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

Queen City Angels invested in seven life sciences companies and one health information technology company last year, according to its 2009 annual operating report (pdf).The group of accredited investors finished the year with 12 investments, which included three IT companies and one company specializing in advanced materials.In addition, the angel group created a $4 million [...]

The University of Cincinnati, Jewish Health System, and Fort Hamilton Hospital and Healthcare Corp. have hammered out an agreement that completes the long-anticipated acquisition of Jewish Hospital by Mercy Health Partners, and leaves the university the sole member of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati.Jewish Hospital and Mercy Health, both based in Cincinnati, had hoped [...]

Small molecule discovery and development company Akebia Therapeutics Inc. has started a second Phase 1 clinical trial of its anemia drug–another baton hand-off in a race with big drug companies to get to market first with a safer, more effective, less expensive oral treatment.

Continuing industry flux caused Kendle International’s net income to fall 31 percent to $2.3 million, or 16 cents a diluted share, in the fourth quarter, and 34 percent to $15.2 million, or $1.02 a diluted share, in 2009. Revenue fell 19 percent to $130.9 million in the fourth quarter, and 19 percent to $551.9 million, for the year.

Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc. and a subsidiary of Hologic Inc. have settled their patent infringement disagreements with a $12.5 million payment to Ethicon and the promise to share royalties from selling each other’s breast cancer biopsy devices.

Affinity’s fund is not tied to a specific incubator, which means the firm will cast a larger net for start-ups. Given its history of investing exclusively in late stage companies, Affinity’s move could provide Minnesota’s early stage entrepreneurs a real shot in the arm.

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.

Nonprofit health information exchange HealthBridge has received a $1.4 million contract from the Social Security Administration to provide electronic medical records to the government agency. In addition, Dayton’s Center for Healthy Communities received a $999,000 grant as part of the same project.

Over the years, Meridian Bioscience Inc. has gotten good at making diagnostic test kits that detect bugs like C. difficile and H. pylori, both bacteria that can wreak havoc in the digestive tract — or worse. Now, the longtime Cincinnati life sciences company is getting into molecular testing.

Meridian Bioscience Inc. reported record revenue and net income for its fiscal first quarter, despite increased competition for sales of C. difficile test kits. The Cincinnati company has been working on an answer to growing C. difficile test competition: illumigene.