{"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":"Drugs from a Text Prompt, Wegovy Pill Competition Dampens Lilly’s Surge","slug":"drugs-from-a-text-prompt-wegovy-pill-competition-dampens-lilly-s-surge","published_at":"2026-04-09T19:57:54+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/touching-base-6714887/drugs-from-a-text-prompt-wegovy-pill-competition-dampens-lilly-s-surge","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/touching-base-6714887","url":"https://shows.acast.com/touching-base/episodes/drugs-from-a-text-prompt-wegovy-pill-competition-dampens-lil","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65736d39d32e730012c98919/e/69d804c2cdaa3e377c222c99/media.mp3","summary":"From designing drugs with a simple text prompt to running experiments guided by extended reality, a new wave of agentic AI is transforming the modern lab. Our editors discuss the latest autonomous systems accelerating biological discovery. In business deals, Gilead Sciences has acquired Tubulis in a transaction worth up to $5 billion, strengthening the buyer’s position in antibody–drug conjugates for cancer. Correspondingly, Eli Lilly and Biogen are each making billion-dollar-plus bets, acquiring Centessa, a sleep disorder drug developer, and Apellis, known for its work in immunology and rare diseases. Our episode rounds out by unpacking the dynamic obesity drug market, where intensifying competition from Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill is prompting Lilly to temper the 2026 sales outlook for its oral obesity drug, Foundayo. Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Fay Lin, PhD 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 :    Can AI Agents Automate Scientific Discovery? By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge , April 1, 2026 Gilead to Acquire Tubulis for Up to $5B, Expanding Cancer ADC Capabilities By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge , April 7, 2026 Lilly Acquires Centessa for Up to $7.8B; Biogen Buys Apellis for Up to $6.1B By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge , March 31, 2026 StockWatch: Price War Dampens Lilly Surge After Oral GLP-1 Wins FDA Nod By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge , April 5, 2026 Touching Base Podcast   Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD    Behind the Breakthroughs   Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","meta_description":"From designing drugs with a simple text prompt to running experiments guided by extended reality, a new wave of agentic AI is transforming the modern lab.…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1909,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/touching-base-6714887/episodes/drugs-from-a-text-prompt-wegovy-pill-competition-dampens-lilly-s-surge/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/drugs-from-a-text-prompt-wegovy-pill-competition-dampens-lilly-s-surge.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}