A review of life science current events reported by MedCity News this week:
CHTP might seek limited Northera approval, meets with FDA this month Chelsea Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CHTP) won’t meet with regulators until later this month to discuss its orphan drug Northera but the company is already staking out scenarios of a more limited approval for the drug. If results of an ongoing phase 3 study don’t support the durability of Northera’s effect over time, the company said in its quarterly filing that it “might seek to obtain approval for Northera as an acute rather than a chronic treatment.” That change, detailed in an updated list of risk factors for the company, would further limit use of a drug that was already intended for a narrow patient population.
Is Covidien buying hypertension treatment firm Maya Medical? A Covidien spokesman wouldn’t comment on what he described as “market rumors and speculation,” but conceded that the company is in “partnership with Maya on a new technology.” The spokesman, Bruce Farmer, went on to add that Covidien makes strategic investments from time to time and “is a recognized market leader in RF ablation technology, with numerous products in both its vascular and surgical portfolios…”
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.
Accretive Health scandal prompts new word from Colbert: debt panels Sarah Palin coined the term death panel. On Wednesday night, comedian Stephen Colbert added his humorous twist to the saga of debt collection agency Accretive Health, by coining a word of his own: debt panels. Accretive Health, the Chicago-based public company, has seen its reputation mangled and stock price battered amid allegations that its employees harassed emergency room patients for outstanding payments.
Pharma startup led by Lilly Ventures execs raises $4.6 Esanex Inc.’s principal place of business is listed as the office of Lilly Ventures, the venture capital firm that spun out of Eli Lilly and Co. in 2009 with $200 million to invest in biotechnology, health IT and converged medical technologies.
Early detection device monitors patient vital signs with no body contact An early detection, no-contact medical device that monitors a patient’s heart rate, respiration rate and movement has entered beta testing at three hospitals. Sensiotec‘s Virtual Medical Assistant received 501(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about a year ago.
