Current medical news and unique business news for anyone who cares about healthcare.
Test identifies signs of depression in the blood. In a sponsored study, researchers analyzed the levels of nine biomarkers in the blood distinguished as signs of depression by Ridge Diagnostics. They correctly identified 90 percent of previously diagnosed major depressive disorder patients from a pool of 79 participants.
Experts are mixed on whether a blood test for depression would work in favor of or against patients. It could take away some of the stigma and help track response to treatment, ABC News reports, but could also produce false negatives, leaving some patients untreated.
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.
Big Pharma backs off of TV advertising. Pharmaceutical companies, which have generally loved television advertising since the FDA loosened its stance on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, are backing off. Companies advertising prescription pharmaceuticals spent 23 percent less on television ads in 2011 than in 2007. The New York Times says analysts contribute the drop in spending to the controversy the ads have caused and the pressure they put on doctors to prescribe the newest, heavily advertised drugs.
The other California life science hub. San Diego’s life science sector is expected to add 6,000 jobs over the next two years, according to a local life science trade organization. That’s good news, says the Union Tribune, but there are challenges coming. The investment climate for that sector has been shaky since the recession started, and government grants that have filled that gap will be scaled back this year.
Czechs invest in biotech. One surprising place that’s beefing up its biotechnology research investment is the Czech Republic, which is building a multi-million dollar research center near Prague for drug development, tissue engineering and diagnostics.
Biotechs defeated in drug approval plan. A U.S. senator’s proposal to speed up the drug approval process by allowing any drugs that showed effectiveness to be cleared was defeated this week. The proposal positioned drugmakers, who of course wanted to keep their cut of the action, against biotechnology companies, many of which struggle to raise funds to carry out expensive clinical trials.
