NurOwn, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics’ experimental stem cell therapy for ALS, did not win the backing of an independent panel of FDA advisors. Many advisory committee members said they want to see more data from another clinical trial, the same guidance the FDA has given the biotech for nearly three years.
Virgin Pulse, HealthComp To Merge Through $3B Deal
As a combined entity, Virgin Pulse and HealthComp will serve more than 1,000 self-insured employers and more than 20 million members. New Mountain Capital will be the majority owner.
Evvy Secures $14M for Vaginal Healthcare Platform
Evvy’s $14 million funding round was led by Left Lane Capital and included participation from General Catalyst, LabCorp Venture Fund, RH Capital, Ingeborg Investments, G9 Ventures, Virtue and Amboy Street Ventures. In total, Evvy has raised $19 million.
Transcarent Partners With 10 Health Systems To Launch Provider Network
Transcarent announced a new provider network, which seeks to help its employer customers provide their staff with access to high-quality, affordable care. The network includes 10 health systems — including Mount Sinai, Mass General Brigham and Intermountain Health.
Cartwheel Snags $20M For School-based Mental Health Services
Cartwheel, a startup that partners with school districts to provide virtual mental health services, raised $20 million in Series A funds. The company is working with about 50 school districts and charter school networks across Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ olezarsen has Phase 3 results showing the therapy handily beat a placebo at reducing fat levels in the blood due to a rare, inherited metabolic disorder with no FDA-approved drugs. Ionis plans early 2024 submissions for what could become the first medicine it commercializes without a partner.
Beyond EHRs and digital front doors, reducing the gaps in patient care journeys.
The average monthly plan premium for Medicare Advantage is expected to increase only slightly in 2024 from 2023, CMS said. About 73% of beneficiaries will see no increase at all.
Consumer / Employer, Health Tech
Costco is partnering with Sesame to offer Costco Members discounted pricing on virtual health services, including primary care and mental health. But the move is a little different from other retailers like CVS Health and Walgreens.
Intercept Pharmaceuticals’ acquisition by Alfasigma comes three months after the FDA again rejected the biotech’s drug as a treatment for the fatty liver disease NASH. But Intercept still has rare liver disease assets, and Italy-based Alfasigma says acquiring the company will help it expand in gastroenterology and hepatology.
The advancement of value-based care cannot and should not exist solely in a payvider model, Intermountain Health CEO Rob Allen argued in an interview last week. Having its own health plan made things “a little easier” when Intermountain began getting serious about at-risk contracts, but achieving success in value-based care “is more about your commitment to the approach” and forging strong relationships with payers of all types.
Promoted
Dr. Anil Singh shares his insights into the strategies employed by the organization to identify the most effective digital solutions for their members.
Rich Horgan believes that there’s an alternative path to drug development that can lower costs and the time it takes to bring drugs to market. He is trying to apply it to the field of rare and ultra-rare diseases.
Digital therapeutics will be one of the topics discussed at INVEST Digital Health scheduled for October 26 at Health Wildcatters headquarters in Pegasus Park in Dallas. Register today!
A new study found that MA beneficiaries have more than 50% fewer inpatient stays and 22% fewer emergency department visits than traditional Medicare enrollees.
Pharma, Artificial Intelligence, BioPharma
Novo Nordisk is paying Valo Health $60 million up front to gain three preclinical cardiovascular disease programs. Milestone payments for those programs and others covered under the artificial intelligence drug discovery pact could reach up to $2.7 billion.
Promoted
Join us to learn about the latest trends in remote monitoring and how to extend its benefits beyond chronic conditions to more patients – all while using fewer staff resources.
The Supreme Court’s recent summer decision in Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indiana, et al. v. Talevski has raised the stakes for nursing homes by ruling that private litigants may bring civil claims against facilities to recover damages for violations of certain provisions of the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (FNHRA). This decision provides powerful incentives for nursing homes and other facilities subject to the FNHRA to enhance their monitoring and compliance processes.
Dawn Maroney, President, Markets of Alignment Health and CEO of Alignment Health Plan, to discuss how they are using technology to provide better service and care to consumers.
Issues around healthcare affordability, mental health challenges and worsening chronic conditions are all top of mind for Ellen Kelsay, president and CEO of Business Group on Health.
Scynexis said no adverse events or contamination problems have been reported for Brexafemme, an antifungal approved for treating vaginal yeast infections. The biotech said the risk of cross-contamination stems from the processes of the small molecule’s third-party manufacturer.
Although employee stress and burnout are critical issues in all industries, the healthcare industry offers numerous examples of the impact on staff as well as ways to provide short and long-term solutions. These topics will be part of the discussion at the HLTH event October 8-11 in Las Vegas. Register today to join the conversation!
As value-based care models take hold, the time is ripe for rehab therapists to position themselves as primary players in the movement toward delivering optimal quality and value in the broader healthcare ecosystem.
Syntax Bio’s technology platform uses CRISPR to direct stem cells to become a desired cell type in a process that’s more scalable and less expensive than current methods. The startup is raising a Series A round of financing to further demonstrate the potential of its technology.
