Senate Republicans release coronavirus relief bill with boosts for vaccine R&D, funding to restart NIH-funded labs

Senate Republicans Monday released proposed coronavirus relief legislation that includes $25 billion for COVID-19 testing, $26 billion for vaccine R&D and distribution, and big funding increases for BARDA and NIH. The funding is in line with text leaked to reporters last week (see “White House Backs Testing, Vaccines Boost in Coronavirus Bill”).

The bill sets up a negotiation with House Democrats that could take weeks to complete. ...