Newsletter Tool

To view this email as a web page, click here

Editor's note: The Fierce PM Tracker will not publish on Monday, September 6, in observance of Labor Day. We'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday, September 7.

Today's Rundown

Novartis scraps kidney transplant trial after control beats study drug
Lilly's COVID-19 antibody combo cleared for nationwide use as feds say it can tackle the dominant delta variant
Hospitals ramp up hiring, benefits offerings to counter the workforce shortage, survey says
AstraZeneca strikes COVID-19 vaccine delivery deal with Europe, ending high-profile legal battle
Cassava CEO, ‘dazed and confused’, takes to biotech defense handbook by blaming short sellers for woes
CDC: 'Perfect storm' fueled a spike in healthcare-associated infections in 2020
A mini-CRISPR system could be 'Swiss knife' in gene editing
MedPAC considers one-time funding boosts for Medicare in 2023 due to COVID-19 confusion
COVID-19 tracker: EU probes rare safety concerns for Pfizer, J&J shots
Florida Blue parent GuideWell to acquire Puerto Rico-based Triple-S Management

Featured Story

Novartis scraps kidney transplant trial after control beats study drug

By Nick Paul Taylor

Novartis’ kidney transplant trial has crashed and burned. Having moved into phase 2 on the strength of evidence that iscalimab may prolong the durability of transplanted kidneys, Novartis has stopped the study after an interim analysis found it may be worse than standard of care.

Lilly's COVID-19 antibody combo cleared for nationwide use as feds say it can tackle the dominant delta variant

By Eric Sagonowsky

Only a few days after Eli Lilly's COVID-19 antibody combo of bamlanivimab and etesevimab made its return in more than 20 states, federal officials are resuming distribution nationwide. In a Thursday alert, officials said Lilly's drug "can be used in all U.S. states, territories, and jurisdictions" based on data about variants circulating nationwide.

Hospitals ramp up hiring, benefits offerings to counter the workforce shortage, survey says

By Dave Muoio

A spring poll of 150 health systems outlined a stark contrast to last year, when lockdown-induced cost cutting spurred furloughs, layoffs and suspended benefits.

AstraZeneca strikes COVID-19 vaccine delivery deal with Europe, ending high-profile legal battle

By Noah Higgins-Dunn

AstraZeneca and the European Commission have settled their months-long dispute over the company's planned shipments of millions of COVID-19 doses to EU countries. Under the agreement, AZ will supply the EU with 200 million jabs of its vaccine, known as Vaxzevria, by March 2022.

Cassava CEO, ‘dazed and confused’, takes to biotech defense handbook by blaming short sellers for woes

By Ben Adams

The Cassava saga continues as its chief Remi Barbier has come out, guns blazing, against accusations that the biotech may have deliberately misdirected investors on its recent Alzheimer’s readout.

CDC: 'Perfect storm' fueled a spike in healthcare-associated infections in 2020

By Dave Muoio

Between the heavy use of catheters and ventilators and industry-wide shortages of staff and supplies, the COVID-19 pandemic reversed years of progress in reducing preventable hospital infections, according to a new CDC analysis of national surveillance data.

A mini-CRISPR system could be 'Swiss knife' in gene editing

By Kyle LaHucik

Researchers at Stanford University say they have created a mini version of the CRISPR-Cas system that could be easier to deliver into cells for gene therapies. The mini gene-editing system comes after CRISPR pioneer Intellia revealed first-in-human gene editing data in June.

PM Tracker

Featured Story

Top Stories