In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Biotech’s Gabrielle Masson and Darren Incorvaia sit down to discuss a recent special report from Fierce Biotech, ranking the top 10 R&D budgets from 2024. 

Did Merck hold on to its 2023 crown? And did any new faces crack this year’s list? Listen to find out!

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
The top 10 pharma R&D budgets for 2024 

This week's episode is brought to you by Cencora.

In this week&rsquo;s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Biotech&rsquo;s Gabrielle Masson and Darren Incorvaia sit down to discuss a recent special report from Fierce Biotech, ranking the top 10 R&amp;D budgets from 2024.&nbsp;
Did Merck hold on to its 2023 crown? And did any new faces crack this year&rsquo;s list? Listen to find out!
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-reports/top-10-pharma-rd-budgets-2024">The top 10 pharma R&amp;D budgets for 2024&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
This week's episode is <a href="https://www.cencora.com/initiatives/pharma/supporting-biopharma-breakthroughs?utm_source=FiercePharma&amp;utm_medium=audio&amp;utm_campaign=gps_100_awareness&amp;utm_content=breakthrough-emerging">brought to you by Cencora</a>.

Biopharma and medtech explained. Every week, journalists from Fierce Biotech, Fierce Medtech, and Fierce Pharma recount the latest industry trends and why they matter. We'll analyze the week's biggest business news, from mergers and marketing to drug R&D and device development. Available every Friday morning. 

Biopharma and medtech explained. Every week, journalists from Fierce Biotech, Fierce Medtech, and Fierce Pharma recount the latest industry trends and why they matter. We'll analyze the week's biggest business news, from mergers and marketing to drug R&amp;D and device development. Available every Friday morning.&nbsp;

The Top Line

Biopharma and medtech explained. Every week, journalists from Fierce Biotech, Fierce Medtech and Fierce Pharma recount the latest industry trends and why they matter. We’ll analyze the week’s biggest business news—from mergers and marketing to drug R&D and device development. Available every Friday morning.

 

Biopharma and medtech explained. Every week, journalists from Fierce Biotech, Fierce Medtech and Fierce Pharma recount the latest industry trends and why they matter. We&rsquo;ll analyze the week&rsquo;s biggest business news&mdash;from mergers and marketing to drug R&amp;D and device development. Available every Friday morning.
&nbsp;

A closer look at pharma's top R&D budgets 

Revolution Medicines recently made history with the approval of its RAS inhibitor Rasonque for advanced pancreatic cancer. But behind RevMed is an entire field of biotechs working to broaden the reach of RAS-targeting drugs.

In this week’s episode of “The Top Line,” Fierce Biotech’s Darren Incorvaia sits down with Verastem Oncology CEO Dan Paterson and Chief Scientific Officer Jonathan Pachter, Ph.D., to discuss the significance of Revolution Medicines’ recent pancreatic cancer approval, Verastem’s work in the RAS-targeting space and how the company is trying to improve on existing approaches.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 


FDA greenlights Revolution Medicines' pancreatic cancer gamechanger 


As RevMed preps for ‘historic’ pancreatic cancer launch, questions linger on the ground 


ASCO: Revolution Medicines confident in RAS leadership as rivals square up 


AACR: Revolution sees pancreatic cancer win as 'tip of the iceberg' as RAS wave rises 


