Approved

Deep dives into biotech history and drug development. For founders, VCs, and the life sciences community.

[Tweets from Zach Weinberg @zachweinberg]

I'm biased but this is such a cool listen on the complexity and fun of drug discovery.

Both Christoph and Alexis (2 of my https://t.co/uJTXjZVNJt co-founders), plus a few other members of our team, talking about how they built Blueprint Medicines into a $9.5b M&A deal with a real meaningful approved medicine for patients.

https://t.co/z8dH8aqVaG

https://t.co/CcPaaNKe3i

[David Shaywitz @DShaywitz]

Huge kudos to @alexkesin and Matthew Pech for yet another captivating episode of Approved, this one about Blueprint Medicine & early days of @ThirdRockV https://t.co/wUnYdc9fmc - really captures nuance, messiness, uncertainty, & gap between narrative & life so well!

[Alex Kesin @alexkesin]

Blueprint Medicines went from having under $100k in the bank to a $9.1B acquisition last year by Sanofi. All thanks to a "holy grail" kinase platform and a lucky pivot into mast cell disease.

New @approvedfm + exclusive interviews with the founders and drug hunters, out now:

[Approved @approvedfm]

RT @alexkesin: Our next episode of Approved dives into Blueprint Medicines.

Out on Tuesday, August 4th.

[Charlie Petty @incredutility]

Finally got around to listening to the @approvedfm keytruda episode and I recommend it. It strikes the difficult balance between science and narrative. Lots of original material including interviews with Organon and Schering-Plough execs. More of this please.

[Approved @approvedfm]

@iskander Spotify https://t.co/QePHwVNzic

[Approved @approvedfm]

Best of luck @iskander!

ICYMI, listen to our episode on Geron here:

[alex rubinsteyn @iskander]

Starting a newco around unlocking immortality and curing all cancer by modulating the Hayflick limit.

Raising at $2b, send term sheets to DMs

(yes, you should listen to Approved pod)

[Approved @approvedfm]

@iskander Apple Podcasts https://t.co/zwJm9v8vOQ

[Alex Kesin @alexkesin]

Nice to hear Roger's side of this question! In our latest episode of @approvedfm, we asked Roy Baynes - architect of Keytruda's clinical development at Merck, who followed Roger to Eikon - the same question.

Here's what Roy had to say about China's emerging role in pharma:

[David Shaywitz @DShaywitz]

7/9 Another podcast you'll want to know about: Approved - sort of like @AcquiredFM (also recommended btw), but for @US_FDA-approved drugs. Hosted by @alexkesin & Matthew Pech; latest ep on Keytruda is excellent: https://t.co/FYQctDJyPq

[Kayhan Moayeri @__kayhan]

@srikosuri is right — @ApprovedFM is instantly required listening for anyone in biotech.

The Keytruda episode is wild. Discovered by accident from a failed RA antibody program. Almost out-licensed for nothing in 2010. Now Merck’s biggest drug ever at $30B+ a year.

Interviews with the actual inventors and the former CMO. The kind of context you can’t get anywhere else. Stories like this stay with you because they’re the truth of how drugs actually get made — serendipity, stubbornness, and execution that refuses to break. We see it every day on the CDMO side with oncology biologics and complex mAbs.

[Sri Kosuri @srikosuri]

So in love with this new podcast, Approved! It’s acquired for biotech and drugs. Amazing job @alexkesin and Matthew; really hope you keep it going.

[David Shaywitz @DShaywitz]

The excellent new podcast also touches on origins of immunology-oncology - I also discussed this in pair of @WSJBooks reviews -> https://t.co/0tzh5UwGal

[David Shaywitz @DShaywitz]

2/3 I wrote a detailed history of origins of Keytuda a few years ago for Forbes - so fantastic to see this come alive (w updates!) in new podcast. https://t.co/4pK0UCokpr

[David Shaywitz @DShaywitz]

1/3 If your interested in biopharma and medical innovation, and you love pcasts like @AcquiredFM … here’s a show you’ll really enjoy: Approved, about the twists and turns leading ultimately to approved new medicine; great ep on Keytruda -> https://t.co/0L0v2Grvc2

[Neal Padte @NealPadte]

People miss how uncertain major biotech breakthroughs look in real time. As my @Curie_Bio colleague Greg Carven @MadMabScientist discusses, Keytruda came surprisingly close to never happening. Great behind-the-scenes look at drug development of a major blockbuster oncology drug.

[Alex Kesin @alexkesin]

Spotify https://t.co/f8gPYwf09g

[Alex Kesin @alexkesin]

Apple Podcasts https://t.co/T19PAUpFR6

[Alex Kesin @alexkesin]

Keytruda transformed cancer care and made Merck more money than any drug in history. It was also discovered by accident, and nearly out-licensed in 2010 for pocket change.

New Approved + exclusive interviews with the inventors and the Merck CMO who ran development:

[Alex Kesin @alexkesin]

"Come and help Merck to its former greatness and rightful place in history."

Thursday, on ep. 3 of @approvedfm: the inside story of Keytruda, the best-selling cancer drug of all time. Feat. Roy Baynes, Gregory Carven & Michel Streuli.

Follow on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube 🎬