The life sciences biz had a colorful year. We were on the sidelines of scandal (Shkreli), disillusionment (Theranos) and some extreme M&A. As such, the internet’s awash with year-end highlight reels – rattling off the top stories, top personalities and top issues of 2015.
But what’s the fun in that?
We do life sciences a little differently here at MedCity News. So here are some 2015 life science highlights… in rhyme!
The Human Algorithm: What AI Can’t Replace in Pharma Engagement
At a time when AI is reshaping pharma, Reverba Global CEO Cheryl Lubbert explained in an interview why empathy, context, and ethics still require a human touch.
An ambassador of health going tech
With that cool, Jobs-esque black turtleneck
But her diagnostics face scorn
Dubbed a failed unicorn
Liz Holmes: Now a bit of a wreck?
We must thank our dudebro Shkreli
Pharma’s bungling Machiavelli
He jacked up drug prices
Threw Wall Street in crisis
But revealed its corrupt underbelly!
What Are Healthcare Organizations Getting Wrong about Email Security?
A new report by Paubox calls for healthcare IT leaders to dispose of outdated assumptions about email security and address the challenges of evolving cybersecurity threats.
All hail CRISPR/Cas9
The gene editing uses? Divine.
But we must be prudent:
Can’t engineer a mutant.
“We’ve gone Gattaca!” the masses will whine.
This year’s M&A perversion?
Botox and Viagra, merged for inversion
Pfizer’s under attacks
But… Allergan’s tax!
Might sanction that U.S. desertion.
As for stethoscopes, Topol is critical
‘Cause he espouses all things going digital:
The renowned cardiologist
Is a social technologist
His prowess on Twitter? Inimitable.
I signed up for 23andMe
To learn what my genetics could be.
All I found? Hypochondria!
Over my mitochondria
Oh, and that lame family tree.
There once was a biochemist called Venter
Who became a genomics inventor
Now he backs precision med
‘Cause he’s afraid to be dead
Hence the launch of his “Human Longevity” center
Google favors the literary sobriquet:
Verb Surgical, Verily and Alphabet
But though they like words
They’re just biotech nerds
Chasing healthcare like it’s the next Internet.
“The forgotten organ” we’ve found
Where a world of bacteria abound
Microbiota’s got plethora
Of good-for-you gut flora
(“Fecal transplant” still has a gross sound)