Fierce 50 of 2026: Breakthrough honoree Verastem Oncology


Fierce 50 of 2026: Breakthrough honoree Revolution Medicines 

Revolution Medicines recently made history with the approval of its RAS inhibitor Rasonque for advanced pancreatic cancer. But behind RevMed is an entire field of biotechs working to broaden the reach of RAS-targeting drugs.
In this week&rsquo;s episode of &ldquo;The Top Line,&rdquo; Fierce Biotech&rsquo;s Darren Incorvaia sits down with Verastem Oncology CEO Dan Paterson and Chief Scientific Officer Jonathan Pachter, Ph.D., to discuss the significance of Revolution Medicines&rsquo; recent pancreatic cancer approval, Verastem&rsquo;s work in the RAS-targeting space and how the company is trying to improve on existing approaches.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/fda-greenlights-revolution-medicines-pancreatic-cancer-gamechanger">FDA greenlights Revolution Medicines' pancreatic cancer gamechanger</a>&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/revmed-preps-historic-pancreatic-cancer-launch-questions-linger-ground">As RevMed preps for &lsquo;historic&rsquo; pancreatic cancer launch, questions linger on the ground</a>&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/asco-revolution-medicines-confident-ras-leadership-rivals-square">ASCO: Revolution Medicines confident in RAS leadership as rivals square up</a>&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/aacr-revolution-rolls-pancreatic-cancer-ras-wave-rises">AACR: Revolution sees pancreatic cancer win as 'tip of the iceberg' as RAS wave rises</a>&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/fierce-50/verastem-oncology">Fierce 50 of 2026: Breakthrough honoree Verastem Oncology</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/fierce-50/revolution-medicines">Fierce 50 of 2026: Breakthrough honoree Revolution Medicines</a>&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>

The future of RAS inhibitors

The 2026 Fierce 50 includes people and organizations working on very different problems across biopharma and healthcare, from designing new proteins and developing cancer medicines to protecting vaccine science, improving health literacy and expanding representation in medicine.

In this episode of “The Top Line,” Fierce Editor-in-Chief Ayla Ellison looks at the stories behind several of this year’s honorees, including Revolution Medicines’ work targeting RAS, the protein-design research of David Baker, Ph.D., and Michael Osterholm, Ph.D.’s, decision to put plans to step back from public health on hold. The episode also explores the work of Lisa Fitzpatrick, M.D., Hip Hop Public Health, Eric Topol, M.D., and Mary Owen, M.D., and the problems they have chosen to keep working on.

The <a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/collection/fierce-50-2026">2026 Fierce 50</a> includes people and organizations working on very different problems across biopharma and healthcare, from designing new proteins and developing cancer medicines to protecting vaccine science, improving health literacy and expanding representation in medicine.
In this episode of &ldquo;The Top Line,&rdquo; Fierce Editor-in-Chief Ayla Ellison looks at the stories behind several of this year&rsquo;s honorees, including Revolution Medicines&rsquo; work targeting RAS, the protein-design research of David Baker, Ph.D., and Michael Osterholm, Ph.D.&rsquo;s, decision to put plans to step back from public health on hold. The episode also explores the work of Lisa Fitzpatrick, M.D., Hip Hop Public Health, Eric Topol, M.D., and Mary Owen, M.D., and the problems they have chosen to keep working on.

The people who stayed with the problem

The promise of precision medicine depends on more than scientific innovation. It also depends on whether eligible patients can be identified, tested and connected to the most appropriate treatment. In this episode of The Top Line, host Kelly Hogan is joined by Susanne Munksted, chief growth officer at Diaceutics, and Jordan Clark, chief customer officer, to discuss why many diagnostic-driven therapies still fail to reach their full potential.

Drawing on findings from Diaceutics' practice gap studies, the conversation explores where patients are being lost across the diagnostic pathway and why improvements in testing have not always translated into better treatment decisions. The guests discuss increasing healthcare complexity, expanding biomarker requirements and the challenges clinicians face when making treatment decisions under time pressure.

The promise of precision medicine depends on more than scientific innovation. It also depends on whether eligible patients can be identified, tested and connected to the most appropriate treatment. In this episode of The Top Line, host Kelly Hogan is joined by Susanne Munksted, chief growth officer at Diaceutics, and Jordan Clark, chief customer officer, to discuss why many diagnostic-driven therapies still fail to reach their full potential.
Drawing on findings from Diaceutics' practice gap studies, the conversation explores where patients are being lost across the diagnostic pathway and why improvements in testing have not always translated into better treatment decisions. The guests discuss increasing healthcare complexity, expanding biomarker requirements and the challenges clinicians face when making treatment decisions under time pressure.

A closer look at pharma's top R&D budgets

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