In this episode of “The Top Line,” we explore the next potential wave of mental health therapy: psychedelics. 

Fierce Biotech's Max Bayer sits down with Scott Aaronson, M.D., a seasoned clinician and psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience in the field. They discuss how psychedelics might be used in the treatment of conditions such as depression, substance addiction, PTSD, anorexia, and more. They also examine the obstacles developers face as they advance their studies.  

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
MDMA approval filing nears after drug hits again in phase 3, showing consistent PTSD improvements
Early clinical data on psilocybin in anorexia point Compass to potential new opportunity
Otsuka adopts new Mindset, dropping $59M to buy Canadian psychedelic biotech

In this episode of “The Top Line,” we explore the next potential wave of mental health therapy: psychedelics. 
Fierce Biotech's Max Bayer sits down with Scott Aaronson, M.D., a seasoned clinician and psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience in the field. They discuss how psychedelics might be used in the treatment of conditions such as depression, substance addiction, PTSD, anorexia, and more. They also examine the obstacles developers face as they advance their studies.  
To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/mdma-approval-filing-nears-after-drug-hits-again-phase-3-showing-consistent-ptsd">MDMA approval filing nears after drug hits again in phase 3, showing consistent PTSD improvements</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/early-clinical-data-psilocybin-anorexia-points-compass-potential-new-opportunity">Early clinical data on psilocybin in anorexia point Compass to potential new opportunity</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/otsuka-adopts-new-mindset-dropping-59m-buy-canadian-psychedelic-biotech">Otsuka adopts new Mindset, dropping $59M to buy Canadian psychedelic biotech</a></li>
</ul>

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 look at psychedelics and the next frontier of mental healthcare

As Fierce Pharma Week approaches, the Fierce Pharma Marketing team is taking stock of some of the biggest trends reshaping how drugmakers and healthcare agencies reach audiences.

In this week’s episode of “The Top Line,” Fierce’s Ben Adams and Zoey Becker discuss how pharma marketing is evolving across social media, creative work and agency strategy. They dig into the changing approach to HIV marketing, pharma’s experiments with platforms including Snapchat, and what a collaboration with MrBeast says about the industry’s efforts to reach new audiences.

They also examine how healthcare agencies are putting AI to work, pharma’s return to the winner’s circle at Cannes and why Novo Nordisk built a maze along the River Thames in London this summer. The conversation comes as Fierce Pharma Week approaches Sept. 14-17 in Philadelphia.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
YouTuber MrBeast welcomes Amgen to the channel, kicking off pediatric cancer funding effort
Inside agency view: Real Chemistry’s Frank Mazzola on audience nuance and rewarding creativity
Snapchat creates ad format to support pharma disclosure needs
Novo Nordisk asks public to ‘Meet Me in the Middle’ in new obesity experience installation
Women’s ‘new health ecosystem’ takes shape on Reddit: report 

As Fierce Pharma Week approaches, the Fierce Pharma Marketing team is taking stock of some of the biggest trends reshaping how drugmakers and healthcare agencies reach audiences.
In this week&rsquo;s episode of &ldquo;The Top Line,&rdquo; Fierce&rsquo;s Ben Adams and Zoey Becker discuss how pharma marketing is evolving across social media, creative work and agency strategy. They dig into the changing approach to HIV marketing, pharma&rsquo;s experiments with platforms including Snapchat, and what a collaboration with MrBeast says about the industry&rsquo;s efforts to reach new audiences.
They also examine how healthcare agencies are putting AI to work, pharma&rsquo;s return to the winner&rsquo;s circle at Cannes and why Novo Nordisk built a maze along the River Thames in London this summer. The conversation comes as Fierce Pharma Week approaches Sept. 14-17 in Philadelphia.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/youtuber-mrbeast-welcomes-amgen-channel-research-awareness-video-kicking-pediatric-cancer" data-processed-url="true">YouTuber MrBeast welcomes Amgen to the channel, kicking off pediatric cancer funding effort</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/inside-agency-view-real-chemistrys-frank-mazzola-audience-nuance-and-rewarding-creativity" data-processed-url="true">Inside agency view: Real Chemistry&rsquo;s Frank Mazzola on audience nuance and rewarding creativity</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/snapchat-creates-ad-format-support-pharma-disclosure-needs" data-processed-url="true">Snapchat creates ad format to support pharma disclosure needs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/novo-nordisk-asks-public-meet-me-middle-new-obesity-experience-installation" data-processed-url="true">Novo Nordisk asks public to &lsquo;Meet Me in the Middle&rsquo; in new obesity experience installation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/womens-new-health-ecosystem-takes-shape-reddit-report" data-processed-url="true">Women&rsquo;s &lsquo;new health ecosystem&rsquo; takes shape on Reddit: report</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

MrBeast, Snapchat, AI and more: Pharma marketing’s pulse check

Earnings calls are a chance to catch up with the latest developments across Big Pharma and beyond, and last quarter was no different. From the rollout of AI to the oral GLP-1 battle between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and new leadership at Sarepta and Sanofi, it feels like the opportunities and challenges for biopharma have never been greater.

