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Today's Rundown

Gilead kicks off clinical trial of inhaled remdesivir for less-severe COVID-19
Premier survey: Nearly all hospitals stockpiling drugs to prepare for second COVID-19 surge
Want to defeat COVID-19? Deliver a 70% effective vaccine—and get 70% of people to take it, FDA official says
What doctors should know as debate heats up around schools reopening in fall
Biden-Sanders task force health platform pushes for public option, a free COVID-19 vaccine
NIAID creates new COVID-19 drug and vaccine trial network through Trump's Warp Speed program
Oxford researchers develop portable COVID-19 test costing less than $25
Biopharma roundup: FDA official floats 70% vaccine efficacy bar; AZ, Pfizer, J&J to testify on vaccine progress
Healthcare roundup: Azar voices support for telehealth expansion; Geisinger CEO on second surge
Moderna inks fill-finish pact with Spain's Rovi for 'hundreds of millions' of COVID-19 shot doses
GSK's Shingrix supply recovers thanks to drop in vaccinations, uninterrupted production

Featured Story

Gilead kicks off clinical trial of inhaled remdesivir for less-severe COVID-19

By Angus Liu

Gilead has started a clinical trial of inhaled remdesivir in 60 U.S. healthy volunteers. The hope is that the inhaled formulation—as compared with the drug’s currently available intravenous form—could reach the outpatient setting, where patients have less severe disease, and that early treatment could help them avoid hospitalization.

Premier survey: Nearly all hospitals stockpiling drugs to prepare for second COVID-19 surge

By Robert King

Premier members are stockpiling drugs needed to treat COVID-19 patients as concerns about a second surge of cases grows, a new survey found.

Want to defeat COVID-19? Deliver a 70% effective vaccine—and get 70% of people to take it, FDA official says

By Eric Sagonowsky

One of public health's greatest accomplishments was eradicating smallpox back in 1979. To eradicate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 illness, we'll need a vaccine that's 70% effective—and 70% of the population will need to receive it, an FDA vaccine official said Wednesday.

What doctors should know as debate heats up around schools reopening in fall

By Tina Reed

As the U.S. suffers surges in COVID-19 cases in states that have begun reopening their economies, it's fanned the flames of a growing debate: How should schools proceed with instruction in the fall?

Biden-Sanders task force health platform pushes for public option, a free COVID-19 vaccine

By Paige Minemyer

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's campaign released his healthcare platform shaped by a series of progressive task forces.

NIAID creates new COVID-19 drug and vaccine trial network through Trump's Warp Speed program

By Ben Adams

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is launching a new clinical trial network to seek out and add thousands of volunteers to major clinical tests for vaccines and monoclonal antibodies against the pandemic.

Oxford researchers develop portable COVID-19 test costing less than $25

By Conor Hale

The University of Oxford and its research center in China are launching a new company to develop a rapid COVID-19 test that could cost no more than £20, or about $25 U.S.

Biopharma roundup: FDA official floats 70% vaccine efficacy bar; AZ, Pfizer, J&J to testify on vaccine progress

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

The FDA's Peter Marks thinks it will take a COVID-19 shot with 70% efficacy to eradicate the virus. The Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins issued a report on the public's role in vaccination. Plus, J&J, AZ, Moderna and more will report their vaccine progress before a House subcommittee this month.

Healthcare roundup: Azar voices support for telehealth expansion; Geisinger CEO on second surge

By Healthcare Staff

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

Moderna inks fill-finish pact with Spain's Rovi for 'hundreds of millions' of COVID-19 shot doses

By Kyle Blankenship

Moderna is on a steady march to market with its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, and it's snapping up manufacturing capacity along the way. After inking a fill-finish deal with major CDMO Catalent last month, Moderna has now put its name to a second pact, this time with Madrid-based Rovi.

GSK's Shingrix supply recovers thanks to drop in vaccinations, uninterrupted production