TOP STORIES
It ‘s not surprising that in an election year with the drug price debate a hot topic, pharma trade body Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is stepping up its advertising campaign. It is spending 10 percent more than last year to steer conversation away from the price of drugs to focus on benefits. It will focus on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. — The Wall Street Journal
The European Union’s drug regulatory body is setting up task force to speed up development of vaccines to combat the Zika virus. — Reuters
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.
LIFE SCIENCES
More Martin Shkreli news:
- athenahealth CEO Jonathan Bush is a Shkreli supporter, kinda. saying he would “fight and die for Shkreli’s right to be a douche.” — Yahoo Finance, CNBC
- He said a Tweet supporting presidential candidate Jeb Bush was made for a date as a joke. He doesn’t support him. — Huffington Post
The FDA rejected Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco. — Pharma Times
Atlas Genetics, which develops ultra-rapid point-of-care molecular diagnostics tests received a CE Mark from European regulators for its Chlamydia trachomatis test. — PR Newswire
- Proteostasis Therapeutics, which is developing a pill for cystic fibrosis patients, could go public this week after registering for a $50 million IPO Dec. 23. — Boston Business Journal
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Salma Hayek recently had to go to the hospital for a head injury she suffered on the set of upcoming movie Drunk Parents and posted a photo with her doctors. She later posted this photo to her Instagram account. She wrote: “Unfortunately my wardrobe for the scene was completely inappropriate for the hospital.” — Instagram
Jackson Memorial Hospital fired two individuals for inappropriately accessing medical records of Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. — NJ.com
Healthmine survey findings suggest a lot of people (43 percent of 500 surveyed) discover they have a cardiovascular disease through employer wellness programs. — PR Newswire
TECHNOLOGY
A healthcare engineering center at Johns Hopkins University will focus on research collaborations in health tech. — The Daily Record
POLITICS
The U.S. Justice department is investigating the makers of specialty creams used to alleviate pain and other maladies, such as World Health Industries, over suspicions that they have committed healthcare fraud. Some of the products provide little to no medicinal value, and some pharmacies sent more product than was ordered, overbilled, or automatically refilled prescriptions without being asked. — The Wall Street Journal
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Even as the quest to develop self driving cars continues, car makers and research institutions have collaborated to develop a virtual crash test dummy to provide a more accurate, responsive model of human injury. The group is called the Global Human Body Models Consortium. — Scientific American
Photo: Flickr user StockMonkeys.com
