Are psychedelics poised to transform mental health treatment? Connor Williams joins Stephanie Sirota for a deep dive into psilocybin, the science behind its effects on the brain, and its potential in treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and other serious conditions. As clinical trials advance and FDA pathways take shape, psychedelics have moved from counterculture to clinic, raising critical questions for patients, clinicians, and investors alike.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer & Director: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin

Production support: Annabelle Chan

Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Sirota

Research Consultant: Connor Williams

Theme music: Yehezkel Raz

Additional music: APM Music

Featuring: Senior Research Analyst, Connor Williams, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments

Stay tuned for part 2 of Stephanie's discussion on Psychedelics with Dr. Steve Levine, Chief Patient Officer at Compass Pathways.

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Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.

To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction

1:12 - Explaining Psilocybin

4:21 – Recreational Use to Medical Use

6:03 - Compass Pathways’ Story

11:18 - Getting Psychedelics to Patients

16:04 - Myth or Fact: Psilocybin

21:15 - What’s next for Psilocybin?

20:02 - Outro

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Senior Research Analyst, Connor Williams, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

For decades, some cancers were a near-certain death sentence. Now, a new generation of cancer drugs—many coming from biotech, not big pharma—is changing that. RTW’s Chris Liu discusses ASCO 2026, and breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and other hard-to-treat tumors. What's driving the progress, why is it happening now, and what does it mean for the future of cancer care?

PODCAST TEAM

Producer & Director: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin

Production Support: Annabelle Chan

Production Assistant: Nicole M. Rosales

Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie A. Sirota

Research Consultant: Chris Liu

Research Consultant: Julia Harper

Research Consultant: Lauren Lee

Theme Music: Yehezkel Raz

Additional Music: APM Music

Featuring by Chris Liu, Senior Research Analyst, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner, and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments.

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Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.

To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction

1:04 – The Evolution of Cancer Treatments

3:19 - Unmet Needs in Oncology

10:03 - Treating Pancreatic Cancer

14:20 - The Importance of ASCO

16:48 - The Rise of Chinese Biotech

21:54 - Trends in Oncology

23:42 - Outro

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Chris Liu, Senior Research Analyst, and moderated by Partner, and Chief Business Officer Stephanie Sirota, at RTW Investments. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Menopause, perimenopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are reshaping the conversation around women’s health and longevity. OB/GYN Dr. Stephanie Lam explains the science, symptoms, and why women’s healthcare may represent a major investing whitespace.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer & Director: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin

Production support: Annabelle Chan

Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Sirota

Theme music: Yehezkel Raz

Additional music: APM Music

Featuring: Dr. Stephanie Lam, OB/GYN, Carnegie Women’s Health, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner, Chief Business Officer, RTW Investments, LP.

FOLLOW US

Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.

To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction

00:55 - Dr. Lam’s Path to OB/GYN

2:01 - Defining Menopause and Perimenopause

5:05 - The Health Impact of HRT

8:08 - A Holistic View of Women’s Health

10:35 - GLPs and Women’s Healthcare

14:25 - Investment Whitespaces in Women’s Health

19:03 - Outro

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Dr. Stephanie Lam, OB/GYN at Carnegie Women’s Health in New York, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner, Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, LP. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

What if you could fix disease by rewriting DNA? From CRISPR to next-gen gene editing, Stephanie Sirota and Beam Therapeutics CEO John Evans break down base editing, prime editing, and the path to one-time cures.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer & Director: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Production Coordinator: Ying Yu Lin

Production support: Annabelle Chan

Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Sirota

Research Consultant: Piratip Pratumsuwan

Theme music by: Yehezkel Raz

Additional music: APM Music

Featuring: John Evans, CEO and Board Member of Beam Therapeutics, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments.

FOLLOW US

Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.

To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction

1:15 – Gene Editing, Gene Therapy, Base and Prime Editing

4:18 – Challenges in Gene Editing

6:09 – In Vivo and Ex Vivo

9:33 – What is A1AT Deficiency?

13:44 – Safety in Gene Editing

15:52 – AI and Beam Therapeutics

21:25 – John Evans’ Journey into Biotech

23:06 – Outro

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by John Evans, CEO and Board Member of Beam Therapeutics, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Rod Wong joins Stephanie Sirota to trace biotech's evolution. What forces built today’s innovation landscape, and what might the next decade reveal?

