TOP STORIES
23andMe has released a transparency report concerning law enforcement requests for customers’ data. There have apparently been four people of concern for data requests. — Harvard Law Bill of Health
LIFE SCIENCES
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
Versant Ventures announced another commitment to Canadian innovation with its investment in Turnstone Biologics – a biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for cancer. — Business Wire
Credit Suisse announced that Punit Mehta has been hired as the co-head of Americas health care from Barclays, where he was a managing director and global head of life sciences. — The New York Times
Backers of a referendum aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs in California said that they had gathered more than enough signatures to place their measure on the November, 2016, ballot in the most populous U.S. state. — Reuters
The US Food and Drug Administration division responsible for oversight of the country’s medical device market has identified 10 science priorities it plans to pursue over the 2016 fiscal year. — Mass Devices
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PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Baxter International, the Deerfield, Ill.-based maker of hospital and renal products, is making cuts to its workforce after seeing a sharp drop in third-quarter profits. — Becker’s Hospital Review
As a part of a class-action settlement, Anthem Blue Cross in California has agreed to reimburse about 50,000 customers nearly $8.3 million following accusations that it raised the costs of policies mid-year. — Fierce Health Payer
TECH
Envelop, a Bellevue, WA-based startup building software focused on creating virtual reality workspace, announced a $4 million Series A investment led by Madrona Venture Group. — Xconomy
POLITICS
According to a new poll, A majority of Americans say e-cigarettes should be regulated by the FDA the same way the agency handles cigarettes containing tobacco. — Business Wire
The Senate is planning a budget vote to repeal major Obamacare mandates and defund Planned Parenthood as early as November. — The Hill
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Adobe said that, for the first time ever, the majority of online shopping visits in the U.S. — 51 percent — will be on mobile devices. The data comes from the Adobe Marketing Cloud.
That’s a very interesting factoid, because the story up till now has been that consumers often use mobile devices as they knock around in the sales funnel, but when it comes time to actually buy, they typically revert to desktop or tablet. — VentureBeat
Photo: Flickr user Leon Brocard