In this week’s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma Senior Editor Fraiser Kansteiner and Fierce Biotech Senior Editor James Waldron share their takeaways from another whirlwind season of earnings calls. Alongside a Q2 scorecard breakdown, the Fierce editors discuss how several new CEOs are finding their footing, which drugs appear poised to cross the $1 billion sales threshold in 2026 and more.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
Biopharma saw a Q2 sales boom led by Lilly, Sanofi, Regeneron and Astellas 
Sanofi’s new CEO ‘looking deeply’ at late-stage pipeline as clinical clearout continues
Novo CEO has 'no doubt' on eventual share price recovery as Wegovy pill continues to wow
Sarepta’s new CEO Michael Severino faces critical milestones to prove growth

Earnings calls are a chance to catch up with the latest developments across Big Pharma and beyond, and last quarter was no different. From the rollout of AI to the oral GLP-1 battle between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and new leadership at Sarepta and Sanofi, it feels like the opportunities and challenges for biopharma have never been greater.
In this week&rsquo;s episode of "The Top Line," Fierce Pharma Senior Editor Fraiser Kansteiner and Fierce Biotech Senior Editor James Waldron share their takeaways from another whirlwind season of earnings calls. Alongside a Q2 scorecard breakdown, the Fierce editors discuss how several new CEOs are finding their footing, which drugs appear poised to cross the $1 billion sales threshold in 2026 and more.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/biopharma-saw-q2-sales-boom-led-lilly-sanofi-regeneron-and-astellas" data-processed-url="true">Biopharma saw a Q2 sales boom led by Lilly, Sanofi, Regeneron and Astellas</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/sanofis-new-ceo-looking-deeply-late-stage-pipeline-clinical-clearout-continues" data-processed-url="true">Sanofi&rsquo;s new CEO &lsquo;looking deeply&rsquo; at late-stage pipeline as clinical clearout continues</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/novo-ceo-has-no-doubt-eventual-share-price-correction-wegovy-pill-continues-wow" data-processed-url="true">Novo CEO has 'no doubt' on eventual share price recovery as Wegovy pill continues to wow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/sarepta-new-ceo-michael-severino-faces-critical-tests-prove-growth" data-processed-url="true">Sarepta&rsquo;s new CEO Michael Severino faces critical milestones to prove growth</a></li>
</ul>

 What did we learn from Big Pharma’s Q2 results?

Consumerization is changing how patients engage with healthcare, and pharma companies may need to rethink how they approach awareness, diagnosis and commercialization.

In this sponsored episode of The Top Line, host Irena Luo is joined by Rachel Stoll, Managing Partner, Growth & Innovation at Princeton10, and Kevin Nalty, Vice President of Strategy at Princeton10, to discuss how evolving patient behaviors are reshaping the healthcare journey. Together, they explore the impact of GLP-1s, telemedicine, AI, wellness technologies and other low-friction healthcare experiences that are raising expectations for convenience and accessibility.

The conversation examines emerging gaps between health awareness and clinical diagnosis, the role of wellness tools and health data, and why some patients delay or avoid care altogether. The guests also discuss opportunities for pharma brands to rethink disease awareness, improve navigation to diagnosis and treatment, and borrow engagement strategies from successful consumer platforms that encourage long-term behavior change.

Listen to hear practical insights on how brand teams can adapt their commercial strategies, identify hidden friction points and better meet the needs of today's healthcare consumer.

Consumerization is changing how patients engage with healthcare, and pharma companies may need to rethink how they approach awareness, diagnosis and commercialization.
In this sponsored episode of The Top Line, host Irena Luo is joined by Rachel Stoll, Managing Partner, Growth &amp; Innovation at Princeton10, and Kevin Nalty, Vice President of Strategy at Princeton10, to discuss how evolving patient behaviors are reshaping the healthcare journey. Together, they explore the impact of GLP-1s, telemedicine, AI, wellness technologies and other low-friction healthcare experiences that are raising expectations for convenience and accessibility.
The conversation examines emerging gaps between health awareness and clinical diagnosis, the role of wellness tools and health data, and why some patients delay or avoid care altogether. The guests also discuss opportunities for pharma brands to rethink disease awareness, improve navigation to diagnosis and treatment, and borrow engagement strategies from successful consumer platforms that encourage long-term behavior change.
Listen to hear practical insights on how brand teams can adapt their commercial strategies, identify hidden friction points and better meet the needs of today's healthcare consumer.

A look at psychedelics and the next frontier of mental healthcare

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