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Today's Rundown

Moderna pulled in $1.7B with its COVID-19 vaccine rollout, but it's just getting started
Merck takes $170M charge on abandoned COVID-19 drug
Medicaid enrollment increased by 5M during pandemic—but not for reasons you may think
Biden admin backs proposal to suspend intellectual property on COVID-19 vaccines, angering industry
Moderna CEO says he's not losing any sleep over Biden's support for COVID-19 vaccine waiver
Novavax shares in the red after vaccine sees 51% efficacy against South African COVID variant
COVID-19 tracker: Moderna vaccine appears highly effective in adolescents; Germany rejects U.S.-backed patent waiver
UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: 940K have signed up on Healthcare.gov during SEP

Featured Story

Moderna pulled in $1.7B with its COVID-19 vaccine rollout, but it's just getting started

By Noah Higgins-Dunn

Moderna posted sales of $1.94 billion in the first quarter mostly thanks to its COVID-19 vaccine, which generated $1.73 billion in sales during the period. Based on its latest supply agreements, Moderna also boosted its expected 2021 COVID-19 vaccine sales to $19.2 billion.

Merck takes $170M charge on abandoned COVID-19 drug

By Nick Paul Taylor

Merck has recorded a $170 million charge related to the discontinuation of the COVID-19 candidate it acquired in the takeover of OncoImmune. The action means Merck has taken hundreds of millions of dollars in charges on failed COVID-19 bets in recent months.

Medicaid enrollment increased by 5M during pandemic—but not for reasons you may think

By Robert King

Medicaid enrollment swelled by 5 million from March through September 2020 as policy changes could be big drivers in the boost.

Biden admin backs proposal to suspend intellectual property on COVID-19 vaccines, angering industry

By Eric Sagonowsky

Bucking the pharma industry on the closely watched issue of patent rights for COVID-19 vaccines, the Biden administration came out in favor of a proposal at the World Trade Organization to suspend intellectual property protections for pandemic shots.

Moderna CEO says he's not losing any sleep over Biden's support for COVID-19 vaccine waiver

By Noah Higgins-Dunn

Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said he's not concerned about the Biden administration's endorsement of a measure that would temporarily waive intellectual property rights for pandemic vaccines, arguing any new mRNA newcomer would need to invest heavily in ramping up its supply chain.

Novavax shares in the red after vaccine sees 51% efficacy against South African COVID variant

By Ben Adams

While the world (and the biotech’s investors) wait for full data and possible filing for emergency use of Novavax’s NVX-CoV2373, it has dropped more data on how its shot works against a particular variant.

COVID-19 tracker: Moderna vaccine appears highly effective in adolescents; Germany rejects U.S.-backed patent waiver

By Noah Higgins-Dunn,Kevin Dunleavy,Fraiser Kansteiner

Moderna said a trial studying its vaccine in adolescents aged 12 to 17 found the shot to be 96% effective against COVID-19. Germany rejected the Biden administration’s decision to back a controversial intellectual property waiver for pandemic shots. Meanwhile, Moderna's CEO said he's not concerned about the president's endorsement. And more headlines.

UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: 940K have signed up on Healthcare.gov during SEP

By Healthcare Staff

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

COVID-19 Tracker