Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Kodak Says It Will Make Drug Ingredients Despite Loan Snafu
The Wall Street Journal: Kodak To Push Forward On Making Drug Ingredients Despite U.S. Loan Troubles
Eastman Kodak Co. Chief Executive Jim Continenza defended his company’s handling of a halted U.S. loan and said Kodak would continue to move ahead in making drug ingredients regardless of whether it receives government assistance. Mr. Continenza’s comments, at the WSJ Tech Live conference on Monday, follow a tumultuous period for the one-time photo giant. In July, the company struck a $765 million deal with the U.S. government to produce drug ingredients, only to have its plans promptly unravel. (Levy, 10/19)
NPR: A Big Alzheimer's Drug Study Is Proceeding Cautiously, Despite The Pandemic
Medical research was an early casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. After cases began emerging worldwide, thousands of clinical trials unrelated to COVID-19 were paused or canceled amid fears that participants would be infected. But now, some researchers are finding ways to carry on in spite of the coronavirus. "It's been a struggle of course," says Joshua Grill, who directs the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders at the University of California, Irvine. "But I think there's an imperative for us to find ways to move forward." (Hamilton, 10/20)
Stat: CBC Group Sets Up AffaMed, EverInsight Merger, Eyes IPO
With Everest Medicines’ $451 million listing now in the rear-view mirror, health care-focused CBC Group is paving the way for another portfolio company to IPO. But, first, a merger. AffaMed Therapeutics announced last week that it is merging with EverInsight Therapeutics, another biopharmaceutical company. Both firms were founded by CBC, formerly known as C-Bridge Capital. (Chan, 10/20)
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FiercePharma: Antimicrobial Posters: In-Office Content Provider Gives Ad Boards A COVID-19-Safe Refresh
While many healthcare professionals enjoy the camaraderie of office lunchrooms, they probably don’t want extra contagions with their sandwich. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. So Physician’s Weekly, the veteran editorial and pharma advertising newsletter-like wallboard provider, decided to take an extra step to make sure its posters were safe. It contracted with a coatings specialist and, beginning in September, added antimicrobial surfaces to all its posters in 23,000 locations. (Bulik, 10/19)
