A review of life science current events reported by MedCity News this week:
Grifols and Talecris get FTC approval to merge. The FTC had been concerned that a merger of two of the top companies in the specialized blood therapeutics space would hurt competition and lead to higher drug costs for patients.
Cleveland Clinic CEO: Proposed ACO rules create ‘significant barriers.’ Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove made the comments in an eight-page letter addressed to Donald Berwick, top administrator for the the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), though Cosgrove stressed that the Clinic supports the concept of accountable care organizations (ACOs).
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.
Synthetic biotech company Intrexon raises $100M. “The money will be directed to Intrexon’s UltraVector platform, the company’s technology used to design and construct complex transgenes to achieve certain qualities that would not typically be found in nature. The engineering can result in the enhancement of certain capabilities, improvement of safety and lowering of cost. UltraVector forms the backbone of Intrexon’s work in human therapeutics, animal science, agricultural biotechnology and industrial products.”
Medicare for all? Q&A with Ohio’s leading single-payer physician advocate. Dr. Jonathan Ross spoke with MedCity News about why he believes a health system based on profit will never provide the high quality and low cost the U.S. needs, what he sees as the major weaknesses of Obama’s health reform, and how his up-close experience with an HMO led him to support single-payer.
