RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearings, MASH drugs, and a controversial obesity ad

January 31, 2025

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Why have drugs to treat the liver disease MASH reached a tipping point? How did Hims & Hers convince Childish Gambino to license his song "This is America" for a Super Bowl ad about compounded GLP-1 drugs? And did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. help or hurt his chances to become the next HHS Secretary after two days of Senate confirmation hearings?

We talk about all that and more on this week's episode of the "The Readout LOUD," STAT's biotech podcast. Our colleague Rachel Cohrs Zhang joins us to break down RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearings, including some contentious questions about vaccines and autism from Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Before the D.C. discussion, Elaine, Allison, and Adam chat about Akero Therapeutics and the results reported this week from a study of its experimental drug that showed, for the first time, reversal of cirrhosis in patients with severe MASH. We critique that aforementioned Hims commercial — it accuses the pharma industry of profiting from obesity. And lastly, we'll talk about a new fund from biotech VC Curie.Bio and the money it's invested in a still-stealthy gene therapy company trying to tackle ALS.

Listen Now

For more on Akero and MASH drugs, look here; for a story on the Hims Super Bowl commercial, go here; to read out about Curie.Bio's new fund, look here; and click here to access all of STAT's coverage of RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearings.