Healthcare VCs share their 2021 predictions

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Today in healthcare news: VCs share their 2021 predictions with us, Verily reshuffles its leadership team, and what we know about the new coronavirus strain in the UK.

29 top VCs share their best 2021 healthcare predictions, from a surge in startups addressing where medicine falls short to a big year for digital health IPOs

• We asked healthcare and biotech venture capitalists from leading firms like Venrock and NEA to share their predictions for 2021.
• 2020 was a pivotal year for healthcare, shaped by the pandemic and a booming IPO market for digital health companies.
• In 2021, VCs are anticipating a rough time for young startups, a big year for digital health IPOs, and increased attention for startups looking to address the healthcare industry's shortcomings.

Read all of the predictions here>>

Verily is hitting the reset button on its leadership after a turbulent 2020 filled with departures and employee exhaustion amid its battle against the pandemic

• Verily, Alphabet's secretive healthcare moonshot, is overhauling its leadership structure and cutting down on CEO Andy Conrad's direct reports.
• A new chief operating officer took over a lot of Conrad's responsibilities. There's also a new tech chief, and the company is looking for chief marketing, revenue, and information officers.
• In 2020, the upstart pivoted to address the coronavirus pandemic and put a lot of pressure on its employees in the process. Several left the company.
• Meanwhile, Verily in December raised $700 million in a new round of funding that it said would be used to expand its star commercial businesses.

Read the full story from Hugh Langley and Blake Dodge here>>

A new coronavirus strain surging to dominance in the UK appears to spread faster despite lockdowns, prompting panic and a wave of border closures

• The UK government imposed harsher restrictions on millions of people this weekend, warning of a mutated coronavirus strain that appears to infect people more easily.
• Multiple countries also moved quickly to block travel from the UK, expressing concern over the new strain.
• Experts say the situation is worrying and needs to be closely monitored, but they added that this strain didn't appear to be deadlier.
• They also say it's likely that vaccines will still be effective against the new strain.

Read the full story from Sinéad Baker here>>

More stories we're reading:

• Dr. Anthony Fauci is getting vaccinated on Tuesday (Politico)
• Oscar Health has confidentially filed to go public. Here's a look at how the health insurer and rivals Clover and Bright have fared so far this year. (Business Insider)
• The US is going to study allergic reactions from Pfizer's vaccine (CNBC)
• Coronavirus vaccines don't contain microchips. Here's what's actually in the shots. (Business Insider)

This will be your last Insider Healthcare daily update for 2020! We'll be back in your inbox on the 31st with a little note to close out the year, but in the meantime, be sure to tell your friends and colleagues to subscribe for what is sure to be an eventful 2021.

- Lydia