Latest News

Night Read (Ohio): Layoffs part of returning ‘vigor’ at Cardinal Health?

Cardinal Health is laying off a total of 49 workers at its Indianapolis drug distribution center. Meanwhile, Time magazine/CNN report that some are hailing the Dublin, Ohio, company’s new CEO, George Barrett, as the restorer of Cardinal’s vigor.

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University of Cincinnati cancer drug development program offers hope to patients… and the university

Case Western Reserve University and Ohio State University Medical Center have been the only two institutions in Ohio offering cancer trials. Until now. The Early State Drug Development and Phase 1 clinical trial program launched in January by the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine offers cancer patients treatments closer to home — and a shot for the university to become a cancer treatment and research heavyweight.

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FDA leader says agency must update clearance process for medical devices

Regulatory science must evolve along with advances in the life sciences, according to Food & Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

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Former Medtronic executive starts device venture fund with Essex Woodland

Dan Lemaitre will lead the new White Pine Medical fund, which will receive a financing commitment of “up to” $50 million from Essex Woodlands Health Ventures.

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Becton, Dickinson & Co. expands Class I recall of devices

Becton, Dickinson & Co. expands the Class I recall of millions of its Q-Syte Luer access intravenous systems to include its Nexiva IV catheter.

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Minnesota’s Synovis gets FDA clearance for blood-flow-measurement device

Synovis Life Technologies Inc. has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a device that measures blood flow immediately after surgical procedures in which veins have been connected.

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FDA considers new labeling rules: MedCity Morning Read, Feb. 8, 2010

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reportedly considering doing something it should’ve done a long time ago: adjusting serving sizes on food packaging to reflect the way Americans really eat. The agency is also toying with the idea of encouraging food companies to place nutrition labels on the front of packaging, though both moves disappointingly would be voluntary.

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FDA to device makers: Let’s get Bayesian

The Food & Drug Administration issued new guidlines for medical device clinical trials it says can speed the process.

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Weekend Rounds: $700 million, 4-year Ohio Third Frontier renewal heads for May ballot

A $700 million renewal of Ohio Third Frontier is on its way to the May 4 ballot, and the University of Minnesota is teaming up with private developers to establish a major venture-backed commercialization hub next to the school’s Biomedical Discovery District.

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Minnesota legislative season opens: Saving health care insurance for poor, drug companies on the hot seat

Drug companies face bills that require disclosure of industry payments to doctors and funding for medication waste disposal.

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Night Read (Minnesota): Number of uninsured rises sharply in Minnesota

Over the last six years, uncompensated care has risen by 114 percent, according to the Minnesota Hospital Association. Uncompensated care is made up of charity care and “bad debt” from care that patients never pay for. In 2008, Minnesota hospitals gave away $268 million in uncompensated care.

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Night Read (Ohio): Trumbull Memorial Hospital union leader not excited about potential new owner

A union leader at Trumbull Memorial Hospital told the Warren Tribune Chronicle on Thursday his members aren’t ”overly excited” about the prospect of Nashville, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services buying Trumbull parent Forum Health, which is reorganizing in bankruptcy court.

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University Hospitals operations ’strong’ but subject to changes, credit rating firms say

At a time when some credit rating firms are turning a thumb’s down on the not-for-profit hospital industry, two rating firms are giving University Hospitals a thumb’s up.

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Wisconsin’s Cellular Dynamics amends regulatory filing, now says it has raised $40M

Another day, another dollar — or rather a few million dollars — for pluripotent stem cell company Cellular Dynamics Inc. After filing a regulatory document last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating it had raised $31 million, the Wisconsin company amended the filing. The company now has raised $40.6 million in equity, according to a new document.

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Medtronic uses new study to push sterile endoscope sheaths

A new study suggests that sterile sheaths are as effective in preventing contamination of endoscopes as the traditional method of soaking the instruments in germicidal liquid, device giant Medtronic said.

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Why the states can’t bail us out on health reform: MedCity Morning Read, Feb. 5, 2010

While many big policy changes in America are best-served to happen in the “laboratory” of the state level, allowing for a sort of trial-and-error of democracy, health reform isn’t one of them–if you accept the idea that universal (or near-universal) coverage is a goal of reform, that is.

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Minnesota House Tax Chair and angel credit foe embraces… an angel credit

Last week, Rep. Ann Lenczewski and House Speaker Margaret Kelliher held a press conference to tout a jobs creation bill. First item on the 26-page bill: a three year, $9 million tax credit to investors and funds with a heavy focus on “green” companies. To receive the credit, regional investment funds must devote 50 percent of its money toward “qualifying green job small businesses.”

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Night Read (Ohio): Tennessee hospital looks to buy Forum Health?

A sale of Youngstown’s Forum Health, which is reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, to Nashville, Tenn., hospital system Ardent Health Services hinges on successful negotiations with unions representing about 3,500 Forum workers, unnamed sources told the Tribune Chronicle.

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St. Jude Medical wins European approval on defibrillators, U.S. versions to launch this year

St. Jude Medical Inc. has received European approval to begin selling two defibrillators that it says have the industry’s “smallest available device footprint.” The company expects to begin selling its Fortify and Unify defibrillators in Europe this spring, and the U.S. versions later this year.

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Invacare looks forward to 2010 without specter of medical device tax

Home health care products maker Invacare Corp. is closing the books on a strong financial performance in 2009 “despite a challenging reimbursement and economic environment.” The company is looking forward to a 2010 without a tax on medical device sales proposed under health care reform.

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FDA: warnings, recall for diagnostic equipment and two devices

The Food & Drug Administration issued warnings to Millipore Corp. and Cardiac Sciences Corp. and a Class I recall to Synthes USA. The FDA has concerns about one company’s diagnostic equipment, and malfunctioning defibrillators and vertebral implants from the other two companies.

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Employers becoming more fed up with insurers: MedCity Morning Read, Feb. 4, 2010

Health insurers are a convenient target for those who grouse about problems with the U.S. health care system, but a recent survey shows health insurers are losing popularity even among the employers they serve. The survey found that 59 percent of large employers were satisfied with their health plans, down from 64 percent the prior year.

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