TWiV 1243: Capitalism, COVID, and cancer
TWiV 1243: Capitalism, COVID, and cancer  
Podcast: This Week in Virology
Published On: Sun Aug 10 2025
Description: TWiV discusses the latest worrisome Executive Order on oversight of federal grantmaking, RFK Jr winds down mRNA viral vaccine development, Lenacapavir, a drug for AIDS prevention and treatment, and how respiratory virus infections awaken dormant metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Oversight of Federal grantmaking (Whitehouse.gov) Grantmaking gets a Christofascist (Rasmussen Retorts) HHS winds down mRNA vaccine development (HHS) Lives saved by COVID vaccines (JAMA) Lenacapavir review (Bicochem Pharm) UNAIDS urges Gilead to lower price of lenacapavir (UNAIDS) Gilead and price gouging (Wikipedia) Respiratory virus infections awaken metastatic breast cancer (Nature) Letters read on TWiV 1243 Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Xkcd: Geologic Periods Rich – Old Man's War by John Scalzi Alan – The Broken Earth trilogy by N. K. Jemisin Vincent – Cacio e pepe: Good Food pasta recipe sparks fury in Italy Listener Pick Linda – DNA captured in air could identify life forms Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.