Biopharma analysts said that drug-pricing legislation is unlikely to pass amid a divided U.S. government in the wake of Tuesday’s presidential and congressional elections. “A Democratic sweep was our worst-case scenario,” Jeffries analyst Michael Yee wrote in a note to investors. (Endpoints News)
Numerous 2020 election results could have major implications for health policy in the United States, STAT noted. They include the defeat of former Clinton Administration health secretary Donna Shalala in Florida’s 27th Congressional District and the victory of Rep. Roger Marshall in Kansas’ Senate race. Marshall is set to become the fourth Republican doctor in the Senate. (STAT)
Amid a surge in COVID infections, healthcare facilities are once again experiencing a shortage of personal protective equipment. N95 face masks are in particularly short supply, health officials and manufacturers reported. (The Wall Street Journal)
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study revealed that pregnancy is among the conditions that increases the risk of severe illness for people infected with COVID-19. The study examined outcomes for more than 400,000 symptomatic women between the ages of 15 to 44, more than 23,000 of whom were pregnant. (The New York Times)
Shoppers and pub crawlers in England spent Wednesday bracing for a second coronavirus lockdown set to commence on Thursday. The lockdown, which encompasses non-essential venues like pubs, golf courses and book stores, will remain in effect until at least December 2. (Associated Press)
