Episode #1: Amylin Pharmaceuticals
Show notes
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(00:00:00) - Introduction
(00:04:40) - $50 of Dried Lizard Venom
(00:29:17) - Fax of Death
(00:43:04) - Sleeping Beauty Awakens
(00:52:07) - Carl Icahn Sends a Letter
(01:09:19) - Endgame
(01:13:40) - Postmortem & Playbook
CREDITS
Co-hosted by Alex Kesin and Matthew Pech
Written, edited, and produced by Alex Kesin
Music: “Food” by nerowski
* Special thanks to the team at NFX for the use of their recording studio.
SOURCES
Last updated: January 2026
I. PRIMARY DOCUMENTS
FDA Regulatory Documents
Symlin (pramlintide acetate) - NDA 21-332
* Approval Letter & Package (March 16, 2005)
* Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics Review
* Administrative Documents & Correspondence
Byetta (exenatide) - NDA 21-773
* Approval Letter & Package (April 28, 2005)
* Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics Review
* Administrative Documents & Correspondence
Bydureon (exenatide ER) - NDA 22-200
* Approval Letter (January 27, 2012)
* Other Action Letters (Complete Response)
* REMS
* Administrative Correspondence
SEC Filings & Financial Documents
* Amylin 2005 Results Press Release (Ex-99.1, 8-K)
* Amylin 2007 Results Press Release (Ex-99.1)
* Amylin 2011 Form 10-K (Net Product Sales)
* Carl Icahn SEC Filing (Schedule 13D)
Proxy Fight & Legal Documents
* Carl Icahn Letter to Amylin (April 15, 2009)
* Amylin Response to Icahn (April 20, 2009)
* Police Fund v. Bradbury (Amylin) Trial (May 4, 2009)
* Lilly Litigation Ruling (May 25, 2011)
II. ORAL HISTORY & INTERVIEWS
* Howard Greene Oral History (UCSD Library, October 8, 2008) - Primary source for Hybritech founding, Ted Greene’s background, and early Amylin history
III. NEWS & TRADE PRESS
2000
* “The Rumsfeld Resume” - CBS News (December 28, 2000) - Donald Rumsfeld’s board tenure at Amylin (1991-1996)
* “Roller Coasting” - Forbes (July 24, 2000) - Joe Cook narrative, J&J partnership collapse
2005
* “Investing for a Profit and a Daughter’s Health” - NYT (March 19, 2005) - Allen Andersson investment story, “tablecloth deal”
2006
* “Diabetics see hope (and weight loss) in new drug” - NYT (March 2, 2006) - “Lizzie” nickname, patient testimonials
* “4 Diabetes Drugs Are Seen Raising Hope and Profit” - NYT (June 22, 2006) - Manufacturing shortage, 400,000+ patients
* “Don’t kill off life-saving drugs” - Heritage Foundation (August 15, 2006) - Policy perspective on Byetta’s potential impact
* “Byetta Craze Is First Salvo in Promising New Line of Drugs” - diaTribe - ADA conference chaos, “one man cried”
2007
* Dr. John Eng Profile - Diabetes In Control (September 18, 2007) - Eng’s discovery story, patent struggles, Amylin vs. Lilly negotiations
2008
* Xenome/Amylin Partnership - BioSpace (February 5, 2008) - Venom peptide library partnership
2009
* Eastbourne Capital Sells Stake - San Diego Union-Tribune (October 10, 2009) - End of Eastbourne activist campaign