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Today's Rundown

FDA will require 50% efficacy for COVID-19 vaccines, WSJ says. How high is that bar?
Humana to offer home COVID-19 testing, drive-thru testing at Walmart
Covance links up COVID-19 trial tool to help research get back underway
With more nays than yays for Gilead's remdesivir pricing, are pharma's rep gains sunk?
Trinity Health projects $2B revenue loss in 2021 due to COVID-19 as furloughs and layoffs extended
Twist Bioscience launches research panel for screening COVID-19, other respiratory viruses
Novavax hires new manufacturing chief to take COVID-19, flu vaccine hopefuls across the finish line
More than 300 organizations, physician groups push Congress to take action on telehealth policies
Biopharma roundup: AbbVie HIV med falls short in trial; Mexico in talks with China, AZ for COVID-19 tests
Healthcare roundup: Fauci 'wouldn't be surprised' U.S. hit 100K cases a day

Featured Story

FDA will require 50% efficacy for COVID-19 vaccines, WSJ says. How high is that bar?

By Eric Sagonowsky

Coronavirus vaccine developers now have some advice from the U.S. FDA. To win an approval, any vaccine must be at least 50% more effective than placebo in preventing the disease, the WSJ reports, citing guidance to be presented today. That's about as effective as a flu shot in a good year—but it falls short of some expert recommendations for arresting the virus' spread.

Humana to offer home COVID-19 testing, drive-thru testing at Walmart

By Paige Minemyer

Humana will now offer LabCorp’s home COVID-19 tests to its members and is teaming up with Walmart and Quest Diagnostics to provide access to drive-thru tests.

Covance links up COVID-19 trial tool to help research get back underway

By Ben Adams

LabCorp’s CRO unit Covance has updated its Xcellerate platform to seek out as well as help restore and continue ongoing trials hit by the pandemic.

With more nays than yays for Gilead's remdesivir pricing, are pharma's rep gains sunk?

By Beth Snyder Bulik

After months of waiting, Gilead’s pricing for COVID-19 treatment remdesivir inspired the backlash many expected. Patient advocacy groups and legislators howled over the $3,120 price tag as greedy and excessive, while analysts and even an industry watchdog pegged the price as acceptable—and in some cases, lower than expected.

Trinity Health projects $2B revenue loss in 2021 due to COVID-19 as furloughs and layoffs extended

By Robert King

Trinity Health announced it will lose $2 billion in operating revenue in 2021 due to COVID-19 and it will extend furloughs and lay off more workers.

Twist Bioscience launches research panel for screening COVID-19, other respiratory viruses

By Conor Hale

Synthetic DNA manufacturer Twist Bioscience launched a new research panel focused on identifying respiratory diseases, including the novel coronavirus behind the COVID-19 pandemic.

Novavax hires new manufacturing chief to take COVID-19, flu vaccine hopefuls across the finish line

By Kyle Blankenship

With its COVID-19 vaccine hopeful cycling through clinical trials, shot maker Novavax is working to flesh out its executive team to help lead the company to the commercial stage. But you can't get regulatory approval without a sturdy manufacturing operation—and now Novavax has appointed an exec to get that house in order.

More than 300 organizations, physician groups push Congress to take action on telehealth policies

By Heather Landi

Healthcare industry groups are pushing congressional leaders to pass new legislation that will permanently expand telehealth flexibilities. Find out what specific steps the national and regional organizations want Congress to take to expand telehealth.

Biopharma roundup: AbbVie HIV med falls short in trial; Mexico in talks with China, AZ for COVID-19 tests

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

AbbVie's common HIV med Kaletra failed to slash death rates in a U.K. trial. Inovio turned in strong interim data on its DNA vaccine candidate. Mexico wants COVID trials in-country, and it's in talks with China and AstraZeneca to make it happen. The FDA has new vaccine approval guidance, and Fauci plans to testify before Congress again.

Healthcare roundup: Fauci 'wouldn't be surprised' U.S. hit 100K cases a day

By Healthcare Staff

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

COVID-19 Tracker