TOP STORIES
At an investor conference Tuesday, NantWorks CEO Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong shared promising data from a Phase II study of a genetically engineered Adenovirus vaccine for colon cancer. The vaccine more than doubled the survival rate among a cohort of 30 patients with end-stage colon cancer.
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.
Soon-Shiong also announced that the FDA has cleared the vaccine for clinical trials in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. — Business Wire
Olympus has agreed to pay $306 million to the federal government, all 50 states and D.C. to settle kickback allegations. The device-maker also reportedly reached a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office in New Jersey. — MassDevice
LIFE SCIENCES
GlaxoSmithKline CEO Andrew Witty said lack of price transparency is a major reason why drugs — and healthcare in general — cost so much in the U.S. — Marketplace
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.
VistaGen Therapeutics is moving its stock to the Nasdaq on Wednesday. The South San Francisco, California-based company hopes to raise $10 million with a new stock offering. — PR Newswire
Biopharma company Aptinyx has secured $65 million in Series A funding, led by New Leaf Venture Partners. — PE Hub
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Dr. Benjamin Chu has officially started as CEO of Memorial Herrmann Health System in Houston. He’s the first physician to lead the organization. — Houston Business Journal
Physicians are starting to win battles against recurring tests of their skills, but could that compromise patient safety? — STAT
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services unintentionally disclosed personal data of 59,000 state residents who had received mental health treatment. — Cincinnati Business Courier
Teamsters Local 727, which filed charges of unfair labor practices against CVS to the National Labor Relations Board last week, held protests outside several Chicago-area CVS stores on Tuesday about over pharmacists’ working conditions. — Chicago Tribune
TECHNOLOGY
The U.S. market for virtual medical visits will grow by 17.8 percent annually from 2015 to 2021, said Frost & Sullivan. — PR Newswire
Medical billing startup Simplee has closed a $20 million venture round, led by Social Capital and American Express Ventures. — VentureBeat
i2i Systems, a population health service provider based in Santa Rosa, California, has closed an investment round of an undisclosed amount and will open a sales and management office in the Nashville, Tennessee, area. — i2i Systems
Physician social network Sermo has added an agile market research tool called Sermo RealTime. — Business Wire
The makers of a wearable concussion sensor — finalists on the TBS reality show “America’s Greatest Makers” — demonstrated their invention to Conan O’Brien on Monday:
POLITICS
Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating contracts between pharma companies and PBMs. The latest drug-makers to reveal that they are being scrutinized are Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Endo International. — Reuters
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) has introduced “right to try” legislation for terminally ill patients. — STAT
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) became the first major-party presidential candidate to endorse a California ballot measure that would allow the state to purchase prescription drugs at the lowest rates available to the federal government. — Business Wire
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
At the request of lawmakers and food companies, the FDA is reviewing its official definition of “healthy” for the first time since 1994. Right now, almonds aren’t officially healthier than Pop-Tarts. — The Wall Street Journal
