Healthcare analysts are betting on surgical procedures to rebound, sending medical device stocks soaring. A broad index of the stocks has increased by about 45% from its pre-pandemic high. The index had shed 28% in early 2020 when the pandemic first began. (WSJ)
The Northeast will likely still experience another COVID-19 surge and ‘true Delta wave,’ former FDA chief Dr. Scott Gottlieb said. “I think our true delta wave is going to start to build after Labor Day here in the Northeast and the northern part of the country,” he said. (CNBC)
Startup Cityblock Health has raised $400 million in late-stage funding, bringing the company’s valuation to $5.7 billion. The company aims to deliver primary care to people with Medicaid through its tech platform, dubbed Commons. (STAT)
Novartis will discontinue its trial for iscalimab after the drug failed to show efficacy in preventing organ rejection after kidney transplants. The company will continue to test the program for liver transplants. (Endpoints News)
The U.S. plans to send 1.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to African countries through COVAX. The doses will be shipped to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Guinea and Seychelles. (Reuters)
