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May 19, 2020___

Today's Rundown

Featured Story

AstraZeneca signed up to deliver U.K. shots first. Now it aims to supply COVID-19 vaccine worldwide: report

U.K.-based AstraZeneca, partnered with the University of Oxford on a leading COVID-19 vaccine candidate, already inked a deal to supply millions of doses to its home country. Now, the drugmaker is scouting for partnerships to make the potential vaccine available worldwide.

Top Stories

CMS: Nursing homes should 'be among the last to reopen within the community'

As nursing homes prepare to reopen, they should not relax restrictions until all residents and staff have received results from a baseline test indicating they do not have COVID-19, the Trump administration said in new guidance released Monday.

FDA, Aetion dive into the real-world data surrounding COVID-19

The FDA is tapping its real-world data partner Aetion for new research tracking the spread of COVID-19. The project will include gathering and sifting through information on diagnostic and treatment patterns, to help the agency better understand the natural course of the novel coronavirus.

Senate GOP aren't in a hurry to pass a new round of COVID-19 stimulus funding after House passes $3T bill

Senate Republicans appear unlikely to endorse another round of COVID-19 stimulus funding until the current money is fully distributed.

Moderna taps $1.34B stock offering to bankroll its promising COVID-19 vaccine

Money from the largest biotech IPO in history, funding from an international outbreak preparedness group and an award from the U.S. government are apparently still not enough for Moderna. The biotech's now looking to raise $1.34 billion through a public offering to manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Healthcare roundup: Civica Rx partners on COVID response; Employers push for policy changes

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

Biopharma roundup: Covis launches Alvesco study; Pence not taking HCQ

Covis Pharma is starting a phase 3 trial of its asthma inhaler Alvesco in COVID-19 patients. Plus, Vice President Mike Pence says he isn't taking hydroxychloroquine.

'Warp Speed' head Slaoui, challenged for 'huge conflict of interest,' sells off $12.4M in Moderna stock

As the Operation Warp Speed program races ahead with COVID-19 vaccine candidates, one of its leaders, former GSK exec Moncef Slaoui, kept millions of dollars of stock in Moderna, the biotech leading the pack. But now, after an influential senator challenged that ownership interest, he's planning to sell.

Trump picks little-known U.S. firm to spearhead $354M pandemic drug pact

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed cracks throughout the pharmaceutical industry's global operations—but none so divisive as the supposed U.S. dependence on foreign drugs. The Trump administration is now pledging a huge sum to address that problem, but its choice of partners might raise some eyebrows.

Mayo Clinic, CommonSpirit and Mass General feel hit from COVID-19 in Q1

Mayo Clinic, CommonSpirit Health and Mass General Brigham released their first-quarter financial results, showing how the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their finances.

J&J, AbbVie, Roche and more sponsor cancer content for concerned patients amid COVID-19 pandemic

Cancer patients are turning to trusted advocates and fellow patients for information during the COVID-19 crisis, and pharma advertisers are taking note. Drugmakers including Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen, Incyte, AbbVie and Roche's Genentech have all signed on as sponsors of educational cancer videos on a cancer community website.

AMGA sends letter backing revival of accelerated Medicare payments for docs

The American Medical Group Association is pushing for new help for physicians after the Trump Administration stopped offering accelerated Medicare payments to medical practices late last month.

Thermo Fisher Scientific inks COVID-19 test tube deal with U.S. government

The U.S. government is rapidly scaling its quotas for COVID-19 testing and relying on drugmakers and manufacturers to step up to the challenge. Now, CDMO Thermo Fisher Scientific has scored a U.S. contract to help produce transport vials for the ramped-up testing.