// Biotech and Pharma Therapeutics
Philip Morris takes control of Vectura amid pushback against acquisition
The tobacco giant has secured investor buy-in despite continued opposition from clinicians and reports that employees of inhaled medicine specialist Vectura are concerned about the change in ownership.
www.medtechdive.com
Relative importance of pharmaceuticals on health outcomes: 1990-2015 – Healthcare Economist
Health outcomes have improved in the US over the last 25 years. Clearly public health initiatives (e.g., reduced smoking rates) is having an impact, but another key key question is, what is medical technologies are driving these gains? Is it new surgical techniques, better diagnostics, improved med…
www.healthcare-economist.com
GSK’s Jemperli follows Merck’s Keytruda with FDA nod to target certain tumors regardless of location
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.
www.fiercepharma.com
Pfizer recalls all Chantix lots nationwide over concerns of cancer-causing impurity
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 recalling all lots nationwide.
www.fiercepharma.com
Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm slowly gaining steam among prescribing neurologists, study finds
Neurologists are slowly starting to warm up to Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, with at least two thirds of those surveyed reporting they expect at least some patients on the treatment by March 2022, according to a new report from Spherix Global Insights.
www.fiercepharma.com
// 4th Industrial Revolution
Deep learning uncovers visual, neural learning differences between children and adults
Heterogeneous patient populations, complex pharmacology and low recruitment rates in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) have led to the failure of many clinical trials. Recently, machine learning (ML) emerged as a new technology to process and identify big data relationships, enabling a new era in clinical trial design.
aiin.healthcare
AI has strengths and weaknesses as a decision guide for total joint replacement
The acquisition announcement comes just after WHOOP reported it had raised $200 million in Series F funding.
aiin.healthcare
AI trial for prostate cancer expanded across five hospitals
They will be trialling Ibex Medical Analytics AI technology which aims to reduce diagnostic errors by using clinical-grade solutions to detect cancer.
www.digitalhealth.net
Healthcare professionals ‘failing to prescribe tech’ to older patients
Older patients are being overlooked by healthcare professionals who are failing to recommend health apps which may have a significant impact on health.
www.digitalhealth.net
Google Workspace Deal Brings Consumer Tools to the Enterprises | Healthcare IT Today
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always assumed that Google tools like Sheets and Docs were very handy but far from ready for the big time. Of late, I’ve been using these tools to develop and share ideas and documents online with outside partners – certainly an important activity – but I’ve always s…
www.healthcareittoday.com
// Business & Markets
Women’s healthcare startup Tia secures $100M for company growth
The hybrid virtual and in-person women’s health provider said it wants to expand its model to more than 100,000 members by 2023.
www.mobihealthnews.com
Spex Capital and MedCity open joint call to fund new innovations
Investment firm Spex Capital and London’s life sciences cluster organisation MedCity has opened their first joint call as part of their exclusive partnership to identify and fund the next generation of digital health and medtech innovators.
www.med-technews.com
Hong Kong-based Prenetics to go public in US as part of $1.25B SPAC merger
Prenetics, which is set to pocket $459 million through the deal, will use the money to step up its attack on markets targeted by companies including 23andMe, Exact Sciences and Invitae.
www.medtechdive.com
StartUPDATES: New developments from healthcare startups - MedCity News
Check out new developments from HealthMine, Kiiio, Cured, Hinge Health and more.
medcitynews.com
Intermountain Healthcare, SCL Health unveil plans to form 33-hospital, $14B system
The nonprofit systems would create a combined entity employing more than 58,000 people and running 385 clinics across six states. They intend to finalize plans before the end of the year and close the merger in early 2022.
www.fiercehealthcare.com
// Legal & Regulatory
FDA creates new office to drive forward digital transformation strategy
Vid Desai, who will help lead the new Office of Digital Transformation, was also named as the agency’s chief information officer. FDA is seeking an extra $75.9 million in the 2022 budget to support the modernization plan.
www.medtechdive.com
Social media deliver pitfalls and positives for pharmas engaging cancer community, agency says
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.
www.fiercepharma.com
Excision’s CRISPR gene editing therapy for HIV is heading into human testing after FDA clearance
A CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology that has shown promise in clearing HIV from mice is headed into human testing. Excision BioTherapeutics will usher the CRISPR-based therapy EBT-101 into clinical trials after the FDA cleared an investigational new drug application.
www.fiercebiotech.com
// Research & Development
Column - Developing Robust AI Medical Products Requires Facing Data-Driven Truth - MedTech Intelligence
As more medtech companies take advantage of the game-changing technology to innovate and advance products, they must anticipate the need to obtain trustworthy, evidence-based comprehensive data—and be prepared to do their own due diligence to verify the chain of evidence and meet increasingly string…
www.medtechintelligence.com
Theravance’s lead drug fails in Phase 3, triggers a restructuring cutting 75% of staff - MedCity News
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.
medcitynews.com
Brain data startup Rune Labs reveals $23M, plans to rev up neuro drug R&D - MedCity News
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…
medcitynews.com
How do faulty genes drive cancer? There’s a surprising immune connection, study finds
A study out of Howard Hughes Medical Institute found that more than 100 mutated cancer-suppressor genes don’t act directly on cancer cells to cause them to grow, but rather block the immune system from recognizing and destroying tumors. They believe further research into those immune pathways could…
www.fiercebiotech.com
Researchers show novel device improves blood sugar control in hyperinsulinism patients whose pancreas has been removed
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. Using a combination of continuous glucose m…
www.sciencedaily.com
// Politics
Three Democrats erect speed bump for Medicare drug price control
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.
www.biocentury.com
Biden pushes forward on Medicare price negotiation
But opposition from the drug industry and congressional Republicans could make the Democrats’ signature proposal an uphill battle.
www.biopharmadive.com
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South Dakota Governor’s Executive Order Bans Telemedicine Abortions
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has signed an executive order that aims to ban telemedicine abortions throughout the state.
mhealthintelligence.com
FTC reminds health apps, wearables & non-HIPAA covered entities to comply with health breach notification rule
The Federal Trade Commission confirmed Sept. 15 that non-HIPAA covered entities such as health apps and connected devices that collect or use consumers’ health information must comply with the agency’s breach notification rule.
www.beckershospitalreview.com
