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Today's Rundown

With $1.2B deal for molnupiravir, U.S. bets on Merck's oral COVID-19 antiviral
Prime Day deal? Amazon lands FDA go-ahead to sell COVID-19 tests directly to consumers
Houston Methodist makes good on threat to suspend employees who refused to get vaccinated
Biden admin to purchase 500 million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses to distribute to needy countries
COVID-19 tracker: WTO set to begin vaccine supply negotiations
CMS boosts Medicare payments for providers for administering at-home COVID-19 vaccinations
Midstage cancer tests 'heavily impacted' by COVID-19 disruptions: survey
PwC: Health costs to likely go up 6.5% in 2022 as systems invest in supply chain, digital health
Regeneron's CEO, CSO pay under fire from advisory firms, who call on shareholders to oust a board member

Featured Story

With $1.2B deal for molnupiravir, U.S. bets on Merck's oral COVID-19 antiviral

By Kevin Dunleavy

Merck revealed a deal with the United States to supply 1.7 million courses of experimental COVID-19 oral treatment molnupiravir for $1.2 billion. This is Merck's last chance to develop a COVID-19 therapy after two vaccine attempts and another drug failed.

Prime Day deal? Amazon lands FDA go-ahead to sell COVID-19 tests directly to consumers

By Andrea Park

Just in time for its annual online sale event, Amazon has gotten the green light from the FDA to begin hawking its own COVID-19 test directly to consumers—potentially setting up the most coveted Prime Day deal of all.

Houston Methodist makes good on threat to suspend employees who refused to get vaccinated

By Dave Muoio

The health system had set a June 7 cutoff for all of its employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. The policy spurred protests and a lawsuit from those who opposed the mandatory policy.

Biden admin to purchase 500 million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses to distribute to needy countries

By Kevin Dunleavy

The United States will purchase 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer for distribution to needy countries around the world. Pfizer will deliver 200 million by the end of this year and the rest by the middle of next year, according to reports.

COVID-19 tracker: WTO set to begin vaccine supply negotiations

By Noah Higgins-Dunn,Kevin Dunleavy,Fraiser Kansteiner

Members of the World Trade Organization have agreed to begin formal negotiations on a plan that would supply poorer nations with COVID-19 vaccine supplies, although they still remain split over IP waivers. The U.S. is reportedly set to buy 500 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to donate to the rest of the world. And more headlines.

CMS boosts Medicare payments for providers for administering at-home COVID-19 vaccinations

By Robert King

CMS announced an increase in Medicare payments for providers for administering COVID-19 vaccinations at a patient's home as the Biden White House seeks to expand the reach of vaccinations.

Midstage cancer tests 'heavily impacted' by COVID-19 disruptions: survey

By Ben Adams

A new survey of biopharma execs has shown phase 2 oncology trials are the most disrupted.

PwC: Health costs to likely go up 6.5% in 2022 as systems invest in supply chain, digital health

By Robert King

Investments in digital health and preparing for the next pandemic are expected to help increase medical costs by up to 6.5% in 2022, a new report found.

Regeneron's CEO, CSO pay under fire from advisory firms, who call on shareholders to oust a board member

By Noah Higgins-Dunn

Two influential shareholder advisory groups recommended Regeneron investors vote out board member George Sing, who sits on the compensation committee, in a rebuke against the company's "excessive" upfront stock awards for CEO Leonard Schleifer and CSO George Yancopoulos.

COVID-19 Tracker