Top Story

Morning Read: St. Jude’s deep brain stimulation system launches in Europe

Also, Bob Abraham, Pfizer's head of oncology research and development, talks about the ups and downs of drug development and Philadelphia becomes the first major city to pass a soda tax.

st jude Infinity_Family_Mini-iPad-iPod_highresTOP STORY

St. Jude Medical launched its Infinity deep brain stimulation after securing CE Mark clearance for the device from European regulators last September. iOS network devices can be used as wireless controllers, through a Bluetooth connection. It is designed to be used for movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease, tremor and dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle contractions. It claims to be the only upgradable DBS system. — Mass Device, BusinessWire

LIFE SCIENCES

David Sable takes issue with observation that insider trading in biotech is the norm. —  Forbes

Bob Abraham, Pfizer’s head of oncology research and development, talks about the ups and downs of the drug development process. “You’re not going to be right all the time. You have to be willing to say ‘OK, we gave this a really good shot and it didn’t work,’ and we move on and we don’t look back and regret,” he said. “We do try to learn from failure, but if you’re going to be in the front of the pack, you have to be willing to take on those risks.” — Business Insider

Jörn Aldag a former CEO at uniQure, has taken the same role  at Hookipa Biotech, a Vienna-based startup which is developing therapeutic vaccines. — Fierce Biotech

Mersana Therapeutics, a biotech developing antibody drug conjugates raised a $33 million Series C financing led by new investor Wellington Management Company with other new investors Cormorant Asset Management, Arrowpoint Partners and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited also taking part. They were joined by existing investors NEA and Rock Springs Capital. — Globe Newswire

Myocardial Solutions raised $4 million in a Series A round to help the company commercialize its software for magnetic resonance imaging for cardiac magnetic resonance images. — Triangle Business Journal

PAYERS-PROVIDERS

UPMC has officially opened its $3 million Center for Care of Infectious Diseases, which includes 12 exam rooms to examine patients with potentially contagious diseases such as Zika, bloodstream infections, and Lyme disease. — Pittsburgh Business Times

TECHNOLOGY

A survey by Neilsen Strategic Health Perspectives of more than 30,000 consumers and 626 physicians, parked some of the blame for sluggish health technology adoption with patients and a lack of interest, even when their providers do offer services such as online appointments, scheduling, text or email reminders. — CIO

POLITICS

Philadelphia has become the first major city to pass a soda tax. The 1.5 cent per ounce tax will be applied equally to regular and diet sodas. It will be levied on distributors but will likely filter down to consumers at some point. Although it’s referred to as the soda tax, it casts a much wider net than that. It also apples to teas, sports drinks, flavored waters, bottled coffees, energy drinks, and other products. — Philly.com

A LITTLE BIT EXTRA

Could 3D printing be the next frontier in the treatment of thinning hair and baldness? — MIT News

Photo: Flickr/Liz Henry

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