Deep dives into biotech history and drug development. For founders, VCs, and the life sciences community.
Joined February 2026
- Tweets 17
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- Followers 144
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Jun 10
Best of luck @iskander!
ICYMI, listen to our episode on Geron here:
Jun 10
Starting a newco around unlocking immortality and curing all cancer by modulating the Hayflick limit.
Raising at $2b, send term sheets to DMs
(yes, you should listen to Approved pod)
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May 31
Nice to hear Roger's side of this question! In our latest episode of @approvedfm, we asked Roy Baynes - architect of Keytruda's clinical development at Merck, who followed Roger to Eikon - the same question.
Here's what Roy had to say about China's emerging role in pharma:
May 31
𝐎𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚: Regarding the China debate that has been raging here, a phrase I've heard asked many times is: "What if the next Keytruda comes from China?" Well, this morning I posed this Q to the developer of Keytruda, who has also been in licensing drugs from China lately.
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May 26
7/9 Another podcast you'll want to know about: Approved - sort of like @AcquiredFM (also recommended btw), but for @US_FDA-approved drugs. Hosted by @alexkesin & Matthew Pech; latest ep on Keytruda is excellent: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcas…
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May 22
@srikosuri is right — @ApprovedFM is instantly required listening for anyone in biotech.
The Keytruda episode is wild. Discovered by accident from a failed RA antibody program. Almost out-licensed for nothing in 2010. Now Merck’s biggest drug ever at $30B a year.
Interviews with the actual inventors and the former CMO. The kind of context you can’t get anywhere else. Stories like this stay with you because they’re the truth of how drugs actually get made — serendipity, stubbornness, and execution that refuses to break. We see it every day on the CDMO side with oncology biologics and complex mAbs.
May 21
So in love with this new podcast, Approved! It’s acquired for biotech and drugs. Amazing job @alexkesin and Matthew; really hope you keep it going.
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May 21
So in love with this new podcast, Approved! It’s acquired for biotech and drugs. Amazing job @alexkesin and Matthew; really hope you keep it going.
May 14
Keytruda transformed cancer care and made Merck more money than any drug in history. It was also discovered by accident, and nearly out-licensed in 2010 for pocket change.
New Approved exclusive interviews with the inventors and the Merck CMO who ran development:
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May 14
The excellent new podcast also touches on origins of immunology-oncology - I also discussed this in pair of @WSJBooks reviews -> wsj.com/articles/the-breakth…
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May 14
2/3 I wrote a detailed history of origins of Keytuda a few years ago for Forbes - so fantastic to see this come alive (w updates!) in new podcast. forbes.com/sites/davidshaywi…
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May 14
1/3 If your interested in biopharma and medical innovation, and you love pcasts like @AcquiredFM … here’s a show you’ll really enjoy: Approved, about the twists and turns leading ultimately to approved new medicine; great ep on Keytruda -> podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
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May 15
People miss how uncertain major biotech breakthroughs look in real time. As my @Curie_Bio colleague Greg Carven @MadMabScientist discusses, Keytruda came surprisingly close to never happening. Great behind-the-scenes look at drug development of a major blockbuster oncology drug.
May 14
Keytruda transformed cancer care and made Merck more money than any drug in history. It was also discovered by accident, and nearly out-licensed in 2010 for pocket change.
New Approved exclusive interviews with the inventors and the Merck CMO who ran development:
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May 14
Keytruda transformed cancer care and made Merck more money than any drug in history. It was also discovered by accident, and nearly out-licensed in 2010 for pocket change.
New Approved exclusive interviews with the inventors and the Merck CMO who ran development:
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May 12
"Come and help Merck to its former greatness and rightful place in history."
Thursday, on ep. 3 of @approvedfm: the inside story of Keytruda, the best-selling cancer drug of all time. Feat. Roy Baynes, Gregory Carven & Michel Streuli.
Follow on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube 🎬
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Mar 13
Approved episode #2 out now: Geron
They trailblazed longevity biotech in the '90s, cloned telomerase, funded early hESC work - and after 34 years got the first telomerase inhibitor approved for a rare blood cancer.
Full story on the pod.
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Jan 30
Starting something new: Approved, a biotech podcast I'm co-hosting with Matthew Pech.
Our first episode covers Amylin Pharmaceuticals: the pioneers of the GLP-1 drug class.
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