TOP STORIES
Google searches may help the FDA identify drug side effects, according to media reports of a meeting between the regulator and Google in June.
Agency officials held a conference call on June 9 with a senior Google researcher who co-wrote a 2013 paper about using search query data to identify adverse drug reactions, according to a record of the meeting posted to the FDA website that hasn’t been previously reported.
Transforming Patient Care: The Role of AI-Powered Assistants
The progress in artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping patient care, across various dimensions, from facilitating faster discharge to curating treatment plans and suggesting lifestyle changes.
Reducing Clinical and Staff Burnout with AI Automation
As technology advances, AI-powered tools will increasingly reduce the administrative burdens on healthcare providers.
LIFE SCIENCES
Immuncore can now celebrate the success of a private financing round that adds up to around $320 million.
The firm said it will use the proceeds to further accelerate its pipeline of ImmTACs (Immune mobilising mTCR Against Cancer), a new class of bispecific biologics with the potential to treat a broad range of solid tumours either as monotherapies or in combination with other therapies.
Alere announced it’s selling the BBI diagnostics business and acquiring the assets of U.S. Diagnostics.
The company is selling its BBI business to U.K.-based Exponent Private Equity for approximately $164 million, including up to $47 million in contingent consideration, Alere said. The final price will be subject to a working capital adjustment, the company said.
Novo Nordisk announced that the FDA approval of FlexPro PenMate, pens designed for those who dislike needles and prefer them to be hidden during the injection process.
“Children and adolescents with growth hormone-related disorders are the primary users of Norditropin®, and some feel uneasy at the thought of having to inject their medicine,” said Eddie Williams, senior vice president, Biopharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk.
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
UnitedHealth Group has released promising numbers for the second quarter of fiscal year 2015 – including the fact that it increased revenue 11 percent to $36.3 billion. Here are other key points on the progress being made at UnitedHealth.
TECH
The patient monitoring device market has a global valuation of $31.4 billion, fueled by demand to integrate data into an EMR and anticipated cost savings, according to a report from Kalorama Information. There is also a rising trend to upgrade to ambulatory and hand-held devices, according to Kalorama Information publisher Bruce Carlson. — Kalorama Information
St. Jude Medical has announced that it received FDA 510(k) clearance for the St. Jude Medical Invisible Trial System — a mobile-enabled discreet spinal cord stimulation (SCS) trial system.
POLITICS
The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced a bill that would fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the next fiscal year. It’s the 11th approved out of 12 spending bills.
The bill contains $20.5 billion in discretionary funding, which is $65 million below the current level and $1.1 billion below President Obama’s request. The bulk of the measure contains $123.3 billion in mandatory funding
— The Hill
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman revealed he wants a new set of restrictions during an Ask Me Anything session.
We’re considering a set of additional restrictions on what people can say on Reddit—or at least say on our public pages—in the spirit of our mission,” wrote Huffman.
Photo: Flickr user Hartwig HKD