In this episode, we delve into Congress's landmark health care agreement targeting pharmacy benefit management reforms, telehealth expansion, and increased science funding to enhance transparency, reduce costs, and improve access to care. Boston Scientific's $14.5 billion acquisition of Penumbra aims to bolster its vascular surgery market presence, while Zydus Lifesciences' acquisition of Agenus Inc.'s biologics facilities positions it in the CDMO sector. Owkin's CEO discusses leveraging AI for disease understanding, and the rising prevalence of Parkinson's disease highlights the need for gender-specific research. Agentic AI promises to transform drug development by 2026, and life sciences companies reaffirm their commitment to DEI initiatives. Finally, Massachusetts General Hospital's AI system shows promise in early cognitive decline detection.

Stan Berteloot is a French-American journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture.

As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics.

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📚 Sources:

• https://www.statnews.com/2026/01/19/diabetes-study-bariatric-surgery-better-than-glp-1s/
• https://www.medtechdive.com/news/boston-scientific-penumbra-deal-takeaways/809988/
• https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/zydus-lifesciences-limited-completes-the-acquisition-of-agenus-inc-s-biologics-manufacturing-facilities-launches-zylidac-bio-llc-in-the-u-s
• https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/qa-owkin-ceo-building-ai-scientist-and-pharmas-short-term-thinking
• https://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/view/women-missing-voice-parkinsons-disease
• https://pharmaphorum.com/digital/agentic-ai-shift-rd-rp-will-deliver-first-predictive-drug-pipeline-2026
• https://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/view/business-case-dei-pharmaceutical-innovation-organizational-commitment-inclusive-clinical-trials
• https://pharmaphorum.com/news/autonomous-ai-can-spot-cognitive-decline-medical-notes

In this episode, we delve into a groundbreaking study published in 2026 that challenges long-held beliefs about the genetic causes of vision impairment. The research reveals that many genes linked to inherited eye diseases rarely result in vision loss, prompting a reevaluation of genetic counseling and testing practices.

Next, we explore the new guidelines released by the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. FDA for integrating artificial intelligence into drug development. These principles focus on ethical alignment, human-centric design, and maintaining patient safety while fostering innovation.

We then shift to insights from JPM Week in San Francisco, where biotech leaders discussed the industry's shift from market risk to geopolitical challenges, emphasizing the need to adapt strategies in response to global events.

Meanwhile, Eli Lilly and NVIDIA have announced a $1 billion partnership to establish an AI co-innovation lab, aiming to revolutionize drug development and clinical processes through advanced AI technologies.

Finally, Fresenius Kabi and TQ Therapeutics have teamed up to enhance cell and gene therapy accessibility, integrating cutting-edge cell selection technology to streamline production and accelerate treatment availability for patients.

Stan Berteloot is a French-American journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture.

As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics.

Start your VoiceStream free trial today!

📚 Sources:

• https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/5-key-takeaways-on-most-favored-nations-pricing-from-mjh-life-sciences-webinar
• https://pharmaphorum.com/news/ema-and-fda-agree-principles-ai-drug-development
• https://medcitynews.com/2026/01/how-does-geopolitics-affect-the-life-sciences-industry-3-executives-weigh-in/
• https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/jpm-nvidia-and-eli-lilly-announce-co-innovation-ai-lab
• https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/fresenius-kabi-tq-therapeutics-announce-cell-therapy-technology-agreement