Pharma and Biotech Daily: Stay Informed on Industry Updates

Pharma and BioTech Daily

Good morning from Pharma and Biotech daily: the podcast that gives you only what's important to hear in Pharma and Biotech world. Amazon has partnered with Talkspace to expand its digital health benefits program, which also includes Omada Health. Community Health Systems (CHS) subsidiary is acquiring 10 urgent care centers, following in the footsteps of other for-profit health systems. Steward Health Care auctioned off Glenwood Regional Medical Center for $500,000, but there are concerns about the continued involvement of hospital landlord Medical Properties Trust in operations. The text also includes sponsored content on safeguarding healthcare against ransomware and cybercrime, as well as information on trends in telehealth and strategies for improving provider data accuracy for payers. Healthcare Dive provides news and insights for healthcare leaders and is a publication operated by Industry Dive.Roivant's subsidiary, Dermavant, is being acquired by Organon, giving Organon access to a psoriasis and eczema cream called Vtama. This acquisition will provide Roivant with additional cash to fund its research and development plans. Meanwhile, biotech M&A activity has plateaued, with private company acquisitions continuing while public company acquisitions have slowed down. One biotech, Ratio Therapeutics, backed by Bristol Myers Squibb, is optimistic about the boom in radiopharma and the pharmaceutical industry's shift towards targeted radiation drugs. In other news, Novartis' Kisqali has received expanded FDA approval which could double its market for breast cancer treatment. Additionally, Express Scripts is suing the FTC over a report critical of pharmacy benefit manager business practices. The industry is also exploring new ways to deliver genetic therapies and improve clinical trial execution through systems thinking. Overall, the biopharma industry is experiencing exciting times with various developments and advancements in drug development and healthcare technology.Zimmer has decided to pull its hip implant off the market due to fracture risk, with plans to phase out its use by December. Merit Medical has acquired Cook's lead management business for $210 million, adding devices used in heart rhythm device procedures to its portfolio. Synchron has connected brain-computer interface technology to Amazon Alexa, allowing patients to control various functions without using their hands or voice. Senseonics has received FDA clearance for a one-year continuous glucose monitoring system, and Boston Scientific has closed its acquisition of Silk Road Medical. The wearables market is expected to grow by 13% annually between 2024 and 2030, highlighting the importance of adhesives in wearable device development. AI is increasingly influencing the value chain of medical device companies, and manufacturers are exploring ways to utilize AI throughout the product lifecycle. These developments reflect the ongoing innovation and evolution within the medtech industry.Roivant has sold Dermavant to Organon in a deal worth up to $1.2 billion, allowing Roivant to focus on their autoimmune-focused Immunovant and upcoming trials. Summit Therapeutics' bispecific for non-small cell lung cancer has shown promise against Keytruda but still needs more data. Other news includes the FDA approving Keytruda for pleural mesothelioma, Bernie Sanders claiming generics companies can offer a cheaper alternative to Ozempic, Novartis expanding Kisqali's use in breast cancer, and HRSA threatening sanctions against J&J. In the world of enzyme development, SignalChem Biotech offers tailored services. Additionally, new gene therapies for sickle cell disease are reaching patients, and the race for an obesity pill is heating up among companies like Novo, Roche, and Terns.The FDA is facing challenges with conducting overseas drug manufacturing inspections, with 42% of registered plants overdue for inspections. Indian drugmaker Zydus Lifesciences received a warnin