A review of life science current events reported by MedCity News this week.
FDA clears first “smart pill” that senses when it’s been taken, sends data to wearable patch. A startup backed by the likes of Medtronic and Novartis has combined sensors with mobile technology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices to develop what’s being hyped as the U.S.’s first smart pill system. Just cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Proteus Digital Health‘s tiny ingestible sensor is used with a companion wearable patch and mobile app to improve medication adherence.
Top FDA official at Center for Devices and Radiological Health faces charges of soliciting prostitution. Dr. William Maisel, 46, deputy center director for science and chief scientist at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, was arrested in mid-July along with nine others. Maisel has been charged with four counts of soliciting prostitution and one count of disorderly conduct. The charges were first reported by FDA Webview.
Healthcare venture investments surge in Midwest – especially in biopharmaceuticals. In the first half of 2012, 92 Midwestern healthcare companies reported raising $491 million, up from the 86 companies that reported $315 million raised in the first half of last year. Accounting for $246 million of those venture investment dollars were biotech companies, led by Illinois’ Horizon Pharma ($50.8 million series C round), Kentucky’s Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals (raising $25.9 million), Ohio’s Juventas Therapeutics ($22.2 million second round), and Michigan’s AaStrom Biosciences ($40 million B round).
Orthopedics device startup wants to win share by providing customized knee implants. “Instead of asking orthopedic surgeons to pick six to 10 standard sizes to fit all different patients they see, every implant that we make is designed to fit you,” said Jong Lee, senior vice president of marketing and business strategy at ConforMIS.
For Boston Scientific, approval of subcutaneous ICD couldn’t come soon enough. Boston Scientific’s President Mike Mahoney added that he estimates the market for the so-called S-ICD is $750 million worldwide. “We do believe this will drive share, not only in de novo implants with primary and secondary patients, but also in replacements, patients who already have transvenous lead systems who would need a revision procedure,” he said.
