Current medical news and unique business news for anyone who cares about healthcare.
T-cell treatment cures leukemia in trial. A new leukemia therapy that involves treating patients with genetically engineered versions of their own cells cured two out of three patients in a recent trial. Researchers reprogrammed infection-fighting T-cells to destroy malignant cells and stimulate cells that prevent the cancer from returning, according to papers published yesterday in Science Translational Medicine and the New England Journal of Medicine. Currently the only method to cure leukemia is a bone marrow transplant, which is a risky and not always successful procedure.
FDA approves HIV combo pill. A daily HIV pill developed by Johnson & Johnson and Gilead Sciences won FDA approval Wednesday. The pill, called Complera, is a combination of J&J’s Edurant and Gilead’s Truvada and is expected to generate $567 million in revenue in 2013.
The Mechanics of a More Connected Healthcare Ecosystem [Video]
Arbiter’s Anjali Jameson on hospital and payer alignment.
An MS breakthrough. The largest gene study of multiple sclerosis ever confirmed 23 already known genetic links to MS and identified 29 new ones and five additional genes that likely contribute to the disease. This research confirms that MS is an immunological disease and may open new doors for developing MS treatments.
Fake sperm reproduces in mice. Fake sperm cells made from embryonic stem cells of mice fertilized eggs and produced healthy offspring in mice, according to Japanese scientists in the new issue of Cell. Whether this technique can be transferable to humans remains a big question.
Holding docs accountable. A report from the Washington D.C. nonprofit Public Citizen claims that more than 700 troubled California doctors were not disciplined by the state medical board after being disciplined by their own healthcare institutions. At least 100 of the doctors had their privileges to practice suspended or limited.