LST News
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $20 million to fund five additional hubs designed to speed up the translation of biomedical discoveries into commercially viable diagnostics, devices, therapeutics, and tools to improve patient care and enhance health. The newly selected Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs (REACH) expand a national network of proof-of-concept centers that links 34 academic institutions developing best practices to translate biomedical innovations into public benefit. Each hub has also secured non-federal matching funds and developed partnerships with regional life science and economic development organizations to enhance the scope and impact of NIH’s investment.
This month, Leadership Health Care led its annual delegation of emerging health care leaders to Boston. Delegates walked away from the trip with some new insights — and inspiration — about how we can increase Nashville’s prominence as a leader in the $46 billion health care industry. During the two days of sessions, our focus was entirely on patient care innovation and delivery efficiency. We heard from leaders of Boston’s health care provider communities, state policy leaders, technology startups, and private equity firms connected through the nonprofit, startup investment organization MassChallenge. Participants learned about their views on innovation, how to encourage collaboration, and the health care technology ecosystem.
Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday downplayed recent pushback on his administration's effort to change Tennessee's Medicaid program into a block grant system, countering that the opposition is likely due to misinformation. "I do think that a lot of the folks who are concerned about this have been either misinformed or have not taken the time to really understand it. And there's legitimate concern about that. We want people to understand this," Lee, a Republican, told reporters.
Executives at medtech companies may be leery of Apple and other consumer-technology companies, especially as the latter tout ever-more-sophisticated health care applications. But as health care evolves, those potential competitors may turn out to be good partners, according to a new report by accounting and consulting firm Deloitte. Partnerships with consumer-tech firms could help medtech companies innovate and stay relevant as health care turns increasingly to prevention and wellness, according to the report. Titled “Winning in the medtech future,” the report was based on input from 38 experts representing medtech companies, technology companies, health plans, health systems, and researchers, as well as subject-matter experts from Deloitte.
GenSight Biologics (Euronext: SIGHT, ISIN: FR0013183985, PEA-PME eligible), a biopharma company focused on discovering and developing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders, today reported positive proof of GS010 DNA transfer from one eye to the other eye following unilateral intravitreal injection of primates. In a non-clinical study to investigate the local biodistribution of GS010, tissue samples from the non-injected eye of monkeys that had been unilaterally injected with GS010 were found to contain GS010 DNA three months after injection, indicating the expression of the therapeutic gene in the contralateral eye.
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization announced that industry veteran Jim Greenwood will step down as president and CEO of the world’s largest biotechnology organization after the 2020 election and help transition a new leader to represent the industry globally and to defend innovation from domestic political attacks.
