TOP STORIES
Pfizer faces scrutiny in the Philadelphia Courts in the wake of a warning it received more than a year ago about the causal link between Zoloft and birth defects. The company is currently facing more than 1,000 lawsuits filed over the sale of Zoloft and has rejected responsibility for abnormalities.
The American Medical Association adopted a tougher policy line on childhood vaccinations and said it would seek to end religious exemptions.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Under new policy, the AMA will seek more stringent state immunization requirements to allow exemptions only for medical reasons,” the organization said in a press release.
The AMA also adopted a policy to provide medical students with “hands-on” experience and training for electronic health records. Under supervision, this policy will allow medical students to learn how to use EHRs to document patient encounters and enter clinical orders.
LIFE SCIENCES
Clarus announced that it raised $500 million for its third biotech fund, Clarus III. The money will go towards new investments for companies focused on breakthrough drugs or new research and development risk-sharing projects.
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
Scientists have discovered a molecule that disrupts the circadian rhythm and could lead to molecule-based solutions for ciradian-related diseases.
Celgene is paying Lycera $82.5 million upfront to have an exclusive option on preclinical compounds, promising to boost the power of cancer fighting T-cells.
A study by PLOS Biology showed that about $28 billion is spent on preclinical medical research that can’t be replicated. That includes studies that can’t be replicated because of confusing method description and other problems.
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Lancaster General Health and Humana Incorporated announced their partnership with Accountable Care. The partnership is designed to improve wellness and care for Medicare Advantage members in Lancaster County.
The Healthcare Intelligence Network found that 20 percent of current accountable care organizations will participate in the new Next Generation ACO model.
Sure there’s an FBI investigation over how much makers knew about safety shortcomings but that hasn’t stopped one insuer from continuing to cover laparoscopic power morcellators.
TECH
Arrowlytics LLC closed $3 million in a funding round led by Surgical Care Affiliates.
Foc.us announced launched a headset that targets the brain’s prefrontal cortex with electric shocks in the transcranial direct current stimulation process. The company hopes that the headset, Moovs, can boost online gaming performance by stimulating the higher functioning part of the brain that is responsible for things like image recognition and working memory.
POLITICS
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would add behavioral health providers to the Meaningful Use program. Reps. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) co-sponsored the bill, Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, a revision of a 2013 bill. It would expand the Meaningful Use program to clinical psychologists, licensed social workers, mental health treatment centers, substance abuse treatment facilities and psychiatric hospitals.
A report from Avalere Health estimates that ten new medications will cost the government almost $50 billion in drug spending.
The American Medical Association adopted a policy that pushes states to only allow vaccine exemptions for medical reasons, not for personal preferences or convenience.
A LITTLE EXTRA
High-Tech Health Care Is Helping Trans People Transition.
The Morning Read provides a 24-hour wrap up of everything else healthcare’s innovators need to know about the business of medicine (and beyond). The author of The Read published it but all full-time MedCity News journalists contribute to its content.
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