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Today's Rundown

Weak clinical data force Sanofi, GSK to delay COVID-19 vaccine
Exec says CVS to administer first COVID-19 vaccines in nursing homes on Dec. 21
Roche launches high-throughput COVID-19 antigen test in Europe
Lundbeck taps Mental Health America—and its big data—to create a national crisis dashboard
Fitch Ratings upgrades not-for-profit hospital outlook to stable as facilities meet challenge of COVID-19
Biopharma roundup: Pfizer to file shot for full approval by April
Elation Health nabs $40M series C to ramp up support for independent primary care practices
Mercer: Employers planning investments in new worker supports amid slower health benefit cost growth

Featured Story

Weak clinical data force Sanofi, GSK to delay COVID-19 vaccine

By Nick Paul Taylor

Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline’s COVID-19 vaccine has failed to trigger the desired immune response in people aged 50 years and older, forcing the partners to rethink the antigen formulation. The setback is expected to delay the availability of the vaccine from mid-2021 to near the end of next year.

Exec says CVS to administer first COVID-19 vaccines in nursing homes on Dec. 21

By Paige Minemyer

CVS is planning to begin administering COVID-19 vaccines in nursing homes beginning on Dec. 21, a top executive told Reuters.

Roche launches high-throughput COVID-19 antigen test in Europe

By Conor Hale

Roche has begun to roll out its high-throughput antigen test for COVID-19 across Europe, with plans to ramp up production to “a double-digit million number of tests per month” to help meet international demands by early next year.

Lundbeck taps Mental Health America—and its big data—to create a national crisis dashboard

By Beth Snyder Bulik

What if public health officials could track mental health crises as they happen? A new Mental Health America dashboard backed by Lundbeck looks to do just that. The national dashboard will historical and real-time data to identify vulnerable local areas and deploy rapid-response care as hotspots surface.

Fitch Ratings upgrades not-for-profit hospital outlook to stable as facilities meet challenge of COVID-19

By Robert King

Fitch Ratings has upgraded the not-for-profit hospital sector from negative to stable, but COVID-19 will still cause major financial headaches for hospitals next year.

Biopharma roundup: Pfizer to file shot for full approval by April

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

Pfizer will file its shot for a full approval by April. Roche started rolling out its high-throughput antigen test in Europe. WHO could pass judgment on a trio of vaccines in the coming weeks. Sorrento was cleared for a phase 1 study of a next-gen antibody. And Teva is helping its staffers manage work-life woes.

Elation Health nabs $40M series C to ramp up support for independent primary care practices

By Heather Landi

Investors are pouring cash into health technology companies focused on the primary care market. Case in point: fast-growing Elation Health just scored a $40 million series C financing round. Here's how the company is supporting independent primary care practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mercer: Employers planning investments in new worker supports amid slower health benefit cost growth