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Today's Rundown

Gilead's Veklury wins expanded FDA nod for moderate COVID-19 patients despite mixed data
HHS cancels remainder of Philips' contract for 43K ventilators
Hospitals could be facing lower patient volumes for a while due to COVID-19. How are they responding?
Thermo Fisher builds $40M coronavirus test tube manufacturing facility in 6 weeks
Biopharma roundup: J&J homes in on 38M-dose vaccine deal with Canada; Gilead's remdesivir snares emergency nod in moderate COVID patients
Americans see hospitals as more trustworthy than FDA or CDC on COVID-19 vaccine information, poll finds
CMS offers new details on how providers must report COVID-19 relief funds to Medicare
Cats point the way to potential COVID-19 remedies
FiercePharmaPolitics—FDA would consider COVID vaccines before phase 3 trials finish, commissioner says
Blue Cross MN, Allina Health kick off 6-year value-based care arrangement

Featured Story

Gilead's Veklury wins expanded FDA nod for moderate COVID-19 patients despite mixed data

By Eric Sagonowsky

Amid daily headlines about COVID-19 vaccines and trends, Gilead's Veklury, also known as remdesivir, remains the only antiviral drug authorized to treat the illness. With a new move from the FDA, the medicine's emergency green light is a little broader—despite some lingering questions about its efficacy.

HHS cancels remainder of Philips' contract for 43K ventilators

By Conor Hale

The Trump administration has cut short its COVID-19 ventilator contract with Philips before a majority of the order could be delivered to the national stockpile.

Hospitals could be facing lower patient volumes for a while due to COVID-19. How are they responding?

By Robert King

Hospital patient volumes have stagnated after recovering from major declines due to COVID-19, and they are likely to stay that way for some time, experts say.

Thermo Fisher builds $40M coronavirus test tube manufacturing facility in 6 weeks

By Conor Hale

To help meet the relentless demand for COVID-19 diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific has stood up a new, $40 million manufacturing facility in six weeks.

Biopharma roundup: J&J homes in on 38M-dose vaccine deal with Canada; Gilead's remdesivir snares emergency nod in moderate COVID patients

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

J&J agreed to supply up to 38 million vaccines to Canada. Gilead won expanded approval for remdesivir, now branded as Veklury, in moderate COVID-19 patients. Thermo Fisher built a new viral transport media plant in six weeks, plus the U.S. cancelled its ventilator contract with Philips. And health experts called for an independent commission to screen vaccine data.

Americans see hospitals as more trustworthy than FDA or CDC on COVID-19 vaccine information, poll finds

By Tina Reed

The Harris Poll recently asked Americans about the perceived trustworthiness of different sources of information about a future COVID-19 vaccine, including hospitals, federal agencies, health insurers and more. Here's what they found.

CMS offers new details on how providers must report COVID-19 relief funds to Medicare

By Robert King

CMS released updated guidance intended to help providers report COVID-19 relief funds to Medicare.

Cats point the way to potential COVID-19 remedies

By Arlene Weintraub

University of Alberta scientists reported that a drug being developed by Anivive Lifesciences to treat feline infectious peritonitis prevented human coronaviruses from replicating in cell studies. They believe the drug should be rushed into human trials to treat patients with COVID-19, given that it has proven safe and effective in cats.

FiercePharmaPolitics—FDA would consider COVID vaccines before phase 3 trials finish, commissioner says

By Eric Sagonowsky

With multiple COVID-19 vaccines racing ahead in late-stage testing, FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn said his agency doesn’t necessarily need those trials to wrap up before allowing the shots onto the market. Meanwhile, a large majority of the American public believes politics is driving vaccine decisions at the agency, not science.

Blue Cross MN, Allina Health kick off 6-year value-based care arrangement

By Paige Minemyer

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Allina Health have agreed to a six-year value-based care arrangement that will reach a large portion of patients in the state.

COVID-19 Tracker