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Today's Rundown

It's back: Eli Lilly's COVID-19 antibody combo makes its return after 2 months on the sidelines
Pfizer's abrocitinib beats blockbuster Dupixent in phase 3 eczema trial, but key questions remain
Optum: 4 drugs in the pipeline payers should be watching
In reopening Tennessee penicillin plant, Jackson Healthcare relieves the US' dependence on China-made antibiotics
Zimmer Biomet, Canary Medical land FDA de novo clearance for sensor-equipped 'smart' knee implant
AI startup Kintsugi secures $8M from investors to build out voice biomarker-based mental health tech
Laronde banks $440M to ramp up RNA-based meds that could turn cells into protein factories
Pharmas' Facebook 'Stop Hate' ad boycott: One year later, it's back to business as usual, ad tracker says
ACA navigators expected to quadruple in 2022 after $80M increase in funding
Baxter sweetens deal to $10B to acquire devicemaker Hill-Rom: report
COVID-19 tracker: Pfizer, Moderna shots carry risk of rare heart condition, CDC says; Biden admin probes mask mandate bans

Featured Story

It's back: Eli Lilly's COVID-19 antibody combo makes its return after 2 months on the sidelines

By Eric Sagonowsky

In the two months since U.S. officials halted distribution of Eli Lilly's COVID-19 monoclonal antibody combo, rival Regeneron has taken hold of the market—and GlaxoSmithKline and Vir's version has gathered steam. But with a new green light, Eli Lilly's combo can try for a comeback.

Pfizer's abrocitinib beats blockbuster Dupixent in phase 3 eczema trial, but key questions remain

By Nick Paul Taylor

Rivals are closing in on Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent. With AbbVie’s Rinvoq having already bested Dupixent in atopic dermatitis, Pfizer has now chalked up its own efficacy win over the blockbuster incumbent without sharing key details of safety data that could shape the category.

Optum: 4 drugs in the pipeline payers should be watching

By Paige Minemyer

OptumRx has released its quarterly look at the drug pipeline, and two of the therapies highlighted in the report target fairly common conditions.

In reopening Tennessee penicillin plant, Jackson Healthcare relieves the US' dependence on China-made antibiotics

By Kevin Dunleavy

Last year, when Neopharma closed a penicillin plant in Bristol, Tennessee, the U.S. suddenly became dependent on China for antibiotic drug such as Amoxil and Augmentin. But Jackson Healthcare has reopened the plant under the name USAntibiotics.

Zimmer Biomet, Canary Medical land FDA de novo clearance for sensor-equipped 'smart' knee implant

By Andrea Park

Total knee replacement surgery just got a bit of an IQ boost. The FDA offered up a de novo clearance for Zimmer Biomet and Canary Medical’s Persona IQ system, marking it as the first “smart” knee implant to receive the agency’s OK.

AI startup Kintsugi secures $8M from investors to build out voice biomarker-based mental health tech

By Emmy Lucas

Mental health startup Kintsugi is using AI to help clinicians detect depression and anxiety in patients sooner using just 20 seconds of speech.

Laronde banks $440M to ramp up RNA-based meds that could turn cells into protein factories

By Amirah Al Idrus

Laronde launched out of Flagship Labs this year with a lofty vision: to deliver as many as 100 new RNA medicines over the next 10 years. Now, it’s fueling that goal with a major $440 million round. The massive investment also reflects a broader interest in new RNA technologies thanks to the rapid success of two mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

Pharmas' Facebook 'Stop Hate' ad boycott: One year later, it's back to business as usual, ad tracker says

By Beth Snyder Bulik

Many pharma companies joined the crush of brands last summer ditching Facebook ads to press the platform to make changes to stop hate speech. Pfizer, AbbVie and Novartis were among the more than 1,000 brands that joined the “Stop Hate” campaign halting ads in July. Fast-forward a year, and pharmas are now back to normal levels of advertising on Facebook.

ACA navigators expected to quadruple in 2022 after $80M increase in funding

By Robert King

The number of new ACA navigators is expected to quadruple to more than 1,500 in the 2022 coverage year after a major $80 million funding boost from HHS.

Baxter sweetens deal to $10B to acquire devicemaker Hill-Rom: report

By Conor Hale

Baxter still has its sights set on acquiring its fellow medtech manufacturer Hill-Rom, with an upsized offer that could now reach as high as $10 billion, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

COVID-19 tracker: Pfizer, Moderna shots carry risk of rare heart condition, CDC says; Biden admin probes mask mandate bans

By Noah Higgins-Dunn,Kevin Dunleavy,Fraiser Kansteiner

New data presented during a CDC committee meeting confirms that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines can cause greater rates of a rare heart condition. The U.S. Department of Education warned five states that it’s investigating whether their statewide mask mandate bans violate students’ civil rights. Plus more headlines.

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