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Today's Rundown

Could combining Pfizer's and AZ's COVID-19 vaccines fill supply gaps? U.K. researchers aim to find out
Primary care docs are key to accelerating the COVID-19 vaccine rollout: study
These were the specialties that used telehealth the most in 2020: study
Roche's COVID-19 diagnostics boosted 2020 sales despite other testing losses
Roche hit by worst-case biosim assault—to the tune of $5.6B—as COVID-19 hurts new king Ocrevus
Biopharma roundup—Novavax inks new supply deal
Cigna execs say COVID-19 costs outstripped savings from lower utilization at end of 2020
From Louisiana bayous to Manhattan, docs say getting COVID-19 vaccines is a waiting game. Here's one who succeeded

Featured Story

Could combining Pfizer's and AZ's COVID-19 vaccines fill supply gaps? U.K. researchers aim to find out

By Arlene Weintraub

Oxford researchers have launched a trial designed to determine whether Pfizer's mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 can be used alongside AstraZeneca's viral-vector vaccine. They hope the 13-month trial will also reveal whether the two technologies might work in tandem to tackle new COVID variants.

Primary care docs are key to accelerating the COVID-19 vaccine rollout: study

By Heather Landi

Vaccinating millions of Americans against the COVID-19 virus is proving to be a complicated process already plagued with many setbacks. But there's a ready-made vaccine distribution system that can be tapped into to accelerate the rollout: primary care doctors.

These were the specialties that used telehealth the most in 2020: study

By Robert King

A study released this week in the journal Health Affairs gives a look at who flocked to telemedicine from January to June 2020 and what types of patients employed the technology.

Roche's COVID-19 diagnostics boosted 2020 sales despite other testing losses

By Conor Hale

The company launched 15 different tests for COVID-19 over the past year, including both rapid, point-of-care solutions and high-throughput, centralized laboratory diagnostics.

Roche hit by worst-case biosim assault—to the tune of $5.6B—as COVID-19 hurts new king Ocrevus

By Angus Liu

Before biosimilars to Herceptin, Avastin and Rituxan arrived in the U.S., Roche laid out an expected range of damage to its cancer franchise. By the look of the first post-biosim year’s numbers, the company was hit with its worst-case scenario.

Biopharma roundup—Novavax inks new supply deal

By Fraiser Kansteiner,Eric Sagonowsky,Angus Liu,Conor Hale

Roche's 2020 sales for some key drugs were affected by the pandemic as fewer patients switched to new offerings and some patients delayed treatment. Meanwhile, Novavax unveiled a new vaccine supply deal and Merck warned about using an anti-parasite medicine against COVID-19.

Cigna execs say COVID-19 costs outstripped savings from lower utilization at end of 2020

By Paige Minemyer

Cigna earned $4.1 billion in profit for the fourth quarter of 2020. That figure fell short of Wall Street analysts' expectations.

From Louisiana bayous to Manhattan, docs say getting COVID-19 vaccines is a waiting game. Here's one who succeeded