TOP STORIES
Affymetrix put off its vote on a takeover bid by Thermo Fisher Scientific after Origin Technologies upped its offer to $17 per share from the previously rejected $16.10. Thermo Fisher still is confident it will prevail — Bloomberg, Business Wire
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.
The Supreme Court seemed divided during oral arguments Thursday in Zubik v. Burwell, a case that is challenging the contraception coverage mandate in the Affordable Care Act. Remember, there are only eight justices at the moment, and a 4-4 vote means the decisions of lower courts stand. In this case, however, other courts had differing rulings. — Modern Healthcare
LIFE SCIENCES
Billionaire Paul Allen has put $100 million into high-risk, high-reward research in biotech. — STAT
Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire Padlock Therapeutics in a deal that could be worth as much as $600 million. — Business Wire
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.
Respironics, the CPAP division of Philips, has settled a federal kickbacks case for $34.8 million. — Reuters
The FDA has sent a warning letter to Terumo about manufacturing and quality control of Destination Guiding vascular sheaths. — MassDevice
Corvus Pharmaceuticals raised $70.5 million in its IPO on Wednesday after lowering the offering price. — MarketWatch, FierceBiotech
Biotech research firm Quantirex has closed a $46 million Series D financing round. — Business Wire
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Two Prime Healthcare hospitals in California have been hit by ransomware attacks. — Healthcare IT News
Physicians at Boston Children’s Hospital are testing a new method of repairing ACL tears. — The New York Times
Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Florida, is expanding its interventional radiology department, a big source of medical tourism dollars. — Orlando Business Journal
UNC Health Care is in exclusive negotiations to take over management of Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kinston, North Carolina. — Triangle Business Journal
TECHNOLOGY
McKesson may be exiting the ambulatory EHR market, but it’s beefing up other health IT, now with a new line of disaster recovery services for hospitals. — Business Wire
Digital health startup MedAware Solutions has raised more than $2.2. million from various private investors. — St. Louis Business Journal
Stimwave, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has gained FDA clearance to market a wireless, full-body peripheral nerve stimulator. — Business Wire
POLITICS
Ah, Congress. Our esteemed representatives on Capitol Hill went on spring break without voting on emergency funding for research and preparedness for the Zika virus. The reasons were partisan, natch. — STAT
Wait, Congress did do something: A bipartisan group in the House introduced a bill to protect the health of babies born to mothers hooked on heroin and other opiods. — Reuters
A House panel also heard from The Who lead singer Roger Daltrey, an advocate for teenage cancer treatments. Daltrey urged Congress to move the 21st Century Cures legislation forward. — STAT
Kaiser Permanente executive Donna Lynne has been nominated to be the next lieutenant governor of Colorado. — The Denver Post
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Putting this here for the headline alone: “Could Germ From Cat Poop Trigger Rage Disorder in People?” — Drugs.com
Photo: Flickr user Karola Riegler
