Merck’s Covid Pill; Ozy Media’s Meltdown; Facebook, Finsta, & Teenage Health

Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics have developed a therapeutic pill for Covid that reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by around 50% for patients with mild or moderate cases. CNBC’s Meg Tirrell reports that Merck hopes for emergency use authorization after “compelling results” in trials. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner, also discusses Merck’s late-stage data and says it’s a ‘profound game changer’. Billionaire investor Marc Lasry has resigned as chairman of Ozy Media, just three weeks to the day after he took the job, and less than a week since the digital news startup’s deceptive marketing methods came to light. Ben Smith, the New York Times media columnist who broke the first story, discusses the Ozy drama. Facebook’s global head of safety spoke to Instagram’s impact on teenagers’ mental health at a Senate subcommittee hearing. Senators compared Facebook to the tobacco industry for going after teens and children with a product they know is harmful to their health.

In this episode:
Ben Smith, @benyt
Scott Gottlieb, @ScottGottliebMD
Meg Tirrell, @megtirrell
Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk

Becky Quick, @BeckyQuick

Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin