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April 20, 2020___

Today's Rundown

Featured Story

FDA, CDC, NIH to begin validating COVID-19 antibody tests as more enter the market

As the U.S. begins to turn to antibody testing to help navigate new phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, an interagency collaboration will aim to evaluate these diagnostic products and their accuracy.

Top Stories

Alexion, following clues from early tests, preps phase 3 study of Ultomiris in severe COVID-19

For about two months, Alexion has been exploring whether its Soliris—used to treat several rare diseases—might hold promise in treating patients with severe COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. But on Monday, the company said it was starting a phase 3 trial of Ultomiris, a similar medicine it launched last year. 

CMS releases guidance for how health systems can restart elective procedures cancelled due to COVID-19

CMS has new guidance for how a hospital or health system can resume elective procedures vital to their financial health.

Congressman calls on SEC to look into leaked remdesivir data: report

Last Thursday, analysts urged caution when reading into leaked data for Gilead’s COVID-19 hopeful remdesivir, stressing that the numbers came from a single site participating in a study with no control group. Now, a congressman is asking the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate.

Biopharma roundup: Novartis trial tackles the chloroquine question; NIH, Gilead post new remdesivir animal results

NIH and Gilead researchers published animal study results showing early remdesivir antiviral treatment helped reduce COVID-19 symptoms and lung damage. And Novartis plans to launch a large U.S. phase 3 clinical trial to test hydroxychloroquine in hospitalized patients.

Healthcare roundup: Nurses to protest at the White House; Higher in-hospital mortality for diabetic COVID-19 patients

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

Intermountain ICU doc shares experience heading to New York City to help fight COVID-19

An Intermountain critical care doctor shares her experiences traveling across the country to help healthcare workers in New York City, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.

'The silver lining': Biotech IPOs in the time of coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the public markets, leading to a “disastrous” first quarter and “throwing a wrench” in what Renaissance Capital once expected to be the most productive IPO season of the year. But every cloud has a silver lining and experts agree that in this case, it’s the biotech industry.

COVID-19: New animal data back up Gilead's remdesivir as other treatment candidates emerge

Is Gilead's remdesivir the COVID-19 panacea everyone is hoping for, and should four experimental drugs that were studied years ago in autoimmune disease and cancer now also be tested for their ability to halt the virus's replication and spread? Two newly released studies aim to help answer those questions.

Oak Street's patients are most at-risk from COVID-19. Here's how their business is changing.

When the pandemic began spreading around the country, the Chicago-based primary care company had to make some big changes to the way they do business quickly.

FDA greenlights oral fluid test for COVID-19

The FDA has given its blessing to an oral fluid test for the novel coronavirus developed by Californian diagnostic startup Curative, allowing its use nationwide.

Moody's: Payers likely to weather the COVID-19 financial storm

Health insurers are likely to remain profitable despite the uncertainty around COVID-19, according to a new analysis.

Cancer startup Anixa teams up with machine learning firm to seek out COVID-19 hopefuls

After delaying a CAR-T test and with time on its hands, Anixa Biosciences is working with Germany-based computational company OntoChem to find new antiviral meds for COVID-19.

Pharma search ads shift to 'savings' and 'coverage' amid COVID-19 pandemic

Pharma company search ads that include words like "savings" and "coverage" have surged since COVID-19 stay-at-home orders began. While the initial assumption might be that pharma companies are creating new ads in response to customer demand for information, it’s more probable that it's the other way around.