TOP STORIES
Johnson & Johnson announced this morning it will cut up to 6 percent of its global medical devices workforce over the next two years (about 3,000 workers), saving up to $1 billion by 2018. The job cuts are focused exclusives on JNJ’s orthopedics, cardiovascular and surgery segments. Pharmaceutical and consumer medical devices will be untouched. There is not much on this – yet – but Johnson & Johnson also promised more in-depth details during its earnings conference in a week. – MarketWatch, PRNewswire, JNJ FAQ, Reuters
LIFE SCIENCES
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.
Here’s a nice summary of all the moves cancer biotech Ariad Pharmaceuticals is making to get ready to sell. –Boston Business Journal
Ireland’s HiberGene Diagnostics, which focuses on infectious disease testing through molecular technology, has raised $1.6 million toward a nearly $4 million Series B. – Business Wire
The University College of London has rolled out a more than $70 million fund to support commercialization in the life sciences and other sectors. – PharmaTimes
DRP Biomedical is now HemaFlo Therapeutics to correspond with its focus on ischemia treatments. – PR Newswire
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.
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Here’s a deeper look at Medscape’s latest lifestyle report, which found 40 percent of doctors have biases toward certain groups of patients (in particular obese, mentally unstable or poor English-speakers). As it says lower in the article, this is probably low. – CNN
Direct-to-consumer laboratory testing was up to $33.1 million in 2015 – four times more than it was in 2010 (I thought it would have been more). – PR Newswrire
TECHNOLOGY
Bingo! “The problem with virtual reality in healthcare is that none of the virtual reality companies are going to focus any of their effort on healthcare.” – EMR & HIPAA
HealthGrid will deploy its patient engagement platform on to Microsoft Azure. – PR Newswire
British remote care company Babylon raised $25 million to an artificial intelligence system that helps users navigate their symptoms and monitor medication adherence. – MobiHealthNews
Will the CHILLED method provide a simple path for health system Internet security? – Physicians Practice
POLITICS
Prediction: This will be copied in the United States very quickly: there is now a 20 percent tax in all National Health Service cafes on sugary drinks. – BBC
This is not a surprise, really. When politicians talks of regulating industries, like pharma, the companies themselves move first hoping to avoid the government from stepping in. If Hillary Clinton wins and gets that Congress she wants, I don’t think that will work. – The New York Times
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
The problem is … the comments. – Reddit Originals
