Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced the launch of a new initiative designed to help create a more inclusive clinical trial ecosystem through new approaches to training, education, and improving the clinical research infrastructure within the U.S. This effort builds on Abbott's commitment of engaging populations who have historically been under-represented in medical research and will improve health by increasing access to innovative treatment options available within the trials process and increasing insights around how different groups respond to new therapies.

ViiV Healthcare announced the release of Achieving health equity: a roadmap to eliminating disparities, a new report conducted by Economist Impact, a division of The Economist Group, that explores the opportunities that could be created by eliminating health disparities in the UK and US over the next 20 years, while charting a bold course for unified action.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced that it has launched the AVENIO Tumor Tissue CGP Kit. The Kit complements the current CGP portfolio offered by Roche and Foundation Medicine and allows laboratories to expand their oncology research in-house. Ultimately, a future version of the kit may lead to additional resources for clinicians to use in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) announced topline results from a Phase 3 randomized, controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of a 30-µg booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in more than 10,000 individuals 16 years of age and older. In the trial, a booster dose administered to individuals who previously received the Pfizer-BioNTech primary two-dose series restored vaccine protection against COVID-19 to the high levels achieved after the second dose, showing a relative vaccine efficacy of 95.6% when compared to those who did not receive a booster.

Novartis announced that it has signed an initial agreement to leverage its manufacturing capacity and capabilities to address the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding its support of the fill and finish of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Novartis will use its sterile manufacturing facilities at its Novartis Technical Operations site in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to fill at least 24 million doses in 2022.

Global Heart Hub and Novartis announced the launch of the Invisible Nation program. Invisible Nation will bring together a worldwide network of patient organizations and other stakeholders in the cardiovascular (CV) space committed to effecting systemic change in the management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The program aims to prevent many of the 15 million yearly ASCVD deaths(1) and reduce what could soon become $1 trillion in annual CV disease cost(2).

Johnson & Johnson welcomes the U.S. government's decision to donate 17 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 single-shot vaccine to countries in the African Union (AU). The United States is providing these doses through COVAX, committed to the AU, under an agreement signed recently by the U.S. government, Johnson & Johnson, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.