Moderna's lead in the vaccine race slips — Key drug developments to watch for — Biofuel's setback

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We're one day away from a holiday weekend. Here's hoping your plans didn't include indoor dining or going to a movie theater.

But before that, wanted to share a dispatch from our reporters Kimberly Leonard and Darren Samuelsohn in D.C. on whether there will be a review of the nation's response to the pandemic.

The US launched in-depth bipartisan reviews after JFK's assassination, 9/11, and the BP oil spill. It's still a work in progress whether the same will happen with COVID-19.

Moderna's lead in the coronavirus vaccine race is slipping. How pharma giants like Pfizer are threatening the biotech's front-runner status.

• Competitors are catching up to Moderna, which for months has been leading the race for a coronavirus vaccine.
• Pfizer on Wednesday released early human results for its experimental vaccine.
• Pfizer is also planning to start late-stage trials this month, around the same time Moderna plans to start its large-scale trial.

Read the full story from Andrew Dunn here>>

The race for coronavirus treatments and vaccines is heating up. Here are the 9 most important events to watch for in July, from new vaccine trials starting to the first sales of a COVID-19 drug.

• The summer will be a critical time for the race to develop effective coronavirus treatments and vaccines.
• Business Insider identified the nine most important events expected to happen in July.
• You can expect to hear about a flood of data from vaccine and drug programs wrapping up trials.

Read the full story from Andrew here>>

A decade ago, Big Oil bet on algae as the fuel of the future. Now Exxon is the only major firm still backing the biofuel, which several top algae scientists say is destined to flop.

• In the late 2000s, algae biofuel looked like the fuel of the future.
• Since then, companies haven't been able to make the economics of algae competitive with those of crude oil.
• Here's why some critics think it's destined to become irrelevant in an increasingly electric world.

Read the full story from Benji Jones here>>

More stories we're reading:

• Surviving COVID-19 might come down to which hospital you're admitted to (The New York Times)
• 6 months into the coronavirus pandemic, 9 maps and charts show how it took over the world (Business Insider)
• Pfizer teamed up with a tiny biotech to make a coronavirus vaccine, and we just got our first look at some promising but early data (Stat News)
• There are 9 coronavirus tests you can use from home. Here's how they work and where to order one. (Business Insider)
• We've reached the coronavirus pandemic's 6-month mark. 2 leading experts reveal what they think life will look like 1 year in.(Business Insider)

Before you go — We're looking for nominations for our annual list of 30 leaders under 40 transforming healthcare. Know someone who fits that description? Submit their name and what makes them great here.

Tips? Thoughts? Fun socially distant holiday weekend plans? You can reach me lramsey@businessinsider.com. Subscribe to this daily email here.

- Lydia