Highlights of the important and interesting in the world of healthcare:
No vote for prostate drugs. Would the Food and Drug Administration advisory committee recommend that the labels of two drugs — dutasteride, made by GlaxoSmithKline and sold as Avodart; and finasteride, a generic made by Merck and sold as Proscar — be changed to say they can reduce a man’s risk of getting prostate cancer? The answer was no, reports the New York Times.
GE, Dutch company look for Alzheimer’s marker. GE Healthcare and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV LLC will work together to use data integration, informatics, genomics and imaging to identify a biosignature for Alzheimer’s disease.
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.
Having your cake… UnitedHealth Group is predicting lower profit in 2011, in part because of federal health reform, while at the same time painting itself as well-positioned for the changes reform will bring, according to the Star Tribune.
A life’s savings for medical expenses. Some medical costs have fallen this year, thanks to healthcare reform laws, but U.S. retirees will still need hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to cover their lifetime medical expenses, according to a Reuters report about an Employee Benefits Research Institute study.
Union puts off HCA strike. SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West union members have decided to postpone until Friday a planned one-day strike at five Hospital Corporation of America (NYSE:HCA) hospitals in California to return to the bargaining table, according to FierceHealthcare.
Bariatric surgeon charged with embezzlement. Dr. Eric De Maria, former director of Duke University’s bariatric surgery program, and his former department business manager have been charged with embezzling $267,000 from the university, reports the News & Observer. Both De Maria and John William Cotton ended their positions on Aug. 1 for undisclosed reasons.
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.
Chicago plastic surgeon suing patients. Dr. Jay Pensler, a Chicago cosmetic surgeon, is suing three patients for $100,000 apiece in compensatory and punitive damages for attempting to “ruin the professional reputation of a well respected plastic surgeon, through false and defamatory statements” by using Yelp and Citysearch to review Pensler, who the patients say botched their breast surgeries, ABC News reports.
