Michael Pearson
TOP STORIES
Today is the day outgoing Valeant Pharmaceuticals International CEO Michael Pearson faces the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and he’s expected to say the company raised some drug prices too much. — The Wall Street Journal
Thousands of medical residents and other “junior doctors” in the UK walked out Tuesday, the first general strike in the history of the National Health Service. They’re fighting for higher pay for weekend shifts. — Associated Press via STAT
Former Citigroup CEO Sanford Weill and wife Joan are donating $185 million to establish the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. It’s the largest gift in the history of the San Francisco school. — San Francisco Chronicle
LIFE SCIENCES
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
The Allen Institute for Brain Science has made major updates to its www.brain-map.org site, adding, among other things, new information on aging, dementia and traumatic brain injury. — Medical Xpress
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is buying the U.S. marketing rights to AstraZeneca’s gout drug Zurampic for at least $100 million. — BioPharma Dive
ImmunoGen named Mark J. Enyedy president and CEO, effective May 16. — Business Wire
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Dr. Eugene Gosy, an Amherst, New York neurologist, faces a 114-count federal indictment for allegedly writing more than 300,000 illegal prescriptions for painkillers. — The Buffalo News
Jet Health, a home health services startup, raised $16.65 million in new funding. — Silicon Valley Business Journal
The Harvard School of Public Health is opening a Center for Health and Happiness. — STAT
TECHNOLOGY
Toshiba got around Japanese antitrust laws in the $5.95 billion sale of its Toshiba Medical Systems unit to Canon by setting up a holding company with just $300 in assets — and got the money before the deal actually closed. — MassDevice
Intuity Medical won FDA 510(k) clearance for its Pogo single-step glucometer. — MassDevice
POLITICS
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed a bill that will allow state residents and businesses to claim partial tax credits for contributing money to rural healthcare. — Atlanta Business Chronicle
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
This appears to be a real product. (Comment: “AKA Child-Abuse-Band 2000.”)
Photo: YouTube user DardenMBA
