Recon: Sanofi to acquire Principia for $3.7B; FDA approves Roche’s NMOSD drug Enspryng

• Trump eyes new unproven coronavirus "cure" (Axios)
• Roche gets US approval for Enspryng, takes on Alexion's Soliris (Reuters) (Press)
• Trump Administration picks McKesson for coronavirus vaccine distribution (Reuters)
• Unity Biotechnology fails early test, raising doubts its ability to develop drugs to reverse aging symptoms (STAT)
• Bristol Myers Squibb pens $475M Dragonfly pact for IL-12 program (Fierce)
• FDA clears saliva test for Covid-19, opening door to wider testing (STAT) (FDA)
• CDC's chief of staff, deputy chief of staff jointly depart (Politico)
• Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Drugs Are Taking Longer Than Expected (NYTimes)

• Sanofi in hunt for specialty drugs with $3.7 billion deal for U.S.-based Principia (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (STAT) (Endpoints) (FT) (Press)
• CureVac vows ‘ethical margin’ on price of Covid-19 vaccine (Financial Times)
• CureVac doesn't rule out accelerated approval for COVID-19 vaccine (Reuters)
• Russia produces first batch of COVID-19 vaccine: Interfax (Reuters)
• Russia vaccine thrusts little-known state research unit into spotlight (FT)
• Testing of CanSino's COVID-19 candidate vaccine begins in Russia (Reuters)
• Novavax begins mid-stage study of COVID-19 vaccine in South Africa (Reuters)
• China grants country's first COVID-19 vaccine patent to CanSino: state media (Reuters)
• NICE publishes guidance on Astellas' Xospata (PharmaTimes)
• Juno joint venture seeks IPO haul to bring CAR-Ts to China (Fierce) (Endpoints)

• Scientists See Signs of Lasting Immunity to Covid-19, Even After Mild Infections (NYTimes)
• PPE Shortage Could Last Years Without Strategic Plan, Experts Warn (KHN)
• Politics Slows Flow of US Pandemic Relief Funds to Public Health Agencies (KHN)
• Trust, Fear and Solidarity Will Determine the Success of a COVID Vaccine (KHN)
• U.S. Deaths Top 170,000 As Coronavirus Pandemic Continues To Take Its Toll (NPR)
• Trump elevates Scott Atlas, a doctor with a rosier coronavirus outlook (Politico)
• Coronavirus Crisis Has Made Brazil an Ideal Vaccine Laboratory (Politico)
• Japan's AGC to expand vaccine agent production for Novavax (Nikkei)

• Q&A: Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson on a major acquisition, long-term strategy, and Covid-19 vaccines (STAT)
• EU To Coordinate Assessment Of Clinical Trial Safety Data (Pink Sheet)
• Ned Sharpless' 'brainchild' nabs a speedy FDA review for small cell lung cancer drug (Endpoints)
• Blackstone finalizes R&D pact with Alnylam as part of earlier $2 billion investment (Endpoints)
• FDA slaps clinical hold on Applied Therapeutics after savage fight over short attack (Endpoints)
• Trevena preps low-key launch, responsible marketing for long-awaited opioid Olinvyk (Fierce)
• Bristol Myers bets $475M cash on a blockbuster shot at breaking the mold in immuno-oncology — with a potential IL-12 game-changer (Endpoints)
• KKR healthcare vet Jim Momtazee jump starts a new investment firm; Bayer signs up a top China biotech player to $645M deal (Endpoints)
• Taysha buys clinic-ready gene therapy from Abeona, bringing Steven Gray's portfolio back in one place (Endpoints)
• Q&A: BIO CEO Michelle McMurry-Heath Outlines Diversity Goals (Pink Sheet)
• An RNA vaccine for advanced melanoma (Nature)
• Zooming in on What Matters! (LifeSciVC)

• MedTech 100 roundup: Up-and-down week for industry (MassDevice)
• NIH study shows multifocal contact lenses can slow down childhood nearsightedness (Fierce)
• Surgical robots, early cancer tests top CB Insights digital health startup list (MedtechDive)
• Designation Of EU Notified Bodies: Is There Evidence Of Bias? (MedtechInsight)
• Baxter Obtains U.S. FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Regiocit Replacement Solution Used in CRRT (Press)

• Hancock axes ‘failing’ Public Health England (The Telegraph)
• Ohio’s lawsuit against drug distributors over opioid crisis set to go before a judge and jury this October (Cleveland)
• Ex-Insys Sales Rep Evades Prison Over Opioid Bribe Ploy (Law360)
• Ex-FDA Head Says He Didn't Ask NY Docs About Opioid Rx's (Law360)
• 3M Inks Deal To End Mask Suit Against Amazon Vendor (Law360)
• Mallinckrodt Must Face Antitrust Claims Over Seizure Drug (Law360)