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Today's Rundown

FDA warns new coronavirus variant could trigger false negatives among gold-standard tests
Roche's Actemra, Regeneron's Kevzara win U.K.'s favor in COVID-19 after study shows 24% drop in death risk
COVID-19 supercharged digital health funding in 2020 to reach record levels: report
Pfizer, BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine works in more contagious coronavirus variants: study
Matching Sinopharm, fellow Chinese biotech Sinovac sees 78% COVID-19 vaccine efficacy
Healthcare roundup—86% of mild cases include loss of smell
Biopharma roundup—Biden aims to release majority of pandemic doses
LabCorp to help CDC track COVID-19 mutations as new strain spreads in U.S.
How COVID-19 is changing the way HR professionals think about employee benefits
Moderna poaches Amgen vet as CCO, jump-starting commercial team as it rolls out COVID-19 vaccine
Buoyed by renewed clamor for infectious disease R&D, Affinivax nabs huge $226M funding round

Featured Story

FDA warns new coronavirus variant could trigger false negatives among gold-standard tests

By Conor Hale

The FDA is alerting healthcare professionals that mutations in the novel coronavirus’s genetic code—such as the type powering the fast-spreading variant identified in the U.K.—can trigger false negative results in gold-standard COVID-19 tests.

Roche's Actemra, Regeneron's Kevzara win U.K.'s favor in COVID-19 after study shows 24% drop in death risk

By Arlene Weintraub

The potential benefit of IL-6 inhibitors like Roche’s Actemra and Sanofi and Regeneron’s Kevzara in COVID-19 patients was recognized by scientists early on during the pandemic, but clinical trials have produced mixed results. Now, backed by new data, U.K. scientists are recommending both drugs as key to ending the pandemic.

COVID-19 supercharged digital health funding in 2020 to reach record levels: report

By Heather Landi

Investors poured more than $20 billion into digital health companies across the globe in 2020, marking a record-breaking year. Here are the companies and sectors that banked the most money in the past year.

Pfizer, BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine works in more contagious coronavirus variants: study

By Angus Liu

Newly emerged variants of the novel coronavirus have sparked a key question: Will existing COVID-19 vaccines be less effective against them? But scientists have preliminary data showing that may not be the case, at least for Pfizer and BioNTech’s shot.

Matching Sinopharm, fellow Chinese biotech Sinovac sees 78% COVID-19 vaccine efficacy

By Ben Adams

A little over a week after Sinopharm nabbed the world’s first full approval from Chinese regulators on a 79% efficacy showing for its COVID-19 vax, fellow Chinese native Sinovac, using similar tech, has shown pretty much the same numbers.

Healthcare roundup—86% of mild cases include loss of smell

By Healthcare Staff

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

Biopharma roundup—Biden aims to release majority of pandemic doses

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

President-elect Biden wants to speed vaccine deliveries by releasing most available doses. Labcorp will help the CDC track mutations of the coronavirus. Moderna tapped a new CCO as its shot rolls out. Pfizer is boosting vaccine deliveries to Israel for data on its immunization program. And Eventbrite is being used to set vaccine appointments.

LabCorp to help CDC track COVID-19 mutations as new strain spreads in U.S.

By Conor Hale

The CDC has tapped LabCorp to help conduct a large-scale genomic study tracking new mutations in the COVID-19 virus—after a fast-spreading variant, first identified in the U.K., surfaced on U.S. shores.

How COVID-19 is changing the way HR professionals think about employee benefits

By Paige Minemyer

COVID-19 is changing the way human resources professionals view employee benefits, a new survey shows.

Moderna poaches Amgen vet as CCO, jump-starting commercial team as it rolls out COVID-19 vaccine

By Beth Snyder Bulik

Moderna tapped veteran Amgen executive Corinne Le Goff to head up marketing and sales as it rolls out its COVID-19 vaccine. Formerly senior VP and president of Amgen's U.S. business, Le Goff will add commercial heft to the biotech, which has never before launched a product.

Buoyed by renewed clamor for infectious disease R&D, Affinivax nabs huge $226M funding round