TOP STORIES
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Dr. Robert Califf as new commissioner of the FDA. Despite some vocal opposition from a handful of senators early on in the nomination process, Califf cleared the Senate by an 89-4 margin. Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) was one of the “no” votes. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) had stalled the nomination earlier, but ultimately voted to confirm. — The Washington Post
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.
Verily, formerly Google Life Sciences, is joining Vanderbilt University in a pilot program that launches President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative. The program will enroll 79,000 volunteers this year to supply personal data to look at not only at genetic factors but also the role of environmental exposures and their impact on genetic predispositions. – Reuters
LIFE SCIENCES
Look for lots more information around Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative, but here’s one bit: Inova Health System has launched a $100 million venture fund focused on precision medicine. – Washington Business Journal
Tara Therapeutics, which has a osteoperosis drug application in with the FDA, has raised $2 million. – Philadelphia Business Journal
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
Meet the judge, a former wannabe scientist, who is overseeing the CRISPR patent dispute case. – STAT
A win for AstraZeneca: Acerta Pharma’s acalabrutinib (AZ holds 55 percent of the company) got a European recommendation as an orphan product for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. – Reuters
Genentech’s lucrative Cabilly patents for manufacturing antibodies, which date to the 1980s, face their toughest challenge to date. — San Francisco Business Times
Biopharma CEOs are losing confidence in their ability to raise new capital in the next 18 months, according to a new survey. — Triangle Business Journal
Boston Scientific’s Brazil offices were searched as part of a government probe of a medical device government contract. – MassDevice
Hedge fund Krensavage Partners has bought 6 percent of RTI Surgical and wants to reshape the company’s board. — MassDevice
Mapp Biopharmaceutical’s ZMapp Ebola drug “showed promise” in a clinical trial, but didn’t demonstrate any statistically significant benefits. — FierceBiotech
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
“It’s a revolutionary time for cancer therapy,” said Dr. Laurie Glimcher, the newly named successor to retiring Dana-Farber Cancer Institute CEO Dr. Edward Benz. — Boston Business Journal
Cleveland Clinic had its best financial year in its long history, reporting operating income of $481 million for 2015. CEO Dr. Toby Cosgrove cited ongoing efficiency gains on both the business and clinical sides. — The Plain Dealer
A self-serving but peer-reviewed study showed that MDVIP’s concierge model of preventive primary care saves money and improves health management. — Business Wire
The University of Washington School of Medicine and Gonzaga University are partnering on a medical education program in Spokane, Washington. — Puget Sound Business Journal
TECHNOLOGY
An investment from UPMC has pushed Vivify Health’s total investment to more than $34 million (it focuses on patient monitoring). – MobiHealthNews
The ransomware attack on Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center is an early example of why healthcare may be the “next big hunting arena for cyber criminals.” — Knowledge@Wharton
CommonWell Health Alliance has extended cross-vendor interoperability services to post-acute care. — Business Wire
WebMD could join the healthcare price transparency and telehealth business? – MobiHealthNews
E-prescribing startup CenterX, of Madison, Wisconsin, has landed $3.3 million in new investments. — Xconomy
Get ready for next week’s HIMSS16 mega-conference with this list of official hashtags for social media. — HIMSS
POLITICS
Find out what the presidential contenders have to say about mental health — and then ask why more don’t have detailed action plans for addressing the problem. — NBC News
Did late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia die because he wasn’t using his CPAP machine? — The Washington Post
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Potheads, stop going to Colorado to smoke legally. You might save yourself a trip to the ER. — Reuters
Photo Win McNamee/Getty Images
