TOP STORIES
A win for the direct-to-consumer crowd: early studies say patients who got more information than they expected through genetic testing were less stressed than they were a year earlier. One of the big fears for DTC information: more information will mean more stress. – Reuters
Nothing to see here, just a 40 PERCENT cut in the number of people who enrolled in Obamacare. – The Hill
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.
Oracle is making a big step into precision medicine. Its Healthcare Precision Medicine division will leverage Oracle’s primary software and data products to try and improve genetic screening and reports for diseases. – Fierce Medical Devices
LIFE SCIENCES
North Carolina blood-flow imaging company Scinovia is raising $6 million to develop a prototype device and take it to FDA approval. – Triangle Business Journal
British cancer genomics company Inivata raised $45 million led in part by Johnson & Johnson Innovation. – PR Newswire
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.
GSK is considering whether its vaccine technology can attack the Zika virus. – Reuters
The FDA will review Green Cross Corporation’s biologic treatments for primary immunodeficiency diseases. The review will be done by year’s end. – PR Newswire
Is the first FDA-approved pet drug so far away (Aratana Therapeutics filed Monday)? – Kansas City Business Journal
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Would Harvard rename its medical school – for the right price? – STAT
TECH
Pull out those FitBits you put in a drawer three days after Christmas: Consumer Reports say they are still accurate.- MobiHealthNews
Congrats Welltok – you are the biggest thing happening in the state located above New Mexico. – CB Insights
POLITICS
Here’s a status update on the efforts by to Medicare and Medicaid to step-up in gene sequencing reimbursement. – STAT
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Here’s a nice breakdown of the different kinds of evangelicals – an important constituency as we (finally) get to the presidential primary votes. – CNN
