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April 10, 2020___

Today's Rundown

Featured Story

Apple, Google team up on COVID contact tracing via smartphone apps

Tech giants Google and Apple are working together to create contact tracing technology to help in the fight against COVID-19. Through the joint effort, Google and Apple will be able to notify people via smartphone if they've come into contact with someone with the coronavirus.

Top Stories

China's CanSino Bio advances COVID-19 vaccine into phase 2 on preliminary safety data

In the global race to develop an effective vaccine to protect people against the novel coronavirus, China’s CanSino Bio has leapt ahead. The biotech has started enrollment activities of a phase 2 trial testing its recombinant shot, Ad5-nCoV, in healthy volunteers in the city of Wuhan.

FDA greenlights blood detox device to combat COVID-19's cytokine storms

The FDA has granted an emergency authorization to a blood purification system to treat patients with the most severe cases of COVID-19.

They have everything: Amazon kits out COVID-19 testing lab for screening employees

Amazon has begun outfitting an in-house COVID-19 testing lab to help screen its frontline warehouse and delivery workers. The retailing giant has already instituted daily temperature checks as more than 100,000 people arrive for work each day.

Biopharma roundup: Amneal faces hydroxychloroquine shortage; WHO warns against lifting COVID-19 lockdowns

Amneal, one of many drugmakers pledging millions of tablets of COVID-19 therapy hopeful hydroxychloroquine, is facing an ingredients shortage after the Finnish government locked down exports of the drug. 

Healthcare roundup: AHIP to make annual expo virtual

FierceHealthcare's ongoing coverage of how the coronavirus is impacting the healthcare industry.

Samsung scores $362M deal to help Vir scale up COVID-19 antibody production

Vir Biotechnology is betting big on its two novel antibodies' potential to treat COVID-19, locking down a range of manufacturing partners to help scale up. Now, in a third major deal, Vir and Samsung will work together to boost production if the treatment proves effective. 

HHS partners with UnitedHealth to quickly disperse $30B in COVID-19 funding to providers

Health and Human Services partnered with UnitedHealth Group to deliver $30 billion to providers starting on Friday, hoping for a quick dispersal of the funds providers say are desperately needed to help them combat COVID-19.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan paying workers to join the front lines of COVID-19 pandemic

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is encouraging its medical professionals to volunteer to care for COVID-19 patients—and will pay them to do so. 

BioCryst starts COVID-19 trial of broad-spectrum antiviral

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals has begun enrolling COVID-19 patients in a clinical trial of its antiviral drug galidesivir. The trial builds on in vitro evidence that the adenosine nucleoside analog is effective against pathogens including the MERS and SARS coronaviruses. 

CMS relaxes rules to boost capacity of providers as facilities tackle COVID-19 outbreak

CMS relaxed a series of rules in the hopes of boosting workforce capacity at provider facilities overwhelmed with the COVID-19 outbreak.

CalciMedica moves inflammation-targeting COVID-19 drug into phase 2

The FDA green-lighted a clinical trial for CalciMedica’s CRAC channel inhibitor in patients with severe pneumonia caused by COVID-19. The drug, CM4620-IE, is designed to settle down an overactive immune system to reduce inflammation, CalciMedica Chief Medical Officer Sudarshan Hebbar, M.D., told FierceBiotech.