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Today's Rundown

GSK and Vir, navigating early antibody pitfalls, tout delta variant-busting data for latecomer sotrovimab
Abbott’s rapid antigen COVID-19 test cleared in Europe for at-home, direct-to-consumer sales
Aetna Foundation, U.S. News report: Healthiest communities tend to be less COVID vaccine hesitant
Sanofi commits $476M a year to mRNA vaccine center in race to expand tech beyond COVID-19
Foresite’s 2nd SPAC deal counts Gilead as an investor in $276M bid for COVID-19 biotech Pardes
Hospitals, corporations own nearly half of medical practices, spurred by COVID-19 disruption: report
COVID-19 tracker: Heart inflammation cases 'higher than expected' after jab, study says; Delta variant sparks concerns in LA
Physician productivity, revenues rebounding to pre-pandemic levels: report
WPP adds chief strategy officer at VMLY&Rx to helm new practice in post-pandemic era

Featured Story

GSK and Vir, navigating early antibody pitfalls, tout delta variant-busting data for latecomer sotrovimab

By Fraiser Kansteiner

While several vaccines now stand tall in the fight against COVID-19, therapies—and antibody drugs in particular—have had a decidedly tougher time. Saddled with access issues and beset by fast-emerging variants, firstcomer Eli Lilly has recently been forced to re-think its tactics. Now, GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology are applying those lessons to their solo agent sotrovimab.

Abbott’s rapid antigen COVID-19 test cleared in Europe for at-home, direct-to-consumer sales

By Andrea Park

The new CE mark allows the at-home test to be sold directly to European consumers, regardless of whether they’re showing any COVID symptoms.

Aetna Foundation, U.S. News report: Healthiest communities tend to be less COVID vaccine hesitant

By Paige Minemyer

The country's healthiest communities also tend to be less hesitant to get vaccinated for COVID-19, according to a new study.

Sanofi commits $476M a year to mRNA vaccine center in race to expand tech beyond COVID-19

By Nick Paul Taylor

Sanofi is set to invest €400 million ($476 million) a year in a dedicated vaccines mRNA Center of Excellence. The commitment is intended to establish Sanofi as a frontrunner in the race to develop mRNA vaccines against a wide range of infectious diseases.

Foresite’s 2nd SPAC deal counts Gilead as an investor in $276M bid for COVID-19 biotech Pardes

By Amirah Al Idrus

Foresite Capital’s second special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) has landed on its target: Pardes Biosciences, a biotech working on antiviral treatments for COVID-19. Through the merger, Pardes will add about $276 million to the bank, which will get its lead candidate into the clinic later this year.

Hospitals, corporations own nearly half of medical practices, spurred by COVID-19 disruption: report

By Dave Muoio

As of January 1, 2021, nearly half of all U.S. practices were owned by hospitals or corporate entities while seven in 10 physicians were employed by these organizations, according to data from the Physicians Advocacy Institute.

COVID-19 tracker: Heart inflammation cases 'higher than expected' after jab, study says; Delta variant sparks concerns in LA

By Noah Higgins-Dunn,Kevin Dunleavy,Fraiser Kansteiner

A new study published in JAMA found "higher than expected" rates of heart inflammation among U.S. military members following an mRNA jab, although the cases are still considered rare. L.A. County health officials are concerned about the rapid spread of the Delta variant and are asking all residents to mask while inside. And more.

Physician productivity, revenues rebounding to pre-pandemic levels: report

By Heather Landi

After a year of significant disruption, U.S. physician groups are starting to see signs of financial recovery. Physician groups across the country continued to see key performance metrics return to near pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2021, suggesting an end to the volatility driven by COVID-19 that rocked practices throughout 2020, according to a new report from Kaufman Hall.

WPP adds chief strategy officer at VMLY&Rx to helm new practice in post-pandemic era

By Beth Snyder Bulik

WPP’s new chief strategy officer at its prescription drug-focused agency VMLY&Rx, Nichole Davis, is sailing the new practice through a pharma and biotech drug world dramatically changed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Tracker