Senior White House officials have targeted an end to the emergency designation for COVID-19 as soon as this spring. Should the administration do so, such a move would represent a major pivot point in the country’s battle with the pandemic. (POLITICO)
The Biden administration has reportedly considered a ban on gas stoves citing links to asthma and respiratory issues. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has been considering action on gas stoves for months. Commissioner Trumka recommended in October that the CPSC seek public comment on the hazards associated with gas stoves. The pollutants have been linked to asthma and worsening respiratory conditions. (CNN)
AbbVie and Anima Biotech announced a plan to collaborate on mRNA biology modulators. AbbVie said it would make an upfront payment of $42 million to Anima, which is also eligible for up to $540 million in option fees and research-and-development milestone payments across the three targets, along with further commercial milestone payments and royalties on product sales. (MarketWatch)
More than 88 million people in Henan have been infected with COVID-19, a Chinese official said. The Henan provincial figures are in stark contrast to COVID figures from the central government, which indicate that just 120,000 people in the country of 1.4 billion have been infected and 30 died since the shift in COVID policy. (BBC)
CVS Health has its sights set on Chicago-based Oak Street Health, a Medicare-focused operator of a network of value-based primary care centers. In addition to the Oak Street interest, CVS announced participation in venture rounds for Monogram Health and Array Behavioral Care. (Axios)
