Healthcare News by GLG Council Members

Is the Controversy over the Public Option the biggest Red Herring Ever?

November 20, 2009

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Reid Pushes for Votes on Health-Care Bill | www.washingtonpost.com

Nothing has raised the hackles of partisan Democrats and especially Republicans more this year than the public health insurance option. On the left, liberals consider it to be the indispensable component of true healthcare reform. On the right, conservatives refer to it to the first step on the slippery slope to socialism, if not a return to the Third Reich this time in America. Yet, the truth is that its impact will likely be so small, its presence (or absence) hardly merits any debate.

Ken PowellPresidentGenesis Business Development, LLC

Will Quest Acquire Vermillion?

November 20, 2009

Analysis of:Why Quest Will Acquire Vermillion | www.genomeweb.com

Quest Diagnostics has had a known relationship with Vermillion.  Now that Vermillion has received FDA approval for its OVA1 in vitro diagnostic multi-variant index assay (IVDMIA) and Quest has an exclusive three year marketing license and a 17% investment in the company plus additional loans, acquisition of Vermillion could make sense for both companies.

Sunil DhawanClinical Assistant Professor of DermatologySTANFORD UNIVERSITY

Peplin merger with Leo pharma

November 19, 2009

Analysis of:Leo Pharma completes merger pact with Peplin | www.pharmabiz.com

The recent merger of Peplin with Leo pharma is of some significance and will benefit both companies. It would have been difficult for Peplin to fully develop and market their flagship product alone.

Watershed Intraocular Lens: The Light Adjsutable Lens (Calhoun Vision)

November 19, 2009

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Pilot trial for toric correction with light-adjustable lens yields promising early results | ophthalmologytimes.modernmedicine.com

SInce years ophthalmologist await the approval of the LAL Light adjustable lens (calhoun VIsion) as it will represent a watershed in intraocular lens technology. 

Ken PowellPresidentGenesis Business Development, LLC

Roche Receives H1N1 FDA Emergency Use Authorization

November 16, 2009

Analysis of:Roche Gets FDA EUA for H1N1 Test Kit | www.genomeweb.com

Roche has received an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for its RealTime ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set.  The new H1N1 assay is run on its MagNA Pure LC platform for nucleic acid isolation and its LightCycler 2.0 system for real-time PCR applications.  Roche, the worldwide clinical diagnostics leader should have an advantage in the H1N1 market segment.

From a physician point of view

November 16, 2009

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:AHA applauds reform bill, urges further adjustments | www.modernhealthcare.com

1) Senate won't have a public option, but with some sort of tax on health-related industry and the wealthy2) Patients with federally funded plans will continue to have access problems that will worsen as expenditures increase3) Physician frustrations have not been addressed, and will worsen over time. This will contribute to the impending physician shortage as more physician retire earlier.

Zetia Now Off Best Practices List for MI Prevention, But is Niaspan > Diet?

November 15, 2009

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Another Vytorin Mess For Merck | www.forbes.com

Abbott Laboratories' (ABT.N) Niaspan, though inexpensive and older, lowered HDL and shrunk artery diameter in heart patients more effectively and safely than Merck & Co's (MRK.N) moderately expensive Zetia.Though there is little reason for doctors to prescribe Zetia now, there are real cautions about Niaspan that many people with liver concerns will appreciate.  And so will their physicians.An alternative and winning intervention, essentially unexplored by Pharma, is diet.

Parkinson's Drug

November 15, 2009

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Oxford BioMedica Announces Update on ProSavin® Phase I/II Trial in Parkinsons Disease And Publication of Preclinical Results | www.pipelinereview.com

I am happy to learn of this exciting new drug for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Donald FlemingDivision Head of Hematology and OncologyDAVIS HEALTH SYSTEM INC

Omapro will fill a CML void

November 14, 2009

Analysis of:US FDA accepts ChemGenex's Omapro NDA filing to treat CML, grants priority review status | www.pharmabiz.com

Patients with CML have a good prognosis when treated with TKI's An exception is the ones that develope a particular mutation known as T315IOnly SCT seems to be effective in this group of patients and maybe too morbid of therapy for many patients

Ken PowellPresidentGenesis Business Development, LLC

Sequenom Sued by Shareholders

November 14, 2009

Analysis of:Sequenom Shareholders Sue Company, Officials over SEQureDx Data Mishandling | www.genomeweb.com

The Sequenom sage appears endless.  Following the "mishandling of data" involving the company's Down's syndrome test, termination of company executives, investigation by the NASDAQ , the SEC and the US Attorney for the Southern District of California, Xenomics lawsuit against Sequenom seeking up to $300 million in damages, Sequenom shareholders have filed a suit against the company and several individual current and former executives .  The news continues to mount and none of it is good.

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