The U.S. has bought 10 million courses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, Paxlovid. The pill, which showed an interim result of 89% efficacy in preventing hospitalization and death, could help reduce the strain on hospitals. (CNBC)
CVS Health will close some 900 stores over the course of three years as part of its move toward health services, including primary care. CVS said part of the strategy includes “enhanced” versions of its HealthHUBs, to offer common and chronic care treatment to more customers. (Reuters)
Novo Nordisk has bought RNAi pioneer Dicerna for $3.3 billion, as part of a larger buildout of its RNAi pipeline. Its goal is to develop precision medicines for chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, as well as rare diseases. (Endpoints News)
The passage of legislation creating a $15 million maternal care program within the Department of Veterans Affairs is considered a victory for Black maternal health. It’s part of the so-called Black Maternal Health “Momnibus,” which aims to address health inequities among Black women, and the first such bill to make it through Congress. (Stat)
The U.S. intends to send millions of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses to the border of Thailand and Myanmar in December through COVAX. The doses, which will be directed toward refugees on the border, are part of the Biden administration’s pledge to donate vaccines to conflict zones. (Politico)
