About this episode
Treating cancer is a massive business. In 2024 alone, cancer treatments generated at least $200 billion in worldwide sales for the pharmaceutical industry, more than the obesity drug rush. But a Bloomberg News analysis showed that fewer than half of treatments reviewed — some of which have painful side effects — have been shown to extend patients’ lives.
On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg senior healthcare reporter Robert Langreth takes host David Gura inside what some doctors call the “cancer-industrial complex” — from the regulatory landscape that ushered in a wave of lucrative new drugs to the damaging financial and health impacts some treatments can have on patients.
Read more:
Cancer Drugs Cost More Than Ever. They Often Don’t Extend Lives.
The Implants Were Supposed to Dissolve. They Didn’t.
Pharma Is Pushing $200,000 Cancer Drugs When Cheaper Doses May Work
Cancer Doctors Are Making a Fortune Off Drug-Trial Participants
One Generic Cancer Drug Costs $35. Or $134. Or $13,000.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Big Take publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Big Take
So Could AI 'Kill Us All'?
Big Take
Trump Needs a Win. Enter His Venezuela Oil Deal
Big Take
Why the Bond Market Has Everyone On Edge
Big Take
Americans Are Spending Billions to Help Their Pets Live Longer
Big Take