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Today's Rundown

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Moderna sketches out 94.1% efficacy for COVID-19 vax based on more cases, with EUA plotted for today

As Moderna continues to drip-feed the latest data from its late-stage COVID-19 vaccine effort, it has updated the shot’s efficacy figure.

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CVS Caremark chief: The biggest challenges in distributing a COVID-19 vaccine

With the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine looming, companies in the pharmaceutical supply chain are working overtime to plan for all contingencies.

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Signed, sealed, delivered: Pfizer marks first 'mass air shipment' of COVID-19 shot amid cold-chain scrutiny

Pfizer, alone among its peers, has faced fever-pitch scrutiny over the stringent cold storage requirements for its COVID-19 vaccine—and the logistical challenges that could pose. Looking to ease the doubters' concerns, Pfizer has now shipped its first doses by air to the U.S., and distributors are watching closely. 

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Sponsored: Predicting Landfall: A Dynamic Control Room for Taking on the COVID-19 Landscape

When it comes to COVID-19 commercialization, multiple disrupters are likely to impact an asset’s trajectory. Gain the real-time perspective needed to pivot fast in an ever changing environment.

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AstraZeneca staffers targeted in suspected hacking scheme amid work on COVID-19 vaccine: report

Some AstraZeneca staffers may have thought they were talking to corporate recruiters on LinkedIn and WhatsApp, but these job offers were merely fabricated by North Korean hackers as part of a scheme to breach its computer systems and steal COVID-related research, Reuters reported.

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KFF: More than 100K died in nursing homes, long-term care facilities from COVID-19

More than 100,000 residents and staff in nursing homes and long-term care facilities have died from COVID-19 as another surge approaches, a new analysis finds.

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AstraZeneca nears temporary OK for COVID-19 vaccine, plots extra trial

The U.K. government has asked the national regulator to consider clearing AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for temporary supply as soon as it receives safety, quality and efficacy data. Requesting use of the fast track positions the U.K. to be among the first countries to begin a COVID-19 vaccination campaign. 

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Hospital operating margins down nearly 20% since start of year due to COVID-19, report says

Hospital and health systems saw their operating margins decline by nearly 20% since the start of 2020 due to the pandemic as the virus starts to surge again, Kaufman Hall reported.

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Novavax, swamped with FDA's manufacturing 'questions,' hopes for US coronavirus shot trial within the year

With two players in the race for a COVID-19 vaccine nearing the finish line on world-first regulatory approvals, Maryland biotech Novavax continues to lag behind in getting its candidate into a late-stage trial in the U.S. Now, that trial has been pushed back further as the FDA targets its manufacturing plans.

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Healthcare roundup: California requires hospitals to test staff, patients for COVID-19

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

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Biopharma roundup: Novavax's US trial start stalls amid FDA questions; Pfizer OK could come 'within days' of review: Azar

Novavax's phase 3 U.S. shot trial has been pushed back over manufacturing questions. Pfizer is trialing its distribution scheme ahead of authorization. Kantaro won an emergency nod for its antibody test. Plus, Northwestern researchers developed an AI algorithm to detect signs of COVID-19 via X-ray.

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