Ep. 106: On the Verge: Leaders in Bioscience Discuss the State of Vaccines and Treatments

11/10/20 • 48 min

Conversations with Mike Milken

George Yancopoulos

Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Regeneron

Joseph Vinetz

Professor of Medicine, Yale University; Infectious Disease Physician

Tal Zaks

Chief Medical Officer, Moderna

“We're going to need vaccines to create as widespread herd immunity as we can, but we're also going to need drugs that are targeted against the virus that can provide immediate protection and also treat those who are already sick. So we have multiple clinical trials ongoing with our antibody cocktail, both for prophylaxis or prevention and also for treatment.” – George Yancopoulos, Regeneron

Three world-renowned bioscience leaders join Mike Milken and Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) chief science officer Howard Soule for a conversation on the state of the COVID-19 challenge, herd immunity, and unique approaches to developing safe and effective vaccines, antibodies, and other treatments. Recorded on August 29 as part of a PCF event, this conversation is especially notable as it describes the antibody cocktail that would later be administered to President Donald Trump after he contracted the virus.

Moderna’s Tal Zaks is optimistic that scientists are on the verge of a breakthrough that we’ll learn more about very soon. “In the coming months,” he tells Howard, “expect data from us and potentially some of the other vaccine companies that also have started phase 3 trials that will conclusively demonstrate that these vaccines can work. I hope all of them succeed because I don't think a single company can carry the weight of what's needed to protect all of us and all those who need it.”

George Yancopoulos

Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Regeneron

Joseph Vinetz

Professor of Medicine, Yale University; Infectious Disease Physician

Tal Zaks

Chief Medical Officer, Moderna

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Ep. 105: Pioneering, with FOX’s Maria Bartiromo

“It goes back to opportunity and jobs.... Government can only do so much. The private sector needs to step up and ensure that they are creating opportunities for a broad swath of the population who don't have those opportunities.”

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Ep. 107: Dealmaker, with Thoma Bravo’s Orlando Bravo

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