Recon: Takeda in for $900M on gene therapy R&D; Vertex gets quick win in England for CF triple therapy

• Gottlieb says worst of outbreak will pass by January; Pence sees no need for a mask mandate (CNBC)
• Coronavirus Update: Spooked By America’s COVID-19 Vaccine Skepticism, FDA Promises Not To Lower Standards (Scrip)
• AHA: Hospital losses could top $323B in 2020 (HealthLeaders)
• 2020 Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals List (HITConsultant)
• EUSA Pharma gets FDA green light to evaluate IL-6 inhibitor siltuximab in COVID-19 patients (Pharmafile)
• Mnuchin: White House 'absolutely' does not regret pushing states to reopen (The Hill)
• Drugmakers Raised Drug Prices Throughout COVID-19 Pandemic, Analysis Finds (FDA News)
• Some Government Contracts for COVID-19 Products Dodge Affordable Pricing Laws, Report Says (FDA News)
• AI drug discovery startup strikes partnership with LEO Pharma (MedCity News)
• Tesla chief Elon Musk teams up with Covid-19 player CureVac to build 'RNA microfactories' (Endpoints)

• Vertex Secures Rapid Deal In England For CF Triple Therapy (Scrip)
• RDIF and ChemRar exceed target production of Avifavir (Pharmaletter)
• Avadel sells sterile injectables portfolio; will focus on narcolepsy (Pharmaletter)
• Notified body poll finds multi-month waits for COVID-19 conformity assessments (MedTech Dive)
• South Korean biotech IPO fuels concerns of bubble in sector (Financial Times)
• Brussels in talks with Gilead to secure doses of remdesivir for EU (Financial Times)
• Johnson & Johnson announced that the European Commission has granted Marketing Authorisation for its Janssen Ebola vaccine (Pharmafile) (PharmaTimes)
• Fujifilm Partners With Dr. Reddy’s to Sell Avigan for COVID-19 (FDA News)
• Survey: In the US, people say their use of masks may endure (McKinsey)
• United Kingdom plans ‘office for talent’ to smooth entry for top scientists (Science Magazine)
• Africa Union urges member countries to remove intellectual property barriers to Covid-19 vaccines (STAT)

• New coronavirus cases in U.S. top 50,000 in one day, setting record (CBS News) (NPR)
• A powerful law gives HHS the right to take control of remdesivir manufacturing and distribution (STAT)
• Coronavirus Update: Oxford Racing Ahead With 8,000 Vaccinated In Phase III Trial (Scrip)
• The coronavirus crisis is deepening (Politico)
• The latest: What they are saying: Importance of intellectual property protections to combat COVID-19 (PhRMA)
• Federal coronavirus contracts dodge pricing oversight, advocacy group says (BioPharma Dive)
• NEWS
• Further billions pledged to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 treatments (European Pharmaceutical Review)
• Oxford offers best hope for Covid-19 vaccine this year, MPs told (The Guardian)
• COVID-19 immunity may be more widespread than previously thought, new study suggests (Pharmafile)
• Abivax doses first patient in phase 2b/3 COVID-19 clinical trial (PMLive)
• Experts fear July 4 weekend will exacerbate coronavirus spread (The Hill)
• One ART Regimen Tied to Lower COVID-19 Risk in HIV (MedPage Today)
• Federal Officials Turn to a New Testing Strategy as Infections Surge (New York Times)
• Does asthma increase Covid-19 risk? Emerging research suggests a complicated connection (STAT)

• Takeda expands in gene therapy with $900m R&D deal (BioPharma-Reporter)
• Akero Histology Data Could Be Best In Class For NASH (Scrip)
• Insys Execs Can't Dodge Prison During Appeal, Seek Delay (Law360)
• Study finds flaws in widely-used pricing model for generic drugs (Pharmaletter)
• Sandoz views options for Erelzi, as court backs Amgen patent (Pharmaletter)
• COVID-19 Puts Spotlight On Clinical Trial Networks: 'We Really Need Them Right Now' (Pink Sheet)
• Two Rare Disease Focused Biotechs Raise $900 Million in Follow-on Offerings (Global Genes)
• FDA Grants Rhythm Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for Rare Obesities Drug (Global Genes)
• QurAlis Strengthens ALS Pipeline with Candidates from Lilly (Global Genes)
• Novartis to pay $678M to settle claims over 'sham' doctor events (BioPharma Dive) (New York Times) (Law360)
• Amgen prevails in high-stakes drug case against Novartis (BioPharma Dive)
• Alexion Completes Acquisition of Portola (BusinessWire)
• Sarepta bags drug to fully unlock DMD gene therapy opportunity (Fierce Biotech)

• BARDA backs push for clinical-grade wearable to detect signs of COVID-19 (MedTech Dive)
• EU Medical Device Regulation: What Should You Do During the Delay? (MD+DI)
• UnitedHealthcare adds coverage of Tandem insulin pumps (MedTech Dive)
• Kroger gets FDA authorization for at-home COVID test (Grocery Dive)
• CMS proposes major market expansion in potential boost for Abbott's MitraClip (MedTechDive)
• FTC settles false advertising suit against low-level light therapy marketer with $22 million judgment (Science-Based Medicine)
• Qure.ai gets FDA clearance for its head CT scan product qER (Mobi Health News)
• Sherlock, binx to develop point-of-care Covid-19 test using CRISPR technology (MedCity News)
• Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc.; Withdrawal of Approval of a New Drug Application for ZECUITY (Federal Register) (FDA)
• Chiesi Licenses Bioasis Tech to Tackle Brain Symptoms of Rare Diseases (Xconomy)

• Alexion Pharmaceuticals To Pay SEC $21M Over FCPA Claims (Law360)
• Swift Pace Of Accelerated Approval Submissions Suggests Strong Constituency For US FDA Program (Pink Sheet)
• Minnesota's Free Insulin Law Has 'Staggering' Implications, PhRMA Says (Pink Sheet)
• US FDA Invites Warning Letter Follow-Up Inspection Alternative Proposals As Pandemic Persists (Pink Sheet)