To view this email as a web page, click here

Today's Rundown

Featured Story

Is dexamethasone really a COVID-19 breakthrough? Not so fast, doctors say

Top-line results from a U.K. study of a low-cost steroid were enough to persuade the National Health Service to approve it for COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen or ventilation. That OK came just hours after the data reveal—and now, some doctors warn there's not enough evidence that it's really effective in treating the coronavirus.

read more

Top Stories

FAH demands more time for providers to repay advance Medicare payments due soon

The Federation of American Hospitals launched a new initiative to raise awareness about a coming deadline for providers to repay advance Medicare payments.

read more

FDA revokes Chembio's antibody test authorization after new HHS validation results show inaccuracies

The FDA revoked its emergency green light for a fingerstick COVID-19 antibody blood test developed by Chembio Diagnostic Systems following new concerns over the test’s accuracy.

read more

Novavax, advancing COVID-19 shot, recruits AstraZeneca exec as its chief medical officer

On the heels of some big fundraising moves and in the hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine, Novavax is adding some heft to its executive team. Joining the vaccine specialist as chief medical officer is Filip Dubovsky, an AstraZeneca veteran.

read more

CureVac gets OK to start testing mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in humans

CureVac has received regulatory clearance to start a phase 1 trial of its COVID-19 vaccine. The start of the 168-subject study comes days after the German government invested €300 million ($337 million) in CureVac to support its efforts to develop and manufacture a vaccine against the coronavirus.

read more

Merlo: CVS' guiding principles in its COVID-19 response

As it began planning a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CVS Health established several guiding principles for the work to follow, according to CEO Larry Merlo. 

read more

Biopharma roundup: U.S. stuck with stockpiled hydroxychloroquine as docs question steroid data

Novavax poached AstraZeneca vet Filip Dubovsky to serve as CMO and lead its COVID-19 vaccine work. Two biotechs touted antibody treatments against the virus, and "Operation Warp Speed" took more heat for its funding of new vaccine technology. Plus, Stéphane Bancel offered some puzzling odds for Moderna's COVID shot.

read more

Healthcare roundup: CHIME survey shows huge increases in telehealth use

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

read more

A drug from Shkreli's former company Humanigen shows early promise in COVID-19

Yet another drugmaker is aiming to control the dangerous cytokine storm in COVID-19: Humanigen, a company briefly run by fallen “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli. Now it is reporting positive data from the compassionate use of its experimental drug lenzilumab in a small group of patients.

read more

Tenet seeks to balance elective procedures amid spikes in COVID-19 cases

Leaders of major hospital system Tenet shared that its facilities in Arizona are not overwhelmed despite a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

read more

PTC Therapeutics taps experimental cancer drug for new COVID-19 trial

PTC Therapeutics is throwing its hat in the ring for a potential reworked pipeline med against COVID-19.

read more

Sutter Health seeks delay of $575M settlement to assess impact of COVID-19

Sutter Health is asking for a delay in approval of a massive $575 million settlement after the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on its finances.

read more

PRA Health Sciences deepens COVID-19 response with Microsoft Healthcare Bot

Major CRO PRA Health is teaming up with tech giant Microsoft to boost its so-called Health Harmony COVID-19 monitoring program.

read more