John Leppard with Washington Analysis says the Medicare agency’s recent delay of the MCIT breakthrough devices rule until mid-December suggests the CMS will likely scrap it altogether and start from scratch.

Prices for J&J and Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines will be watched closely as India permits private sales. While demand is set to spike with age criteria for those eligible to receive the shots expanded, local manufacturers Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech are ramping up capacities with the government’s help.

Proposed commitment letter language included a look at eliminating REMS, potentially to more clearly outline the process.

EcoR1 and Casdin/Corvex took their second and third special purpose acquisition corporations public. Also, Ionis sold notes to buy back older notes and fund operations as it cut 70% of Akcea’s staff. In venture capital, ValenzaBio raised $70m and RA boosted Metagenomi’s series A to $75m.