Hello,
Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm healthcare editor Leah Rosenbaum, and this week in healthcare news:
- In an interview with Insider, Dr. Fauci spoke about what 2022 holds for COVID-19 vaccines;
- We spoke with Verily's new president of research about how the company plans to revolutionize clinical trials;
- Moderna's Eric Huang spoke with us about the company's new foray into gene editing.
If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at [email protected] or tweet @leah_rosenbaum. Let's get to it…
First: It's official: The FDA on Friday authorized booster shots of Pfizer's and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines for all adults.
Previously, the extra dose for Pfizer and Moderna shot recipients had been OK'd nationally for older and higher-risk populations. Today's authorization expands that and simplifies the booster-shot campaign.
Find out more about the authorization here>>
Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a White House press briefing on January 21, 2021 in Washington.Alex Wong/Getty Images Dr. Fauci talks booster shots and vaccines for babies
In an exclusive interview, Dr. Fauci spoke with health correspondent Hilary Brueck to discuss all things COVID-19.
The good doctor emphasized that he thinks booster shots should be available for all adults in the US already, saying that they will give a crucial extra layer of protection.
He also predicted that the first COVID-19 vaccines for babies and toddlers should be available by the spring of 2022.
Check out the interview>>
Dr. Fauci says he expects babies and toddlers will have a COVID-19 vaccine by spring 2022
Dr. Amy Abernethy, Verily's president of clinical research.Verily
Dr. Amy Abernethy joined Verily as the new president of research in July, and she already has big plans for the company.
Blake Dodge and Hugh Langley spoke to Abernethy about her plans to make money by expanding Verily's clinical trial tools.
Not only will the company sell components of its Baseline platform to other businesses, but Abernethy says that they plan to collect massive amounts of patient data to make clinical trials easier and more precise.
Read more now>>
How Amy Abernethy is rejiggering one of Verily's biggest bets to change clinical research and propel the Google spin-off into the future
A scientist at Moderna works on research at the biotech's R&D hub in Norwood, MassachusettsFranco Sacchi/Insider
Eric Huang helped Moderna become the vaccine powerhouse that it is today. Now, the 50-year old executive of the newly formed Moderna Genomics thinks gene editing is the future for the giant biotech.
Andrew Dunn sat down with Huang to discuss Moderna Genomic's genesis, its revenue strategy, and why gene editing continues to be one of the hottest areas in biotech.
See the full story>>
The scientist who helped Moderna become a vaccine powerhouse tells us why he thinks gene editing is the future for the $91 billion biotech
More stories that kept us busy this week:
- Megan Hernbroth wrote about the pitchdeck that scored $25 million for a new home care company.
- Cassava Sciences, a company that is developing a drug for Alzheimer's disease, is under investigation by the government reports Allison DeAngelis.
- Peloton has been hit hard by gyms reopening. Jade Khatib reports that the company is pitching itself as an employee wellness service.
- Mary Meisenzahl reported that CVS plans to close over 900 of its stores in the next three years as it changes its business model.
- Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce wrote about a debate between scientists and the FDA over COVID-19 antibody tests.
-Leah