Recon: Senate confirms Becerra as HHS secretary; NICE rejects Keytruda for advanced bladder cancer

• How the bitter political fight over painkillers could derail Biden's FDA pick (Politico)
• Senate confirms Becerra in tight vote with just one GOP defection (The Hill)
• FDA official: US AstraZeneca stockpile not in danger of expiring (The Hill)
• Biden administration begins throwing out Medicaid work rules (Politico)
• Some Long Covid Patients Feel Much Better After Getting the Vaccine (NYTimes)
• Translate Bio suffers a setback with mRNA-based treatment for cystic fibrosis (STAT)
• Eli Lilly’s Covid-19 drug bamlanivimab is no longer distributed in 3 states because of a variant, Woodcock says (Endpoints)

• EU threat of tougher vaccine export controls backed by heavyweight governments (Reuters)
• EU to send letter to AstraZeneca in possible first step of legal action (Reuters)
• Keep using AstraZeneca COVID shots to save lives, WHO tells Europe (Reuters)
• Mexico authorities seize fake batch of Russian Sputnik V vaccine: RDIF (Reuters)
• Britain says delay in Serum Institute vaccines contributing to supply squeeze (Reuters)
• NICE rejects Keytruda for advanced bladder cancer in final guidance (PMLive)

• Existing COVID vaccines may protect against Brazilian variant - Oxford study (Reuters)
• Biden admin unveils $10B school testing plan for Covid-19 (Politico)
• Biden to send Mexico vaccine as US seeks border help: reports (The Hill)
• Pfizer says it is on course to deliver UK COVID vaccine supplies (Reuters)
• Moderna to deliver first UK COVID-19 vaccines in April, schedules on track (Reuters)
• Taiwan clears AstraZeneca vaccines, shots may start next week (Reuters)
• Real-World Evidence On COVID 19 Vaccines Coming Into US FDA (Pink Sheet)
• COVID-19: New And Updated EUA Templates Focus On Serology Tests (MedtechInsight)

• FY2020 GDUFA Science and Research Report (FDA)
• Performance of preclinical models in predicting drug-induced liver injury in humans: a systematic review (Nature)
• FDA warning letters detail violations at China, Mexico drugmakers already under import alert (Fierce)
• UK Extends Recognition Of EU Batch Testing Pending Review (Pink Sheet)
• NICE recommends Daiichi Sankyo's cholesterol-lowering treatments for NHS England use (Pharmafile)
• Merck KGaA adds 350 workers at French site to build capacity for 'single-use' tech for Covid-19 vaccines, therapies (Endpoints)
• Pfizer ships out two cancer ADCs alongside its tech platform to Pyxis Oncology, and its familiar CEO (Fierce)
• Living in its post-Shire world, Takeda continues aggressive licensing push in $2.3B deal with Anima (Endpoints)
• Are radiopharmaceuticals ready for the mainstream? Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb bet yes on MPM's platform take (Endpoints)
• NICE backs AstraZeneca’s Calquence for CLL (PharmaTimes)
• UK gene therapy hub network awarded £18m in funding (PharmaTimes)
• Monitoring Panel to Require MHLW's Periodic Reports on Products Designated for Sakigake Review, Conditional Early Approval (PharmaJapan)
• Little Apellis is arming itself for a David and Goliath battle over a blockbuster drug franchise (Endpoints)
• AmerisourceBergen say-on-pay proposal squeaks by amid outrage over CEO compensation (STAT)
• Top biotech investor Peter Kolchinsky tees up a new SPAC — 3 days after a $300M raise for radiopharmaceuticals play (Endpoints)
• CAR-M era begins as Carisma doses first patient (Endpoints)
• Gilead, Novo Nordisk push NASH cocktail deeper into the clinic (Fierce)
• GSK starts the first phase 3 study with a long-acting anti-IL-5 treatment for patients with severe asthma (Press)

• Robotics demand held firm as pandemic pummeled electives (MedtechDive)
• Birth Control Apps Show The Contradictions In FDA Device Oversight (The Verge)

• Teva Sues BioMarin In UK Over Genetic Disorder Drug Patent (Law360)
• States Push New Bellwether Generic Drug Price-Fixing Case (Law360)
• Pharmacies Rip FDA Bid To End Compound Drugs Reg Case (Law360)
• Calif. Must Share Rx Data With Walgreens In Opioid Row (Law360)
• 340B Dispute Resolution Rule Likely Violated Proper Regulatory Procedures – Court (Pink Sheetv)