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Today's Rundown

Rebuking FDA, NIH experts say 'no data' support plasma as a COVID-19 treatment
Roche to launch 40M rapid coronavirus antigen tests per month, starting in Europe
COVID-19 often undetected in workers on hospital frontlines, CDC says
CDC sets its sights on November COVID-19 vaccine deliveries: report
Providence to spend $50M to reduce health disparities, starting with COVID-19 care gaps
Trust pharma for coronavirus news? Most people say yes, but more Democrats than Republicans: poll
Healthcare roundup: Google, Apple integrate contact tracing tech into Android, iOS
Biopharma roundup: Catalent, on the hook for AZ, J&J shots, invests $50M in Indiana plant; vaccine trials could wrap early on strong results: Fauci
Catalent pumps $50M into Indiana fill-finish capacity with COVID-19 vaccine contracts in hand
HHS hands D.C. consultants $250M to 'inspire hope' with pandemic campaign
Two-thirds of healthcare experts plot virtual trial use as a result of COVID-19: report

Featured Story

Rebuking FDA, NIH experts say 'no data' support plasma as a COVID-19 treatment

By Eric Sagonowsky

After the FDA's emergency use authorization for plasma late last month, NIH experts concluded that the therapy "should not be considered" standard of care for treating coronavirus patients. Why? There's "currently no data" that testifies to its efficacy and safety in COVID-19, the agency said.

Roche to launch 40M rapid coronavirus antigen tests per month, starting in Europe

By Conor Hale

Roche plans to make a rapid antigen test for the novel coronavirus widely available in Europe later this month, while also submitting it to FDA reviewers for an emergency authorization in the U.S.

COVID-19 often undetected in workers on hospital frontlines, CDC says

By Tina Reed

More workers in hospitals may have been infected with COVID-19 than previously realized because their cases went undiagnosed, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC sets its sights on November COVID-19 vaccine deliveries: report

By Eric Sagonowsky

With investigators recruiting participants for late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trials, officials are working behind the scenes at the federal, state and local levels to deliver the first doses by November 1, McClatchy reports. That timeline appears to be ahead of when the shots can definitively prove safety and efficacy.

Providence to spend $50M to reduce health disparities, starting with COVID-19 care gaps

By Robert King

Providence health system announced a new $50 million initiative aimed at narrowing racial disparities in healthcare, starting with those impacted by COVID-19

Trust pharma for coronavirus news? Most people say yes, but more Democrats than Republicans: poll

By Beth Snyder Bulik

What’s the most trustworthy source when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine news? Your answer may depend on whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat. A new Harris Poll found that while members of both parties consider doctors, nurses and famous hospitals like the Mayo Clinic as the most trustworthy sources, the two groups diverge elsewhere.

Healthcare roundup: Google, Apple integrate contact tracing tech into Android, iOS

By Healthcare Staff

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

Biopharma roundup: Catalent, on the hook for AZ, J&J shots, invests $50M in Indiana plant; vaccine trials could wrap early on strong results: Fauci

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

Catalent will build a third filling line at its Bloomington, Indiana, plant. Vaccine trials could end early if results are strong, Anthony Fauci said. The HHS tapped Fors Marsh Group to lead its COVID-19 messaging campaign. The U.K. endorsed hydrocortisone in COVID-19. Plus, Republicans and Democrats both trust pharmas working on vaccines, a poll found.

Catalent pumps $50M into Indiana fill-finish capacity with COVID-19 vaccine contracts in hand

By Kyle Blankenship

With a suite of coronavirus vaccine hopefuls looking for manufacturing partners, major contract manufacturers are stepping in to help handle the load. One of those, New Jersey's Catalent, is now injecting some significant change into one of its U.S. plants to keep up with demand.

HHS hands D.C. consultants $250M to 'inspire hope' with pandemic campaign

By Beth Snyder Bulik

HHS has picked a firm for its plum $250 million coronavirus campaign work: the Washington D.C. consultancy Fors Marsh Group. The company’s winning proposal is evidence-based and built on “principles of behavioral and social science," according to media reports. Its campaign partners will include large ad agency and media groups VMLY&R and iHeartMedia.

Two-thirds of healthcare experts plot virtual trial use as a result of COVID-19: report

By Ben Adams

A new report by life science data analytics firm GlobalData has found that two-thirds of healthcare experts surveyed over the summer plan to use decentralized clinical trials.

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