Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Google Rolls Out Features To Monitor Heart, Respiration On Pixel Phones
Stat: Google Expands Health Goals With New Wellness Features For Pixel Phones
Google is taking a bite out of another piece of the health care pie. On Thursday, the tech giant announced plans to debut two wellness features that allow users of its Pixel smartphone to measure their heart and respiration rate using the device’s camera. (Brodwin, 2/4)
The Wall Street Journal: States Pressure Drugmakers After McKinsey’s $600 Million Opioid Settlement
State attorneys general intensified pressure on drug companies to settle claims over the opioid crisis, following consulting firm McKinsey & Co.’s agreement to pay nearly $600 million over its advice to pharmaceutical companies to rev up sales. McKinsey’s settlements, reached with every state but Nevada, are an unexpected first source of revenue to stem from yearslong investigations into drug industry players that states say helped exacerbate an opioid epidemic. It has killed at least 400,000 people in the U.S. since 1999. (Randazzo and Randles, 2/4)
In news about 23andMe —
Stat: 23andMe To Go Public Via Richard Branson's SPAC
The genetics testing company 23andMe will enter the public markets via a special purpose acquisition corporation sponsored by Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, a deal that values the company at $3.5 billion. The transaction with VG Acquisition Corp. will provide a burst of capital to 23andMe as it seeks to expand its business beyond direct-to-consumer genetic testing to develop novel therapeutics. (Ross and Herper, 2/4)
Stat: The Pajama Interview: A Q&A With Anne Wojcicki And Richard Branson
When consumer genetics firm 23andMe announced Thursday that it will go public through a deal with the special purpose acquisition corporation VG Acquisition Corp, STAT hopped onto a Zoom call with two of the most prominent and colorful people in the business world: 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki, who has run the company from its start, and Richard Branson, the billionaire idea-man behind everything emblazoned with the word Virgin. (Herper, 2/4)
In news about Merck —
Stat: Merck's Frazier, Biopharma's Irreplaceable Voice, To Step Down As CEO
Kenneth Frazier is stepping down as the CEO of Merck, leaving a giant hole in the fabric of the pharmaceutical industry. The decision, announced Thursday, has been telegraphed for more than a year, but is still a landmark moment. (Herper, 2/4)
The Hill: Merck CEO Stepping Down At End Of June
Kenneth Frazier, the CEO of pharmaceutical giant Merck, will be retiring from his post effective June 30. Frazier, who was one of the few Black CEOs of a Fortune 500 company, will continue to serve on Merck’s board of directors as executive chairman for a transition period. (Williams, 2/4)
