TOP STORIES
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
GlaxoSmithKline is thisclose to winning European approval for the first gene-replacement therapy to cure severe combined immunodeficiency, a deadly disease that leaves newborns unable to fight off infections. The condition is also referred to as the “bubble boy” disease, based on the case of a boy who lived inside a protected plastic shield. — MIT Technology Review
Mary Lou Jepsen is stepping down as Facebook’s engineering chief to concentrate developing an MRI device that doctor’s office can afford. — Engadget
CRISPR technology developer Intellia Therapeutics raised $108 million in its IPO, pricing at the top end of its projected $16-$18 share price range. — Xconomy
LIFE SCIENCES
Using Informed Awareness to Transform Care Coordination and Improve the Clinical and Patient Experience
This eBook, in collaboration with Care Logistics, details how hospitals and health systems can facilitate more effective decision-making by operationalizing elevated awareness.
Sanofi is threatening to try to oust Medivation board members if the latter company doesn’t start negotiating a takeover deal. — The Wall Street Journal
Pfizer has made an investment in biotech company Wave Life Sciences that could be worth $911 million if Wave successfully commercializes all five of its therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. — Boston Globe
ViewPoint Therapeutics has raised $4 million in a Series A round to support the development of therapeutics targeting faulty proteins to prevent or treat cataracts. — BioCentury
New Valeant CEO Joseph Papa has formed a committee to oversee drug-pricing decisions. — Reuters
venBio raised $315 million for its Global Strategic Fund II. Among the investors are Amgen, Merck, and Baxalta. — BioCentury
David Martin, former CEO of Cardiovascular Systems, has died at just 51 years old, following a battle with stomach cancer. — MassDevice
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Two-thirds of healthcare professionals in the U.S. and Europe believe that personalized medicine already is affecting patient outcomes, according to a new survey. — Healthcare IT News
UPMC is in talks to take over Susquehanna Health, a four-hospital system in north central Pennsylvania. — Pittsburgh Business Times
Thursday was World Hand Hygiene Day (for real), and the CDC launched a campaign for clinicians and patients alike called “Clean Hands Count.” — PR Newswire
TECHNOLOGY
Cerner made $150.4 million in the first quarter on revenues of $1.14 billion, both far above the year-earlier period. — Kansas City Business Journal
Somnoware, a startup making sleep management software, has raised $9 million — MobiHealthNews
An eyeglasses-mounted experimental device that marries a mini camera with OCR technology can help legally blind people “read.” — Drugs.com
POLITICS
The FDA finalized a major rule to regulate e-cigarettes, cigars and other non-cigarette tobacco products. Of particular note, every different flavor and nicotine level of e-cigs would require separate regulatory approval, and each application could run more than $1 million. — USA Today, STAT
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held a rare en banc session Thursday to hear whether a small pharma firm, The Medicines Co., had rights to a drug it hired a contract manufacturer for three years before filing its patents. — STAT
Who didn’t see this one coming? Planned Parenthood has sued the state of Kansas to prevent being cut off from Medicaid funding next week. — Reuters
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Three words guaranteed to raise the hackles of cardiologists and endocrinologists everywhere: Dessert French fries. — Business Insider
Photo: Getty Images
