Highlights of the important and interesting in the world of healthcare:
It’s a generational thing. As the history of social legislation suggests — and as this week’s federal court ruling on the so-called individual mandate makes clear, the effects of healthcare reform on our politics may not be settled until a lot of President Obama’s aides are collecting Medicare checks, according to the New York Times.
Is Biomet eyeing Smith & Nephew? The latest rumor in orthopedics circles is that Warsaw, Indiana-based Biomet Inc. is trying to acquire rival Smith & Nephew Inc. But on Wednesday, a veteran industry analyst pooh-poohed the idea to The Journal Gazette.
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.
More AIDS drugs needed in developing countries. More than three dozen non-profit organizations — largely international patient advocacy groups — are imploring the top execs at nine drugmakers to license HIV-related patents and data rights to the Medicines Patent Pool, according to the Pharmalot blog.
Philips pushes wireless monitors into hospitals. Royal Philips Electronics’ medical arm is planning a push into wireless monitoring of patients in hospital wards, according to mobihealthnews. Wireless hospital patient monitors, which transmit information from patient to nearby monitors, are expected to grow at about 13 percent between now and 2014.
CEO hopefuls at J&J running neck and neck. Two Johnson & Johnson execs, Alex Gorsky and Sherilyn McCoy, are the lead candidates to succeed CEO William Weldon, who is expected to retire in the next year or so, reports the Wall Street Journal’s Health blog.
Ramius buys Cypress Bioscience for $255M. After months of wrangling over a price, the investor group Ramius has finally landed a deal to acquire San Diego-based Cypress Bioscience for $255 million — a whopping 63 percent premium over its initial offer, FierceBiotech reports. (By the way, Ramius is in a gentlemen’s proxy fight with SurModics, the drug, medical devices and diagnostics company in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.)
