President Joe Biden signed executive actions on healthcare Thursday with the goal of undoing several Trump administration orders. They included reopening enrollment in the Affordable Care Act and restoring women’s reproductive health protections. (The New York Times)
Amgen’s cancer drug, which aims to block a protein called KRAS, was effective in treating advanced lung cancer patients in a clinical trial. Sotorasib, considered the company’s most important oncology drug, reduced tumors in 37% of patients. (STAT)
The European Union has prodded AstraZeneca to send COVID-19 vaccine supplies from the U.K. to mainland Europe. AstraZeneca previously said the number of vaccine doses to be sent to Europe would be lower than expected. (CNBC)
As part of a focused effort around gene therapy, Bayer and AskBio announced they would be expanding clinical programs for Parkinson’s disease patients. The companies plan to work alongside a clinical team from Brain Neurotherapy Bio. (Endpoints News)
The first U.S. cases of the COVID-19 variant found in South Africa have been identified in South Carolina. Dr. Anthony Fauci has expressed concern over the variant due to a possible reduction of vaccine efficacy. (Reuters)
