In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Deputy Editor Andrea Park and Fierce Biotech Senior Editor Gabrielle Masson discuss how workforce reductions impacted the biopharma industry in the first quarter. 

The pair examine industry trends, company closures, developments in the cell and gene space—and the reductions in force happening at federal health agencies alongside them.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
Biopharmas laid off staffers at least 63 times in Q1: Fierce Biotech analysis
Fierce Biotech Layoff Tracker 2025: Pfizer sells site, cuts staff; Opthea reduces workforce by 65%

 

In this week&rsquo;s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Deputy Editor Andrea Park and Fierce Biotech Senior Editor Gabrielle Masson discuss how workforce reductions impacted the biopharma industry in the first quarter.&nbsp;
The pair examine industry trends, company closures, developments in the cell and gene space&mdash;and the reductions in force happening at federal health agencies alongside them.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/biopharmas-laid-staffers-least-61-times-q1-fierce-biotech-analysis">Biopharmas laid off staffers at least 63 times in Q1: Fierce Biotech analysis</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/fierce-biotech-layoff-tracker-2025">Fierce Biotech Layoff Tracker 2025: Pfizer sells site, cuts staff; Opthea reduces workforce by 65%</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

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.
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Q1 biopharma layoff trends, plus expectations for Q2

What does it really mean to put patients first in today’s life sciences landscape? In this sponsored episode of The Top Line, leaders from RTI Health Solutions explore how patient voices are transforming evidence generation, market access and medical communication. From patient-reported outcomes and advisory boards to inclusive value storytelling and trust-building across diverse communities, the discussion highlights why patient-centric strategies are no longer optional—and how they can influence approval, reimbursement and real-world impact.

What does it really mean to put patients first in today&rsquo;s life sciences landscape? In this sponsored episode of The Top Line, leaders from RTI Health Solutions explore how patient voices are transforming evidence generation, market access and medical communication. From patient-reported outcomes and advisory boards to inclusive value storytelling and trust-building across diverse communities, the discussion highlights why patient-centric strategies are no longer optional&mdash;and how they can influence approval, reimbursement and real-world impact.

RTI Health Solutions leaders explain how patient voices are reshaping evidence generation, access and value communication

Putting patients first: from buzzword to business imperative (Sponsored)

As artificial intelligence continues to dominate conversations across life sciences, many companies are reaching an inflection point between experimentation and real-world impact. In a recent episode of The Top Line, Mark Sullivan, president of regulated industries at Salesforce, said the industry is moving past broad promises toward a clearer divide between organizations that have laid the groundwork for AI and those still struggling to operationalize it. While early pilots have delivered mixed results, Sullivan said the next phase will be defined by how effectively companies use AI to augment their workforce, not replace it. Much like laptops or smartphones, AI proficiency is quickly becoming a baseline expectation for professionals, shaping productivity, decision-making and resilience across drug development, manufacturing and commercialization.

Sullivan emphasized that success with AI agents hinges on trust, governance and high-quality data—particularly in an industry where accuracy and compliance are nonnegotiable. Life sciences organizations are beginning to see value in agents that support patient engagement, clinical trial matching and commercial execution, but only when those agents are grounded in enterprise data and clear guardrails. With as much as 80% of industry data unstructured, he said, the process of deploying agents often exposes deeper data and architecture challenges that must be addressed. Companies that solve for these issues can unlock both efficiency and growth, using AI not just to cut costs, but to strengthen patient relationships and drive innovation. The conversation offers a practical look at how life sciences leaders can move beyond the hype and build an agentic strategy that delivers measurable results—making it a must-listen for anyone navigating AI adoption in a regulated environment.

As artificial intelligence continues to dominate conversations across life sciences, many companies are reaching an inflection point between experimentation and real-world impact. In a recent episode of The Top Line, Mark Sullivan, president of regulated industries at Salesforce, said the industry is moving past broad promises toward a clearer divide between organizations that have laid the groundwork for AI and those still struggling to operationalize it. While early pilots have delivered mixed results, Sullivan said the next phase will be defined by how effectively companies use AI to augment their workforce, not replace it. Much like laptops or smartphones, AI proficiency is quickly becoming a baseline expectation for professionals, shaping productivity, decision-making and resilience across drug development, manufacturing and commercialization.
Sullivan emphasized that success with AI agents hinges on trust, governance and high-quality data&mdash;particularly in an industry where accuracy and compliance are nonnegotiable. Life sciences organizations are beginning to see value in agents that support patient engagement, clinical trial matching and commercial execution, but only when those agents are grounded in enterprise data and clear guardrails. With as much as 80% of industry data unstructured, he said, the process of deploying agents often exposes deeper data and architecture challenges that must be addressed. Companies that solve for these issues can unlock both efficiency and growth, using AI not just to cut costs, but to strengthen patient relationships and drive innovation. The conversation offers a practical look at how life sciences leaders can move beyond the hype and build an agentic strategy that delivers measurable results&mdash;making it a must-listen for anyone navigating AI adoption in a regulated environment.

Salesforce’s Mark Sullivan explains why trust, data discipline and human oversight will determine who wins in an agent-driven future.

Beyond the AI hype: How life sciences can turn agents into a competitive advantage (Sponsored)

China has moved from a fast-following biotech market to a source of globally competitive innovation, according to Josh Smiley, president and chief operating officer of Zai Lab. Speaking on The Top Line podcast, Smiley traces the country’s evolution over the past two decades, pointing to regulatory harmonization, expanded national insurance coverage and deepening R&D capabilities as key drivers. He said the most recent wave of Chinese biotechs is no longer focused solely on domestic opportunities but on first- or best-in-class medicines that can compete worldwide, particularly in oncology and immunology.

Smiley also details how Zai Lab blends China’s patient access and development speed with global clinical and regulatory standards, a model he says has helped accelerate programs such as Zai’s DLL3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate for small cell lung cancer into late-stage trials. As China-sourced deals now account for a growing share of global biotech partnerships, Smiley argues companies that integrate China early — without treating it as a standalone market — will have a strategic edge. The conversation offers a candid look at what’s next for Zai Lab and why China’s expanding role in drug innovation is likely to reshape the global pipeline for years to come.

China has moved from a fast-following biotech market to a source of globally competitive innovation, according to Josh Smiley, president and chief operating officer of Zai Lab. Speaking on The Top Line podcast, Smiley traces the country&rsquo;s evolution over the past two decades, pointing to regulatory harmonization, expanded national insurance coverage and deepening R&amp;D capabilities as key drivers. He said the most recent wave of Chinese biotechs is no longer focused solely on domestic opportunities but on first- or best-in-class medicines that can compete worldwide, particularly in oncology and immunology.
Smiley also details how Zai Lab blends China&rsquo;s patient access and development speed with global clinical and regulatory standards, a model he says has helped accelerate programs such as Zai&rsquo;s DLL3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate for small cell lung cancer into late-stage trials. As China-sourced deals now account for a growing share of global biotech partnerships, Smiley argues companies that integrate China early &mdash; without treating it as a standalone market &mdash; will have a strategic edge. The conversation offers a candid look at what&rsquo;s next for Zai Lab and why China&rsquo;s expanding role in drug innovation is likely to reshape the global pipeline for years to come.

Zai Lab President and COO Josh Smiley explains how speed, scale and global rigor are reshaping drug development

Q1 biopharma layoff trends, plus expectations for Q2

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