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Below is an excerpt from a complimentary research note written by our Healthcare Team of Tom Tobin, William McMahon, and Justin Venneri. We are pleased to announce our new Sector Pro Product Health Care Pro. Click HERE to learn more. |
As expected, Pfizer’s/BioNTech’s vaccine received a favorable nod from the FDA Advisory Committee yesterday.
Given the relentless spread of COVID-19 across the U.S., we’re going to be watching “distribution execution” closely – not only for personal/humanitarian reasons, but as you know, we think that getting the high-risk population vaccinated is the first step in our snapback thesis (i.e., a rapid return to in-person care), and it will also influence the COVID comp(s).
We have our GoodRx Black Book presentation today, and it’s worth noting that management (co-CEO Doug Hirsch and CFO Karsten Voermann) presented at two sell-side TMT (tech, media, telecom) conferences this week.
As patients return to care, especially higher acuity patients that have deferred care, the number of prescriptions will grow (according to a 2016 CDC survey, at least one medication is provided or prescribed in 74% of visits):
NEWS/LINKS OF INTEREST – Here are some Extra Links for Weekend Reading
- The hurdles we face before reaching herd immunity – Fauci’s view of getting to herd immunity (“once 75%–80% of people get vaccinated against COVID-19”). We think we can get there sooner (once the high-risk population is largely protected).
- Stamford Health's infectious diseases chair discusses health system's COVID-19 vaccine plans – “Stamford is set to initially receive just shy of 1,000 doses of the vaccine during the first round of distribution. Assuming Pfizer's vaccine is granted an emergency use authorization quickly following the FDA vaccine advisory committee's Dec. 10 vote to endorse the vaccine, Dr. Parry said the system is aiming to have vaccines on site by Dec. 15 and start administering vaccinations within a day or two.” People receiving the vaccine will also be given an app for their smartphones created by the CDC through which they can report any adverse reactions they may have to the vaccine.
- SCOTUS Rules on PBMs, Finally - the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on this yesterday – reminder, this is about “Act 900, which effectively requires PBMs to reimburse Arkansas pharmacies at a price equal to or higher than the pharmacy’s wholesale cost. To accomplish this result, Act 900 requires PBMs to timely update their MAC lists when drug wholesale prices increase…” This should help independent pharmacies across the US, as states have been more active in regulating the industry over the past 12 months.
- Pandemic history: “The U.S. is entering a winter holiday season like no other seen in the last 100 years as COVID-19 cases surge nationwide. The country faced a similar scenario in 1918, as the holidays came shortly after the Spanish flu's deadliest fall wave,” reports The New York Times.
- Digital health startup Ro expands into home-based care with Workpath acquisition
- LabCorp receives approval for the industry's first over-the-counter home COVID-19 test – Testing will remain a cornerstone of the pandemic response, and allowing Americans to test at-home should help.
