MedCity News isn’t broadcasting MedHeads this week due to the holiday weekend. As you take it easy this long weekend be sure to check out these top stories from a clinical decision support startup to medical device regulation. Happy Independence Day!
1. FDA exempts 120 medical devices from premarket review
The FDA is exempting 120 medical device classes from premarket notification and review requirements, RAPS reports. This should lessen the cost for device development – and make them easier to market.
Currently, the FDA regulates three categories of medical devices: Class I, which are low-risk devices that are exempt from pre-market notification; Class II, which are moderate-risk and require a 510(k); and Class III, which require a PMA.
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.
2. PwC Infographic: Costs from specialty drugs skyrocket
A new Pricewaterhouse Coopers report on medical cost trends highlights how specialty drugs are outpacing traditional drugs in a major way.
Take the revenue projections for the top seven specialty drugs – sales for Abbvie’s Viekira Pak for Hepatitis C are expected to reach $3 billion; cystic fibrosis is supposed to hit $2 billion.
A technology startup that graduated from the DreamIt Health Baltimore accelerator has raised a seed round to support the development of its clinical decision support platform connecting electronic medical records with clinical guidelines, according to a company statement. The company has also worked with EMR vendors to hone its software.
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.
4. Allscripts invests $200M in Soon-Shiong’s NantHealth in software integration deal (updated)
Electronic health records vendor Allscripts Healthcare Solutions has bought a 10 percent equity stake in NantHealth, the health IT arm of Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s empire, for $200 million, while another Soon-Shiong company has bought $100 million worth of stock in Allscripts.
5. Google has some competition in crowdsourcing public health
BuzzFeed, that ridiculously profitable bastion of clickbait and quizzes all your Facebook friends annoy you with actually has real journalists and an investigative division, and once in a while, along comes something that’s truly newsworthy. Friday was one of those times.
In a thoughtful article, BuzzFeed discusses how analysis of social media and Internet search habits has proven so useful in identifying public health outbreaks and other trends.
Photo:Flickr user Tim Hamilton
