Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
As Shortages Ease, HHS Says It Will Stop Allocating Antibody Drugs
Becker's Hospital Review: HHS Will Stop Distributing COVID-19 Antibody Drugs, Says They're No Longer In Short Supply
HHS said it will no longer allocate doses of COVID-19 antibody drugs from Eli Lilly and Regeneron because they are no longer in short supply, according to the American Hospital Association. Healthcare providers should now order the drugs directly from AmerisourceBergen, the sole distributor of the antibody drugs. The drugs will still be free, HHS said, according to a Feb. 19 news release from the hospital association. (Anderson, 2/23)
Crain's Cleveland Business: UH Named Site For Clinical Trial Of Investigational Drug For Outpatient COVID-19 Patients
University Hospitals will serve as one of the first sites in the nation for a clinical trial evaluating an investigational drug for COVID-19 patients who don't need to be hospitalized, according to a news release. A novel, orally-administered serine protease inhibitor called RHB-107 has demonstrated antiviral and potential tissue-protective effects, according to the release. RedHill Biopharma is evaluating the study drug, also known as Upamostat, in a Phase 2/3 study for treating patients with symptomatic COVID-19 who don't require inpatient care. (Coutre, 2/23)
In biotech news —
CNBC: Elizabeth Holmes Denies Destroying Evidence In Theranos Case
The mystery of what happened to critical evidence proving Theranos’ blood-testing technology didn’t work deepened when Elizabeth Holmes blamed the government for what she calls an “investigative failure. ”In a filing late Tuesday, attorneys for Holmes shot back at prosecutors on a motion to exclude evidence of so-called test results, saying they are at fault for losing a database called the Laboratory Information System (LIS), which contained three years worth of accuracy and failure rates of Theranos tests. (Khorram, 2/23)
Stat: How Covid-19 Could Usher In A New Role For Continuous Glucose Monitoring
In early May, a wing of Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center was eerily empty. The space had been cleared of patients as the pandemic raged. But it wasn’t going to waste. (Palmer, 2/24)
