Highlights of the important and interesting in the world of healthcare:
Vaccines attract takeovers. Johnson & Johnson became the latest large healthcare group to expand into vaccines with the launch of a $2.3 billion takeover offer for the Dutch company Crucell, according to the Financial Times (registration required).
Another ‘no’ for a diet drug. A federal advisory panel on Thursday recommended against approval of a new diet pill — lorcaserin, and developed by Arena Pharmaceuticals — the latest setback in efforts to develop treatments for the nation’s obesity epidemic, the New York Times reported.
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.
Lycera loses CEO. Bill Sibold, CEO of Lycera, one of Michigan’s high-profile biotech startups, has left the company o pursue other interests after less than a year on the job, Xconomy Detroit has confirmed.
Treatment a ‘significant milestone.’ A 21-year-old man suffering from a rare genetic blood disease who has needed monthly transfusions since he was 3 was treated with a therapy being developed by Bluebird Bio of Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2007 and hasn’t needed a transfusion in two years, according to a study published in the journal Nature, Bloomberg reported.
We buy HealthGrades shares. Health Grades Inc., the Golden, Colorado, medical institution rating service, said a tender offer for its outstanding shares as part of a $294 million buyout bid has been extended — again — according to the Denver Business Journal.
Medicaid fraud investigation nets CFO. Former Florida hospital CFO Natalie Ann Krasnow has been arrested for racketeering and Medicaid fraud, and faces a maximum of 90 years in jail and $30,000 in fines if convicted of all the charges against her, reported FierceHealthcare.
