The tally of global confirmed COVID-19 cases is now 96,636. China still leads with 80,411 followed by South Korea (6,088), Iran (3,513) and Italy (3,089).
The U.S. total is 159 with 11 deaths.
Cigna (NYSE:CI) announces that it will waive all copays and cost-share fees for members who are tested for COVID-19 infection per their doctor’s instruction. It says it considers the medical test a preventative benefit vis a vis fully-insured plans thereby warranting no out-of-pocket costs for patients.
NanoViricides (NYSEMKT:NNVC) jumps 36% after hours in reaction to its announcement related to its development plans for a drug to treat COVID-19 infection.
Management intends to conduct initial testing of its drug candidates in its own virology laboratory using low-threat coronavirus strains that have been normally circulating in the human population. If successful, it has the ability to make “kilogram quantities” in just a few weeks which, it says, would be sufficient to treat several hundred to a few thousand patients.
Nano cap Can-Fite BioPharma (NYSEMKT:CANF) is the latest company to take advantage of the market’s enthusiasm for anything coronavirus-related.
This morning, it announced that it is now exploring a collaboration to evaluate Piclidenoson (CF101) for the potential treatment of coronavirus infection, considering reports that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs may show efficacy for this use.
Interim data from a Phase 3 study in RA should be available in Q4.
Shares up 36% premarket on robust volume.
In a statement, Amgen (AMGN -2%) says that it does not expect any shortages of its medicines due to COVID-19, adding that it is monitoring its raw material inventory levels and is taking “additional measures” to mitigate against disruption.
