Why Moderna's betting big on gene editing

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm healthcare editor Leah Rosenbaum, and today in healthcare news:

• Moderna's Eric Huang shares how the biotech company is planning a new focus on gene editing;
• California and Colorado are now offering COVID-19 vaccine boosters to all adults, going against CDC guidelines;
• A province in Austria plans to start another COVID lockdown - for unvaccinated people only.

If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at lrosenbaum@insider.com or tweet @leah_rosenbaum. Let's get to it...

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A scientist at Moderna works on research at the biotech's R&D hub in Norwood, Massachusetts

Franco Sacchi/Insider

The scientist who helped Moderna became a vaccine powerhouse told us why he thinks gene editing is the future for the $91 billion biotech

• The man who convinced Moderna to make vaccines is now steering the biotech into gene editing.
• Eric Huang is the chief scientific officer of Moderna Genomics, a new unit in the $91 billion company.
• Huang is looking to strike deals with smaller biotechs while building up Moderna's internal research.

Read more>>

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Moderna has soared over the last year on the back of its coronavirus vaccine.

Radek Mica/Getty Images

2 states offer COVID-19 booster shots to all adults, bypassing CDC guidance

• California and Colorado are telling healthcare providers to offer COVID-19 boosters to all adults.
• The guidance bypasses the CDC's current restrictions on booster shots.
• Public-health experts remain divided on whether boosters are necessary for everyone.

Dive in>>

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People waiting for a mass Covid-19 testing in Vienna, Austria, Friday, Dec 4, 2020.

AP Photo/Ronald Zak

An Austrian province is preparing a COVID-19 lockdown for unvaccinated people only, saying the vaccinated shouldn't have to 'lose their freedom'

• An Austrian province plans to do a lockdown only for unvaccinated people from Monday.
• It means they can't leave their homes except for essential reasons, like buying food and exercising.
• Austria's chancellor said "there should be no lockdown for the vaccinated out of solidarity for the unvaccinated."

Get the full story>>

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More stories we're reading:

• A Virginia pharmacy gave 112 young kids shots of a COVID-19 vaccine formulation designed for older children and adults, officials say (Insider)
• Some people who got the COVID-19 vaccine due to mandates are trying to detox themselves with fake treatments (NBC News)
• The physics behind the Astroworld tragedy: When crowds behave like a fluid, people can wind up powerless (Insider)
• Johnson & Johnson announced it will divide into two companies (Associated Press)

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-Leah

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