Newsletter Tool

To view this email as a web page, click here

Today's Rundown

Moderna stands to earn $300M for quick vaccine approval, up to $6.6B for extra doses: filing
Nearly half of physicians believe it will take a year to get COVID-19 under control
FDA flags accuracy issues with Thermo Fisher's COVID-19 test kit and software
Sanofi works with retailers, health practices to offer safer flu shot appointments amid the pandemic
EU backs Big Pharma consortium to speed COVID-19 R&D
COVID-19 is pushing employers to offer new virtual care offerings: survey
CMS to require positive test result for providers to get Medicare payment for COVID-19 patients
Healthcare roundup: CMS calls for resumption of inspections paused due to pandemic
Biopharma roundup: Sinopharm floats steep vaccine price range; Serum Institute shoots for $1B in vaccine fundraising: report
Sinopharm chief says COVID-19 vaccine will cost less than $145 for two-dose regimen
Indian vaccine maker looks to raise $1B for COVID-19 shot manufacturing, trial efforts: report

Featured Story

Moderna stands to earn $300M for quick vaccine approval, up to $6.6B for extra doses: filing

By Eric Sagonowsky

Under Moderna's coronavirus vaccine deal with the U.S., announced last week with a $1.525 billion price tag, the mRNA biotech stands to gain a whopping $8.125 billion if all options are exercised. That's according to a securities filing that offers more details of the partnership, including a $300 million for early approval and the price for follow-up doses.

Nearly half of physicians believe it will take a year to get COVID-19 under control

By Heather Landi

The majority of physicians believe COVID-19 won’t be under control until January 2021, and nearly half (49%) expect it will take much longer to get the virus under control. A new survey from The Physicians Foundation reveals how the pandemic is impacting doctor and their patients.

FDA flags accuracy issues with Thermo Fisher's COVID-19 test kit and software

By Conor Hale

The FDA has flagged two issues with Thermo Fisher Scientific’s molecular diagnostic for COVID-19 that could lead to inaccurate results.

Sanofi works with retailers, health practices to offer safer flu shot appointments amid the pandemic

By Eric Sagonowsky

Americans might not be worried about the flu season right now, but experts are already focusing on how to distribute and administer as many vaccines as possible—and how to do it safely during a pandemic. Flu shot maker Sanofi has some ideas.

EU backs Big Pharma consortium to speed COVID-19 R&D

By Nick Paul Taylor

A slate of Big Pharma companies led by Johnson & Johnson and Takeda has allied with research centers to advance COVID-19 drugs. The EU-backed, 37-member initiative is seeking to reposition existing drugs and develop novel small molecules and virus-neutralizing antibodies.

COVID-19 is pushing employers to offer new virtual care offerings: survey

By Paige Minemyer

More than a quarter of employers say that COVID-19 is having a significant impact on how they’re approaching their healthcare strategy in 2021, a new survey shows.

CMS to require positive test result for providers to get Medicare payment for COVID-19 patients

By Robert King

CMS updates policy on how to get Medicare reimbursement for treating COVID-19 patients, calling for hospitals to include a positive test result in a patient's medical record.

Healthcare roundup: CMS calls for resumption of inspections paused due to pandemic

By Healthcare Staff

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

Biopharma roundup: Sinopharm floats steep vaccine price range; Serum Institute shoots for $1B in vaccine fundraising: report

By Eric Sagonowsky, Angus Liu, Kyle Blankenship, Conor Hale, Fraiser Kansteiner

Sinopharm advanced a price range for its inactivated vaccine. The Serum Institute of India hopes to snare $1 billion in fundraising by September, the Economic Times of India reported. J&J and Takeda launched a COVID drug research initiative in the EU. The WHO blasted vaccine nationalism. And less than half of Americans would get a COVID shot, a poll showed.

Sinopharm chief says COVID-19 vaccine will cost less than $145 for two-dose regimen

By Angus Liu

The head of China’s state-owned Sinopharm said its inactivated COVID-19 vaccine candidates will cost less than 1,000 yuan ($145) for two doses. While it’s not clear whether he was referring to out-of-pocket cost or list price, the sticker appears quite a bit higher than those on Western shots offered in bulk procurement to the U.S.

Indian vaccine maker looks to raise $1B for COVID-19 shot manufacturing, trial efforts: report

By Kyle Blankenship

With the last three months of the year fast approaching, players in the global hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine are gearing up for what will likely be a busy final quarter. Now, one of the world's largest vaccine makers is looking to raise a massive sum to boost its production of up to five candidates.

COVID-19 Tracker