Drug Dealin

Ep. 9: Using AI to Find Novel Treatment Options

Drug Dealin Pod — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:00:00 GMT

SUMMARY

In this episode, Shivu and Kenny discuss how you as a caregiver or patient can use public resources like clinicaltrials.gov and Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to discover the latest treatment options for a particular disease and empower yourself to have a more productive conversation with your doctor. Kenny and Shivu discuss an example of this situation from an episode of Apple TV's "Shrinking", starring Harrison Ford. In the episode they go through a demo of how they would find new treatment options for Ford's character, a patient suffering from Parkinson's Disease who has exhausted all available treatment options.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Clinical Trials

03:04 The Importance of Patient Involvement

06:13 Navigating Clinical Trials: A Practical Guide

09:06 Using AI to Enhance Patient Care

11:53 Drafting Effective Communication with Doctors

14:27 Empowering Patients Through Knowledge

17:46 Finding the Right Treatment Options

20:30 The Role of Research in Patient Advocacy

23:03 Conclusion and Future Directions

34:38 Outro

Questions? Email us at: ⁠⁠mailto:drugdealinpod@gmail.com⁠⁠
Follow ⁠Shivu on X⁠(@bigpharmasharma): https://x.com/BigPharmaSharma
Sign up for Shivu's newsletter: https://www.bigpharmasharma.com/⁠ ⁠
Follow ⁠Kenny⁠ on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennylalwani/

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical judgment or guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Ep. 8: 2026 Predictions

Drug Dealin Pod — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Summary

In this episode, Shivu and Kenny review their predictions for 2025 and make new predictions for 2026. They discuss trends in mergers and acquisitions, market performance, the impact of AI in drug development, and the rise of digital advertising in the pharmaceutical industry. They also explore the evolving landscape of biotech companies, regulatory changes from the FDA, and the growing interest in metabolic diseases and psychedelics. Finally, they introduce the 'pharm to table' model in pharma, emphasizing direct-to-patient commercial channels and how these increase patient agency.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Predictions

04:37 Grading 2025 Predictions

10:35 Shivu's 2025 Predictions and Grades

16:53 2026 Predictions: Emerging Trends

22:50 Regulatory Landscape and the FDA's Role

30:46 Predictability in Drug Approval Processes

30:51 The Metabolic Space and GLP-1s

33:08 Big Pharma's Entry into Obesity and Diabetes

34:56 The Risk of Commoditization in Drug Markets

37:06 Differentiation in the GLP-1 Market

39:40 The Rise of Psychedelics in Psychiatry

47:21 Pharm-to-Table Model in Pharma

54:06 Empowering Patients through Direct Access

Questions? Email us at: ⁠⁠drugdealinpod@gmail.com⁠⁠
Follow ⁠Shivu on X⁠: @bigpharmasharma
Sign up for Shivu's newsletter: Big Pharma Sharma⁠ ⁠
Follow ⁠Kenny⁠ on Linkedin

The Disclaimer: "Legal wants us to remind you that while we’re very confident behind these mics, we are not medical professionals. These opinions are for educational and informational purposes only. Please do not swap your doctor’s guidance for our banter—that’s a bad trade. Consult an actual healthcare provider for any real medical conditions. Stay safe, stay informed, and keep the lawsuits to a minimum."

Ep.7: Biotech M&A Insights: CVRs, Patent Cliffs & The Pfizer-Novo Bidding War

Drug Dealin Pod — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:00:00 GMT

SUMMARY

In this deep dive into biopharma M&A trends, Shivu and Kenny analyze 10 years of acquisition data from major pharma players, revealing rising deal volumes and the increasing prevalence of Contingent Value Rights (CVRs) as risk mitigation tools. The hosts dissect the unprecedented Pfizer-Novo bidding war over Metsera, examining how this “interloper” situation reflects broader industry dynamics around patent cliffs and portfolio diversification strategies. The episode provides insider perspectives on why investors never seem satisfied with “enough” M&A activity and how companies balance internal R&D with external acquisitions in their portfolio approach.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to M&A in Biopharma

03:35 Understanding Contingent Value Rights (CVRs)

06:47 Recent M&A Deals and Trends

13:17 Impact of Patent Cliffs on M&A Activity

17:43 The Portfolio Approach to Drug Development

22:00 Current Trends in Deal Volume and CVR Usage

28:58 Valuation Trends in Late-Stage Companies

32:51 The Buyer-Seller Dynamic in Pharma Deals

38:27 Evaluating CVRs and Acquirer Capabilities

42:31 GenMab’s Strategic Acquisition and Market Positioning

48:11 The Rise of the Biotech Middle Class

55:49 The Aggressive Landscape of Pharma Hiring

56:56 Innovation in RNA Interventions

57:53 The Metsera Bidding War Begins

01:00:11 Pfizer’s Acquisition Strategy Unfolds

01:03:48 Regulatory Implications and Government Influence

01:07:41 The Future of Metabolic Disease Treatments

01:10:27 Interloper Behavior in Pharma Acquisitions

01:15:35 The Role of Government Relationships in Pharma

01:19:05 Concluding Thoughts on M&A Trends

01:22:14 OUTRO

DOWNLOADS:

