MedCity News

Generics companies face risk as SCOTUS questions patent tribunal’s constitutionality

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 17:14:48 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday on the constitutionality of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, an essential piece of the United States patent litigation puzzle and favored tool of generic and biosimilar patent challengers since its formation in 2012.

Hillrom faces lawsuit after dropping planned $375M Bardy Diagnostics deal

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 00:48:52 GMT

Hillrom axed plans to acquire cardiac monitoring company Bardy Diagnostics over reimbursement changes by a Medicare contractor. Bardy filed suit against Hillrom on Sunday.

FDA calls out Brainstorm’s ALS stem cell therapy, says data don’t show benefit

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 23:52:58 GMT

A Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics therapy for Lou Gehrig’s disease failed a pivotal study, but the company points to better results in a subgroup. The FDA took the unusual step of publicly stating that study’s results do not show the stem cell therapy helps patients.

In-home care startup DispatchHealth passes $1.7B valuation

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 21:38:57 GMT

DispatchHealth, a startup offering at-home care, raised $200 million in funding. The Denver-based company plans to use it to expand to additional states.

Promoting public health through the law: A Q&A with NY state counsel Deborah Beth Medows

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 20:26:37 GMT

In a wide-ranging interview, a senior attorney at the state Health Department discusses the national pandemic response, the need to work across the aisle, and lessons learned during a clerkship in Israel.

Takeda to pay Ovid $196M for full rights to Phase 3-ready epilepsy drug

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 18:11:45 GMT

Takeda Pharmaceutical gains full rights to a small molecule that has shown promise treating seizures in several rare forms of epilepsy. Meanwhile, Ovid Therapeutics gains cash to support its pipeline of neurological disease drug candidates.

How digital health impacts the development and adoption of cancer immunotherapies [Sponsored]

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 17:22:47 GMT

In an interview, BrightInsight Co-founder and CEO Kal Patel, MD, offered a preview of the report, The Role of Digital Health in Immuno-oncology Therapy Development and Adoption.

Could AI reduce healthcare waste? Approach of online retailers could provide clues

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 17:15:07 GMT

Just as Amazon leverages machine learning to develop valuable insights into consumer purchasing behavior in real time, healthcare organizations can strengthen their ability to reduce costs of care and eliminate waste and abuse with this type of intelligence.

4 signs your compliance program is out of date

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 13:05:16 GMT

Many players in life sciences and other sectors balk at updating their compliance systems because of the cost and resources involved. but addressing possible lapses now can save your company millions of dollars in fines and reputational damage.

Going through their own pregnancies, founders launch hybrid maternity clinic

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 02:23:49 GMT

Two founders started Oula, a maternity care startup that combines virtual and in-person care. They began seeing patients virtually in December and opened an in-person clinic on Tuesday.

Biden invokes federal law to broker Merck, J&J Covid vaccine manufacturing alliance

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 01:20:06 GMT

President Biden used the Defense Production Act to direct Merck to convert two of its facilities into production sites for Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine. In addition, he said J&J will run its own vaccine production sites 24/7.

Apervita, Diameter Health join forces to improve data quality for value-based care contracting

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 23:56:32 GMT

Health IT company Apervita will leverage Diameter Health’s capabilities — which include cleaning and enriching clinical data — to enhance data quality for stakeholders looking to create value-based care contracts.

Geisinger Health Plan, Tomorrow Health partner to make getting home care supplies easier

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:41:54 GMT

Per the partnership, Geisinger Health Plan’s half a million members will gain access to Tomorrow Health’s services, which focus on coordinating medical supplies for home-based care. Tomorrow Health’s platform connects patients to medical equipment suppliers and guides them through the purchase process.

Novavax preps to meet global demand, plans capacity for 2B Covid vaccine doses

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:29:30 GMT

Novavax says it’s building up its manufacturing capacity now to be ready to ship Covid-19 vaccine globally as emergency authorizations are granted in coming months. The company expects to seek FDA authorization in the second quarter.

Highmark strikes deal with Verily as part of broader Google partnership

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:21:29 GMT

Verily become part of a six-year collaboration between Google Cloud and Highmark Health. A big part of the partnership will be Verily’s platform for managing chronic conditions, Onduo.

Payers are erecting higher hurdles to care: How can hospitals clear them?

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:05:45 GMT

Prior authorization is a massive and growing problem for patients and providers, and regulation is not likely to solve it completely or anytime soon.

CMS rule requires insurers to cover tests for asymptomatic patients

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 02:43:39 GMT

A new CMS rule would require insurers to cover Covid-19 tests, even for asymptomatic patients. It builds on previous legislation requiring payers to cover the cost of both testing and vaccines for their members.

Einstein Healthcare Network, Jefferson Health to merge after FTC drops challenge

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 00:01:10 GMT

The Federal Trade Commission is no longer opposing the proposed merger between Einstein Healthcare Network and Jefferson Health. Nearly three years after it was first announced, the deal can now move forward uncontested and will result in an 18-hospital system.

FDA rejects Athenex’s oral chemotherapy, asks for another clinical trial

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 23:47:35 GMT

Athenex’s bid to offer an oral version of an intravenous chemotherapy has stalled after the FDA rejected the drug. Among the remedies proposed by the regulator is another Phase 3 study.

Thirty Madison launches direct-to-consumer health brand for allergies

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:25:17 GMT

Thirty Madison launched a new telehealth brand for people with seasonal allergies. It’s the latest addition to the company’s growing list of direct-to-consumer brands, which include hair loss, migraines and acid reflux.