Novo Nordisk’s second-quarter earnings results this week were closely watched by analysts and investors eager to see whether the rollout of oral Wegovy could neutralize concerns about the pharma’s pipeline. Fierce spoke to Novo’s chief financial officer, Karsten Munk Knudsen, to dig into the figures, including the reasons behind the company’s decision to raise its full-year guidance and the launch of oral Wegovy across Europe. In the candid conversation, Knudsen also reflected on Novo’s “rollercoaster” journey in obesity, his approach to pursuing long-term growth for the company and why he’s “still optimistic” about CagriSema despite recent setbacks. To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Novo CEO accepts ‘couple of setbacks’ in R&D as CagriSema posts more mixed data Novo CEO has 'no doubt' on eventual share price recovery as Wegovy pill continues to wow ‘I’m a lot more optimistic today’: Mike Doustdar tells Fierce about pivotal first year as Novo Nordisk CEO See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of patient support may depend less on how much data organizations collect and more on how effectively they connect, govern and activate it. In this sponsored episode of The Top Line, host Stephanie Butler speaks with ZS principals Asheesh Shukla and Kirti Prakash about the changing role of patient data in life sciences and what it will take to support more personalized engagement at scale. The conversation examines several shifts reshaping the industry, including the move from reactive care to proactive intervention, the growing role of AI-powered experiences and the increasing importance of trust, consent and compliance in patient engagement. As organizations invest in new technologies, the speakers contend that success will depend on creating connected data foundations that can deliver timely, actionable insights across the patient journey. Listeners will hear practical guidance on structuring data for actionability, building AI-ready capabilities and designing governance models that support both innovation and accountability. The discussion closes with a look at where patient services may be headed next and why organizations that prepare now will be better positioned to improve patient experiences and outcomes in the years ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The continued shift toward self-administered therapies is changing how pharmaceutical companies think about patient support. While access and affordability remain priorities, a growing share of industry attention is focused on the patient experience itself, particularly during the critical transition from prescription to successful treatment initiation. In this episode of The Top Line, Adam Shain, Vice President and Head of Business Transformation and Growth and Government Affairs Lead at Noble, an Aptar Pharma company, examines why patient onboarding, device training, and engagement strategies are increasingly being viewed as interconnected components of a broader patient experience. Drawing from Noble's work in self-administration support, Shain discusses the importance of incorporating patient insights into program design, the evolving complexity of at-home treatment models, and the industry's growing focus on adherence and long-term treatment success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is biotech taking a trip to the world of psychedelic drugs? Why is Novo Nordisk going after Eli Lilly’s Zepbound ads? And what are peptides?  This week on "The Top Line," Fierce's Zoey Becker, Will Maddox and Kevin Dunleavy chat about some of the biggest recent stories. From a psychedelics acquisition that could spark more movement in the emerging field to an advisory committee meeting on peptides shrouded in political controversy to a lawsuit between the two major obesity drugmakers, we’ll catch you up on the latest developments shaking up the biopharma world. To learn more about the topics in this episode:  ‘A rising tide scenario’: Why other Big Pharmas could follow Lilly into psychedelics  UPDATE: Peptides favored on 1st day of closely watched FDA compounding adcomm Peptide adcomm Day 2: Emideltide voted down in panel's 1st pushback Novo Nordisk files lawsuit accusing rival Eli Lilly of running ‘false and misleading’ GLP-1 ads  Novo escalates Lilly false advertising suit with planned bid to halt comparative ads  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on "The Top Line," Fierce Healthcare and Life Sciences' editor-in-chief steps behind the microphone for a solo episode highlighting several of the biggest stories in biopharma. The episode covers GSK’s first lung cancer approval following its acquisition of Nuvalent, Axiom Biosciences’ unusual plan to list first in Hong Kong before pursuing a Nasdaq co-listing amid a resurgent biotech IPO market, and the U.S. House’s passage of legislation directing the FDA to update its animal testing rules. The episode also includes an update from the Fierce newsroom, including the arrival of a new Fierce Biotech staff writer, and a reflection on why human judgment, curiosity and original reporting matter more than ever. To learn more about the topics in this episode:  GSK secures first lung cancer approval as FDA clears Jideytro in quick payoff from Nuvalent deal ‘There is always a first’: Why US biotech Axiom will begin its IPO journey in Hong Kong House passes bill directing FDA to update animal testing rules See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clinical trial success depends on more than scientific rigor and operational execution. It also depends on the financial systems that support every stage of a study. In this episode of The Top Line, Zahiah “Zee Zee” Gueddar, senior director of commercial strategy for the Clinical Trial Financial Suite at IQVIA Technologies, discusses why modernizing clinical trial finance has become a strategic priority for sponsors. As trials become more complex, fragmented systems and manual workflows are creating bottlenecks that limit visibility, delay payments and introduce unnecessary risk. Gueddar explains how these challenges affect site relationships, operational efficiency and study performance, and why organizations can no longer afford to treat finance as a disconnected administrative process. The conversation also highlights key indicators of readiness for transformation, from cross-functional alignment to executive sponsorship, and outlines the common pain points study teams face today. Ultimately, success depends on moving toward a connected, transparent and predictable financial model that reduces friction, improves collaboration and supports faster, more reliable clinical trials.