Curie: Healthcare in Focus

Curie: Healthcare in Focus

by Curie

Medicine News Commentary

Season 1

27,000 Lives: What the Drop in Overdose Deaths Really Means

In 2024, over twenty-seven thousand fewer Americans died of a drug overdose—a reversal so steep it stunned even veteran public health researchers. This episode unpacks the factors behind the historic decline: from naloxone’s expanded access to the work of drug-testing labs like UNC’s Opioid Data Lab. We also hear from voices on the front lines, including NPR’s Brian Mann and UNC’s Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, who remind us that while the tide may be turning, the work is far from over. Visit curie.md for more curated podcasts, medical news, and games built for healthcare professionals.

The GLP-1 Fallout: What the FDA Ban Means for Obesity Treatment

GLP-1s like Ozempic and Zepbound transformed obesity and diabetes treatment. But when shortages hit, compounding pharmacies and telehealth startups filled the gap with off-brand versions—cheap, accessible, and often unregulated. Now, that workaround is over. In this episode, we examine the FDA’s sweeping May 2025 ban on compounded GLP-1 drugs. What triggered it? What are the safety risks? And why is the industry suddenly pivoting to an older, less effective drug: liraglutide? With interviews, data, and regulatory context, we break down: Why Olympia Pharmaceuticals stopped producing semaglutide Why liraglutide is gaining traction despite its limitations What the FDA has reported about dosing errors, hospitalizations, and even deaths How insurance gaps and policy shifts continue to limit access What healthcare professionals should consider when restarting patients or navigating new formularies This isn’t just a regulatory update—it’s a turning point in the story of obesity treatment in America.

AI and the Human Side of Diagnosis: A Conversation with Dr. Andrew Wilner

Artificial intelligence is transforming how we detect disease—but what does that mean for the clinician-patient relationship? In this conversation, Dr. Andrew Wilner and Andrew Yukawa explore how diagnostic AI is reshaping everything from radiology to primary care. Together, they unpack the promise, the pitfalls, and the deeply human elements that machines still can’t replicate. From clinical judgment to patient trust, we ask: Where does AI stop, and where must the physician begin?

A New Chapter in Rare Disease: Inside the First Custom CRISPR Treatment

In 2025, a six-month-old with a fatal genetic disorder became the first person to receive a CRISPR-based therapy tailored to their unique mutation. In this episode of Curie, host Mike unpacks how a team of researchers and clinicians raced against time to design, test, and deliver a one-time treatment that rewrote the rules of genomic medicine. From the science of base editing to the ethical and logistical hurdles, this is the story of what it took to make personalized gene therapy a reality—and what it means for the future of rare disease care.

Sticker Shock: Can Trump’s Drug Pricing Order Actually Work?

A sweeping new executive order from Donald Trump promises to slash prescription drug prices by up to 80%. But behind the bold rhetoric lies a tangle of legal uncertainty, international trade implications, and real clinical consequences. In this episode of Curie, host Mike breaks down what’s actually in the order, why the pharmaceutical industry is pushing back, and what it all means for healthcare professionals. Will your patients benefit—or will this gamble on affordability come at the cost of access?

The Vanishing Ob/Gyn: Why a Critical Specialty Is Facing an Exodus

Ob/Gyns are walking away—and it's not just burnout. In this episode of Curie, we investigate the legal, financial, and political forces driving the crisis in women’s health. What happens when an entire specialty starts to disappear?

The TikTok Diagnosis

From ADHD to borderline personality disorder, mental health content is exploding on TikTok—and teens are listening. But is this wave of awareness helping patients, or muddying the waters for clinicians? In this episode of Curie, we explore how social media is changing the way symptoms are understood, identities are formed, and diagnoses are pursued. Featuring insights from clinicians and research on the rising intersection between mental health and the algorithm.

AACR 2025 Recap: Immunotherapy Shifts, ctDNA Surveillance, and Breakthroughs in HER2 and AML

In this post-conference episode, Mike breaks down five major stories from AACR 2025: KEYNOTE-689 trial changes the standard of care in head and neck cancer Zongertinib delivers HER2-targeted efficacy with fewer side effects in lung cancer CAR NK cells show durable remission in AML ctDNA testing in CRC detects recurrence 6+ months before imaging Werner helicase inhibitor shows first-in-class potential in MSI tumors Listen in for a concise roundup of the data and why it matters.

The Freelance Doctor - An Interview with Dr. Andrew Wilner

Once considered a short-term fix or semi-retirement gig, locum tenens has become a deliberate career choice for tens of thousands of physicians across the U.S. We discuss: What people still misunderstand about locum tenens How variety and exposure shape clinical growth Why more doctors are walking away from traditional career tracks The traits that make someone a great fit for locums—and the traits that don’t Whether we’re entering a new chapter in what it means to have a “successful” medical career Whether you’re considering locum work yourself, or just curious about where physician careers are headed, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Tracking Autism: Science, Ethics, and the Registry Debate

A plan to link together massive datasets about autistic Americans has triggered fierce debate. Critics fear it’s a surveillance effort in disguise. Federal agencies say it’s about research. And the autistic community? They're raising serious concerns about privacy, ethics, and unintended consequences. In today’s episode of Curie, Mike unpacks what’s happening inside the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., what’s true, what’s not, and what it could mean for the future of neurodivergent Americans. Love what you hear? Download the Curie app for personalized, in-depth healthcare podcasts curated just for you.

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