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Today's Rundown

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AstraZeneca's surprise COVID-19 vaccine shortfall prompts Europe to press for answers

By Eric Sagonowsky

After AstraZeneca’s surprise announcement Friday that its first COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to Europe would be lighter than expected, angry government officials have been demanding answers.

Merck cans both its COVID-19 vaccines due to weak clinical data

By Nick Paul Taylor

Merck has stopped development of its two COVID-19 vaccine candidates after getting a look at phase 1 data. The vaccine powerhouse said neither candidate triggered immune responses comparable to those achieved by rival jabs, leading Merck to cut its losses and focus on COVID-19 therapeutics.

Why testing should be top of mind for health plans even amid the COVID-19 vaccine rollout

By Paige Minemyer

With health plans focused on planning for the COVID-19 rollout, they also need to be thinking about ways to ensure members are continuing to access testing services, both for the virus and for more routine evaluations.

Moderna to test different booster shot against South Africa coronavirus variant

By Beth Snyder Bulik

Moderna is weighing a second booster shot to battle a new coronavirus variant, even as it affirms its current vaccine's activity against newly emerging mutants. While the two-dose regimen is holding so far, it's less effective against a South African variant—which has the company exploring a third shot and a variant-specific booster.

Pfizer's 6-dose-per-vial OK boosts its supply numbers. The catch? Special syringes are required

By Fraiser Kansteiner

After pharmacists discovered they could, the FDA allowed a sixth dose to be pulled from Pfizer's five-dose COVID-19 vaccine vial. Now, Pfizer's counting that sixth dose against orders from the U.S. and beyond—and against a recently stepped-up production goal—while governments scramble to buy special syringes needed to extract it.

FDA rolls back N95 mask reuse to 4 decontamination cycles

By Conor Hale

The FDA has rolled back its emergency authorizations for N95 respirator decontamination systems, cutting down the number of times the agency said each mask could be safely reused.

Ginger study finds virtual mental health services are crucial to help address rising anxiety rates

By Heather Landi

More Americans are reporting anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic at the same time when there is a shortage of mental health professionals. New research indicates that on-demand mental healthcare that includes virtual behavioral health coaching can be effective in reducing the symptoms of anxiety.

Civica Rx lays out $124M sterile injectables plant, pegged to supply COVID-19 drugs and more

By Fraiser Kansteiner

Last spring, upstart generics maker Civica Rx joined forces with the brand-new Phlow Corp. in a push to “onshore” U.S. drug manufacturing and supply essential meds to hospitals fighting the pandemic. Now, the company is blueprinting a dedicated plant to do just that.

UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: CVS completes first round of vaccines in nursing homes

By Healthcare Staff

Follow along with the latest COVID-19 news straight from the Fierce Healthcare team.

Gut bacteria point to novel strategies for combating asthma, COVID-19

By Arlene Weintraub

Australian researchers studied the microbiome in mouse models of asthma and were surprised to discover that the molecules L-tyrosine and p-cresol sulfate protected against lung inflammation. Now they're planning to fast-track L-tyrosine into clinical trials in asthma, and they believe it might also be effective against acute lung disease in COVID-19.

2020’s top 10 clinical trial flops

By Phil Taylor

While big companies can shrug off a failure, the wasted investment and missed commercial opportunities can still be damaging. For smaller companies, flunking a trial can jeopardize the future of the business.

COVID-19 Tracker