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Today's Rundown

AstraZeneca files for FDA green light of COVID-preventing antibody
Henrietta Lacks’ estate sues Thermo Fisher for continued sale of HeLa cells without family consent
Women's digital health rakes in $1.3B in 2021 buoyed by investor interest in more integrated care
Merck's molnupiravir will be 'complementary, but not a competitor' to COVID-19 vaccines: analyst
Hologic begins broad European launch of its tabletop Novodiag tester after its $795M acquisition
GlaxoSmithKline relocates U.S. operations in Philadelphia, North Carolina as COVID-19 cuts its office space needs
CMS: Employer plans can't deny benefits to unvaccinated customers but can offer premium discounts
As Revance nears a potential launch for its Botox rival, AbbVie sues for patent infringement
Inotiv acquires drug discovery company Plato BioPharma in $15M deal

Featured Story

AstraZeneca files for FDA green light of COVID-preventing antibody

By Nick Paul Taylor

AstraZeneca has taken another step toward bringing its COVID-19 antibody cocktail to market, filing for emergency use authorization of the long-acting candidate in coronavirus prophylaxis in the U.S.

Henrietta Lacks’ estate sues Thermo Fisher for continued sale of HeLa cells without family consent

By Andrea Park

A tissue sample was taken from Lacks without her consent in 1951 and was subsequently used to develop the first polio vaccine, HPV vaccines, gene-mapping techniques and more.

Women's digital health rakes in $1.3B in 2021 buoyed by investor interest in more integrated care

By Heather Landi

Digital health startups focused on women's health care pulled in $1.3 billion in funding so far in 2021—nearly doubling all of 2020's funding with four months still left to go. The new wave of women's digital health funding is pushing beyond historical norms of pregnancy and fertility support to more comprehensive offerings, from primary care to chronic disease management and menopause, accord to a report from Rock Health.

Merck's molnupiravir will be 'complementary, but not a competitor' to COVID-19 vaccines: analyst

By Kevin Dunleavy

How will the emergence of Merck's antiviral molnupiravir affect the demand for vaccines and other COVID treatments? Analysts from the ODDO BHF financial services group say molnupiravir will have little impact on vaccines. Bernstein also weighs in on the effect on antivirals.

Hologic begins broad European launch of its tabletop Novodiag tester after its $795M acquisition

By Conor Hale

After inking a $795 million deal this summer to absorb a maker of fully automated diagnostics aimed at infectious diseases, Hologic is hitting the road with its newfound prize and launching the Novodiag system for labs in Europe.

GlaxoSmithKline relocates U.S. operations in Philadelphia, North Carolina as COVID-19 cuts its office space needs

By Angus Liu

Many companies have shifted their way of working amid COVID-19. Adjusting to how work is done these days, GlaxoSmithKline is downsizing its office footprint in the U.S. by moving to new locations.

CMS: Employer plans can't deny benefits to unvaccinated customers but can offer premium discounts

By Robert King

Employer health plans cannot deny benefits to customers who don't get vaccinated for COVID-19 but they can offer premium discounts for getting vaccinated, new CMS guidance says.

As Revance nears a potential launch for its Botox rival, AbbVie sues for patent infringement

By Eric Sagonowsky

Revance Therapeutics has traveled a long road to a potential FDA approval for its Botox competitor, including COVID delays that pushed back plant inspections. Now, it faces a new obstacle: a patent lawsuit from drug giant AbbVie.

Inotiv acquires drug discovery company Plato BioPharma in $15M deal

By Kyle LaHucik

Contract research organization Inotiv is making another deal, this time doling out total consideration of $15 million for drug discovery company Plato BioPharma. The Colorado-based in vivo pharmacology research company adds to Inotiv's August buy of Gateway Pharmacology Laboratories.

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