Morning Read: Researchers identify milestone in breast cancer treatment

TOP STORIES

An international team of researchers led by the Sanger Institute in Cambridge, England have found five new genes associated with breast cancer and 13 new mutations that influence tumor development. The findings were part of one of the largest-ever studies to sequence the whole genomes of breast cancers. The study explored the 3 billion letters of people’s genetic code in 560 breast cancers. The researchers found 93 sets of genes, that if mutated, can cause tumors. Although some have been discovered before, scientists expect this to be the definitive list. The findings could advance precision medicine breast cancer treatments.  — BBC, Science Daily

Johnson & Johnson faces more than 1,000 lawsuits after a woman successfully sued the company for $55 million after getting ovarian cancer from the company’s talcum powder — the second trial the company has lost over the issue this year. J&J is accused in more than 1,000 lawsuits in state and federal courts of ignoring studies linking its Shower-to-Shower product and Johnson’s Baby Powder to ovarian cancer. — Bloomberg

Pfizer posted better than expected first quarter earnings with $13 billion in revenues, helped by new treatments for cancer and its Hospira acquisition.

LIFE SCIENCES

A profile of veteran biotech reporter Adam Feuerstein and his “itchy trigger finger on hypocrisy.” — STAT

Graybug Vision, a pharmaceutical company developing treatments for ocular diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma, closed a $44.5 million Series B financing. — Biospace

Sinocare, the largest manufacturer of low-cost blood glucose monitoring systems for the Chinese market has acquired PTS Diagnostics, a US-based manufacturer of point-of-care biometric testing devices for up to $200 million.  — Indianapolis Business Journal

Homology Medicines, a biotech company that translates proprietary, next generation gene editing and gene therapy technologies into treatments for patients with rare diseases, has raised $43.5 million Series A co-led by 5AM Ventures and ARCH Venture Partners. Other investors included Temasek, Deerfield Management, and ARCH Overage Fund. — Xconomy

Private equity firm Kohlberg & Co. acquired a majority stake in spinal surgery startup Amendia. — Fierce Medical Devices

Adam Koppel, Biogen’s executive vice president for strategy and business development is leaving in June to take on a managing director role with Bain Capital — the company he worked for prior to Biogen.  — BioCentury

PAYERS-PROVIDERS

Beth Israel Deaconess is taking on the issue of patient death in its hospital, how it is handled and what it can learn. It created a 20-person working group to address mistakes that cause emotional harm, but haven’t been regarded as medical errors. — STAT

University of Pittsbugh Medical Center has merged with community hospital Jameson Health System. — Pittsburgh Business Times

TECHNOLOGY

Brigham and Women’s Hospital will conduct a study of Medisafe’s medication adherence app in a randomized control trial of 390 patients on high blood pressure medication. The patients will be monitored remotely through a Bluetooth blood pressure cuff. — MobiHealthNews

VirMedica, a health IT vendor that developed a way to expedite patient access to biopharmaceutical products launched eAccessRx to streamline provider workflows for treatments that typically require a Prior Authorization and are covered under a patient’s pharmacy benefit. — PR Newswire

POLITICS

South Dakota could join the ranks of states facing federal lawsuits over its treatment of people with disabilities by putting them in nursing homes. In the case of South Dakota, nursing home occupants included people with chronic conditions, mental health problems and developmental disabilities. — The New York Times

A LITTLE BIT EXTRA

Apparently some customers at Starbucks feel the ongoing suffering of getting a disproportionately large amount of ice in their coffee drinks in relation to coffee day after day simply cannot be endured any longer. So to get justice and put an end to their watered down coffee drinks, they are suing Starbucks. Here’s an idea, call me crazy, but how about asking for a little less ice before paying some grande legal bills for your $5 coffee? — The Washington Post

Photo: Flickr user Ed Uthman