TOP STORIES
Congress is tying more funding for medical research for the National Institutes of Health in exchange for lowering the bar on drug and device approvals. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler called it “a deal with the devil.” — The Wall Street Journal
Speaking of the FDA, it will start requiring warnings on the risk of disabling side effects of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. The side effects can include damage to tendons, muscles, joints, nerves and the central nervous system. —The Wall Street Journal
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.
Harvard Medical School is easing up on some conflict-of-interest rules that currently prevent research scientists from doing work on clinical trials for companies in which they have a financial interest in some situations. It is raising thresholds on how much income or equity they have in a public company before they are barred from doing clinical research. It continues to prevent faculty from holding equity in a privately held company if they want to do clinical trials for that company’s product. — STAT
LIFE SCIENCES
Oncobiologics has priced its initial public offering at $6.00, half its initial $11-$13 range to raise $35 million. — PR Newswire, Seeking Alpha
BGI and UW Medicine inked a precision medicine deal that will involve collaborating on the generation, storage, sharing and analysis of genetic data. — Fierce Biotech
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.
Medical device business EndoStim has raised $25 million in a Series D round to support neurostimulation therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease. — PR Newswire
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Dr Redonda Miller will become the first female president of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the institution’s 127-year history. — Baltimore Sun
Call it a transparency backlash. ProPublica has discovered that some people are using its report on physicians more likely to prescribe opioids to obtain those drugs. — ProPublica
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh’s health sciences schools are backing a $5 million Center for Medicine and the Microbiome. The center was announced at the White House as part of its national microbiome initiative. The research center will be designed to spur collaboration between different science disciplines, will provide lab and workspace. — Pittsburgh Business Times
TECHNOLOGY
It’s come so far yet has so much further to go. That’s a reference to the use of electronic health records in post-acute care settings and challenges that lie ahead. One is the lack of full clinical information system enterprises to populate an EHR is an obstacle. “The lack of clinical information systems, such as laboratory, pharmacy and radiology reduce the capability of the EHRs to provide clinical or diagnostic value,” said Hal Tierney, director of technology for Boston-based Sapient. — Healthcare IT News
Sensoria launched an app that helps people monitor their recovery from surgery or from a stroke with sensors embedded in its Smart Socks. — MobiHealthNews
POLITICS
A federal judge’s ruling that the way some Obamacare payments are funded is illegal , offering lawmakers opposed to ACA a small victory, is expected to have little effect in the short-term because the judge stayed the ruling as it’s going to be appealed. — The Hill
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Dry scalp sufferers have a new source to blame for dandruff: the bacteria in their scalp. — New Scientist
Photo: Flickr user Will Palmer
