Hello,
Welcome to Business Insider’s weekly healthcare newsletter.
We have some newsletter news for you to start this week: We have a new name!
The “Dispensed” newsletter you know and love is becoming “Insider Healthcare“.
What does that mean? Not much, except my days just got a lot less punny, and you might notice a different format to the newsletter in your inbox. Otherwise, expect the same great reporting and commentary.
10 important events in the coronavirus vaccines and treatments race this month
Somehow, it's September. March still feels like yesterday in so many ways.
This is going to be a pretty big month in the race to make effective coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
If you can believe it, there are 176 vaccines in the works.
Andrew Dunn rounded up how the top drugmakers see the race for a cure playing out in 2020 and 2021 and when the first shots might be available.
Read the full story, complete with a vaccine tracker graphic here>>
A lot of the vaccines on that list either have important data that might come out this month or are launching critical trials to see how well they work.
By the end of the month, there's a possibility we'll know if at least one of the vaccines being tested is effective in preventing coronavirus infections.
On the treatment end of things, there's a chance to get some key data as well, especially for new antibody treatments.
You can read the full story here>>
We could get crucial data on top coronavirus vaccines and treatments this month. Here are the 10 most important events to watch for.
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Why Dr. Ala Stanford's plans changed as the coronavirus pandemic hit
When the pandemic hit, Dr. Ala Stanford was running a concierge medicine business with clients including Will Smith.
But when she saw how the pandemic was disproportionately impacting Black Americans, she set up a program to offer free testing in neighborhoods that were getting hit hard.
Kimberly Leonard has the scoop on how that program unfolded, and what's in store for Stanford's future.
You can read the full story here>>
A doctor who caters to celebrities changed her plans to focus on helping the poorest parts of Philadelphia battle the coronavirus
GoodRx is going public
It seems every time I close my computer or sign off for the weekend, another healthcare company files to go public!
Luckily, Megan Hernbroth was on last Friday night, when GoodRx, a company that helps patients get more affordable prescriptions via coupons, dropped its S-1.
Inside: she spotted details including that GoodRx is profitable (first time I've seen that in an S-1 since covering the digital health space!) and noted its top investor spots are filled by private equity firms and early employees.
Here are the investors and executives that stand to make the most upon GoodRx's public debut.
Megan dug through the entire 185-page filing to find the most important info related to GoodRx's business.
You can read the full rundown here>>
Digital health startup GoodRx is going public, and we dug through the 185-page filing to find 6 crucial details about the company's plans to provide affordable, direct-to-consumer care
The biggest bets Optum Ventures has made in its first 3 years
Meanwhile, Megan has a rundown on Optum Ventures, the venture arm of healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group.
You've probably heard of UnitedHealth â€" it also operates the largest health insurer in the US, a massive pharmacy-benefits business, and more.
The investments give us a sense of UnitedHealth's views on the future of healthcare, and include everything from testing business LetsGetChecked to pharmacy startup Truepill.
You can read the full list here>>
The biggest US health insurer has a $600 million VC arm that places bets on the future of healthcare. Here are Optum Ventures' 12 biggest investments.
What happens when the staffer filling your prescription tests positive for COVID-19
Finally, my colleague Irene Jiang on the retail team here at Business Insider had an important story on how CVS is handling it when pharmacy staffers test positive for COVID-19.
A leaked email showed that a CVS district leader told pharmacy staff not to tell patients if a staffer who had tested positive for COVID-19 had filled their prescription.
You can read the full story here>>
Leaked email reveals CVS district leader instructed pharmacy staff not to tell patients their medications were filled by someone who tested positive for COVID-19
Hope you all have a great holiday weekend!
Be sure to reach me at [email protected] with words of encouragement for the fall sprint (and tips, of course). You can reach the whole healthcare team at [email protected].
- Lydia