Jef Akst

Managing Editor at @BioSpace | [email protected]

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

@ExcisionBio, whose HIV trial @biospace was watching, presented disappointing results this morning at #ASGCT2024: all three patients who came off conventional antiviral treatment experienced viral rebound. https://t.co/TmfgoGFOrL

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

I'm looking for an editor to join our team here @biospace. If you are a journalist with an interest in the business of biopharma, let me know! https://t.co/HahZTQSVKf

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

FDA's Peter Marks once again from #ASGCT2024, this time on global regulatory convergence, saying that for rare diseases in particular, lack of regulatory standardization presents big challenges. @Slabodkin reporting for @BioSpace https://t.co/LCRy428ZPK #ASGCT #ASGCT24

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

“$4.25 million!!!” That’s the email FDA’s Peter Marks said he received from Commissioner Robert Califf when Orchard revealed the price tag of its newly approved gene therapy Lenmeldy. Check out my @biospace recap of the #ASGCT2024 fireside chat: https://t.co/PlR8mCDuxS

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

Leaving the morning session at #ASGCT2024 this morning and the Baltimore convention center is definitely filling up! #ASGCT #ASGCT24

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

"We’re not keeping score." -- FDA's Peter Marks on the success rate in accelerated approvals. But, he added, he's shooting for 90% or better. #ASGCT2024 #ASGCT24 #ASGCT @biospace

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

It's time! @TakedaPharma's Kristin Van Goor is sitting down with @US_FDA's Peter Marks to discuss regulatory issues in cell and gene therapy--topics that @biospace has covered in the past. I'm excited to hear what he has to say https://t.co/AVncE3Nh1F https://t.co/V251R7qUnR

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

First day of #ASGCT24 is done. AAV manufacturing was a major theme with two long sessions already on it. And when I asked some folks in between sessions what they were interested in, that's what I heard about as well! https://t.co/jA3dJm9EfL #ASGCT #ASGCT2024 #AAVs @biospace

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

It's #ASGCT24 week! I made my first appearance on our podcast with @hmac8 and @Slabodkin talking about the cell and gene therapy updates we can expect to hear about in Baltimore. Be sure to tune in Wednesday when we'll be reporting from the conference. https://t.co/vZ3HCBZCA1

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

The week of leaving my home-office for professional functions has begun. Yesterday I attended a @DCSWA professional development event at GWU. Next up, #ASGCT24 with @Slabodkin for @biospace

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

Next week at #ASGCT I will be attending a fireside chat on cell and gene therapy regulation with CBER Director Peter Marks and Takeda’s Kristin Van Goor. Read about their discussion and other #ASGCT24 news from BioSpace in our daily newsletter, Gene Pool. https://t.co/mRSqAq57Us

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

Less than a week until @Slabodkin and I meet up in Baltimore for the annual #ASGCT meeting. Cell and gene therapies are HOT right now, and I'm looking forward to learning what's new. Stay tuned to @BioSpace for #ASGCT24 coverage.

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

It's been a while since I've been to #AACR but I know that San Diego convention center well. I appreciate my colleagues at @biospace keeping me in the loop from afar this year. https://t.co/ynPf5wDNP6

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

Weight loss drugs are a big part of @biospace coverage these days. Check out our feature on the race to develop an oral GLP-1. Meanwhile, Medicare coverage of these therapies remains a point of discussion.
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[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

Weight-loss drugs started as treatments for type 2 diabetes and are now moving into other related indications, which will affect coverage by Medicare and likely private insurers. @biospace #Wegovy #weightloss https://t.co/BPJbyQtnIn

https://t.co/o3hMr5oYLD

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

Biden has made drug prices a cornerstone of his campaign, but what about Trump? @biospace Also, check out our BioPharm Exec newsletter, which today released a special edition on drug price reforms in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. https://t.co/5WMEdBvCxF

[Greg Slabodkin @Slabodkin]

#Biden signed the #InflationReductionAct into law and #Medicare #drugprice negotiations, which #BigPharma has legally challenged. If the #biopharma industry thinks it'll fare better in a second #Trump term, they better read this. https://t.co/xcKvnk5lXa #drugprices #Election2024

[Greg Slabodkin @Slabodkin]

The #FDA's approval yesterday of #MadrigalPharmaceuticals' #Rezdiffra is the first-ever therapy for the treatment of noncirrhotic #nonalcoholicsteatohepatitis (NASH). Or was the approval for #metabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatohepatitis (MASH)? https://t.co/ogstuW6jtd #liver

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

I'll admit I only learned of NASH (now MASH) after starting at @biospace last year, but exciting to see the FDA approve the first-ever therapy for the liver disease. @hmac8 has been watching all year for this one https://t.co/KdsK8b5p7Y https://t.co/ksBk4ICB2t #fda #nash #mash

[Greg Slabodkin @Slabodkin]

While #InVitroFertilization is back at Alabama #fertilityclinics, the #legal debate over #IVF continues across the U.S. and #drugmakers are forced to consider what effect a flurry of new political initiatives might have on the market. https://t.co/p9oyl7gHfi #frozenembryos

[Jef Akst @JefAkst]

Today's episode of @biospace's The Weekly podcast drops in the midst of one of the busiest news times since I started here a year ago. From ever-hot weight-loss drugs to the fever pitch that is U.S. politics right now, great discussion, @Slabodkin @hmac8 https://t.co/j0aRznmLYq