Texas will deviate from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines around vaccination prioritization. While the agency suggests that teachers and first responders should be prioritized in phase 1B of the process, Texas plans to concentrate on individuals who are 65 years or older and ones living with certain chronic conditions. (NBC DFW)
A new strain of COVID-19 has been present in England since at least September, according to researchers. The variant appears to be more contagious than existing ones. (The New York Times)
The European Union has followed the United Kingdom and United States in approving the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Distribution in EU states could begin as early as Sunday. (BBC)
PayPal co-founder and early Facebook investor Peter Thiel has joined a Series B round of funding for biotech firm Peptilogics. Thiel’s investment in Peptilogics, known for its unusual approach to drug design, represents his most recent foray into biotech funding. (Endpoints News)
UniQure has halted development of a hemophilia B treatment after a patient was diagnosed with liver cancer. The clinical hold covers etranacogene dezaparvovec, a gene therapy, and it could have broader implications if the therapy is shown to have played a role in the patient’s cancer diagnosis. (STAT)
