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April 30, 2020___

Today's Rundown

Featured Story

AstraZeneca vaults ahead in COVID-19 vaccine race with 'landmark' Oxford deal

Despite running a pair of its older drugs through coronavirus trials, British drugmaker AstraZeneca has been noticeably absent in the pursuit for a vaccine. Not anymore. The company has inked a new development, manufacturing and distribution deal with the University of Oxford that could help it hopscotch right into the lead. 

Top Stories

Cigna's Cordani: COVID-19 likely to usher in 'new call' for innovation

Cigna beat Wall Street projections for both earnings and revenue in the first quarter. The insurer raked in $1.18 billion in profit for the quarter, it said Thursday.

Fujifilm sets aside manufacturing space for a possible Gates-funded COVID-19 therapy

Dozens of drug candidates are being floated as possible therapies for COVID-19, but manufacturing on a mass scale won't be easy. In a deal with a Bill Gates-funded drug accelerator, Fujifilm Diosynth is hoping to ease some of that production burden.

Fauci says White House remdesivir reveal preempted potential leaks: Reuters

The first look at a much-anticipated study of Gilead’s remdesivir came not in a news release or a scientific journal, but in a White House briefing. The unorthodox data reveal was an effort to get ahead of leaks of fragmented information that could cause confusion, Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the NIH body that sponsored the study, told Reuters.

Trinity Health, WakeMed Health systems eye a restart of elective procedures canceled due to COVID-19

Hospital systems are looking at how exactly they can resume elective procedures necessary to their bottom line. Executives at Trinity Health and WakeMed Health and Hospitals share their perspectives.

Biopharma roundup: Fujifilm reserves space for Gates-backed drug accelerator; Trump team works at 'warp speed' for shot

In order to boost manufacturing for a possible COVID-19 therapy, Fujifilm is working with the Bill Gates-backed COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator to set aside production space to bring global distribution quickly up to speed. 

Healthcare roundup: Humana pledges $50M to COVID relief

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

GSK sees 'modest' impact on trials, getting head down for 'busy few months' on COVID-19 work

GlaxoSmithKline is following suit with fellow British Big Pharma AstraZeneca in downplaying the overall risk to its trials during the pandemic.

A COVID-19 treatment inspired by llamas

Single-domain antibodies or “nanobodies” produced by llamas' immune systems have inspired a potential treatment for COVID-19 that works by binding to the spike protein on the coronavirus that causes the illness. The researchers that created the treatment have shown it neutralizes the virus in cell cultures, and they're now planning animal studies.

Here's a look at just how much HCA, UHS and CHS took in CARES Act cash

Three publicly-traded health systems—among some of the largest systems in the U.S.—collectively took home more than $1.1 billion in federal stimulus funds for woes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

CMS eases requirements for COVID-19 tests, boosts payments for telephonic visits 

CMS introduced a slew of policy updates Thursday, including eased testing requirements and higher payments for telephonic visits.

Teladoc's virtual visits nearly double in Q1, revenue reaches $181M amid COVID response

Virtual care providers continue to be a bright spot in the struggling economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Teladoc, one of the top telehealth providers, saw its first-quarter 2020 revenue jump 41% to $181 million year over year.

PPD boosts digital trial work amid pandemic

Contract research organization PPD is extending its digital clinical trial offering to support its biopharma clients' R&D as life science companies continue to find workarounds on trial delays.

Vertex, even amid pandemic, raises sales projections thanks to gangbusters start for Trikafta

Even as some pandemic-hit drugmakers lower their revenue expectations for the year—or pull their guidance altogether—Vertex has hit its stride with its Trikafta launch and raised its 2020 sales projections.