Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Wilson Therapeutics closes $40 million Series B financing

Wilson Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has closed a $40 million Series B financing co-led by new investors, Abingworth LLP and MVM Life Science Partners LLP. The company's founding investor, HealthCap, also participated in the round.

16 Apr 2014

Highlights: N.Y.'s $8B Medicaid waiver; Conn. Medicaid application delays settlement; managed care overpayment in Washington state

New York and federal officials report final agreement allowing the state to reinvest $8 billion in Medicaid savings to support hospital overhauls and expand primary medical care over the next five years. The goal of the Medicaid waiver is to reduce avoidable hospital use by 25 percent while helping financially struggling hospitals shift to more primary and outpatient care (4/14).

16 Apr 2014

Some push to sync Obamacare deadline with tax day

This year's intersection of the deadlines to sign up for health insurance, as well as to file taxes, elevated the role of many tax preparers who have been educating uninsured clients about the health law. Some tax preparers contend the two deadlines should be permanently connected.

16 Apr 2014

FDA approves GSK's Tanzeum as once-weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes

GlaxoSmithKline plc today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Tanzeum (albiglutide) for injection, for subcutaneous use, as a once-weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes. Tanzeum has been approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

16 Apr 2014

U.S. health care spending, usage rise

Americans' spending on medicines in 2013 rose 3.2 percent to nearly $330 billion, fueling speculation that a dip in overall health care spending may be over.

16 Apr 2014

FDA approves Boston Scientific's latest generation of defibrillators and heart failure devices

Boston Scientific Corporation has received FDA approval for its latest generation of defibrillators and heart failure devices designed to advance patient care. The newly approved devices include the DYNAGEN MINI and INOGEN MINI ICDs, as well as the DYNAGEN X4 and INOGEN X4 CRT-Ds.

16 Apr 2014

Detroit reaches agreement on pension and healthcare benefits with RDPFFA

The City of Detroit, working through federal bankruptcy mediators, has reached an agreement on pension and healthcare benefits with an association representing retired Detroit police and fire fighters – the first agreement with a major group of city retirees.

16 Apr 2014

Survey: Signing up for Obamacare no walk in the park

California enrollees said they had trouble getting through to call centers, calculating their income and gathering the required documentation, among other difficulties, according to a survey by the California HealthCare Foundation. Meanwhile, media outlets note that Tuesday is the last chance to sign up in California, while April 22 is the deadline in Minnesota.

16 Apr 2014

Daylight Medical releases SKY 6Xi disinfection technology for mobile devices

Daylight Medical, manufacturer and provider of innovative medical products, is pleased to announce its rollout of SKY 6Xi, disinfection technology for mobile devices. SKY 6Xi uses high intensity (254 nanometer wavelength) ultraviolet light in the "C" spectrum (UVC) at close proximity to thoroughly disinfect a mobile device. The unique power of SKY reduces the risk that Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are transmitted to patients while improving safety for healthcare workers.

15 Apr 2014

Young people with epilepsy are more than twice as likely to be poisoned by medication

Children and young adults with epilepsy are more likely to suffer broken bones, burns and poisonings compared to those without the neurological disorder, new research has found.

15 Apr 2014

Prestige Brands Holdings signs agreement for acquisition of Hydralyte

Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc. today announced the signing of a purchase agreement for the acquisition of Hydralyte in Australia and New Zealand from The Hydration Pharmaceuticals Trust of Victoria, Australia. The acquisition is expected to close, subject to customary closing conditions, during the first quarter of fiscal 2015, which began on April 1, 2014.

15 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 15, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the Congressional Budget Office's latest estimate of the costs for expanding health insurance.

15 Apr 2014

New initiative aims to develop Global Psoriasis Atlas

While studies over the recent years have contributed to an improved understanding of psoriasis, there are still significant gaps in knowledge related to the epidemiology of this serious, chronic disease and trends in incidence over time. The World Health Organization, reported in 2013 that the worldwide prevalence of psoriasis is around 2%, but that studies in developed countries have declared prevalence rates of more than twice the global estimate at an average of 4.6% .

15 Apr 2014

Sanofi Korea launches gut health product, Probi Digestis

Probi has signed a distribution and supply agreement with Sanofi. Following this the Consumer Healthcare division of Sanofi Korea is making a major launch of Probi´s gut health product, Probi Digestis starting in April 2014. Probi has already delivered products and received substantial orders for the coming quarters.

15 Apr 2014

Study of VA hospitals finds experienced nurses are most cost-effective

When it comes to the cost and quality of hospital care, nurse tenure and teamwork matters. Patients get the best care when they are treated in units that are staffed by nurses who have extensive experience in their current job, according to a study from researchers at Columbia University School of Nursing and Columbia Business School.

15 Apr 2014

Psychological support for diabetes patients: an interview with Katharine Barnard, University of Southampton

It’s been over a decade since the first Diabetes Attitudes Wishes and Needs (DAWN) study showed that psychosocial aspects of diabetes pose specific challenges and barriers to optimal glycaemic control for people living with diabetes.

15 Apr 2014

Viewpoints: Sebelius withstood attacks, but wasn't 'warrior' for law; Burwell offers GOP chance to focus on law's problems

Kathleen Sebelius was known for her patience and cool under savage attack by Republicans, who treated her as a stand-in for the health law. She sat through hearings calmly reciting talking points while they fumed and fulminated for their audience. But that turned out to be one of her biggest liabilities ... What the health law needed in its first years was a cheerful, populist warrior who could laugh at the truly ridiculous distortions and lies Republicans invented about it, and roar back with the truth. Instead, she came across as a mild technocrat. She never emerged from the defensive crouch she assumed after the law's calamitous debut (David Firestone, 4/11).

15 Apr 2014

New drug combination proves effective in treating patients with HCV genotype 1

Treatment options for the 170 million people worldwide with chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) are evolving rapidly, although the available regimens often come with significant side effects. Two multi-center clinical trials led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center show promise for a new option that could help lead to both an increase in patients cured with a much more simple and tolerable all oral therapy.

15 Apr 2014

High cost of potent hepatitis drug presents challenges across the U.S.

Sovaldi, the hepatitis C treatment drug, is considered a breakthrough for patients with the disease. However, since, it won federal approval in December, lawmakers, insurers and patient advocates have begun an all-out revolt over it's high price point of $1,000 a daily pill or $84,000 over 12 weeks of treatment.

15 Apr 2014

Research may provide insight into identifying, helping children with emotional behavior issues

Research on children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in South Africa may provide insight on how to identify and help children with emotional behavior issues in other areas of the world, which may have limited access to healthcare and further research that could lead to successful interventions.

15 Apr 2014