'The Top Line': 2 deaths put Novartis' SMA gene therapy in the safety spotlight, what's behind AstraZeneca's next-gen CAR-T therapy tactics and more

Novartis has recorded two deaths after treatment with its gene therapy Zolgensma. The treatment is for spinal muscular atrophy. Two children in Russia and Kazakhstan died about five to six weeks after receiving Zolgensma. Both patients died of acute liver failure, a known side effect of Zolgensma. In today's episode, we will discuss these deaths and the gene therapy’s safety.

AstraZeneca may be a major oncology player, but the company has been noticeably absent in the first wave of CAR-T therapies. All that may be about to change. We chat with Dave Fredrickson from the Big Pharma's oncology unit about how the company is working on the next generation of these cancer therapies.

 

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The Top Line is produced by senior multimedia producer Teresa Carey with managing editor Querida Anderson and senior editors Annalee Armstrong, Ben Adams, Conor Hale and Eric Sagonowsky. The sound engineer is Caleb Hodgson. The stories are by all our “Fierce” journalists. Like and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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