Moderna Seeks Outside Investors to Fund Select Vaccine Trials
Moderna Inc. is in discussions with large drugmakers and financial firms to get funding for some late-stage vaccine trials as it works to develop its product portfolio while cutting costs.
'We are very actively talking to potential partners right now,' Chief Executive Officer Stephane Bancel said Wednesday at the Goldman Sachs Annual Global Healthcare Conference. The discussions are with pharmaceutical companies and other types of financial partners, he said.
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Fast Company
17 minutes ago
- Fast Company
Health is not a matter of instant gratification
In a time where almost anything you could want is just a tap away—AI-powered answers in seconds, groceries delivered within the hour, endless content streamed instantly, and real-time validation through likes and shares—it's no surprise that we've come to expect that same level of immediacy from our health. GLP-1 drugs promise rapid weight loss. Telemedicine provides patient care from the comfort of your own couch. At-home diagnostic tests deliver near-instant health insights. Social media and on-demand culture have rewired our brains to crave this kind of instant gratification, trapping many of us in a dopamine loop—that endless cycle of seeking out short-term rewards at the expense of long-term well-being. The consequences of this mindset are much deeper than we realize. In fact, the ripple effect is reshaping how we view our bodies, our health, and what it means to feel good. And it's taking a toll on our physical and mental health. The health and wellness industry, which should be offering a counterpoint to this culture, has too often played into it, promising overnight results, quick fixes, and immediate transformations. The truth is, our bodies don't operate on the same timeline as our screens. The disconnect between instant gratification and whole-body health Biological transformation is a slow and intuitive process, one that unfolds over months and years, not overnight. Yet we've been conditioned to feel like we're failing if we don't see instant results. This gap has real consequences: People abandon solutions that could meaningfully improve their health simply because they haven't delivered fast enough. In the chasing of short-term wins, we're ignoring the foundational systems that fuel long-term well-being: our stress response, hormone health, gut microbiome, and the delicate balance of nutrients that power our bodies. The rise of quick-fix wellness has only reinforced this cycle. The common thread? They all offer a dopamine hit—a fleeting sense of progress—without addressing the root causes of why we don't feel good in the first place. The problem is, quick wins rarely translate to lasting health. When we expect instant results from our bodies, we're setting ourselves up for disappointment, and that disappointment breeds distrust. We start to believe that our bodies are failing us, when in reality, it's our expectations that need recalibrating. What's more concerning is that this mindset is compounding the very issues we're trying to solve. Stress, fatigue, thinning hair, breakouts, brain fog—these are all signals that our bodies are out of balance, not problems to be hacked. But in the dopamine loop, we treat the symptoms, not the root causes. So the cycle continues. A new mindset: Longevity over quick fixes The most profound health transformations happen when we work with our bodies, not against them. This requires a radical mindset shift—one that prioritizes optimization over instant gratification and rewires the way we measure progress. What if the question wasn't 'How quickly will this work?' but instead 'How will this support the future version of me?' This is the mindset of whole-body longevity—the belief that how we feel today is deeply connected to how we'll feel five, 10, or 20 years from now. It's about setting your body up to not just feel good right now, but to stay strong and thrive for the long haul. As an industry, we have a responsibility to lead this shift. That means telling the truth about what it really takes to transform your health—that lasting change happens over months, not days. It means designing products that address the root causes of how people feel, not just surface-level symptoms. And it means empowering people to celebrate progress, not perfection, and to understand that feeling better is a journey, not a destination. The future of health is whole-body True wellbeing doesn't come from quick fixes; it comes from lasting habits. While treatments and medications can offer short-term relief, sustainable transformation requires a deeper, long-term commitment to how we live every day. Whole foods, regular movement, quality sleep, stress management, and mindful choices like reducing alcohol—these aren't trends; they're the foundation for clarity, resilience, and longevity. When these habits are supported by science-backed clinical tools, they create the conditions for real, lasting change. Health becomes something we cultivate, not hack. Imagine if we shifted the focus from fast results to long-term vitality. If success was defined not by how quickly we feel better, but by how well we're preparing our bodies and minds to thrive for decades to come. This is the future of health: slow, intentional, science-driven, and whole-body, because no part of us functions in isolation. As leaders, aligning with this vision means building not just better businesses, but a healthier world.
