Pfizer’s plan to solve its vaccine’s cold storage problem

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Today in healthcare news: Pfizer’s already thinking about a new version of its vaccine that solves a key problem, the seven ways Amazon’s taking on the $3.6 trillion healthcare industry, and people are going back to the doctor, health insurers’ Q3 earnings show. 

Pfizer’s top scientist tells us the pharma giant is already thinking about a new version of its coronavirus vaccine for 2021 that can overcome one of its biggest limitations

• The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is already thinking about a second-generation coronavirus vaccine, shortly after saying the current version succeeded in a late-stage study.
• Pfizer’s vaccine needs to be stored frozen at minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit), an unusual requirement for vaccines.
• While the $215 billion pharma is already working out the supply-chain challenges, Pfizer’s top scientist told Business Insider a future version — which could come in 2021 — may need just standard refrigeration.

Read the full story from Andrew Dunn here>>

Amazon is attacking the $3.6 trillion healthcare industry from all sides. Here are its 7 biggest bets.

• Amazon is going after drug and care delivery through a host of products and teams.
• With digital-health services becoming more popular, analysts think Amazon is well-positioned to use its internet clout and massive size to send its health business into the stratosphere.
• There are seven key efforts at Amazon that are going after the industry, from telehealth to wearables.

Read the full list of endeavors from Blake Dodge here>>

One crucial number in health insurers' financial reports reveals that people are going to the doctor again despite the pandemic

• Health insurers' financial reports show that patients are going to the doctor almost as often as they did before the pandemic, even though COVID-19 cases show no signs of slowing.
• A key gauge of medical spending increased across the health insurance industry in the third quarter, compared with the prior three months.
• Insurers' combined profits were lower in the third quarter compared with the same period and a year ago and with the second quarter of 2020.

Read the full story from Shelby Livingston here>>

More stories we're reading: 

• Most states aren't ready to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine (ProPublica)
• One in five COVID-19 patients develop mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, and insomnia within 90 days (Insider)
• New science offers an alternative to a 14-day quarantine period (Elemental)
• Donald Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr., without evidence, accuse Pfizer of deliberately waiting until after Election Day to release its COVID-19 vaccine trial results (Business Insider)
• North Dakota healthcare workers are now permitted to continue treating COVID-19 patients, even if they test positive for the disease (Business Insider)

If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter here for all the updates on the vaccine race as it enters some of the final stretches. 

- Lydia