A third COVID-19 vaccine shot will likely be needed within a year of full vaccination, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said. He added that people might need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on an annual basis. (CNBC Weekly)
The Food and Drug Administration has asked Amylyx Pharmaceuticals to provide more data on an ALS drug in the wake of a clinical trial completed last year. Patient advocates argue the delay is devastating to people with the disease who are looking for quicker access to new therapies. (STAT)
Merck is dropping its COVID-19 drug MK-7110 after spending $425 million on it last year. The company faced regulatory delays over the drug, which was previously owned by OncoImmune. (Endpoints News)
Local public health officials said New York City has reached a “tipping point” of people eager to sign up for vaccinations – and that the challenge to reach those less motivated has begun. About 3 million of the city’s 8 million residents have been partially or fully vaccinated. (Politico)
Underserved populations, including individuals residing in rural areas, migrant farmworkers and shift workers, have been disproportionately impacted by the pause in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine rollout. Given its one-shot dosing, the vaccine was being used in and around hard-to-reach communities. (The Washington Post)
