A startup that's taking on Big Pharma just raised $500 million

<bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p><em>Welcome to </em><a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/dispensed-daily"><em>Business Insider</em></a><em>'</em><a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/dispensed-daily"><em>s daily healthcare newsletter</em></a><em>, your daily dose of pharma, biotech, and healthcare news. </em><a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/dispensed-daily"><em>Subscribe here to get this newsletter in your inbox every weekday.</em></a></p><p><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5c13cbd72a5b7412eb4e0b07-1778/pills-2 2.jpg" border="0" alt="Pills 2 (2)" data-mce-source="Hollis Johnson/Business Insider"></p><p>Hello,&nbsp;</p><p>Today in healthcare news: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eqrx-raises-500-million-series-b-develop-drugs-charge-less-2021-1">EQRx has raised another $500 million</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-covid-19-cases-spread-from-people-without-symptoms-2021-1">at least 50% of COVID-19 cases spread from people without symptoms</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/study-suggests-pfizer-vaccine-effective-against-covid-19-mutations-2021-1">some evidence that Pfizer's vaccine works against virus mutations</a>.&nbsp;</p><hr><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eqrx-raises-500-million-series-b-develop-drugs-charge-less-2021-1"><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5e18a57cf4423167940f9832-2223/medical medication medicine pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs pills vitamins prescription fda over the counter otc cox-16.jpg" border="0" alt="medical medication medicine pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs pills vitamins cox prescription FDA over the counter OTC" data-mce-source="Crystal Cox/Business Insider"></a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eqrx-raises-500-million-series-b-develop-drugs-charge-less-2021-1">EQRx, a startup that's taking on Big Pharma by making drugs cheaper, just raised $500 million</a></h3><ul><li>EQRx, a company developing new drugs that'll compete with some of the highest-priced drugs on the market at a lower price, is moving faster than it expected.</li><li>A year in, the startup just raised a fresh $500 million from investors including GV, Andreessen Horowitz, and Arch Venture Partners, as well as from private equity funds, health plans and health systems.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eqrx-raises-500-million-series-b-develop-drugs-charge-less-2021-1">It aims to get have its first treatment approved in the next "handful of years" and has brought on four cancer drugs that are in later stages of development.&nbsp;</a></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eqrx-raises-500-million-series-b-develop-drugs-charge-less-2021-1">Read the full story here&gt;&gt;</a></p><hr><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-covid-19-cases-spread-from-people-without-symptoms-2021-1"><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5ff756ff6d61c10019cce339-2400/GettyImages-1228614293.jpg" border="0" alt="london outdoor eating restaurant coronavirus" data-mce-source="Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images" data-mce-caption="Customers eat lunch at tables outside restaurants in London, England on September 20, 2020."></a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-covid-19-cases-spread-from-people-without-symptoms-2021-1">At least 50% of COVID-19 cases spread from people without symptoms, a new study found</a></h3><ul><li>At least 50% of new COVID-19 cases are transmitted by people who don't show symptoms, according to a new study.</li><li>That includes people who never display symptoms and those whose symptoms hadn't started yet.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-covid-19-cases-spread-from-people-without-symptoms-2021-1">A study authors said findings underscore the need for people who feel healthy to follow public-health guidance on mask wearing and social distancing.</a></li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-covid-19-cases-spread-from-people-without-symptoms-2021-1">Read the full story from Susie Neilson here&gt;&gt;</a></strong></p><hr><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/study-suggests-pfizer-vaccine-effective-against-covid-19-mutations-2021-1"><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5ff7e35bd184b30018aadb0a-2223/GettyImages-1230473713.jpg" border="0" alt="GettyImages 1230473713" data-mce-source="Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images" data-mce-caption="The coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech appears effective against mutations, according to a new study."></a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/study-suggests-pfizer-vaccine-effective-against-covid-19-mutations-2021-1">Early study suggests Pfizer's vaccine is effective against coronavirus mutations</a></h3><ul><li>A study by Pfizer and researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch indicates the company's COVID-19 vaccine is effective against mutations of the coronavirus.</li><li>The study has not yet been peer-reviewed.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/study-suggests-pfizer-vaccine-effective-against-covid-19-mutations-2021-1">"So we've now tested 16 different mutations, and none of them have really had any significant impact. That's the good news," Phil Dormitzer, a scientist at Pfizer, said Thursday. "That doesn't mean that the 17th won't," he added.</a></li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/study-suggests-pfizer-vaccine-effective-against-covid-19-mutations-2021-1">Read the full story from Charles Davis here&gt;&gt;</a></strong></p><hr><p><strong>More stories we're reading:&nbsp;</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/01/07/954409347/why-west-virginias-winning-the-race-to-get-covid-19-vaccine-into-arms">How West Virginia is winning the race to get COVID-19 vaccines into people's arms, including using its own pharmacies</a>&nbsp;(NPR)</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-release-all-available-coronavirus-vaccine-supply-doses-2021-1">Biden plans to release the entire coronavirus vaccine supply instead of reserving half to guarantee second doses</a> (Business Insider)</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/us/california-coronavirus.html">LA is facing its "New York Moment" as the virus overwhelms the largest county in the US</a> (The New York Times)</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-second-covid-vaccine-shot-side-effects-doctor-2021-1">I felt totally fine after my first COVID-19 shot, but the second dose was rough. Here's what I did to manage the side effects and why I still think you should get the shot.</a> (Business Insider)</li></ul><hr><p>- Lydia</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/business-insiders-biggest-healthcare-stories-for-january-11-2021-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffett-modest-home-bought-31500-looks-2017-6">Warren Buffett lives in a modest house that's worth .001% of his total wealth</a></p>
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