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March 26, 2020___

Today's Rundown

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FDA authorizes CPAP machines and more as emergency ventilator alternatives

The FDA issued a wide-ranging emergency policy allowing alternative devices to be used as potentially lifesaving ventilators as shortages begin to impact hospitals’ responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

Top Stories

Robert Pearl, M.D., says focus must be on slowing coronavirus or U.S. will be like Italy

The U.S. missed its chance to contain the coronavirus and must now not let up on efforts to slow the spread of the virus, says prominent doctor Robert Pearl, M.D. "If we fail, we may end up like the doctors in Italy having to choose which people, who otherwise might live, will die since there aren't enough ventilators,” he cautioned.

Should Biogen's Spinraza for SMA be delayed amid COVID-19? No, say these parents

Biogen acknowledged last week that some patients with spinal muscular atrophy are seeing their Spinraza doses delayed, as hospitals prioritize the treatment of COVID-19 patients. That's not sitting well with some parents of SMA patients, who say the drug is vital for staving off the devastating muscle loss that the disease causes.

7 healthcare-related items you may have missed in the $2T coronavirus stimulus package

The massive $2 trillion economic stimulus package includes several smaller provisions that could have a big impact on hospitals and insurers. Find out what you may have missed.

COVID-19 prompts Pfizer to stop enrollment in most studies

Pfizer has paused enrollment in many new and ongoing clinical trials in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reports. The action sees Pfizer join Bristol Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly on the list of Big Pharma companies to revise their R&D plans in light of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Biopharma roundup: Merck to donate thousands of masks in NJ; White House prepping COVID-19 guidelines

With healthcare workers in the U.S. strapped for supplies amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, Merck & Co. is helping out with a donation of around 300,000 masks to the state of New Jersey. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is piecing together county-level guidelines to deal with the COVID-19 response. 

Healthcare roundup: Fauci chats with Steph Curry on Instagram Live; Pence: Feds working to convert devices to ventilators

FierceHealthcare's ongoing coverage of how the coronavirus is impacting the healthcare industry.

U.K. gov backs push to start COVID-19 vaccine trial in April

The U.K. government has backed a University of Oxford effort to develop a vaccine against COVID-19. Officials handed out the cash to help Sarah Gilbert’s team deliver on its plans to get a vaccine against the novel coronavirus into clinical testing next month.

India denies the export of the drug Trump keeps touting for COVID-19

The FDA suspended a drug import ban on India’s troubled Ipca to unleash its large capacity for making a potential treatment against COVID-19 but the agency’s largesse may be mostly for naught. The Indian export agency is cutting off supplies of the malaria drug to the U.S. and other countries. 

Analysis: COVID-19 could raise Medicare spending by as much as $115B over next year

A new analysis gave the first details on how the COVID-19 outbreak could impact Medicare spending, potentially increasing costs past $100 billion through 2021.

Trump's flipped his view on pharma companies thanks to COVID-19. Will the public?

President Donald Trump recently referred to the pharma leaders he was meeting with about COVID-19 strategies as “geniuses.” But wasn't it only a few years ago that he lashed out at them for “getting away with murder?" While the COVID-19 pandemic may have inspired a change of heart from the president when it comes to the industry, does the rest of America feel the same way?

Did chloroquine really fail a COVID-19 study—or was the trial design to blame?

News recently emerged that hydroxychloroquine—an anti-malaria drug highlighted by President Donald Trump as a promising coronavirus therapy—disappointed in a China clinical trial on mild COVID-19 patients. But a careful examination of the study reveals a more complicated situation.

Pfizer, Mylan say COVID-19 delays will postpone their Viatris merger

With the novel coronavirus pandemic continuing to hamstring operations, U.S. regulators have warned that major corporate transaction reviews could be held up. Now, thanks to those COVID-19 delays, a generics megamerger between Pfizer's Upjohn and Mylan has been postponed until the back half of the year.

How health systems will need to rethink their workforces amid COVID-19 surges

Among the many shortage concerns raised by the COVID-19 pandemic is whether there will be enough personnel to handle the surges — particularly as healthcare workers begin to get sick themselves. Here's what some experts suggest health systems and states should consider.