Shows
The Swiss ConnectionBonus Episode - The Trends Shaping the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2026Send a textJoin host, Jo Fahy, and pharmaceuticals and healthcare reporter, Jessica Davis Pluss, to weigh up the forces shaping pharma in 2026. From AI’s real gains in clinics and labs, to the case for inclusive data, we also discuss the politics of who funds innovation, and why rare diseases and antibiotics deserve our focus. SWI swissinfo.ch is a public service media company based in Bern, Switzerland.
2026-02-0317 minThe Swiss ConnectionBonus Episode - Inside Switzerland’s Quiet Rise as a Longevity HubSend a textHow did longevity go from a social media trend to a focus of serious science?In this special bonus episode our host, Jo Fahy, is joined in the studio by pharmaceuticals and healthcare reporter, Jessica Davis Pluss. We trace how Switzerland was uniquely positioned to become a global hub for healthier ageing. We also compare lifespan and health span, examine why access to clinics is so tightly guarded, and discuss why the pharmaceutical industry is moving cautiously in this growing field. SWI swissinfo.ch is a...
2026-01-2726 minThe Swiss ConnectionRethinking Aging: Science, Society, And The Stories We TellSend a textWant a longer life that still feels like yours? We sit down with psychologist Christina Röcke of the University of Zurich’s Healthy Longevity Center to unpack what actually fuels healthy aging—and what’s just marketing noise. From blue-zone myths to AI-driven biohacking, we trace why the longevity boom exploded and where the evidence really points: consistent movement, quality relationships, realistic stress strategies, and communities that make healthy choices simple.Join Swissinfo for a debate on this topic or read more of our science stories, by visiting our website swisinfo.ch. You...
2025-12-0221 minThe Swiss ConnectionHow Michael Hall’s TOR Discovery Reframed Longevity ScienceSend a textWe trace how a soil-derived drug led to the discovery of mTOR, why growth control sits at the core of aging biology, and where evidence ends for humans. Michael Hall’s quiet breakthroughs explain fasting, autophagy, and rapamycin without the hype.To read more about this topic and for more science stories, visit our website swisinfo.ch. You can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review.Journalist: Jessica Davis PlüssHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele Andina
2025-11-2519 minThe Swiss ConnectionBig Pharma steps up race for AI-discovered drugsSend a textWhat if the most valuable drug candidates aren’t found but designed on demand? We follow a chemist’s journey from a pencil-and-paper notebook to generative algorithms that propose novel, IP-free molecules tailored to specific targets, and we open the door to how Swiss pharma is rebuilding discovery around AI.To read more about this topic and for more science stories, visit our website swisinfo.ch. You can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review.Journalist: Jessica Davis PlüssH...
2025-11-1816 minThe Swiss ConnectionWomen’s Health Meets Drug Design and Medical ResearchSend a textWe trace how sex and gender shape drug development, from male-heavy mouse studies to the split results in Lecanemab’s Alzheimer’s trial. Experts explain why regulators should keep approvals moving while demanding smarter design, better reporting, and post-approval answers. For more science stories, visit our website swisinfo.ch, and you can help other people to find our podcast by leaving us a five-star review.Journalist: Jessica Davis PlüssHost: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Michele AndinaDistribution and Marketing: Xin Zhang SWI...
2025-11-1119 minThe Swiss ConnectionCracking the Alzheimer’s CodeSend a textAlzheimer’s disease is more than age-related memory loss—it’s a serious brain disorder. In this episode of the Swiss Connection Science podcast, Swissinfo healthcare reporter Jessica Davis Pluess explores the science, hope, and controversy surrounding new Alzheimer’s drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla. With billions invested and global regulatory decisions diverging, what do these treatments mean for patients and healthcare systems? Visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more on this topic and a video on this story. Please come to SWI swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from Switzerland....
2025-11-0421 minThe Swiss ConnectionSwiss Longevity clinics: modern-day snake oil or the key to healthy ageing?Send a textThe search for the elixir of life has been going on since time immemorial – and Switzerland has played a key role. Although scientists have yet to come up with a winning formula, the Alpine nation has a booming market for treatments, pills and gadgets that claim to slow ageing and help us live healthier, longer lives.Visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more on this topic and a video on this story. Please come to SWI swissinfo.ch for more of our science stories from Switzerland.Jounalist: Jessica Davis Plüss
2025-10-2822 minThe Swiss ConnectionWhy Are leading Swiss Pharmaceutical Companies Investing in Slovenia?Send a textPharmaceutical giant Novartis invested billions in Slovenia, helping turn the country into a global player in generic drug production. Now, as cheap Asian competitors increasingly dominate the market, Swiss drug companies see the tiny Balkan nation playing a key role in their shift to more complex, expensive medicines.Articles and videos on Switzerland's investment in Slovenia are available on swissinfo.ch. For other science stories from Switzerland please go to www.swissinfo.ch/science.Journalist: Jessica Davis Plüss Host: Jo FahyAudio editor/video journalist: Céline Ste...
2024-04-2317 min