Newsletter Tool

To view this email as a web page, click here

Today's Rundown

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine triggers immune response in older adults
CMS to require hospitals to report critical COVID-19 data on bed capacity, PPE and cases
Liability risks emerge as an obstacle in Europe's COVID-19 vaccine negotiations: Reuters
Mayo Clinic study finds uptick in chest pain searches online amid COVID-19, even as ED visits for heart problems drops
Moderna outlook too rosy amid multiple potential COVID-19 vaccines: analyst
Trump admin alters key disaster policy for MA, Part D due to COVID-19
Biopharma roundup: Is Moderna up to the task of launching a vaccine?; New CDC testing guidelines came from administration higher-ups
New GSK campaign works to raise adult vaccine awareness—and counter COVID-19 slump
FDA commish finding his feet, COVID-19 and chaotic communication hitting speedy approvals

Featured Story

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine triggers immune response in older adults

By Amirah Al Idrus

As seen in 45 younger adults, the middle dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine triggered the production of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in 10 patients aged 56 to 70 and 10 patients over 71. The patients’ antibody levels were two to three times higher than those seen in patients who recovered from the disease.

CMS to require hospitals to report critical COVID-19 data on bed capacity, PPE and cases

By Robert King

CMS released an emergency regulation that requires hospitals to report COVID-19 data that include bed capacity and confirmed cases.

Liability risks emerge as an obstacle in Europe's COVID-19 vaccine negotiations: Reuters

By Eric Sagonowsky

With all eyes on the hunt for COVID-19 vaccines, Europe’s supply negotiations with drugmakers have hit snags over potential liability for side effects, Reuters reports. Though top vaccine players are in talks to supply the EU, only AstraZeneca has made a deal.

Mayo Clinic study finds uptick in chest pain searches online amid COVID-19, even as ED visits for heart problems drops

By Tina Reed

The study of search engine queries found correlation to reports of fewer people going to the emergency department for acute heart problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moderna outlook too rosy amid multiple potential COVID-19 vaccines: analyst

By Angus Liu

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate was the first U.S. shot to enter late-stage testing, but that doesn’t mean it has the brightest future of all. And that's especially true given multiple products—including those from experienced Big Pharma vaccine players—are likely to earn FDA emergency authorizations on the heels of one another, one analyst said.

Trump admin alters key disaster policy for MA, Part D due to COVID-19

By Robert King

CMS is changing a policy that helps ensure natural disasters don't wreck the calculations of Medicare Advantage and Part D star ratings because it would inadvertently be applied to almost all plans.

Biopharma roundup: Is Moderna up to the task of launching a vaccine?; New CDC testing guidelines came from administration higher-ups

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

Moderna faces tough competition from other vaccine makers if its shot succeeds, analysts pointed out. The biotech posted data on the vaccine in older adults, a key demographic for COVID inoculation. Liability worries have snagged EU vaccine talks. And where did the CDC's new, more restrictive testing guidelines originate?

New GSK campaign works to raise adult vaccine awareness—and counter COVID-19 slump

By Beth Snyder Bulik

GlaxoSmithKline has a goal when it comes to vaccine awareness: Boost education enough so that when people turn 50, they recognize age-recommended vaccines as automatically as they know it's time to get a colonoscopy. To work toward that benchmark, the company debuted its first general vaccine awareness campaign in the U.S. this month.

FDA commish finding his feet, COVID-19 and chaotic communication hitting speedy approvals

By Ben Adams

The FDA’s accelerated approvals program is on shaky ground after a series of surprise rejections, poor communication and COVID-19-focused staff.

COVID-19 Tracker