Highlights of the important and interesting in the world of healthcare:
Healthcare reform demands sacrifices. Efforts to rein in rapidly rising healthcare costs will require new team-based payment and delivery approaches, which would demand sacrifices from hospitals, doctors and insurers, according to the Boston Globe.
Anacor goes IPO. Palo Alto, California, small molecule therapeutics company Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc. raised $70 million ($64.2 million, net of expenses) through its $5-a-share IPO on Tuesday — a far cry from the $16-to-$18 per share the company initially expected to raise.
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.
Nurses’ union blasts Obama wage freeze. National Nurses United, whose 160,000 registered-nurse members include 7,000 Veterans Affairs RNs, blasted President Obama’s announcement of a two-year wage freeze for all nonmilitary federal workers, according to ModernHealthcare.
New Merck head promises innovation. Kenneth C. Frazier, named Tuesday as chief executive officer of Merck & Co., the second-biggest U.S. drug maker, vowed to develop innovative products and increase sales in emerging markets in his new post, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.
Synthes guilty of bone cement charges. West Chester, Pennsylvania, medical-device manufacturer Synthes Inc. and its Norian Corp. subsidiary pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of illegally experimenting with a bone cement on patients’ spines and will pay fines totaling $23.2 million, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Novartis cutting jobs, too. Swiss drug company Novartis Pharmaceuticals will cut 1,400 jobs out of its U.S. General Medicines business by Jan. 1 “to reflect changes in the product portfolio and align resources with strategic growth priorities,” according to Google News. Two weeks ago, competing Swiss drug maker Roche said it would cut 4,800 jobs worldwide.
