Rob Winder
@robwinder.bsky.social
Life science and healthcare business communicator
Early talent recruitment coordinator for strategic communications at FTI Consulting in London.
The views expressed are my own, and should not be considered to be the views of my employer.
Early talent recruitment coordinator for strategic communications at FTI Consulting in London.
The views expressed are my own, and should not be considered to be the views of my employer.
This commentary by @natashaloder.bsky.social on the media coverage of the BMJ article on weight gain after patients stop using GLP-1s is a must read for those who communicate scientific information.
The moral panic about GLP-1 rebound
Scientists and journalists are piling on the misery about the weight regain after medication
open.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:09 PM
This commentary by @natashaloder.bsky.social on the media coverage of the BMJ article on weight gain after patients stop using GLP-1s is a must read for those who communicate scientific information.
I think the sports bit stays with Warners as a new company. I'm sure they'll find a way of charging even more for DiscoveryPlus
December 5, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I think the sports bit stays with Warners as a new company. I'm sure they'll find a way of charging even more for DiscoveryPlus
It was an easy choice to make.
"No Pasarán"
"No Pasarán"
Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...
Thank God for Bluesky
Yes, it's eager. Yes, it's censorious. But it has the very considerable advantage of not being fascist.
iandunt.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
It was an easy choice to make.
"No Pasarán"
"No Pasarán"
A fantastic initiative.
AMRC members 📢 Submit your examples of joint working for The Aisling Burnand Award 2025!
We're looking for examples of our charities working together to share, apply and strengthen best practice in research.
Find out more and submit your entry ⬇️
bit.ly/3JlugoT
We're looking for examples of our charities working together to share, apply and strengthen best practice in research.
Find out more and submit your entry ⬇️
bit.ly/3JlugoT
November 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
A fantastic initiative.
During the last election, I think the industry spent so much time distracted by the IRA and its potential impact on drug pricing that it missed the threats to the FDA and to scientific research and the potential imposition of tarrifs.
September 15, 2025 at 11:55 AM
During the last election, I think the industry spent so much time distracted by the IRA and its potential impact on drug pricing that it missed the threats to the FDA and to scientific research and the potential imposition of tarrifs.
This is not good for the sector or for the health of patients.
While the issue in the UK is, yet another, government that really does not understand the connection between investment and uptake of medicines, I feel the issue in the US may be self-inflicted.
While the issue in the UK is, yet another, government that really does not understand the connection between investment and uptake of medicines, I feel the issue in the US may be self-inflicted.
September 15, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This is not good for the sector or for the health of patients.
While the issue in the UK is, yet another, government that really does not understand the connection between investment and uptake of medicines, I feel the issue in the US may be self-inflicted.
While the issue in the UK is, yet another, government that really does not understand the connection between investment and uptake of medicines, I feel the issue in the US may be self-inflicted.
Over the last week there has been a lot written about the challenges faced by the life sciences sector in the UK. It appears there is a wider malaise as the @bostonglobe.com reports there are challenges in Boston too.
In ‘biotech winter,’ Boston startups, jobs, and science are being swept away - The Boston Globe
Local companies have shut down or scaled back in the industry’s decline, threatening scientific progress on cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other diseases.
www.bostonglobe.com
September 15, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Over the last week there has been a lot written about the challenges faced by the life sciences sector in the UK. It appears there is a wider malaise as the @bostonglobe.com reports there are challenges in Boston too.
This is not good at all.
If the UK government really wants to support the life sciences it needs to encourage investment here, not discourage it.
There have been at least seven government strategies for life sciences this century, it is time a government actually put one into action.
If the UK government really wants to support the life sciences it needs to encourage investment here, not discourage it.
There have been at least seven government strategies for life sciences this century, it is time a government actually put one into action.
Merck scraps £1bn London drug research centre in blow to UK growth on.ft.com/3I1IBWR
Merck scraps £1bn London drug research centre in blow to UK growth
US company says Britain ‘is not internationally competitive’ as it lays off 125 staff
on.ft.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
This is not good at all.
If the UK government really wants to support the life sciences it needs to encourage investment here, not discourage it.
There have been at least seven government strategies for life sciences this century, it is time a government actually put one into action.
If the UK government really wants to support the life sciences it needs to encourage investment here, not discourage it.
There have been at least seven government strategies for life sciences this century, it is time a government actually put one into action.
Biology is not easy, by @hannahkuchler.bsky.social and @melissahei.bsky.social
Why is AI struggling to discover new drugs?
A generation of start-ups have failed to live up to the hype. Executives are now betting that more powerful tools will crack the complexities of human biology
www.ft.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Biology is not easy, by @hannahkuchler.bsky.social and @melissahei.bsky.social
And none of those in between are duds.
August 18, 2025 at 10:34 AM
And none of those in between are duds.
This is not a "UK problem". The global biopharma industry has been built on M&A.
If a company can be acquired for £46bn, as was the case with Shire, then any company can.
What is important is that investors in companies being acquired make a sufficient return to want to invest in biotech again.
If a company can be acquired for £46bn, as was the case with Shire, then any company can.
What is important is that investors in companies being acquired make a sufficient return to want to invest in biotech again.
July 22, 2025 at 12:35 PM
This is not a "UK problem". The global biopharma industry has been built on M&A.
If a company can be acquired for £46bn, as was the case with Shire, then any company can.
What is important is that investors in companies being acquired make a sufficient return to want to invest in biotech again.
If a company can be acquired for £46bn, as was the case with Shire, then any company can.
What is important is that investors in companies being acquired make a sufficient return to want to invest in biotech again.
However, one area that I think will be impossible is to "build bigger, better British biotechs and keep them here, rather than them being sold to multinationals".
July 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
However, one area that I think will be impossible is to "build bigger, better British biotechs and keep them here, rather than them being sold to multinationals".
