{"podcast":{"title":"Touching Base","slug":"touching-base-6714887","podcast_index_feed_id":6714887,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/65736d39d32e730012c98919","website_url":"https://shows.acast.com/65736d39d32e730012c98919","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1702062363830-62d389f5db6a973569dc75512134cd32.jpeg","author":"Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN)","episode_count":55,"summary":"Touching Base is the dynamic podcast series from the editors of GEN ( Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News ). Each episode features a rotating cast of senior editors including John Sterling, Kevin Davies, Julianna LeMieux, Alex Philippidis, Uduak Thomas, Corinna Singleman and Fay Lin who delve into emerging stories, exchange ideas, and debate the latest trends in biotech. Additionally, they talk to some of the leading voices in the industry about what's now and next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-08-01T02:20:08.667530+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/touching-base-6714887"},"episode":{"title":"A Billion-Dollar Deal, Trial Trouble, Biohub Updates, and Vaccine Research News","slug":"a-billion-dollar-deal-trial-trouble-biohub-updates-and-vaccine-research-news","published_at":"2026-06-04T21:20:41+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/touching-base-6714887/a-billion-dollar-deal-trial-trouble-biohub-updates-and-vaccine-research-news","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/touching-base-6714887","url":"https://shows.acast.com/touching-base/episodes/a-billion-dollar-deal-trial-trouble-biohub-updates-and-vacci","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65736d39d32e730012c98919/e/6a21ec2914e465e5ce7d35bf/media.mp3","summary":"In this week’s episode, we start with news that Fulcrum Therapeutics is scrapping its lead pipeline program for sickle cell disease following concerns from the FDA about the drug’s risks and benefits. Also on the docket, news of Eli Lilly’s latest spending. The pharma giant has added its genetic medicines pipeline and capabilities by signing a $1.9 billion agreement with Ascidian Therapeutics to develop RNA exon editors for treating inherited kidney diseases. Next up, updates to an open-source model for binder design and protein function mapping. Finally, on the peer-review front, we dive into some of the latest vaccine research including insights into the mechanisms that cross-reactive T cells use to target multiple viral species in a single family and an improvement to standard polio vaccines.   Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Fay Lin, PhD, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.      Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base :    Fulcrum Halts Development of SCD Candidate Pociredir, Sets Strategic Review By Alex Philippidis and Kevin Davies, PhD, GEN Edge , June 2, 2026   Lilly, Ascidian Launch Up-to-$1.9B RNA Exon Editor Collaboration Targeting Inherited Kidney Diseases By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge , June 3, 2026   Biohub Releases Protein Biology World Model to Address Disease By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge , May 27, 2026   Cross-Reactive T Cells Could Point to Broad Vaccines or Treatments for Measles, Nipah Virus GEN , June 2, 2026 Experimental Adjuvant Could Strengthen Mucosal Immunity with Injectable Polio Vaccines  GEN , June 4, 2026 Touching Base Podcast   Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD  Hoste…","meta_description":"In this week’s episode, we start with news that Fulcrum Therapeutics is scrapping its lead pipeline program for sickle cell disease following concerns fro…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2241,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/touching-base-6714887/episodes/a-billion-dollar-deal-trial-trouble-biohub-updates-and-vaccine-research-news/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/touching-base-6714887/a-billion-dollar-deal-trial-trouble-biohub-updates-and-vaccine-research-news.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}