What we still don't know about vaccines

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer, and this week in healthcare news:

• We outlined the questions we still have about coronavirus vaccines;
• There's one big question surrounding synthetic biology company Ginkgo as it plans to go public;
• What's at stake as activists and companies go head-to-head over the future of psychedelics.

If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Tips, comments? Email me at lramsey@insider.com or tweet @lydiaramsey125. Let's get to it...

First, I wanted to introduce you to the newest member of our healthcare team!

Mohana Ravindranath joined us this week to cover the changing world of digital health. Before Insider, she was most recently covering health tech for Politico. She's based in Washington, D.C.

Stay tuned for her reporting in the coming weeks, and in the meantime you can follow her on Twitter @ravindranize or shoot her an email at mravindranath@insider.com.

Unanswered vaccine questions

Coronavirus cases have fallen across the US to their lowest point since March 2020. Vaccines have played a major role in getting us to that point.

But there's still reason to be cautious that we're not beyond seeing another surge later this year, Andrew Dunn and Hilary Brueck report.

There's still a lot to learn about how long protection from these vaccines last, and how they'll fare against emerging variants as the coronavirus continues to spread globally.

Find out more>>

3 lingering questions about COVID-19 vaccines will shape the pandemic's trajectory into 2022 and beyond

Living up to the valuation

It seems like every week, there's another healthcare company going public via SPAC.

This week, Allison DeAngelis took a closer look at the SPAC plans of synthetic biology company Ginkgo Bioworks.

The SPAC deal values the company at $15 billion.

But, Allison found, that valuation lies on some serious growth projections. And some experts are skeptical Ginkgo can live up to those projections.

Check it out>>

One giant question is swirling around Ginkgo's record-setting SPAC deal: Can the hyped-up biotech live up to its $15 billion valuation?

The fight over the future of psychedelics

Patents are becoming a big issue in the field of psychedelic medicine, Yeji Jesse Lee reports.

Longtime activists are concerned the patents of companies developing psychedelic medications for potential approval could get in the way of access to those treatments.

Here's what's at stake>>

Experts share how a brewing fight could shape the future of the $100 billion psychedelics industry

More stories we have on our radar:

• Digital health company Babylon is officially going public in a SPAC deal that values the company at $4.2 billion. (You can read more about Babylon and its rise here from my UK colleague Shona Ghosh)
• Investor Chamath Palihapitiya has filed for 4 new biotech-focused SPACs with the tickers $DNAA, $DNAB, $DNAC, $DNAD
• Direct-to-consumer healthcare startup Thirty Madison raised another $140 million, putting it at more than a $1 billion valuation. In October, we got a look at the pitch deck the company used to raise $47 million in its last round.
• Our colleagues on the finance team have been chatting with healthcare dealmakers, who are getting snapped up by Wall Street banks.

Don't forget - we're looking for nominees for our annual 30 under 40 list!

Know someone doing incredible work transforming the healthcare industry? Submit their name here.

Nominations are due by June 30.

- Lydia