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☆ Investor Steve Weiss prefers Moderna over Merck, says it’s a high quality stock with a bigger pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Stephen Weiss, chief investment officer and managing partner at Short Hills Capital Partners, bought Moderna , and sold Merck — though he still expects the latter is a solid pharmaceutical stock. "Some days I regret selling because it's still a cheap stock, still extremely well-run, I think the best-run pharma company." Moderna shares have recently attracted investors' interest following the announcement of an experimental melanoma vaccine . Shares of Moderna are down roughly 18% this year, while shares of Merck is up nearly 45% in 2022. To this, Weiss added that "there's no other drug company, biotech company" with the pipeline that Moderna has.

☆ A therapist from online provider BetterHelp reportedly told a 22-year-old gay patient to turn straight so he could reunite with his family
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But according to Hill, the therapist that online provider BetterHelp matched him with did exactly that. "He said either you sacrifice your family or you sacrifice being gay," Hill told The Wall Street Journal. A former clinical director at the company told The Journal that therapists were "treated like Uber drivers." The company told the Journal it goes thorough background checks and also relies on state licensing boards, which certify therapists. A spokesperson for BetterHelp told Insider by email: "We firmly stand behind the high-quality service provided at BetterHelp, both in successful therapist matching and ongoing care."

☆ Substack is having a moment, again. But can the startup live up to its massive $650 million valuation?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Samantha Stokes | Steven Perlberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

He provided a place where readers could find him "in case the bird app spirals into oblivion": his Substack newsletter. The epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding began promoting his Substack newsletter to his 722,000 Twitter followers in early November. They have been a welcome addition, Substack writers say. Substack has also recently rolled out mentions and cross-reporting functions, where writers can mention other Substack writers and share existing posts with their audiences. The irony, of course, is that many Substack writers rely on their Twitter audiences to promote their posts.

☆ Strep A is surging in the UK and has already killed at least 19 children. Here's why it's taken so long to make a vaccine against this deadly pathogen.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Sarah Braner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Strep A is surging in the UK and has killed at least 19 kids, the UK Health Security Agency said. A vaccine would be better, but research groups have hit roadblocks during its development. Researchers have been trying to make a strep-A vaccine for decadesIf it's caught in time, strep A can be treated with antibiotics. There is no vaccine commercially available, but several research groups are working on developing one. A GSK spokesperson confirmed to Insider that it's also in the early stages of developing a strep-A vaccine but that it had not started human testing.

☆ Fact Check-No evidence group A strep present in flu vaccine given to children
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

“The LAIV vaccine used in the UK does not contain Streptococcus A,” an MHRA spokesperson told Reuters via email. The bacteria are not listed in the ingredients for Fluenz Tetra (bit.ly/3HesXo4), which is also marketed in the U.S. as fluMist. “Group A strep is not used at any stage of the development of the nasal flu vaccine. The vaccine does not contain Group A strep,” Pollard said via email. The MHRA and AstraZeneca told Reuters that group A strep is not an ingredient in the Fluenz Tetra vaccine, and two independent experts said there are no reports of contamination.

☆ UK health unions offer to pause NHS strikes if government joins pay talks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 10 (Reuters) - British health unions have offered to suspend a wave of planned strikes in health services over Christmas and the New Year if the government agrees to open serious discussions over pay. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Unison said they would consider calling off the strikes if Britain's health and social care minister Steve Barclay agrees to host serious negotiations. "I will press pause on it when the health secretary says he will negotiate seriously on our dispute this year," RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen said in a statement. "Rather than scare the public about the consequences of strikes, the health secretary should table genuine plans for improving wages," said Unison general secretary Christina McAnea in a statement. "Ministers have had constructive talks with unions, including the RCN and Unison," a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said in a statement.

☆ Former UK health minister Hancock to quit at next election
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Farouq Suleiman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Former British health minister Matt Hancock, who was forced to resign in 2021 for breaching his own social distancing rules during the pandemic, said on Wednesday he would not run again for parliament at the next general election. Hancock was at the centre of the British government's fight against COVID-19 and was heavily criticised for the response to the early stages of the pandemic. Hancock said in his resignation letter that the party had made it clear he would be re-admitted "in due course", but he said that would now not be necessary. In his resignation letter, Hancock said he was proud of his achievements during his nine years in government, including the response to the pandemic. Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; editing by William James and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Britain's health regulator backs COVID vaccine for infants from six months
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File PhotoLONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Britain's health regulator on Tuesday authorised a COVID-19 vaccine for infants as young as six months, opening the door for vaccinating the country's youngest children once the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) agrees. Whether the vaccine is eventually deployed in this age group depends on a recommendation from the JCVI, which advises UK health departments on which shots should be used as part of the national vaccination programme. The vaccine is tailored for use in this age group - it is a lower dose version than the one used in children aged five to 11 years. U.S. officials rolled out this version of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for the same age group earlier this year. Months ago, EU regulators also endorsed the use of COVID vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna (MRNA.O) for under-fives.

