President Donald Trump has lifted restrictions on telehealth for Medicare patients. These patients can now consult with doctors by phone or video conference with no added cost. Seniors can use FaceTime and Skype for these visits. (STAT)
Pfizer has signed a deal with BioNTech to co-develop a COVID-19 vaccine. The experimental treatment will use BioNTech’s mRNA platform. BioNTech is based in Germany. (Reuters)
Researchers have estimated the death rate from COVID-19 to be about 1.4%. The researchers used data from Wuhan, China, but it provides a guide for other countries on what to expect from the virus. The new number is also significantly lower than previous estimates. (STAT)
Pharma companies are grounding sales reps in the face of the coronavirus. Companies like Amgen, Pfizer, Merck and Amarin are suspending all sales rep visits as hospitals and doctor’s offices reduce access. Many reps are moving to virtual meetings. (BioPharma Dive)
The U.S. may experience blood shortages as blood drives are canceled due to coronavirus. The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) said about half of blood banks are reporting low inventory levels. (Reuters)
