Editors’ Choice: Top Stories of 2025

In the final episode of 2025, the GEN team came together to reflect on some of the stories over the last year that they each found impactful. Some of the stories were covered in GEN’s December issue, but our editors took the time to discuss some topics in a bit more depth during the podcast. The discussion began with an update on the progress of AI use in drug discovery. Cell and gene therapy was a big topic with the positive outcome for Baby KJ, while Sarepta dealt with a rollercoaster of a year with their DMD treatment, Elevidys. Research and biotech in Africa are growing and the discussion ranged from challenges to promise in research and development on the continent. This year’s NIH budget cuts and impacted institutions rounded out the conversation.Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Fay Lin, Phd, Kevin Davies, Phd, John Sterling, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news. Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:  GEN Editors Reflect on Six of the Biggest Stories of the YearBy Alex Philippidis, Savannah Wiegel, Fay Lin, PhD, Kevin Davies, PhD, Uduak Thomas, and Julianna LeMieux, PhD, GEN, December 4, 2025StockWatch: Sarepta Says Deaths of Two Elevidys Patients Posted on FDA Database Unrelated to Treatment By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, August 10 StockWatch: As Prasad Exits FDA, Analysts See Benefit for Sarepta, CGT Stocks By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, August 3 FDA Probes Death of Brazilian Boy Linked to Sarepta’s Elevidys GEN Edge, July 27 Second DMD Patient Dies After Treatment with Sarepta Gene Therapy By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, June 15 DMD Patient Dies After Treatment with Sarepta Gene Therapy By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, March 18From The Editor in ChiefJohn Sterling, December Issue of GEN Gene Therapy in AfricaThe State of CRISPR & Genome Editing Summit, June 11, 2025TOP 50 NIH By Alex Philippidis, GEN, December 4, 2025 FDA Cell & Gene Therapy roundtable: Cell and Gene Therapy Leaders Tell FDA: “Believe in American Solutions” By Alex Philippidis, and Kevin Davies, PhD, GEN Edge, June 5, 2025Scientists in NYC Rally to Defend and Stand Up for ScienceBy Corinna Singleman, GEN, March 10, 2025Touching Base Podcast Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD  Behind the Breakthroughs Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.