TOP STORIES
A geneticist in the UK is making her case to be allowed to edit the genes of human embryos. “The only way we can understand human biology at this early stage is by further studying human embryos directly,” Kathy Niakan of the London-based Francis Crick Institute said Wednesday.
Niakan, who wants to apply CRISPR-Cas9 technology, said that her research could lead to a deeper understanding of infertility and miscarriages. “We would really like to understand the genes needed for a human embryo to develop successfully into a healthy baby,” Niakan said.
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.
Obviously, she has detractors. “This is the first step on a path that scientists have carefully mapped out towards the legalisation of GM babies,” one critic told the BBC.
The UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will hear her case Thursday. — BBC News, Reuters
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LIFE SCIENCES
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.
KaloBios stock resumed trading Wednesday for the first time since former CEO Martin Shkreli’s arrest last month, and the price promptly dropped 92 percent. — MarketWatch
Syros Pharmaceuticals raised $40 with investors that include Deerfield Management and Casdin Capital (the company has raised more than $120 million so far). Some are smelling IPO, but the cash will directly be used for trials of Syros’ acute myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome treatments. – Xconomy
Pfizer has acquired Treerly, which it described as one of the top retail healthcare brands in China focused on women’s health. The deal will strengthen Pfizer’s over-the-counter dietary supplements business. – Business Wire
Artificial lung-developer ALung Technologies raised $10.8 million. – MassDevice
St. Jude Medical is changing how it reports sales. — Reuters
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
About half of U.S. physicians surveyed by Medscape said they were burned out, and more than 40 percent admitted to being biased against certain groups of patients. — Medscape
Carolinas HealthCare System officially announced the release of MyCarolinas Tracker, the same consumer app that we told you about two months ago. — PR Newswire
Another step toward accountable care: Care coordination specialist Alignment Healthcare is teaming with HCA West Florida to serve Medicare beneficiaries in three counties. — PR Newswire
A poll of Sermo users found that 90 percent of physicians want to see restrictions on e-cigarette advertising. — Business Wire
TECHNOLOGY
WebMD is looking to sell – and it looks like Walgreens and UnitedHealth may be among the buyers. – Financial Times
More than half of consumers and nearly that many IT professionals expect their mobile health apps to be hacked in the next six months. — MobiHealthNews
Baby steps in the voyage toward interoperability between the Military Health System and the VA: Clinicians at Fort Drum in New York state are live on health information exchange HealtheConnections, so they now can share data with VA and private providers in the Syracuse area. — PR Newswire
Devin Jopp has resigned as president and CEO of the Workgroup on Electronic Data Interchange. — WEDI
The Wellness Network, provider of in-hospital TV services and content, has been bought by PE firm Wafra Partners. — PR Newswire
POLITICS
President Obama will keep the Medicare expansion incentives in his 2017 – an extension of the offer in the hope of luring holdout states. – Reuters
The FDA knew about the superbug-infection risk from certain scopes as early as September 2013 – 17 months before it warned the public. – Wall Street Journal
Vice President Joe Biden will officially kick off the White House’s “cancer moonshot” Thursday at the University of Pennsylvania. — NewsWorks
New Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s to shut down the state health insurance exchange is putting a renewed focus on the operations of HealthCare.gov. — The New York Times
New Jersey is considering relaxing its nursing regulations to allow registered nurses to delegate some duties to home health aides. — NewsWorks
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Fun with asthma, courtesy of Vlad the Inhaler. — Huffington Post
