Healthcare VCs share their 2021 predictions

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Today in healthcare news: VCs share their 2021 predictions with us, Verily reshuffles its leadership team, and what we know about the new coronavirus strain in the UK.

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29 top VCs share their best 2021 healthcare predictions, from a surge in startups addressing where medicine falls short to a big year for digital health IPOs

• We asked healthcare and biotech venture capitalists from leading firms like Venrock and NEA to share their predictions for 2021.
• 2020 was a pivotal year for healthcare, shaped by the pandemic and a booming IPO market for digital health companies.
• In 2021, VCs are anticipating a rough time for young startups, a big year for digital health IPOs, and increased attention for startups looking to address the healthcare industry’s shortcomings. 

Read all of the predictions here>>

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Verily is hitting the reset button on its leadership after a turbulent 2020 filled with departures and employee exhaustion amid its battle against the pandemic

• Verily, Alphabet's secretive healthcare moonshot, is overhauling its leadership structure and cutting down on CEO Andy Conrad's direct reports.
• A new chief operating officer took over a lot of Conrad's responsibilities. There's also a new tech chief, and the company is looking for chief marketing, revenue, and information officers.
• In 2020, the upstart pivoted to address the coronavirus pandemic and put a lot of pressure on its employees in the process. Several left the company.
• Meanwhile, Verily in December raised $700 million in a new round of funding that it said would be used to expand its star commercial businesses.

Read the full story from Hugh Langley and Blake Dodge here>>

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A new coronavirus strain surging to dominance in the UK appears to spread faster despite lockdowns, prompting panic and a wave of border closures

• The UK government imposed harsher restrictions on millions of people this weekend, warning of a mutated coronavirus strain that appears to infect people more easily.
• Multiple countries also moved quickly to block travel from the UK, expressing concern over the new strain.
• Experts say the situation is worrying and needs to be closely monitored, but they added that this strain didn't appear to be deadlier.
• They also say it's likely that vaccines will still be effective against the new strain.

Read the full story from Sinéad Baker here>>

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More stories we're reading: 

• Dr. Anthony Fauci is getting vaccinated on Tuesday (Politico)
• Oscar Health has confidentially filed to go public. Here's a look at how the health insurer and rivals Clover and Bright have fared so far this year. (Business Insider)
• The US is going to study allergic reactions from Pfizer's vaccine (CNBC)
• Coronavirus vaccines don't contain microchips. Here's what's actually in the shots. (Business Insider)

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This will be your last Insider Healthcare daily update for 2020! We'll be back in your inbox on the 31st with a little note to close out the year, but in the meantime, be sure to tell your friends and colleagues to subscribe for what is sure to be an eventful 2021.

- Lydia