// Biotech and Pharma Therapeutics
Philip Morris takes control of Vectura amid pushback against acquisition
September 17, 2021 / Philip Morris / Vectura / Acquisition
The attempt to buy Vectura has been more challenging and fractious than the other deals, though. First, Philip Morris needed to outbid private equity firm Carlyle Group. Then, having succeeded with a £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) bid, Philip Morris faced concerted pressure from healthcare groups.
Relative importance of pharmaceuticals on health outcomes: 1990-2015
September 15, 2021 / Public Health / Pharma
While the research above is based on physician perceptions alone, empirical evidence from my my own research in oncology (see MacEwan et al. 2020) which shows how pharmaceuticals have had a major impact on oncology survival gains over the past 15 years.
GSK’s Jemperli follows Merck’s Keytruda with FDA nod to target certain tumors regardless of location
August 18, 2021 / Cancer Drugs / Checkpoint Inhibitors / FDA Approvals / PD-1/L1
GlaxoSmithKline’s PD-1 latecomer Jemperli has scored an FDA go-ahead to expand into a larger cancer field. Once again, it’s following in the footsteps of Merck’s market leader Keytruda, but first-in-class opportunities await down the line.
Pfizer recalls all Chantix lots nationwide over concerns of cancer-causing impurity
September 16, 2021 / Drug Recall / Chantix / Pfizer
Pfizer’s headache with its popular smoking cessation drug Chantix is escalating. After the drugmaker halted global distribution this summer and then recalled more than a dozen lots in the U.S., the company is now recalling all lots nationwide.
Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm slowly gaining steam among prescribing neurologists, study finds
September 16, 2021 / Alzheimer’s / Drug Launch / Study / Aduhelm
A week ago, Biogen CEO Michel Vounatsos sent the company’s shares into a nosedive after disclosing its launch of Alzheimer’s disease med Aduhelm was slower than expected. But according to one new analysis, there may be signs things are looking up.
// 4th Industrial Revolution
Deep learning uncovers visual, neural learning differences between children and adults
September 15, 2021 / Learning / Neural Science
Researchers at the Center for Neural Science at New York University proved the hypothesis by using deep learning to analyze eye tracking, pupillary dilation and EEG readings of 22 adults and 22 preschoolers as all watched videos of actors grasping tools efficiently and inefficiently.
AI has strengths and weaknesses as a decision guide for total joint replacement
September 17, 2021 / AI / Joint Replacement / Weakness / Machine Learning
AI and machine learning are adept at selecting good candidates for total joint arthroplasty and predicting which patients will and won’t experience post-op complications.
AI trial for prostate cancer expanded across five hospitals
September 15, 2021 / AI / Prostate Cancer / Healthcare
Its artificial intelligence (AI) Galen Prostate technology aims to reduce diagnostic errors by using clinical-grade solutions to help pathologists detect and grade cancer.
Healthcare professionals ‘failing to prescribe tech’ to older patients
September 15, 2021 / Healthcare / Patients / New Tech
Research from the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA) revealed that GPs had recommended a health app to just 7% of over 45s, 4% of over 55s and only 2% of other over 65s. Similar patterns of recommendations were also found amongst other healthcare workers.
Google Workspace Deal Brings Consumer Tools to the Enterprises
September 14, 2021 / Google / CommonSpirit Health
Having assumed for so long that these tools were far too lightweight for enterprise use, I was intrigued to see that Google Workplace includes several Google apps, including Drive, Meet. Doc, Chat and Gmail. Admittedly, Gmail already offers business-class services, so its inclusion wasn’t much of a surprise, but the integration of these other apps caught me off guard.
// Business & Markets
Women’s healthcare startup Tia secures $100M for company growth
September 14, 2021 / Women’s Health / Healthcare / Startup / Tia / Virtual Care
Tia, a hybrid virtual care and brick-and-mortar women’s healthcare company, announced a $100 million Series B funding round Tuesday. The round was led by Lone Pine Capital with participation from Threshold, Define Ventures, Torch Capital, ACME, Compound, Combine, the Helm, Human Ventures, Seae Ventures and Gingerbread Capital.
Spex Capital and MedCity open joint call to fund new innovations
September 17, 2021 / Spex Capital / MedCity / Innovations
Applications are invited from early stage healthtech ventures with solutions to problems faced by healthcare systems globally. Interested companies will have six weeks to complete their applications for seed or series A rounds before the call closes at midnight on 27th October 2021.
Hong Kong-based Prenetics to go public in US as part of $1.25B SPAC merger
September 16, 2021 / Hong Kong / SPAC / Prenetics / Covid-19
Prenetics is one of a number of diagnostics companies catapulted forward by the pandemic. In 2019, Prenetics’ sales totaled $9 million, all of which came from the disease prevention side of its business. Prevention sales ticked up to $14 million last year but the big change was the creation of a COVID-19 testing business.
