3Q Public Markets Preview, Washington Update, Lisa Burns — a BioCentury podcast

Investor optimism (with an asterisk). Budget squeeze for FDA. Biosecure momentum. The loss of a legend

By Jeff Cranmer, Executive Editor 

July 16, 2024 12:47 AM UTC

Buysiders are upbeat headed into the back half of the year, but uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s timing on interest rate cuts is keeping that sentiment in check. On the latest BioCentury This Week podcast, BioCentury’s editors preview the public markets’ second half of 2024, discussing the appetite for biotech IPOs and M&A and what investors are looking for as they read the Fed tea leaves.

They also discuss Congress’ FDA budget squeeze — even as lawmakers place detailed demands on the agency — and the growing momentum of the Biosecure Act, which seeks to rein in Chinese CDMOs and genomics companies in the U.S.

Finally, the team reflects on the legacy of IR/PR pioneer Lisa Burns, who passed away this month after spending years advising biotech CEOs and investors — and throwing some of the industry’s best parties.