April 02, 2020
BPG News & Notes
Website News
New Category
We just added a new category: APIs . We've had a notation for that in our database for some time, but finally got around to launching the page. It's a limited selection for now, especially since our coverage in China and India is not near complete, but it's a start.  

Featured Job Section
You may have seen our featured job in last week's newsletter. If you have a job posting you would like to share with our audience of 1800+ (CEOs down to Lab Techs), drop us a line. We are limiting it to a single job posting per mailing.
Industry
Abbott
Coming soon to a triage tent near you, Abbot has begun shipping a 5-minute COVID nasal swab test . The system has been in place for influenza and strep for some time and the FDA has authorized an emergency approval of this new COVID test. Next stop - Detroit . Giddyup.

Intellia
This company went public in May 2016 and their first IND was just approved. That means almost four years passed between going public and finally being allowed to *start* testing a drug in humans. Madness. Investors have only lost half their money so far.
Health & Science
Big4Bio
One of our favorite newsletter providers has some pretty solid COVID coverage for each of their newsletter regions (Boston, SF, San Diego, Philadelphia). They also do a good job covering daily biotech news. You can sign up for one or more of their regional newsletters here: Big4Bio signup

Vaccine
You will see the media quote figures for the best case scenario for a COVID vaccine - usually 12-18 months. What you will not see are headlines quoting the worst case, which could be forever. Realistically, of course, it will be somewhere in between .

FDA
Stephen Hahn is the commissioner of the FDA, which is a part of the Executive branch and *slightly* important in these trying times. He recently took to Twitter to send a message to his boss:

Dear @POTUS, our team at @US_FDA is actively working with @Battelle to help them scale up their N95 decontamination efforts. Everyone is working together quickly! @GovMikeDeWine

We all know the Twitterer-in-chief likes to communicate in 280 characters spurts, but this is ridiculous.

Speaking of the FDA, Hahn has previously insisted pivotal trials would be required for any potential COVID treatment. Guess the rules change when your boss without no scientific background decides a drug is a miracle cure - the FDA has suddenly approved hydroxychloroquine for COVID. I guess all you lupus patients who rely on it as a proven medicine for your illness are out of luck since there's no way manufacturers can produce enough for everyone.

Drink Up!
Apparently if no one at work can smell your breath, it's bottoms up in the Bay Area. Alcohol consumption up 42% since lock down.
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