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boston. San Francisco. Beijing? The global biotech industry has long been concentrated in a handful of cities. But which emerging hubs could become dominant forces in biotech in the decades ahead? In this week’s episode of “The Top Line,” Fierce Biotech’s Darren Incorvaia and Will Maddox discuss a new Fierce special report identifying five cities with the potential to become major forces in the global biotech industry. Did your favorite city make the cut? Listen to find out.  To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Top emerging biotech hubs in 2026  As US lawmakers increase scrutiny of Chinese trials, industry fears ‘huge distraction and expense’  British biotech VC funding shows ‘signs of recovery,’ but IPO rebound yet to materialize  Could Basel be the next Boston? How the Swiss biotech hub is quietly raising its game  This week's episode is sponsored by IQVIA Biotech.  Built for biotech innovators, IQVIA Biotech is a full-service CRO, designed for agility, fast decisions, and the urgency needed for emerging biopharma. With dedicated teams and deep therapeutic expertise, we help move programs forward with focus and confidence. Visit IQVIABiotech.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Medical affairs is at an inflection point. As science advances and healthcare professionals gain access to information in real time, medical teams face a mandate to deliver insight with greater speed, relevance and impact. In this episode of The Top Line, Josh Schwartz, Vice President of Medical Affairs, North America at BeOne Medicines, and Jalpa Shah, who leads the medical and evidence practice at ZS Pharma discuss what a modern medical affairs model requires. The conversation explores how the function is becoming a more strategic business driver and why traditional measures of activity are no longer enough to demonstrate value. The episode examines the structural challenges that continue to hold organizations back, including fragmented data systems, limited visibility into insights and the difficulty of translating engagement into measurable outcomes. It also looks at how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping workflows by helping teams generate insights faster, identify trends and inform next best actions. The discussion also considers the capabilities, operating models and cultural shifts medical affairs teams will need to keep pace with science and influence clinical practice. The central takeaway is clear: Future success will depend less on access to more data and more on the ability to turn intelligence into coordinated action.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is reshaping how organizations compete, but more data and more tools do not automatically lead to better decisions. In this episode of The Top Line, Justin Masterson, senior vice president of human sciences at The Directions Group, challenges leaders to look beyond AI adoption and focus on the discipline required to act on intelligence. Masterson argues that the defining issue for many organizations is not a data problem, but a decision readiness problem. As information ecosystems become more complex, the ability to translate insight into timely, confident action is emerging as a critical business differentiator. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and human sciences, Masterson shares perspective on how companies can align teams, processes and strategies to unlock AI’s value without becoming overwhelmed by the volume of available information. For leaders navigating new technologies, competing priorities and higher expectations for speed, this conversation offers a practical reframing of where AI value is created. Learn why decision readiness may be the next true advantage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on "The Top Line," we’re covering some of the biggest stories across biopharma before turning to one of the industry’s major scientific meetings of the summer. First, we discuss Vertex’s $10 billion acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, the company’s largest deal to date, and what it says about Vertex’s push beyond its historic strength in cystic fibrosis. We also cover growing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over the industry’s use of clinical trials in China. Then, Fierce Pharma Senior Editor Fraiser Kansteiner recounts his recent trip to New Orleans for the American Diabetes Association’s 2026 Scientific Sessions with Fierce Pharma Marketing’s Zoey Becker. For years, ADA has focused heavily on its eponymous indication, but this year’s meeting made clear how much the conversation is evolving, with obesity data from drugmakers of all stripes taking up more of the spotlight. Topics include the biggest data sets from the meeting, what it was like to sit down with Novo Nordisk’s new CEO for the first time and the latest from Insulet’s Marvel collaboration on a line of comics about an Omnipod-wearing superheroine. To learn more about the topics in this episode:  Vertex, in its largest-ever deal, acquires endocrine disease specialist Crinetics for $10B As US lawmakers increase scrutiny of Chinese trials, industry fears ‘huge distraction and expense’ ‘I’m a lot more optimistic today’: Mike Doustdar tells Fierce about pivotal first year as Novo Nordisk CEO ADA: Lilly pulls back curtain on impressive triple-G efficacy in patients with obesity, diabetes ADA: Amgen highlights Repatha perks, GLP-1 pitfalls in push to boost cardiometabolic pedigree With ADA in the books, analyst says Lilly is ‘widening its lead’ in the obesity race ADA: Novo's Wegovy pill reaches new GLP-1 patients with impressive 3M prescription milestone ADA: Tolerability ‘not to be underappreciated’ in Roche, Zealand’s amylin obesity prospect ADA: Boehringer execs claim survodutide tolerability 'consistent' with class despite phase 3 update ADA: Lilly posts oral semaglutide-topping data as Foundayo speeds toward 2nd potential nod in diabetes This week's episode is sponsored by IQVIA Biotech.  Built for biotech innovators, IQVIA Biotech is a full-service CRO, designed for agility, fast decisions, and the urgency needed for emerging biopharma. With dedicated teams and deep therapeutic expertise, we help move programs forward with focus and confidence. Visit IQVIABiotech.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.