Moderna has applied to the Food and Drug Administration for approval of its COVID-19 vaccine booster for all adults. The booster has already been authorized for elderly and immunocompromised people. (CNBC Weekly)
U.S. drug overdose deaths rose to a record high during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from the National Center for Health Statistics. The number of overdose deaths surpassed 100,000 between April 2020 and April 2021, compared to 78,000 the year prior. (The New York Times)
A panel of European Union regulators voted against approving Biogen’s Aduhelm. The negative recommendation represents a potentially huge blow to the drug, which is off to a slow start in the U.S. (Reuters)
Gene editing firm Chroma Medicine has launched with $125 million in early funding. Chroma’s novel approach involves editing the way DNA is expressed in the cell. (Endpoints News)
A four-year study that brought PTSD and bipolar disorder telehealth treatment to underserved, rural areas showed success in improving mental health. The Study to Promote Innovation in Rural Integrated Telepsychiatry (SPIRIT) resulted in a 32% improvement of mental health functioning in patients. (STAT)
