Topic: Genentech

Reports of severe neuropsychiatric events in children taking Tamiflu, including hallucinations of "the devil," have resurfaced. A potential link is suggested between these reactions and the prior administration of the nasal spray flu vaccine.

A discussion on the "death spiral" of Obamacare leads to a proposal for universal Medicare to combat pharmaceutical price gouging. Examples of high costs include a $65,000-a-year MS drug from Genentech and a $14,000-a-year cholesterol medication.

Adam Curry describes hosting an annual charity benefit for a research foundation that sends plastic surgeons to treat burn victims and children with cleft palates in developing countries. The event is attended by high-level medical venture capitalists and investors from firms like Kleiner Perkins. The discussion highlights the immense wealth within the medical finance community compared to traditional tech sectors.

The hosts engage in a heated debate regarding the history and treatment of HIV/AIDS. One host argues that the virus itself may not be the primary cause of death, but rather the lifestyle factors and the toxicity of the drugs administered. The other host defends the medical consensus, noting that AIDS was well-documented by the early 1980s. They also touch on similar skepticism regarding cancer treatments and government health screenings.

A study published in The Lancet suggests that statins should be prescribed to healthy individuals to prevent heart attacks, a move seen as a way to boost sales for drugs like Lipitor. Similarly, the FDA is funding trials for Alzheimer's drugs in people who are "genetically guaranteed" to develop the disease but show no symptoms. These trends point toward a pharmaceutical model of treating the non-sick based on genetic markers.

The pharmaceutical industry faces a "patent cliff" in 2011, with major drugs like Lipitor losing exclusivity, representing $50 billion in annual sales. The hosts suggest the industry is pivoting toward vaccines, which have less liability and higher profit margins. They also note recent multi-billion dollar acquisitions of biotech firms like Genentech and Genzyme as part of this market shift.

A federal antitrust probe is targeting major tech companies including Google, Yahoo, Apple, and Genentech over alleged secret agreements not to poach each other's employees. The hosts discuss how the Obama administration is using these investigations to crack down on collusive corporate behavior and generate fine revenue.