Can Botox make Big Pharma attractive?

What qualifies as a “cabal”? And will the CRISPR patent fight outlive us all?

We discuss all that and more on the latest episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. First, we pick apart the proposed merger of AbbVie and Allergan, a pharmaceutical marriage of convenience with vast implications for the drug business. Second, STAT’s Sharon Begley joins us to discuss her story on how scientific dogma thwarted new ideas in Alzheimer’s disease research. Then we dig into a curious bit of biotech marketing that left some key facts unstated. Finally, we embark on a lightning round, featuring CRISPR patents, Democratic candidates, and a pugilistic federal agency.

You can listen to the episode here. To listen to future episodes, be sure to sign up on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.