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Today's Rundown

1 in 5 primary care doctors currently administering COVID-19 vaccines: survey
COVID-19 vaccine player AstraZeneca hands CEO $21.5M in pay for navigating pandemic
Eyeing variants, Adagio starts phase 1 trial of COVID-19 antibody
FDA leaders recount flaws in 2020's open-door policy for COVID-19 antibody tests
Treating COVID-19 long-haulers with Amgen's sleeper heart drug Corlanor
U.K. inspects AstraZeneca vaccine partner's India manufacturing, setting stage for supply boost
New COVID-19 mutations putting a strain on trial resumptions: report
CVS Health joins payer industry peers in posting declining gains from COVID-19
Healthcare roundup: COVID-19 vaccines being shipped to community health centers
Biopharma roundup: AstraZeneca may tap Serum Institute for EU shots; Sanofi eyes 2021 mRNA vaccine launch

Featured Story

1 in 5 primary care doctors currently administering COVID-19 vaccines: survey

By Heather Landi

Primary care is at risk of being a largely untapped resource in the vaccine rollout, with 32% of doctors saying they have not been included in any state or regional distribution planning.

COVID-19 vaccine player AstraZeneca hands CEO $21.5M in pay for navigating pandemic

By Angus Liu

The decision to take AstraZeneca to the front line of developing pharmaceutical solutions against COVID-19 earned the British pharma global recognition—and CEO Pascal Soriot a big thank-you note in the form of a $21.5 million paycheck for 2020.

Eyeing variants, Adagio starts phase 1 trial of COVID-19 antibody

By Nick Paul Taylor

Adagio Therapeutics has dosed the first subject with its anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody. Administration of the candidate, which Adagio expects to be effective against coronavirus variants, continues the rapid rise of the biotech helmed by Tillman Gerngross.

FDA leaders recount flaws in 2020's open-door policy for COVID-19 antibody tests

By Conor Hale

Over last March and April, the market was flooded with antibody tests for COVID-19, with many offering unverified claims of accuracy, while independent researchers found high rates of false results.

Treating COVID-19 long-haulers with Amgen's sleeper heart drug Corlanor

By Arlene Weintraub

A UCSD team found that in a small study, Amgen's heart failure drug Corlanor significantly relieved symptoms of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a disorder that causes a spike in heart rate, fatigue, weakness and other symptoms. The researchers suggested the drug could be useful in treating COVID-19 long-haulers.

U.K. inspects AstraZeneca vaccine partner's India manufacturing, setting stage for supply boost

By Fraiser Kansteiner

Britain's drug regulator is auditing Serum Institute of India's manufacturing processes, potentially teeing up imports of India-made AstraZeneca vaccines to the U.K. and Europe. The move comes as AstraZeneca hustles to boost EU shot supplies—and after the pharma giant last week suggested it could source doses from production facilities outside the region.

New COVID-19 mutations putting a strain on trial resumptions: report

By Ben Adams

The new strains of COVID-19 that are more transmissible and potentially able to dampen vaccine efforts are causing clinical trial resumptions to slow.

CVS Health joins payer industry peers in posting declining gains from COVID-19

By Paige Minemyer

CVS Health brought in $975 million in profit for the fourth quarter of 2020, a decline of 44% from the prior-year quarter.

Healthcare roundup: COVID-19 vaccines being shipped to community health centers

By Healthcare Staff

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

Biopharma roundup: AstraZeneca may tap Serum Institute for EU shots; Sanofi eyes 2021 mRNA vaccine launch

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

AstraZeneca may call on Serum Institute of India to export shots to Europe. Plus, AZ chief Pascal Soriot earned $21.52 million last year, thanks in part to the company's COVID-19 work. Sanofi’s mRNA vaccine could launch this year. And a six-year-old heart failure drug from Amgen may help treat COVID "long-haulers."

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