Pharma and Biotech Daily: From Obesity Pill Success to Vaccine Controversy and CEO Pay Rankings

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma and Biotech world.Eli Lilly's shares surged 11% after their obesity pill, orforglipron, showed "injectable-like efficacy" in a phase III diabetes trial. The drug achieved significant reductions in body weight and improvements in glucose control, making it the first small-molecule GLP-1 drug to ace a late-stage study for type 2 diabetes. Kennedy's search for a link between vaccines and autism is criticized as misguided, and Trump plans a $40 billion budget cut for HHS. Biotech companies are urged to focus on all-American manufacturing due to tariffs, and experts discuss the importance of product validation in cell and gene therapies. RFK Jr. advocates for changes to vaccine injury surveillance, while HHS withdraws funding for GeoVax's next-gen COVID-19 vaccines. Sanofi invests over $1.8 billion in AI-developed bispecifics, and Q1 Biopharma announces layoffs in California and Massachusetts. Former FDA officials warn of unseen changes within the agency, and J&J's tariff decisions set the tone for Q1 earnings reports. Top-paid pharma CEOs are revealed for 2024.