Highlights of the important and interesting in the world of healthcare:
Who’s living with less? While questioning each other’s money-making techniques, the chiefs of Massachusetts’ most prominent hospital network and private health insurer agreed that controlling soaring healthcare costs begins with a shift in thinking: adjust to a climate of limited resources and learn to live with less, reports MetroWest Daily News.
Merck to buy insulin developer SmartCells. With an eye on remaining one of the leaders in the diabetes field, Merck (NYSE:MRK) has agreed to pay more than $500 million to acquire SmartCells, a Beverly, Massachusetts, biotech with some intriguing insulin technology that originated at MIT, according to FierceBiotech.
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.
Hospital perks: Are they worth the cost? As healthcare reform moves forward, we need to decide whether hospital amenities like hotel-style room service, massage therapy and magnificent views are worth their cost, according to a perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine.
A pearl of a COPD therapy. Pearl Therapeutics bagged a $69 million venture round last month, and now its clear why. The Redwood City, California, biotech has clinical trial results that show its inhalable drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease works better than standard Tiotropium (Spiriva), a $3 billion annual seller for Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim, reports Xconomy San Francisco.
M&A the hot ticket in med devices. From Medtronic’s (NYSE:MDT) deal to buy Ardian for $800 million to Stryker’s (NYSE:SYK) agreement to buy Boston Scientific’s (NYSE:BSX) neurovascular business for $1.5 billion, mergers and acquisitions are picking up in the medical device industry, Reuters reports.
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.
Asthmatx device holds $443.5M of promise. And how promising is Asthmatx Inc.’s device to treat patients with severe asthma? Up to $443.5 million-worth, based on how much Boston Scientific is willing to pay for the Sunnyvale, California, company if it hits revenue targets laid out in its acquisition deal, according to the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal.