PODCAST TEAM

Producer & Director: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Production Coordinator: YingYu Lin

Production Support: Annabelle Chan

Theme music: Ganymede by Yehezkel Raz

Additional music: APM Music

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

FOLLOW US

Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.

To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.

Learn more about 'Innovation is the Best Medicine' here.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction

1:22 – Gene therapy and biotech

4:51 – Rod Wong’s journey into biotech

9:55 – Rod Wong: Investor or Business Builder?

12:43 – Growing trends in biotechnology

15:36 – Generating Alpha in Biotech

21:54 – Looking forward for RTW

23:51 - Outro

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Rod Wong, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at RTW Investments, and moderated by Stephanie A. Sirota, Partner, Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

When an FDA panel held her company’s future in the balance, UroGen Pharma CEO Liz Barrett refused to fold, even with the odds stacked, a plunging stock, and one vote deciding it all.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer and Director: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Production Coordinator: YingYu Lin

Production Support: Annabelle Chan

Story Consultants: Partner & Research Analyst Tony Nguyen, and Chief Corporate Finance Officer, Chris Seiter.

Featuring: Liz Barrett, President & CEO of UroGen Pharma, moderated by Stephanie A. Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, LP.

FOLLOW US

Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.

To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction

00:54 – Liz Barrett’s pharma journey

03:26 - UroGen: the product and the pipeline

08:31 - The FDA vote on UroGen

15:07 - UroGen and RTW’s relationship

18:42 - Liz Barrett’s leadership style

22:40 - Outro

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Liz Barrett, President & CEO of UroGen Pharma, and moderated by Stephanie A. Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, LP. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

From a Thanksgiving night emergency to one of the fastest gene therapies ever deployed, this is the story of a family’s relentless pursuit to help their daughter, and how RTW Foundation made it possible.

This episode was recorded on June 11, 2025, and the clinical trial details discussed may have changed; please see ellysteam.org for the most current information on Elly’s case.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer & Director: Devon Leaver

Production Coordinator: YingYu Lin

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Research Consultants: Joe Katakowski, PhD, and Nicole Litt

Story Consultant: Samantha Darris

Theme music: Ganymede by Yehezkel Raz

Additional music: APM Music

Featuring: Michelle Krueger, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal Transaction Advisory Group, and the co-founder of Elly’s Team, moderated by Stephanie A. Sirota, Partner, Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, LP.

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Now you can follow along in the format you prefer. Watch the video feed of this podcast on YouTube or read the transcript at rtwfunds.com/podcasts.

To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction

01:16 – Elly’s Diagnosis

04:37 - Finding a treatment with RTW Foundation

09:42 - Elly’s journey: from research to treatment

14:50 - Becoming the first child to receive an IRF2BPL gene replacement therapy

17:17 - Expanding the clinical trial for NEDAMSS

19:12 - How to improve drug research and development

21:18 - Outro and disclaimer

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Michelle Krueger, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal Transaction Advisory Group, and the co-founder of Elly’s Team, and moderated by Stephanie A. Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, LP. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Lack of sleep can be deadly and costly. Matthew Walker, author of NYT bestseller Why We Sleep and Stephanie Sirota explore the science of sleep, how not sleeping can hurt our health and economy, and the global sleep epidemic.

PODCAST TEAM

Producer: Devon Leaver

Editor: Dominique Guerra

Featuring: Dr. Matthew Walker PhD, Author of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments.

FOLLOW US

Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights.

To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction

00:46 - Matthew Walker’s journey into sleep science

03:01 - Understanding the different types of sleep

06:06 - How to deal with jet lag

08:22 - The effect of sleep on young adults

11:02 - The impact of sleep on productivity

14:13 - Analyzing the dream state

17:34 - Sleeping, dreaming, and the relationship with mental health

19:59 - The future of sleep studies

21:34 - Sleep as the foundation of health

23:58 - Outro and disclaimer

DISCLAIMER

This interview was given by Dr. Matthew Walker, Author of Why We Sleep, and moderated by Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments. Statements reflect RTW's views and opinions as of the date hereof and not as of any future date. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or results. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.