Innovation, influence and business in America's medical cities.

Updated 6:27 p.m.Seven Medicine Shoppe and Medicap independent pharmacy franchise owners are suing Cardinal Health Inc. and its two franchising companies, seeking to undo agreements renegotiated last year through Cardinal’s “heavy-handed ways” and “predatory pricing on pharmaceuticals.”When the pharmacists tried to renegotiate franchise and distribution agreements with Cardinal Health in light of significant industry challenges, [...]

The Nashville Medical Trade Center has its first tenant, though it’s not a health products or technology company.It’s Lipscomb University, a Christian liberal arts college that was once known as Nashville Bible School. Lipscomb has signed a memorandum of understanding with the medical mart’s developer to create the National Center for Health Care Education and [...]

Cardinal Health has agreed to pay a $1 million penalty for failing to account for large amounts of prescription drugs in two separate incidents in Tulsa, Okla., from 2005 through mid 2008, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Dr. Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, chief executive of the Cleveland Clinic, talked with Fortune’s Geoff Colvin about why healthcare reform won’t lower America’s medical costs, his decision not to hire smokers, suddenly becoming a CEO after 30 years as a surgeon, and much more.

Six researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center have been awarded over $4 million in federal research grants to investigate chronic diseases that commonly affect veterans.

Boston Scientific estimated this issue, plus an advisory related to a small number of defibrillator issues that sparked product changes, could hurt this year’s heart-rhythm business sales by up to $100 million. The whole business, which includes pacemakers and defibrillators, posted 2009 sales of $2.56 billion.

Despite a weak economy, high unemployment and ongoing stories about the federal corruption probe of Cuyahoga County government, a poll shows voters overwhelmingly approve the renewal of an upcoming human services levy, which, in part, would fund MetroHealth Medical Center, WKYC-TV reported.

An information session about a campaign to get the $700 million Ohio Third Frontier bond issue passed by voters in May will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Holiday Inn, Independence.

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.

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.