Reversing Parkinson’s in Mice, Protecting Primates from HIV, Top 10 Biotech Clusters, and Sarepta

This episode of GEN‘s Touching Base spotlights the unexpected relationship between breathing low oxygen and restoration of neuron function in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. In addition, a single gene therapy injected at birth now offers lasting protection from HIV in infant rhesus macaques. Rounding out our episode, we discuss key factors shaping this year’s A-List of Top 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters and recap the regulatory conflict surrounding Sarepta Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene therapy, Elevidys®—including the departure of Vinay Prasad, MD, the FDA official behind the agency’s brief get-tough approach.

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:

GLP-1 Drug Semaglutide Linked to Reduced Muscle Strength in Mice
GEN, August 6, 2025

Out of Thin Air: Hypoxia Reverses Parkinson’s Symptoms in Mice
By Fay Lin, PhD GEN, August 6, 2025

Early Gene Therapy Provides Lasting HIV Protection in Newborn Primates
GEN, July 30, 2025

StockWatch: As Prasad Exits FDA, Analysts See Benefit for Sarepta, CGT Stocks
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, August 3, 2025

Sarepta to Resume Shipping DMD Gene Therapy to Ambulant Patients
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, July 28, 2025

Sarepta Under Scrutiny, AstraZeneca’s Big Bet, and AI vs. IDRs
By Alex Philippidis, Uduak Thomas, Fay Lin, PhD, Corinna Singleman, PhD, GEN, July 25, 2025

About Face: Sarepta to Pause Elevidys Shipments Temporarily
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, July 21, 2025

StockWatch: Sarepta Shares Nosedive after LGMD Gene Therapy Patient Dies
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, July 20, 2025

Sarepta Axes 500, 36% of Workforce, in Restructuring after DMD Patient Deaths
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, July 16, 2025

Touching Base Podcast
Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD

Behind the Breakthroughs
Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD