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Today's Rundown

FDA arranges Feb. 26 AdComm to discuss J&J COVID-19 vaccine EUA
City of Chicago turns to Zocdoc to help get COVID-19 vaccines into arms
Gilead sees a blockbuster 2021 for COVID-19 drug Veklury but can grow without it: CFO
U.K. government taps CureVac to target COVID-19 variants with new vaccines
UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: Feds to prioritize Pfizer vaccine equipment; invest in glove production
'How safe does this make my family member?' What doctors should tell patients about COVID-19 vaccine
No need 'to start at square one': FDA plans to lay out a speedy path for COVID vaccines, drugs against variants
All eyes on Regeneron's COVID-19 antibodies, but Dupixent's still driving the bus
OIG: Part D opioid prescriptions dipped during onset of COVID-19 pandemic
Moderna sets sights on $200M vaccine factory in Seoul: report
Pitt team sheds light on how COVID-19 escapes immune destruction

Featured Story

FDA arranges Feb. 26 AdComm to discuss J&J COVID-19 vaccine EUA

By Nick Paul Taylor

Johnson & Johnson has filed for emergency FDA authorization of its one-dose COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA has scheduled an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application for Feb. 26.

City of Chicago turns to Zocdoc to help get COVID-19 vaccines into arms

By Heather Landi

Cities have been turning to technology companies to help with one of the most difficult logistics challenges in history: equitably and efficiently distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. Chicago is teaming up with Zocdoc, and some cities are working with a cybersecurity firm to ensure equitable vaccine distribution.

Gilead sees a blockbuster 2021 for COVID-19 drug Veklury but can grow without it: CFO

By Eric Sagonowsky

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, as researchers scrambled to find medicines that could treat the new and mysterious disease, Gilead Sciences' remdesivir quickly marched to worldwide prominence based on promising early data. Now, with a full FDA approval in hand, Veklury is pulling in big sales—and has a big 2021 ahead, execs said.

U.K. government taps CureVac to target COVID-19 variants with new vaccines

By Amirah Al Idrus

On the heels of COVID-19 pacts with Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline, CureVac is joining forces with the U.K. government to tackle the next challenge—new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If approved, any vaccines that come out of the deal will be distributed in the U.K. and its overseas and dependent territories.

UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: Feds to prioritize Pfizer vaccine equipment; invest in glove production

By Healthcare Staff

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

'How safe does this make my family member?' What doctors should tell patients about COVID-19 vaccine

By Tina Reed

As more patients get vaccinated against COVID-19, here's what experts say doctors should tell patients about what they can—and still should not—do.

No need 'to start at square one': FDA plans to lay out a speedy path for COVID vaccines, drugs against variants

By Angus Liu

New coronavirus variants have prompted COVID-19 vaccine makers to start developing updates to their existing offerings. To speed their journey to a pandemic-fatigued public, the FDA says it’s developing expedited review rules for the follow-up shots.

All eyes on Regeneron's COVID-19 antibodies, but Dupixent's still driving the bus

By Beth Snyder Bulik

Regeneron's bullish outlook for its COVID-19 antibody therapy continues to outpace its sales figures, but strong Dupixent and Eylea revenues in the third quarter took some of the pressure off. Dupixent notched $1.17 billion, a 56% increase year over year, while Eylea grew 10% to reach $1.34 billion. Total growth? 30%.

OIG: Part D opioid prescriptions dipped during onset of COVID-19 pandemic

By Robert King

A new report from a Department of Health and Human Services watchdog found roughly 1 in 5 Part D beneficiaries got an opioid in the first eight months of 2020.

Moderna sets sights on $200M vaccine factory in Seoul: report

By Fraiser Kansteiner

Moderna, which will supply at least 40 million doses of its vaccine to South Korea, may be looking to set up shop in the country, a former government minister involved in talks with the drugmaker said. It's allegedly hatching plans with the government to prop up a $200-million vaccine plant in Seoul, multiple sources report.

Pitt team sheds light on how COVID-19 escapes immune destruction

By Arlene Weintraub

University of Pittsburgh researchers discovered that SARS-CoV-2 deletes part of its genetic code, allowing it to evade the immune response. The insights could help drug and vaccine developers tweak their COVID-19 remedies over time to stay ahead of the virus.

COVID-19 Tracker