Recon: Biden presses Congress to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices; FDA poised to authorize third COVID vaccine dose for immunocompromised people

• NIH's experimental antibody drug prevents malaria in small study (Reuters)
• FDA poised to OK 3rd vaccine dose for immunocompromised people (NBC) (Reuters) (Politico)
• In a new policy proposal, Biden presses Congress to let Medicare negotiate drug prices (STAT) (Reuters) (Endpoints)
• National Academies’ Report Took Pharma-Friendly Stance After Millions in Gifts From Drugmakers (KHN)
• FDA says it needs a little more time to decide on Merck's P2X3 for chronic cough (Endpoints)
• First generic competition arrives for Pfizer's megablockbuster anti-smoking drug (Endpoints)
• Merck nabs approval for Keytruda combo in kidney cancer after proving it can extend survival (Endpoints) (FDA)

• Age restrictions on AstraZeneca shot have ended reports of rare clots -UK scientists (Reuters)
• Breast cancer drug approved for NHS after maker agrees discount (The Guardian)
• Regulator seeks views on innovative medicines manufacture at point of care (MHRA)

• U.S. health secretary mandates COVID-19 shots for health care staff (Reuters)

• New immunotherapy approach wiped out tumors in two patients with advanced lung cancer, study reports (STAT)
• Sen. Rand Paul reveals his wife bought Gilead stock in February 2020 — 16 months after filing deadline (Endpoints)
• Anti-aging research pioneer Aubrey de Grey placed on leave over sexual harassment allegations (STAT)
• Cancer Trials: Beware Of ‘Digital Exhaust’ When Planning Clinical Outcome Assessments (Pink Sheet)
• Two data falsifiers sentenced to prison as FDA pledges to crack down on those undermining clinical trials (Endpoints)
• A unicorn bags another $220M to fund its plans to upend the clinical trial process (Endpoints)
• Purdue subsidiary nabs non-opioid drug for pain; OrbiMed backs small biotech's 'superior' drug (Endpoints)
• Aprea discloses second clinical hold in a week, this time for lymphoma study (Endpoints)
• Out to revamp plant-based drug manufacturing, Antheia locks in partnership with synthetic biology giant Ginkgo (Endpoints)
• Peter Thiel-backed ATAI launches new Salvia-focused biotech; Purdue bankruptcy trial expected to begin today — report (Endpoints)
• Evotec's new Washington site is ready to roll, and the U.S. has already called first dibs for COVID-19 antibody supplies (Fierce)
• Merck partner Artiva blueprints San Diego R&D, manufacturing site to take NK cell operation to the next level (Endpoints)

• Study reveals stroke risk that brought down Medtronic's HeartWare HVAD (MedtechDive)
• Portable negative pressure tent scores FDA emergency OK to stretch newly strained COVID resources (Fierce)
• Medtech industry starts to face lack of diversity, execs of color (MedtechDive)
• The Unintended Consequences Of The Swiss-EU Medtech MRA Failure (MedtechInsight)
• Wise Therapeutics’ game-based app reduces anxiety in multiple sclerosis patients, NYU study finds (Fierce)
• Q&A with Philips' head of connected healthcare on new products, hospital tech adoption in the COVID-19 era (MedtechDive)

• Affordable naloxone is running out, creating a perfect storm for more overdose deaths, activists say (Washington Post)
• Concerns Persist about Opioid Overdoses and Medicare Beneficiaries' Access to Treatment and Overdose-Reversal Drugs (HHS)
• Roche Can't Ax Ravgen's DNA Tech Patent Suit, Judge Finds (Law360)
• Endo 'Head Shot' Penalty Mulled In Opioid Discovery Fight (Law360)
• Mallinckrodt Asks For Another 3-Month Hold On Product Suits (Law360)
• Endo Cases Highlight Rare Default Risk In Discovery Failures (Law360)