2025 Highlights: Stories, Conversations, and Policy That Move Medicine Forward

2025 brought no shortage of new ideas in Washington to reshape how the United States pays for medicines. From Most Favored Nation (MFN) proposals to executive actions and broader drug pricing reforms, the policy debate moved quickly, with major implications for patients, investors, and the future of biomedical innovation. 

Throughout the year, Incubate stayed at the cutting edge of that dialogue, bringing a consistent focus to what matters most: protecting access today while sustaining the pipeline of tomorrow's cures.

This year, Incubate Director John Stanford was featured in top national outlets for his commentary on MFN drug pricing proposals and the broader policy environment shaping innovation. Coverage included the Wall Street Journal (WSJ Pro), Bloomberg Law, Fox News, Forbes, STAT, Investor's Business Daily, and more -- underscoring the growing national attention on how policy decisions affect investment in life-saving R&D.

The Making Medicine podcast also reached new heights this year. In November, Incubate took the show on the road for a special live episode recorded in Japan for an on-the-ground look at what's driving global innovation and what the U.S. can learn from international collaboration. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)  also joined the show earlier this month for a timely discussion on the policy choices shaping the future of biomedical innovation -- and what it will take to keep American research and development strong.

Stanford had several op-eds published this year, including a Triangle Business Journal piece co-authored with Patrick Jordan, managing partner of NovaQuest Capital Management and Chairman of Mycovia Pharmaceuticals. They make the case for the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act, a targeted fix that can protect patients while preserving incentives for breakthrough innovation.

In another opinion piece for BioSpace, John Stanford details how recent policy shifts are influencing investment decisions and why sustaining the capital needed for life-saving research is essential to continued medical progress.

Looking ahead to 2026, Incubate will continue working to educate policymakers on the critical role venture capital plays in translating scientific breakthroughs into new medicines.