StartUPDATES: New developments from healthcare startups
September 17, 2021 / New Development / HealthMine / Kiiio / Cured / Hinge Health
HealthMine’s EVP of Consulting and Professional Services Melissa Smith shared a timely industry update highlighting key learnings for Medicare Advantage plans from the Second Plan Preview of 2022 Star Ratings. Check out the article to learn her top takeaways.
// Legal & Regulatory
FDA creates new office to drive forward digital transformation strategy
September 16, 2021 / FDA / Digital Transformation
The establishment of ODT builds on a series of initiatives launched by FDA in recent years. In 2019, FDA released a roadmap for modernizing its computer hardware, software, data and analytics. FDA followed up in March with a plan for modernizing its use of data, leveraging the infrastructure put in place through the technology roadmap.
Social media deliver pitfalls and positives for pharmas engaging cancer community, agency says
September 16, 2021 / Cancer / Digital Health / Digital Marketing / Patient Education
Pharma companies today can reach cancer patients and physicians more easily than ever thanks to social media—but should they? Yes, but prepare for both pitfalls and positives, say Real Chemistry’s Discern researchers who’ve been studying the space.
FDA advances data, IT modernization efforts with new office of digital transformation
September 15, 2021 / FDA / IT Mondernization
The office has been realigned to report directly to the FDA commissioner, elevating the office and its functions to agency-level. This reorganization will advance the agency’s information technology transformation with improved data and IT competencies that improve agency operations to support the public health mission.
// Research & Development
Developing Robust AI Medical Products Requires Facing Data-Driven Truth
August 19, 2021 / AI / Healthcare
Much already has been written about the promise of artificial intelligence to revolutionize the healthcare industry by making it easier for providers to do their jobs and help improve patient care. But far less digital ink has been given to the significant “truth” obstacle medical device manufacturers must overcome in order to successfully bring their products to market, or the increasing industry pressure to accumulate and track real-world evidence afterward.
Theravance’s lead drug fails in Phase 3, triggers a restructuring cutting 75% of staff
September 15, 2021 / Theravance / Blood Pressure Disorder / Drug Development
The clinical trial failure of Theravance Biopharma’s most advanced internal program, a drug for a rare blood pressure disorder, is leading to a companywide restructuring. Going forward, the biotech will focus on developing drugs for respiratory disorders.
Brain data startup Rune Labs reveals $23M, plans to rev up neuro drug R&D
September 17, 2021 / Rune Labs / Startup / Neuro Drag / Research & Development
Rune Labs developed software that aggregates brain data, providing insights for clinical care and clinical research. Health systems are starting to adopt the technology, and the startup has now raised $22.8 million to grow that part of the business while also expanding use of the technology in drug development.
How do faulty genes drive cancer? There’s a surprising immune connection, study finds
September 16, 2021 / Cancer Drugs / CRISPR / Gene Editing / Immuno-oncology
Mutations in tumor-suppressing genes are known to drive cancer, but how? Scientists long believed that the mutations prompted the cancerous cells to grow unchecked. But a new study out of Howard Hughes Medical Institute suggests the story is more complicated than that.
Researchers show novel device improves blood sugar control in hyperinsulinism patients whose pancreas has been removed
September 13, 2021 / Researchers / Blood Sugar / Pancreas
Researchers have demonstrated that an experimental device can improve blood sugar control in patients who developed diabetes after their pancreas was removed to treat their hyperinsulinism, a genetic disease in which the pancreas produces too much insulin.
// Politics
Three Democrats erect speed bump for Medicare drug price control
September 15, 2021 / Medicare / Drug Price / Democrats / Legislation
Three House Democrats Wednesday made good on vows to vote against Medicare drug price control legislation, erecting a procedural speed bump that they hope to turn into a stop sign.
Biden pushes forward on Medicare price negotiation
September 10, 2021 / Biden / Medicare / Negotiation
As Congress prepares to debate limits on prescription drug costs as part of a massive spending bill, President Joe Biden reiterated his support for proposals that would allow the federal government to directly negotiate Medicare’s prices with pharmaceutical companies.
South Dakota Governor’s Executive Order Bans Telemedicine Abortions
September 9, 2021 / South Dakota / Abortions / Telemedicine
South Dakota physicians may only prescribe and distribute abortion drugs after they have performed an in-person examination on the patient. The order also blocks abortion drugs from being provided via courier, mail service, delivery, or telemedicine.
FTC reminds health apps, wearables & non-HIPAA covered entities to comply with health breach notification rule
September 16, 2021 / FTC / HIPAA
The Federal Trade Commission confirmed Sept. 15 that non-HIPAA covered entitiesaelth apps and connected devices that collect or use conumers’ health information must comply with the agency’s breach notification rule.