RTW Podcast Episode 302: Innovation is the Best Medicine: Rod Wong on Driving Innovation and Fixing the Affordability Crisis

Episode Description

American medical care rests on two pillars: innovation and affordability. Get either one wrong and patients pay the price. RTW's Rod Wong joins Stephanie Sirota to unpack both. On innovation, they trace the “Innovation Treadmill,” the cycle that forces drugmakers to keep discovering new medicines as older ones lose exclusivity and go generic, and why that cycle is even more fragile than it looks. On affordability, they get into what's actually driving costs: the relative bargain Americans get on drug prices, the near-total absence of price transparency in medical care, and the revenue that flows to insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and hospitals instead of to the innovators taking the risk.

Podcast Team

• Producer: Katerina Rosen

• Editor: Matt Colbourne

• Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Sirota

• Editorial Advisor: Jim Heins

• Theme Music: Goofy by Danny Shields and Mague by Jozeque

Featuring: Rod Wong, Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at RTW Investments, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments.

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Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

01:48 – The Drug Innovation Treadmill

05:04 – The Economics of Innovation

08:22 – Gene Therapy at a Crossroads

11:05 – Fixing Healthcare’s Incentive Problem

12:27 – A Policy Roadmap for Reform

16:21 – Rebalancing the System

18:28 – Closing Thoughts

Disclaimer

This interview features Rod Wong, Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at RTW Investments, in conversation with Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments.

Statements by RTW personnel reflect their own views and opinions as of the date of recording and are subject to change without notice. Nothing in this episode is intended as investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation to provide investment advisory services. The views expressed are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of RTW Investments, its affiliates, or its clients. This content is for informational purposes only.

Innovation is the Best Medicine

The RTW Podcast

Innovation is the Best Medicine