☆ 6 everyday ways to keep back pain at bay
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Dana Santas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —For many people, back pain can make it difficult to function in everyday life. A proactive, daily-life approach to cultivating a healthy body is the key to keeping back pain at bay, writes Dana Santas. fizkes/Adobe StockBut what if, instead of being reactive, you took small daily steps to proactively avoid back pain altogether? Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the everyday actions that contribute to back pain — or steps that can be taken to avoid it. Taking a proactive, daily-life approach to cultivating a healthy body is the key to keeping back pain at bay.

☆ Ashton Kutcher and twin Michael talk health, guilt and rift between them
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —In a rare interview, twin brothers Ashton and Michael Kutcher talked about both their bond and their rift. “I go in the room and I’m like ‘Whoa,’” Ashton Kutcher said, fighting back tears. “He looked at me and he said, ‘Every time you feel sorry for me, you make me less,’” Ashton Kutcher said. Ashton Kutcher said during the interview that he was not aware that his brother had been keeping it a secret. Michael Kutcher is now an advocate for the disabled.

☆ Myocarditis after Covid vaccine low among teens and young adults, large study finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Berkeley-Lovelace-Jr.Jpg | Berkeley Lovelace Jr. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

The incidence of myocarditis and pericarditis after Covid vaccination is low and most patients make a full recovery, a large international study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital found. The findings confirm earlier studies that found myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, an inflammation of the outer lining of the heart, following Covid vaccination are rare. The review included more than 800 teens and young adults who developed myocarditis and pericarditis following Covid vaccination. The heart-related conditions usually occurred within four days after the second dose of a Covid vaccine, the study found. Daniel Salmon, director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins University, said he would still like to see estimates of myocarditis risk by age, gender, vaccine type and spacing between doses.

☆ UK health officials warn parents to be alert after 6 child deaths linked to Strep A infections
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty ImagesHealth officials in the U.K. are warning parents to be alert after a recent spate of Strep A infections resulted in the deaths of at least six children. The U.K.'s Health Security Agency issued a rare health warning Friday urging parents to monitor their children for tell-tale symptoms of the illness, which can include a sore throat, headache, fever, and body rashes. While most cases are mild and often go unnoticed, it can also lead to more serious illness and complications, such as scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mostly affects young children. Make sure you talk to a health professional if your child is showing signs of deteriorating after a bout of scarlet fever.

☆ Drop in COVID alertness could create deadly new variant - WHO
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Bhanvi Satija | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 2 (Reuters) - Lapses in strategies to tackle COVID-19 this year continue to create the perfect conditions for a deadly new variant to emerge, as parts of China witness a rise in infections, the head of the World Health Organization said on Friday. BAY ISMOYO/Pool via REUTERS 1 2"Gaps in testing ... and vaccination are continuing to create the perfect conditions for a new variant of concern to emerge that could cause significant mortality," Tedros said. COVID-19 infections are at record highs in China and have started to rise in parts of Britain after months of decline. Further easing of COVID-19 testing requirements and quarantine rules in some Chinese cities was met with a mix of relief and worry on Friday, as hundreds of millions await an expected shift in national virus policies after widespread social unrest. The WHO urged governments globally to focus on reaching those at risk, such as people over the age of 60 and those with underlying conditions, for vaccination.

☆ What is Strep A, the common bacterium that has killed 6 children in the UK?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Hafsa Khalil | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Health officials in the United Kingdom are advising parents and schools to watch for Strep A infections following the recent deaths of six children. While there is no vaccine to prevent Strep A or iGAS infections, antibiotics are usually effective at treating them. The increase in iGAS this year has particularly been observed in children under 10, the UKHSA added. For children aged 5 to 9, there were 1.1 cases per 100,000, compared with the pre-pandemic average of 0.3. The last period of high infections was between 2017 to 2018, with four children under 10 dying in the equivalent period, the statement added.

☆ Why the Fed may finally loosen its grip
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Fed should be pleased that its aggressive rate hikes in the past few months are having their desired effect, and they can ease up a bit. After four giant three-quarter-point hikes in a row, all signs point to Fed Chair Jay Powell announcing a half-point bump later this month. BIG PICTUREIt’s taken most of the year, but the economy appears to have made it over the mountain of inflation and aggressive rate hikes, according to Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Financial Group. But while 200,000 is nothing to sniff at, it’s still not soft enough for the Fed to pause its rate hikes. However, markets may cheer the fact that it’s low enough for the Fed to hike at a less aggressive pace than we’ve seen in recent months.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Bahnsen Group's David Bahnsen
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Bahnsen Group's David BahnsenDavid Bahnsen, founder and chief investment officer of the Bahnsen Group, joins 'The Exchange' to talk old technology versus new technology stocks, the free-cash flow considerations related to stock health and the ability for old tech to adapt to new products like the cloud.

☆ Old technology stocks are adapting, says Bahnsen Group's David Bahnsen
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailOld technology stocks are adapting, says Bahnsen Group's David BahnsenDavid Bahnsen, founder and chief investment officer of the Bahnsen Group, joins 'The Exchange' to talk old technology versus new technology stocks, the free-cash flow considerations related to stock health and the ability for old tech to adapt to new products like the cloud.

