TOP STORIES
Walgreens has finally done the inevitable, terminating its partnership with rapidly sinking diagnostics company Theranos. All 40 Theranos Wellness Centers in Walgreens stores in Arizona have been shuttered, the Deerfield, Illinois-based pharmacy giant announced Sunday evening.
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.
In January, Walgreens stopped using Theranos testing services in California due to irregularities there, so with this move, Theranos no longer will be available in any Walgreens pharmacy locations.
“In light of the voiding of a number of test results, and as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has rejected Theranos’ plan of correction and considers sanctions, we have carefully considered our relationship with Theranos and believe it is in our customers’ best interests to terminate our partnership,” Brad Fluegel, Walgreens senior vice president, said in a company statement.
So is this the end for the dying unicorn? Theranos is maintaining an upbeat tone.
“We are disappointed that Walgreens has chosen to terminate our relationship and remain fully committed to our mission to provide patients access to affordable health information and look forward to continuing to serve customers in Arizona and California through our retail locations,” Theranos spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan was quoted as saying.
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.
“Quality and safety are our top priorities, and we are working closely with government officials to ensure that we not only comply with all federal regulations but exceed them,” Buchanan added.
Um, yeah. Doesn’t it seem more likely that the only feds Theranos will be hearing from anytime soon are the FBI, a U.S. attorney and perhaps the U.S. Marshals Service? — Business Wire, The Wall Street Journal
LIFE SCIENCES
Details are coming out from last week’s settlement between Valeant Pharmaceuticals and federal and state prosecutors, and it appears that Salix Pharmaceuticals — bought by Valeant last year — was paying kickbacks to doctors. — Triangle Business Journal
Mylan Laboratories is the latest drug-maker to come under scrutiny for steep price hikes. — STAT
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories is buying the U.S. rights to eight generic drugs from Allergan and Teva for $350 million. — Reuters
Sanofi is expecting FDA approval of its new diabetes drug LixiLan by August, following two successful Phase III clinical trials. — Reuters
At the ADA meeting on Saturday, researchers presented promising data on Johnson & Johnson’s OneTouch Via system for delivering insulin at mealtimes. — Philadelphia Business Journal
PaxVax has received FDA approval for a single-dose, oral cholera vaccine. — Business Wire
PAYERS/PROVIDERS
Nurses at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital are voting Monday to authorize a one-day strike later this month. If they walk, the hospital plans on locking union members out for five days. — Boston Globe
Drug-monitoring programs in 24 states have resulted in sharp drops in opioid prescriptions, a new study says. — Reuters
The presence of hand sanitizers in office buildings cut insurance claims for illnesses related to hand hygiene by nearly a quarter, according to a peer-reviewed study sponsored by the maker of Purell. — Business Wire
TECHNOLOGY
ReCor Medical, maker of a renal denervation device for minimally invasive surgery, has pulled in $10 million in new debt financing. — MassDevice
University of Wisconsin spinoff ImageMoverMD is helping with the secure transmission of medical images and videos between patients and physicians and into medical records. — Xconomy
POLITICS
The massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday night has prompted calls for the federal government to lift its restrictions on gay men donating blood. — STAT
Could more athletes pull out of the upcoming Olympic Games, now that researchers have found colonies of drug-resistant “super bacteria” on Rio de Janeiro’s beaches? — Reuters
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Here’s one way to combat obesity: A “naked restaurant” set to open in Tokyo next month promises to turn away overweight patrons. — AFP