M&A and CVR analysis available here

Questions? Emal us at: ⁠⁠drugdealinpod@gmail.com⁠⁠
Follow ⁠Shivu on X⁠
Sign up for Shivu's newsletter: Big Pharma Sharma⁠ ⁠
Follow ⁠Kenny⁠

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical judgment or guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Ep. 5: How to Talk to Doctors | Feat. Joe McCann, Co-Founder/CEO of Slingshot Insights

Drug Dealin Pod — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Summary:

In this episode we chat with Joe McCann, CEO of Slingshot Insights. Joe estimates he has done somewhere between 5-10K calls interviewing physicians. In today's episode we tap into his insights on how to get more out of your conversations with doctors. Joe opens up his expert playbook on how to prepare and conduct calls with doctors. We also discuss how these tips/tricks can be applied by the everyday person to get more out of your interactions with healthcare practitioners and ensure you are getting the best care possible.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical judgment or guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

PROMO CODE:

DD Pod listeners who sign up for a "Starter" membership at Sling Shot Insights can get their first month FREE by entering the promo code: drugdealinpod25 at checkout
Learn more about slingshot at: www.slingshotinsights.com

Contact Joe McCann:

Email: Joe@slingshotInsights.com
X: @JMac_SI

Contact us:

Questions?: ⁠drugdealinpod@gmail.com⁠
Follow us on X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/DrugDealinPod⁠⁠
Follow Shivu : ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/shivusharma⁠⁠
Subscribe to Shivu's newsletter: ⁠https://www.bigpharmasharma.com/⁠

Follow Kenny: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennylalwani/⁠

Chapters

00:00 Recap of Insights from Joe's Conversation

03:05 Introduction to Expert Calls and Their Importance

11:10 Joe McCann's Background and Journey

18:52 Understanding the Value of Expert Calls

26:46 Differentiating Between Academic and Community Physicians

32:33 Risk Profiles and Decision-Making in Medicine

32:49 Managing Patient Care and Treatment Options

34:45 Navigating Expert Calls and Communication Strategies

37:22 Understanding Bias in Medical Opinions

41:34 Identifying Red Flags in Expert Interactions

45:30 Differentiating Client Needs: Investors vs. Industry

47:41 The Importance of Follow-Up Calls

50:42 Patient Engagement and Empowerment

57:09 Utilizing Guidelines and Resources for Better Care

01:00:44 The Importance of Proactive Healthcare

01:05:15 Navigating Clinical Trials and Patient Advocacy

01:08:48 Understanding Quality of Life in Treatment Decisions

01:09:55 Surgery Insights: Complications and Surgeon Selection

01:19:01 Entrepreneurship in Healthcare: Joe's Journey

01:25:20 Recap of Insights from Joe's Conversation

01:27:58 Building Confidence in Patient-Doctor Interactions

01:30:41 The Importance of Communication and Understanding

01:33:35 Navigating the Healthcare System Effectively

01:35:59 The Role of KOLs vs Community Physicians

01:38:37 The Impact of AI in Healthcare

01:41:18 Outro

Ep. 1: Do Pharma Companies Avoid Cures?

Drug Dealin Pod — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we unpack, examine, and debunk the public perception that drug companies intentionally do not pursue curative therapies, because it is financially less beneficial to them. We speak from our own experience working on curative therapies in Oncology and HCV, discuss how difficult it is to develop cures, the implications of curing a disease for drug companies, and how the industry can do a better job fostering trust with patients.

Have feedback for us? Feel free to leave a comment or send us an email at DrugDealinPod@gmail.com

Ep 3: Rise of the Phoenix | Sujal Shah & CymaBay Therapeutics

Drug Dealin Pod — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 17:24:02 GMT

A conversation with biotech leader, Sujal Shah, former CEO of CymaBay Therapeutics about his company's story arc, leadership, resilience, and building a biotech company in the face of adversity.

Questions?: drugdealinpod@gmail.com

Connect with Shivu: https://linktr.ee/shivusharma

Check out Big Pharma Sharma: https://bigpharmasharma.substack.com/

Connect with Kenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennylalwani/

00:00 Introduction to Biotech Leadership

03:00 Sujal Shah's Journey in Biotech

05:46 Leadership Philosophy and Team Dynamics

09:13 Navigating Challenges at CymaBay

11:48 The Development of seladelpar

15:07 Strategic Decisions in Drug Development

17:58 Clinical Trials and Regulatory Interactions

20:50 The NASH Study and Its Implications

47:10 Navigating Drug Development Challenges

49:07 The Patient-Centric Approach in Drug Development

51:56 Facing Clinical Setbacks and Organizational Resilience

53:36 Unexpected Findings and Immediate Reactions

01:00:27 The Emotional Toll of Drug Development

01:05:08 Rebuilding Purpose and Finding Answers

01:19:52 Patient Advocacy and Support During Crisis

01:23:30 Uncovering the Truth: The Role of Independent Panels 01:33:59 Independent Review and Safety Assurance

01:36:50 Leadership Challenges and Stakeholder Management 01:40:12 Resilience in Adversity

01:43:51 Turning Point: Stock Recovery and Investor Relations 01:47:07 Skepticism and Ongoing Challenges

01:55:00 Data Presentation and Competitive Landscape

02:01:11 Building a Robust Evidence Package

02:04:53 Reflections on Leadership and Future Aspirations

Ep. 6: Should the FDA Be Independent?

