Making Medicine ft. Daphne Zohar. Biotech Flywheels, Policy Risks, and the Future of Innovation

In this episode of the Making Medicine Podcast, John Stanford sits down with Daphne Zohar, Founder, CEO, and Board Member of Seaport Therapeutics to explore the forces shaping today’s biotech ecosystem. Daphne shares her entrepreneurial path from PureTech to Seaport, offering a rare inside look at building companies, catalyzing innovation, and scaling breakthrough science. The conversation dives into the Massachusetts biotech flywheel, competitiveness with China, U.S. policy risks like the pill penalty and MFN, and how regulatory uncertainty ripples through capital formation and patient impact. Daphne also highlights why she’s bullish heading into 2026 and offers tactical advice for founders gearing up for JPM. What part of Daphne’s perspective resonated most with you?Which policy issue do you believe will most affect biotech innovation in 2025?What should we ask her next time she joins the show?If you're new to the Making Medicine Podcast, we're happy you're here! Follow us for more:https://x.com/MakingMedPodhttps://www.instagram.com/makingmedicinepod/https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/making-medicine-podcast/about/?viewAsMember=trueTimestamps:0:00 Welcome & Introduction1:12 Daphne Zohar’s Path into Biotech3:05 The Seaport Therapeutics Story6:10 Biotech Hangout & CEO Sisterhood8:42 Why Massachusetts Leads in Biotech10:55 The M&A Flywheel & Metsera Deal13:40 China’s Biotech Strategy & U.S. Competitiveness16:20 Pill Penalty, EPIC Act & Drug-Pricing Distortions18:55 MFN Proposals & Impact on Early-Stage Biotechs21:30 FDA Uncertainty: Regulation, Capital & Patients24:00 Positive Signals Heading Into 202626:15 JPM Outlook & Advice for FoundersDISCLAIMER: We’re reporting on the headlines, not making medical recommendations. For personal health questions, always consult a doctor.