☆ Uganda's president extends Ebola epicentre's quarantine for 21 days
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KAMPALA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has extended a quarantine placed on two districts that are the epicentre of the country's Ebola outbreak by 21 days, adding that his government's response to the disease was succeeding. Movement into and out of Mubende and Kassanda districts in central Uganda will be restricted up to Dec. 17, the presidency said late on Saturday. It was originally imposed for 21 days on Oct. 15, then extended for the same period on Nov. 5. The government's anti-Ebola efforts were succeeding with two districts now going for roughly two weeks without new cases, the president said. Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Duncan Miriri and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hikvision: UK bans Chinese surveillance cameras from 'sensitive' sites
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN Business —Hikvision, a leading Chinese surveillance company, has denied suggestions that it poses a threat to Britain’s national security after the UK government banned the use of its camera systems at “sensitive” sites. Dowden cited “the threat to the UK and the increasing capability and connectivity of these systems,” without specifying further. The minister added that departments could review whether sites not deemed sensitive should also be taking similar measures. The United States in 2019 placed Hikvision and other Chinese companies on a trade blacklist, prohibiting them from importing US technology over similar allegations. Hikvision, in its statement, said its cameras were compliant with UK laws and “subject to strict security requirements.”Dahua did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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☆ Only a handful of psychedelics companies have gotten funding from established biotech investors. Here's what they've done right, according to a top VC.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Yeji Jesse Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

RA Capital is one of the few mainstream biotech VCs wading into the psychedelics space. The number of companies touting the benefits of psychedelics for healthcare is rapidly growing, but not all biotech investors are on board yet. Last year RA Capital made two investments into the psychedelics spaceIn 2021, RA made its first investments into the psychedelics space by funding two startups: GH Research and Delix Therapeutics. Dublin, Ireland-based GH Research is one of the only psychedelics companies to have garnered a flurry of interest from mainstream healthcare investors including RA Capital, RTW Investments, and BVF Partners. Lusaris' treatment is designed to be taken sublingually — placed under the tongue — for treatment-resistant depression.

SKIP AHEAD Best deals at Amazon | Best deals at Walmart | Best deals at Target | Best deals at Best Buy | Best Black Friday salesTo help you make the most of the shopping holiday ahead, we compiled some of the best Black Friday deals and sales that we think you’ll want to know about. Best Black Friday 2022 deals across retailersBelow, we’re sharing the best Black Friday deals based on our previous coverage and reporting. 4.5-star average rating from 3,428 reviews at TargetDry, style and add volume to your hair with this tool from Revlon. Best Walmart Black Friday deals4.7-star average rating from 449 reviews at Best BuyYou can plug this device into any TV and get access to dozens of entertainment and music streaming platforms. Best Black Friday 2022 sales across retailersHere are the best Black Friday sales that we think you’ll want to know about.

☆ $5.7 billion Cityblock Health is planning 'aggressive' growth. Its CEO lays out how expanding mental-health services and dealmaking might be in the cards.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Cityblock Health isn't putting its growth on pause as a recession looms. But Cityblock Health isn't slowing down. The startup's plans for growth include expanding its mental-health and maternal-health services, Ajayi said, adding that the company could also make some acquisitions. Cityblock isn't looking to buy any companies that work with members outside Medicaid and Medicare. While Cityblock can afford to ride out a recession, the startup isn't ignoring the market downturn, Ajayi said.

☆ $5.7 billion Cityblock Health is planning 'aggressive' growth. Its CEO shares how the startup wants to use M&A and more mental-health services to make that happen.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Cityblock Health isn't putting its growth on pause as a recession looms. But Cityblock Health isn't slowing down. The startup's "aggressive" plans for growth include expanding its mental-health and maternal-health services, Ajayi said, adding that the company could also make some acquisitions. Cityblock isn't looking to buy any companies that work with members outside Medicaid and Medicare. While Cityblock can afford to ride out a recession, the startup isn't ignoring the market downturn, Ajayi said.

☆ 3 reasons a major health insurer just made a $2.7 billion bet on a Walgreens-backed effort to upend healthcare
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The deal would give it a stake in VillageMD, an annual dividend, and a push toward value-based care. VillageMD said this week that it plans to merge with fellow primary-care provider Summit Health-CityMD in an $8.9 billion deal funded in part by the healthcare giant Cigna. VillageMD CEO Tim Barry Courtesy VillageMD3 reasons why Cigna's investing $2.7 billion in VillageMDEvanko said the investment provides financial and strategic benefits for Cigna. That stake would provide the healthcare company, which reported profits of $5.4 billion in 2021, with an annual dividend of about 5.5% on $2 billion of the $2.7 billion investment, Evanko said, according to a transcript from Sentieo. Evernorth could take what it learns from partnering with VillageMD and extend those capabilities to other healthcare providers it works with, he said.

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