Kate Bingham's thoughts on the UK government's life sciences strategy are worth reading.
The uptake of innovative products is essential if the Office for Life Sciences really wants to be successful in surpassing its goals.
The uptake of innovative products is essential if the Office for Life Sciences really wants to be successful in surpassing its goals.
The UK needs to pick up the pace on life sciences
Focusing relentlessly on low drug costs is the wrong approach
www.ft.com
July 22, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Kate Bingham's thoughts on the UK government's life sciences strategy are worth reading.
The uptake of innovative products is essential if the Office for Life Sciences really wants to be successful in surpassing its goals.
The uptake of innovative products is essential if the Office for Life Sciences really wants to be successful in surpassing its goals.
Congratulations to Steve Bates on his appointment as executive chair at the Office for Life Sciences.
New Executive Chair to strengthen government’s plan to unleash life sciences for a healthier, wealthier Britain
Steve Bates OBE appointed to help champion research and innovation and the use of technology to transform health and grow the UK economy.
www.gov.uk
July 22, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Congratulations to Steve Bates on his appointment as executive chair at the Office for Life Sciences.
Make that 40. First max score on Pointed.
July 18, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Make that 40. First max score on Pointed.
It's always nice to see good news when you wake up. Congrats to the #moversandshakers team.
A debate is only the first step, genuine action needs to be taken to help people get access to neurologists to enable early diagnosis.
A debate is only the first step, genuine action needs to be taken to help people get access to neurologists to enable early diagnosis.
open.substack.com/pub/rorycell... We did it! The #moversandshakers Parky petition hit the 100,000 target which triggers a parliamentary debate. But we’re not finished - the struggle continues!
We* did it! Parky Petition hits 100K
*That includes you if you signed or helped out..
open.substack.com
July 17, 2025 at 7:05 AM
It's always nice to see good news when you wake up. Congrats to the #moversandshakers team.
A debate is only the first step, genuine action needs to be taken to help people get access to neurologists to enable early diagnosis.
A debate is only the first step, genuine action needs to be taken to help people get access to neurologists to enable early diagnosis.
I'm not surprised that the trade associations are not particularly positive in their responses to this report.
There have been several similar ones since the turn of the century and successive govenments have always promised a lot and delivered only a fraction.
I hope it is different this time.
There have been several similar ones since the turn of the century and successive govenments have always promised a lot and delivered only a fraction.
I hope it is different this time.
July 16, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I'm not surprised that the trade associations are not particularly positive in their responses to this report.
There have been several similar ones since the turn of the century and successive govenments have always promised a lot and delivered only a fraction.
I hope it is different this time.
There have been several similar ones since the turn of the century and successive govenments have always promised a lot and delivered only a fraction.
I hope it is different this time.
The overarching ambition of the Life Sciences Sector Plan is admirable.
However, I feel it is lacking detail.
Additionally, there is a need to couple developing an innovative industry with the uptake of innovative products in the NHS. That appears to be missing.
However, I feel it is lacking detail.
Additionally, there is a need to couple developing an innovative industry with the uptake of innovative products in the NHS. That appears to be missing.
Life Sciences Sector Plan
The Life Sciences Sector Plan sets out a vision and an action plan to drive growth, innovation, and better health outcomes.
www.gov.uk
July 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
The overarching ambition of the Life Sciences Sector Plan is admirable.
However, I feel it is lacking detail.
Additionally, there is a need to couple developing an innovative industry with the uptake of innovative products in the NHS. That appears to be missing.
However, I feel it is lacking detail.
Additionally, there is a need to couple developing an innovative industry with the uptake of innovative products in the NHS. That appears to be missing.
On the AI theme, @parmy.bsky.social's "Supremacy"
July 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
On the AI theme, @parmy.bsky.social's "Supremacy"
I would agree on the prose. However, I think the recent iterations of some of the GPT systems have significantly improved prose compared with the output a few months ago, which will make recruitment for roles that require writing more difficult.
July 1, 2025 at 9:43 AM
I would agree on the prose. However, I think the recent iterations of some of the GPT systems have significantly improved prose compared with the output a few months ago, which will make recruitment for roles that require writing more difficult.
How do you separate the genuine writers from the AI-generated submissions? We found that significant numbers of our applicants last year used AI to generate work and in some cases CVs, and when candidates got to an assessment centre the quality of writing was much lower than seen in recent years
June 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
How do you separate the genuine writers from the AI-generated submissions? We found that significant numbers of our applicants last year used AI to generate work and in some cases CVs, and when candidates got to an assessment centre the quality of writing was much lower than seen in recent years
Need to be careful when comparing prices from one country to another. Industry talks about list prices (what they'd like to be paid) vs negotiated prices. I recall the US list price of some of the HCV drugs was 3x the negotiated price in EU, which in turn was higher than average price paid in US.
May 12, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Need to be careful when comparing prices from one country to another. Industry talks about list prices (what they'd like to be paid) vs negotiated prices. I recall the US list price of some of the HCV drugs was 3x the negotiated price in EU, which in turn was higher than average price paid in US.
This was my favourite science road graffiti. From the 2020 Il Lombardia.
April 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
This was my favourite science road graffiti. From the 2020 Il Lombardia.
That is a sweet version of what maybe my favourite song of theirs.
April 9, 2025 at 9:29 AM
That is a sweet version of what maybe my favourite song of theirs.
Hitting the nail on the head...
open.substack.com/pub/rorycell... Purging a leading Parkinson’s researcher, spreading vaccine scares - how Trump and RFK have demolished the US reputation as the global health superpower in just a few weeks
Trump and Kennedy - bad for our health
Rory’s Always On Newsletter is a reader-supported publication.
open.substack.com
April 9, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Hitting the nail on the head...