STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: Trump officials maintain Covid-19 vaccine won’t be influenced by politics; Novartis pays $678 million to settle kickback charges

And so, another working week will soon come to an end. Not a moment too soon, yes? For those who think this may sound premature, there is a holiday tomorrow on this side of the pond, so we are getting a head start on our weekend daydreaming. Our agenda is rather modest, given the circumstances. We do hope to hang with a couple of the short people, promenade with our energetic mascot and catch up on our reading. And what about you? This is a fine time to enjoy the outdoors. You could also putter around your castle. Or reach out to someone feeling isolated. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. Enjoy, but be safe and wear a mask. This virus will not just disappear. See you soon…

Top Trump administration health officials are seeking to reassure the public that any potential Covid-19 vaccine will only be approved if it is safe and that the fast-track process will not be influenced by political pressure, The Hill reports. To assuage some of that concern, the agency released a guidance that outlines conditions for approving a vaccine. Those include requiring any vaccine to be at least 50% more effective than a placebo in preventing the disease.

Continue to STAT Plus to read the full story…

Read Original Article: STAT Plus: Pharmalittle: Trump officials maintain Covid-19 vaccine won’t be influenced by politics; Novartis pays $678 million to settle kickback charges »