{"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":"AI for Scientists, FDA Reverses Course, and Advances in Cancer Therapeutics","slug":"ai-for-scientists-fda-reverses-course-and-advances-in-cancer-therapeutics","published_at":"2026-02-27T14:18:15+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/touching-base-6714887/ai-for-scientists-fda-reverses-course-and-advances-in-cancer-therapeutics","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/touching-base-6714887","url":"https://shows.acast.com/touching-base/episodes/ai-for-scientists-fda-reverses-course-and-advances-in-cancer","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65736d39d32e730012c98919/e/69a1a7a7811eb34558604616/media.mp3","summary":"In the industry news section of this week’s episode, we kick things off with Tamarind Bio’s efforts to develop user-friendly artificial intelligence tools for science researchers. Then we examine the impact of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s reversal on its earlier refusal to review Moderna’s mRNA vaccine for the flu, discuss Gilead’s acquisition of Arcellx to expand its cancer therapy pipeline, and dive into Takeda’s investment in Vir Biotech’s prostate cancer candidate. Then on the research front, we get into the science behind new protein-like polymers engineered to target and degrade some of cancer’s most challenging driver proteins. And we discuss a potential control switch for CAR T cells that could make these immunotherapies much safer.   Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Fay Lin, PhD, Uduak Thomas and Alex Philippidis 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 :    Tamarind Bio Secures $13.6M Series A to Make AI More Accessible for Biology By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge , February 24, 2026   StockWatch: FDA Reversal Boosts Moderna, But Not Other Vaccine Companies By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge , February 21, 2026 Gilead to Acquire Arcellx for $7.8B, Adding Anito-Cel to Cancer Pipeline By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge , February 23, 2026 Astellas, Vir Biotechnology Launch Up-to-$1.7B Prostate Cancer Collaboration By Alex Philippidis, GEN , February 26, 2026 New Protein-Like Polymers Target, Degrade “Undruggable” Proteins Driving Cancer GEN , February 11, 2026 Drug-Controlled CAR T Cells May Enable Safer Immunotherapy GEN , February 23, 2026 Touching Base Podcast   Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD    Behi…","meta_description":"In the industry news section of this week’s episode, we kick things off with Tamarind Bio’s efforts to develop user-friendly artificial intelligence tools…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2334,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/touching-base-6714887/episodes/ai-for-scientists-fda-reverses-course-and-advances-in-cancer-therapeutics/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/ai-for-scientists-fda-reverses-course-and-advances-in-cancer-therapeutics.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}