Associated Press
18 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Fans don't appear to be snatching up tickets to the Club World Cup
If slashed ticket prices, closed stadium sections and moved seats are any indication, fans aren't exactly clamoring to attend the Club World Cup. The tournament opens Saturday with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami facing Al Ahly at Florida's Hard Rock Stadium. Thirty-two teams are taking part in the newly expanded tournament that will be played across 11 U.S. cities. The final is set for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. On Ticketmaster, FIFA's official ticketing partner for the Club World Cup, the least expensive tickets to the opener were $349 in December. As of Thursday, there were tickets available for just under $80. Upper deck seats for certain games at Seattle's Lumen Field and Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field were no longer available. Links to a smattering of resale tickets in those sections did not work. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press that some sections of Lumen Field in Seattle had been closed, but did not offer details. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak on the record. In Philadelphia, some ticketholders received messages that said they were moved. 'As we continue preparations to deliver a world-class event, we are making a few enhancements inside the stadium to optimize operations and ensure the best possible matchday experience for fans, players and the global broadcast audience,' the message said. 'As a result of these stadium optimizations, some seats, including yours, will be relocated. We want to ensure you that your new seat will be in the same or better value zone than your original one.' Ticketmaster used dynamic pricing for ticket sales, which is based on demand and other factors. They referred all questions about sales to FIFA. FIFA did not respond to questions about whether sections were closed due to slow ticket sales, or whether fans who originally bought tickets in those sections were moved or offered refunds. But soccer's international governing body did offer a general statement. 'We anticipate great attendances and electric atmospheres at its inaugural edition, with excitement growing with every round of matches and the tournament ultimately standing as the undisputed pinnacle of club world football,' the statement said in part. 'The appetite speaks for itself: fans from over 130 countries have already purchased tickets. The top 10 markets are led by the United States, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, France, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Portugal — a clear sign of global anticipation and reach.' With 32 international teams, there are undoubtedly some clubs that are unfamiliar to American audiences. There are also 63 total matches, meaning not all can occur in prime hours for fans. Argentine club River Plate is playing Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds at Lumen Field on Tuesday at noon local time ($24 tickets), while a noon game between Brazil's Fluminense and Germany's Borussia Dortmund had tickets available via Ticketmaster for $23. However, some matches were drawing fans, including Paris Saint-Germain's opener against Atletico Madrid on Sunday at the Rose Bowl, where the least expensive seats were $100. The least expensive ticket for July's tournament final available through Ticketmaster was $769. FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged fans to buy tickets at a hype event in the leadup to the tournament this week. 'Be part of history,' he said. 'Football is such an important sport all over the world. We have billions of people watching this Club World Cup from home who would love to club and to attend.' ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
18 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Louisiana AG investigating CVS for sending mass text messages lobbying against legislation
Baton Rouge, La. (AP) — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced Thursday she is investigating whether pharmaceutical giant CVS improperly used customers' personal information to send out text messages lobbying against a proposed state law. Murrill also said she plans to issue a cease-and-desist letter to the company to stop the messages. As lawmakers debated a now-failed bill on Wednesday — which would have prohibited companies from owning both pharmacy benefits managers and drug stores — they held up screenshots of text messages sent by CVS. 'Last minute legislation in Louisiana threatens to close your CVS Pharmacy — your medication cost may go up and your pharmacist may lose their job,' one such text, obtained by The Associated Press, read. Attached was a link to a draft letter urging lawmakers to oppose the legislation that someone could sign with their email address and send to legislators. 'The proposed legislation would take away my and other Louisiana patients' ability to get our medications shipped right to our homes,' the letter read. 'They would also ban the pharmacies that serve patients suffering from complex diseases requiring specialty pharmacy care to manage their life-threatening conditions like organ transplants or cancer. These vulnerable patients cannot afford any disruption to their care – the consequences would be dire.' In fiery testimony, Rep. Dixon McMakin pointed to some of the messages, saying they were misleading and false. He specifically pointed to ads, that people reported seeing on social media, alleging that lawmakers 'may shut down every CVS pharmacy in the state.' 'No we're not, you liars. Quit being liars. Quit using scare tactics,' McMakin said. Republican Rep. Bryan Fontenot held up his phone, showing that he, too, had received a text message from CVS. 'It's in the same text thread (used) to notify when my prescription is filled,' he said. 'They've now taken that to send me political texts.' CVS sent messages to 'large numbers' of state employees and their families to lobby against proposed legislation involving the company's pharmaceutical benefits manager, Murrill said in an X post. Customers gave CVS their phone numbers to receive pharmaceutical information such as vaccine availability or prescription pick-ups but the company is using this personal information 'for their own personal corporate interests against pending legislation,' Murrill told reporters. 'That's not why anybody gave them their phone number.' Amy Thibault, a spokesperson for CVS, said the texts were the result of a last-minute amendment to the bill Wednesday without an opportunity for a public hearing. The amendment was crafted behind closed-doors by a conference committee — a regular practice utilized in the statehouse when the House and Senate cannot agree on final versions of a bill. 'We believe we have a responsibility to inform our customers of misguided legislation that seeks to shutter their trusted pharmacy, and we acted accordingly,' Thibault said in an email. 'Our communication with our customers, patients and members of our community is consistent with law.' Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has continued to push the bill as the state's legislature concluded Thursday afternoon. The bill, which proponents said would bolster independent pharmacies and reduce the cost of prescription medications, received overwhelming approval in the House, with a vote of 88-4. Among those who voted against the measure was Rep. Mandie Landry. The Democrat said that while she wanted to vote in favor, but she was receiving messages from people in her district urging her not to. She said CVS's lobbying had reached them and as a result they feared that they wouldn't be able to access their medications. 'CVS … you should be so ashamed of this. You are scaring people,' Landry said. The bill ultimately died with the Senate opting not to take it up in the final hour of the 2025 session. Landry spokesperson Kate Kelly said the governor plans to call a special session in hopes of passing similar legislation. 'Yes we will have a special to lower prescription drugs for our citizens,' Kelly said. 'It's that important.' ___ Brook reported from New Orleans.