Drug Dealin Pod — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:01:00 GMT

SUMMARY: In this episode, Shivu and Kenny discuss the recent developments surrounding Replimune and its interactions with the FDA. They explore the implications of leadership changes at the FDA, the importance of patient advocacy, and the challenges faced by small biotech companies in navigating the regulatory landscape. The conversation highlights the critical role of stability in drug approvals and the potential impact on patient care, particularly in oncology. They discuss the complexities of the FDA's role in drug development, the importance of confirmatory studies, and the impact of leadership changes on regulatory processes. They also talk about the historical evolution of the FDA, its commitment to patient safety, and the challenges it faces in maintaining consistency and transparency. The conversation culminates in a thought-provoking discussion on the potential benefits of an independent FDA, akin to the Federal Reserve, to enhance trust and efficacy in drug approvals.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical judgment or guidance. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 The FDA's Independence and Scope

02:53 Timeline of Instability at the FDA

14:00 Impact of Instability on Drug Development

19:54 Case Study: RepliMune's Regulatory Journey

34:00 Navigating FDA Interactions and Accelerated Approvals

58:03 The Role of a Healthy FDA: History and Function

01:12:40 Organizational Culture and Stability in Regulatory Agencies

01:15:24 Navigating Institutional Changes at the FDA

01:18:45 The Importance of Consistency in Health Guidelines

01:22:27 Transparency and Data Disclosure in Drug Approvals

01:25:18 The Case for an Independent FDA

01:29:53 Lessons from the Federal Reserve's Independence

01:35:11 Engendering Trust in Health Institutions

01:41:49 Final Thoughts

CONTACT US:

Questions?: ⁠⁠drugdealinpod@gmail.com⁠⁠
Follow us on X
Follow Shivu on X
Subscribe to Shivu's newsletter, Big Pharma Sharma ⁠⁠
Follow Kenny

Ep.4: Ozempic for the Brain, A New Era to Explain

Drug Dealin Pod — Mon, 19 May 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Summary: In this episode, Shivu and Kenny delve into the evolving landscape of GLP-1 drugs, particularly focusing on the recent advancements in oral formulations and their potential applications beyond diabetes and obesity, including CNS diseases and addiction. They discuss the challenges of adherence, the mechanisms of action, and the economic implications of these therapies, while also highlighting the importance of early intervention in treatment. The conversation emphasizes the promising future of GLP-1s in various therapeutic areas and the ongoing research that will shape their role in healthcare.

References:

Shivu's recent substack post discussing GLP-1s for CNS disease: https://www.bigpharmasharma.com/p/what-2025-holds-for-glp-1s-in-brain
GLP-1 Growth Graph: Zheng, Z., Zong, Y., Ma, Y. et al. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor: mechanisms and advances in therapy. Sig Transduct Target Ther 9, 234 (2024).

Contact us:

Questions?: drugdealinpod@gmail.com
Follow us on X: ⁠https://x.com/DrugDealinPod⁠
Follow Shivu : ⁠https://linktr.ee/shivusharma⁠
Subscribe to Shivu's newsletter: https://www.bigpharmasharma.com/

Follow Kenny: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennylalwani/⁠

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to GLP-1s

02:52 The Evolution of Oral GLP-1s

06:26 Challenges in Patient Adherence

10:34 Exploring CNS Impacts of GLP-1s

14:44 Mechanisms of Action in CNS Diseases

19:13 Potential in Addiction Treatment

24:23 Future Directions and Research Opportunities

30:20 Exploring the Mechanisms of New Medications

35:16 Long-term Use and Dosing Challenges

39:57 Promising Data in Addiction Treatment

43:56 The Future of CNS and Metabolic Dysfunction Treatments

50:44 The Path Forward in Drug Development

54:50 Outro

Ep. 2: Predictions for Biopharma in 2025

Drug Dealin Pod — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Kenny and Shivu each cook up three predictions for Biopharma in 2025

NOTE: This episode was recorded on January 10th, 2025

Have feedback for us? Leave a comment or email us at DrugDealinPod@gmail.com

Ep. 0: Welcome to the Drug Dealin' Podcast!

Drug Dealin Pod — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:57:59 GMT

What is Drug Dealin' going to be about? How are the Drug Dealin' hosts and should you listen to us? What type of content can you expect from this show?