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Today's Rundown

CureVac links COVID-19 vaccine to immune response, setting it up to enter pivotal trial
Why does Walmart think it has a right to play in healthcare? Top health exec Osborne explains
Novavax expands in Maryland as it gears up for late-stage COVID vaccine trial in the U.S.
As COVID-19 cases surge, Trump suggests he'll fire Fauci after the election
Eliquis partners BMS and Pfizer join the pharma crowd urging doctor visits during COVID-19
Biopharma roundup: CureVac shot sparks immune response; Pfizer, BMS launch campaign promoting pandemic doctor visits
Need more evidence value-based care is gaining traction? Cerner reports big uptick in interest among providers
Hologic nets $119M U.S. government contract to boost coronavirus test manufacturing into 2022
More than half of Americans would use virtual care, UnitedHealth Group survey finds
J&J's weekly vaccine series, with 100M views to its credit, finds success demystifying science
LabCentral entrepreneurs volunteer for COVID-19 diagnostic trial
CMS gives states tools to boost Medicaid home and community-based services

Featured Story

CureVac links COVID-19 vaccine to immune response, setting it up to enter pivotal trial

By Nick Paul Taylor

CureVac has shared phase 1/2 data on its COVID-19 vaccine candidate CVnCoV. The German biotech said the mRNA vaccine dose selected for further development sparked increases in virus-neutralizing antibodies and early indications of T-cell activation.

Why does Walmart think it has a right to play in healthcare? Top health exec Osborne explains

By Paige Minemyer

"I think in some ways, it’s not being overly cute or creative. It is about basics but then figuring out ways to do that at more scale," said Walmart Health's chief Marcus Osbourne. Here's what else he had to say about Walmart's approach to healthcare.

Novavax expands in Maryland as it gears up for late-stage COVID vaccine trial in the U.S.

By Eric Sagonowsky

Novavax has spent much of 2020 advancing its COVID-19 vaccine candidate through early-stage testing and preparing for manufacturing and distribution. Thanks to the promise of the vaccine and a separate flu program, the company is expanding its Maryland campus.

As COVID-19 cases surge, Trump suggests he'll fire Fauci after the election

By Eric Sagonowsky

With just one day left until the 2020 election—and with COVID cases surging—President Donald Trump suggested he’d fire the United States’ top infectious disease doctor, Anthony Fauci. The NIAID chief had told the Washington Post, in an interview published Saturday, that the U.S. is "poorly" positioned to fight the pandemic this winter.

Eliquis partners BMS and Pfizer join the pharma crowd urging doctor visits during COVID-19

By Beth Snyder Bulik

Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb are the latest drugmakers to join the swell of campaigns promoting doctor visits during the pandemic. Focused on three health conditions—atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, all three treated by the partners' anticoagulant, Eliquis—the awareness push includes TV ads encouraging people to seek prompt medical attention.

Biopharma roundup: CureVac shot sparks immune response; Pfizer, BMS launch campaign promoting pandemic doctor visits

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

Interim phase 1 data showed CureVac's shot was safe and effective, the company said. Pfizer and BMS want patients to resume doctor visits. J&J's vaccine video series has garnered more than 100 million views since its launch. And LabCentral and BioLabs are teaming up to validate COVID tests patients can use at home.

Need more evidence value-based care is gaining traction? Cerner reports big uptick in interest among providers

By Tina Reed

As health IT giant Cerner works with health provider clients to navigate the rocky waters of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is seeing a big uptick in providers' interest in value-based care, executives said during Cerner's third-quarter earnings call.

Hologic nets $119M U.S. government contract to boost coronavirus test manufacturing into 2022

By Conor Hale

Hologic has received a $119 million contract from the U.S. government to boost its manufacturing of tests and diagnostic supplies for COVID-19.

More than half of Americans would use virtual care, UnitedHealth Group survey finds

By Tina Reed

More than a quarter of respondents said they would prefer a virtual relationship with a primary care physician, a UnitedHealth Group survey found. Here's what else the results show.

J&J's weekly vaccine series, with 100M views to its credit, finds success demystifying science

By Beth Snyder Bulik

As J&J scientists dove into the novel coronavirus' genetic sequence to assess vaccine candidates, communications exec Seema Kumar was trying to figure out how to let the world know. The answer? A live weekly video series hosted by journalist Lisa Ling. Eight months and more than 100 million views later, it's still going strong.

LabCentral entrepreneurs volunteer for COVID-19 diagnostic trial