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Today's Rundown

Merck cans one COVID-19 drug, scraps a clinical trial of another
UK COVID-19 variant not associated with higher disease severity, mortality among hospitalized patients, study finds
Safety concerns with J&J's COVID-19 vaccine present a big opportunity for Pfizer, Moderna: analyst
GSK vaccine R&D chief jumps ship to Viome amid COVID-19 vaccine setbacks
Novartis inks 3rd COVID-19 production pact, this time for Roche's arthritis med Actemra
CDC vaccine experts punt on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine guidance, extending the pause
UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: Cigna offering transport to COVID-19 vaccines for MA members
COVID-19 tracker: U.S. trade rep backs relaxing IP rules; Nearly half of Republicans don't plan to get vaccinated, poll says
Unsung COVID vaccine heroes—and biotech science giants—star on influencer's TikTok
Cross-specialty care program helps RWJBarnabas Health treat lingering COVID-19 symptoms
Moderna eyes beefed-up vaccine production with the help of U.S.-brokered manufacturing talks: report
GeNeuro's experimental multiple sclerosis drug shows hints it may help treat COVID-19
UPDATED: Thermo Fisher reels in PPD for $17.4B as it looks to follow the LabCorp playbook

Featured Story

Merck cans one COVID-19 drug, scraps a clinical trial of another

By Nick Paul Taylor

Merck has disclosed more setbacks to its COVID-19 strategy. Having already pulled out of vaccines, Merck has now stopped developing one medicine in hospitalized patients and given up completely on another drug in COVID-19.

UK COVID-19 variant not associated with higher disease severity, mortality among hospitalized patients, study finds

By Dave Muoio

A University of College London-led study found no difference in severity and mortality rates between patients hospitalized with the more transmissible B.1.1.7 variant or other COVID-19 strains.

Safety concerns with J&J's COVID-19 vaccine present a big opportunity for Pfizer, Moderna: analyst

By Kevin Dunleavy

Developing a single-shot COVID-19 vaccine with less stringent cold-storage requirements seemingly gave Johnson & Johnson a major advantage over mRNA coronavirus vaccine producers. But now that advantage has shifted to the Pfizer and Moderna programs, an analyst writes.

GSK vaccine R&D chief jumps ship to Viome amid COVID-19 vaccine setbacks

By Annalee Armstrong

GlaxoSmithKline’s Emmanuel Hanon will depart as vaccines R&D chief to explore the microbiome at Viome after a year in which the pharmaceutical giant took a restrained approach to COVID-19 R&D.

Novartis inks 3rd COVID-19 production pact, this time for Roche's arthritis med Actemra

By Fraiser Kansteiner

Novartis wasn't kidding when it said it wanted to help with the global COVID-19 response earlier this year. The company has racked up manufacturing pacts with Pfizer-BioNTech and CureVac in rapid succession. Now, it's taking the fight to the therapeutic front, with a deal to reserve API capacity for Roche's arthritis med Actemra.

CDC vaccine experts punt on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine guidance, extending the pause

By Kevin Dunleavy

U.S. vaccine experts have identified three potential options for Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. going forward. But while they wait for more data, the shot's nationwide pause will continue.

UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: Cigna offering transport to COVID-19 vaccines for MA members

By Healthcare Staff

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

COVID-19 tracker: U.S. trade rep backs relaxing IP rules; Nearly half of Republicans don't plan to get vaccinated, poll says

By Kevin Dunleavy,Fraiser Kansteiner,Eric Sagonowsky

The U.S. trade representative argues that IP rules must be relaxed to improve global access to COVID vaccines. A poll shows that 45% of Republicans are refusing vaccines, raising doubt about herd immunity in the U.S. And more headlines.

Unsung COVID vaccine heroes—and biotech science giants—star on influencer's TikTok

By Beth Snyder Bulik

A vaccine researcher at the University of British Columbia is coaxing mega-accomplished scientists behind the COVID-19 vaccines to join her in conversation—and dance routines—on TikTok. So far, Robert Langer and Pieter Cullis have joined Anna Blakney's effort to encourage vaccination and make science more transparent on the video shorts platform.

Cross-specialty care program helps RWJBarnabas Health treat lingering COVID-19 symptoms

By Dave Muoio

The New Jersey health system said it's seen positive outcomes among 120 COVID-19 patients treated through the integrated care program, and has expanded its effort into other facilities and younger cases.

Moderna eyes beefed-up vaccine production with the help of U.S.-brokered manufacturing talks: report

By Fraiser Kansteiner

Moderna may soon have a new U.S. manufacturing partner. The company on Tuesday reportedly took part in a government-brokered talk to discuss manufacturing of its vaccine at Nexus' new facility in Wisconsin, which has capacity to fill 30 million doses a month.

GeNeuro's experimental multiple sclerosis drug shows hints it may help treat COVID-19

By Angus Liu

Scientists have found the the envelope protein of the human endogenous retrovirus W could serve as a possible drug target in treating COVID-19. Swiss biotech GeNeuro is developing an antibody against that protein to treat multiple sclerosis, and now it aims to test the drug in COVID-19 clinical trials.

UPDATED: Thermo Fisher reels in PPD for $17.4B as it looks to follow the LabCorp playbook

By Ben Adams

Thermo Fisher is spending a major $17.4 billion to buy out contract research organization PPD.

COVID-19 Tracker