-up, their passion for providing better care solutions for patients, the recent deal with Merck and the power of a strong partnership with your investor.

Host: Josh Baldwin, RTW Investments

Featuring: Mark McKenna, CEO of Prometheus Biosciences and Josh Kennedy-Smith, Managing Director; Research Analyst of RTW Investments