TOP STORIES
The FDA is formally investigating complaints by two ex-Theranos employees about the company. The complaints claim executives told workers to keep testing patients with the company’s tests despite knowing about serious errors, and that a herpes study submitted to the FDA was tainted. Regulators have interviewed at least one of the complaining employees. A Theranos spokeswoman said the company has not seen the complaints. – Wall Street Journal, The New York Times
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.
In his first post-arrest interview, Martin Shkreli goes from hedge-fund-trader-who-buys-rap-albums Martin to I’m-in-the-fight-for-my-life Martin.
“What do you do when you have the attention of millions of people? It seemed to me like it would be fun to experiment with,” Mr. Shkreli said in the interview. He said he was arrested “because of a social experiment and teasing people over the Internet,” adding, “that seems like a real injustice.”
“Quite frankly, it was not something I expected, and definitely not something I deserve given the facts,” he said.
Well, that’s depressing. Plus, his Twitter account got hacked. – Wall Street Journal, CNBC
LIFE SCIENCES
Novartis’ CEO outlined a new kind of drug-pricing model, which he also hopes (if you read between the lines) will avoid additional federal regulation. – Reuters
Bayer and CRISPR Therapeutics have struck a $335 million deal to discover and develop drugs for blood disorders, blindness, and congenital heart disease.- Xconomy
Roche received FDA approval for its cobas HIV-1 viral load test. – Business Wire
First Dr. Reddy’s and now Sun Pharma. Sun is down more than 7 percent after the FDA pointed out standards violations at Sun’s plants. – Reuters
Thermo Fisher Scientific got FDA approval for five new allergy tests around nut allergies. – Business Wire
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Disgusting ways nursing home workers are violating patient privacy: “Nursing home workers across the country are posting embarrassing and dehumanizing photos of elderly residents on social media networks such as Snapchat, violating their privacy, dignity and, sometimes, the law.” – ProPublica
TECHNOLOGY
A nice dive into the future of GE Healthcare. “There will always be a need for imaging – if anything it’s going to grow as we have more testing and diagnostics in an ageing population,” said its CEO, John Flannery. “But it’s important we don’t just remain a technology box company selling pixels.” – Financial Times
Here’s a look at Google Capital, the growth-equity arm of Alphabet. – Re/code
When the boldest 2016 prediction coming from a digital health VC is that digital health will emerge as a top performer across healthcare, you know it’s time to shut down the 2016 healthcare predictions. – Xconomy
Britain will offer free Wi-Fi in all hospitals in order to improve patient care. – BBC
POLITICS
Is telemedicine’s real enemy the Congressional Budget Office?- Politico
An inside look at how the Cadillac tax died. – Politico
The biggest winner with the end of the medical device tax? Obamacare haters. – The Associated Press
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
This little mistake is roiling the Internet this morning (whoops!).
But was it all a publicity stunt? – NBC, Washington Post
