By Connor Hart

Walgreens Boots Alliance was sued by the Justice Department, which alleges the pharmacy chain helped fuel the opioid crisis. Since August 2012, the company has filled millions of prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, which included excessive quantities and early refills of opioids, the DOJ said. Walgreens responded by saying it stands behind its pharmacists. Shares fall 6.8%, to $11.68, in after-hours trading.

Moderna secured a $590 million package from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department to accelerate the development of its bird influenza vaccine. The financial package will fund the expansion of clinical studies for up to five additional subtypes of bird influenza, the biotechnology company said. Concerns of a bird flu pandemic in humans have grown as the illness has been rampant in poultry farms in the U.S., along with several recent human cases in dairy and poultry workers. Shares rise 5.2%, to $35.82, in post-market trading.

Write to Connor Hart at connor.hart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 17, 2025 18:42 ET (23:42 GMT)

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