Today's Healthcare Pulse
Updated 2h ago
AbbVie inks up to $715M pain‑drug licensing pact with China’s Haisco
AbbVie has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Haisco Pharmaceutical Group, granting it rights to a portfolio of pain‑related compounds from preclinical to Phase 1 stages in China. The deal, valued at up to $715 million, marks AbbVie’s first dedicated push into novel, non‑opioid pain therapeutics and expands its presence in the Chinese market.
Also developing:
By the numbers: EGYM merges with Playlist in $7.5B deal
Federal Judge Dismisses Anthem's No Surprises Act Lawsuit, Delivering Win for 20,000 Providers
A federal magistrate in California dismissed Anthem Blue Cross's lawsuit targeting HaloMD and dozens of California providers, citing a lack of legal basis. The ruling upholds the No Surprises Act’s independent dispute‑resolution mechanism, a safeguard for roughly 30 million patients and nearly 20,000 healthcare providers.
Loss of Smell May Signal Alzheimer’s Years Before Cognitive Decline, Study Finds
Scientists have identified a decline in olfactory ability as a possible early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease, driven by microglial attacks on smell‑related nerve fibers. The finding could reshape screening strategies and intersect with meditation‑based approaches to brain health.
Robotic Bronchoscopy System Shows 96.7% Tool‑in‑Lesion Rate in New Study
Noah Medical's Galaxy robotic bronchoscopy platform recorded a 96.7% tool‑in‑lesion rate in the MATCH 2 trial of 31 patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules. The study, led by Dr. Amit K. Mahajan, suggests the device could improve early lung‑cancer detection and broaden...
CMS Proposes 2.4% Medicare Boost for Inpatient Hospitals and Mandatory Joint‑replacement Model
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a 2.4% increase in net payment rates for inpatient hospitals in fiscal year 2027, translating to roughly $1.4 billion more for acute‑care facilities. At the same time, CMS floated its first nationwide...
ChipSoft Ransomware Attack Forces Dutch Hospital Software Shutdown, Spreads to Belgium
Dutch health‑IT firm ChipSoft confirmed a ransomware breach on April 7 that forced the shutdown of its patient‑portal services across the Netherlands. The incident has also triggered service outages in several Belgian hospitals, underscoring the cross‑border vulnerability of medical software...
GSK Moves Ovarian Cancer ADC Mo-Rez Into Five Phase 3 Trials
GlaxoSmithKline said its experimental ovarian‑cancer antibody‑drug conjugate, Mo-rez, will be tested in five Phase 3 studies following encouraging early‑stage results. The move expands GSK’s oncology portfolio and signals a renewed focus on high‑unmet‑need cancers.
Recessions Reduce Deaths, Especially From Fewer Commutes
Ironically a well-established finding in health economics is that deaths *fall* during recessions. This is, in part, because people aren’t commuting and so driving-related deaths fall.
Stair‑Climbing Electric Chair Revolutionizes Mobility
This Electric Chair Climbs Stairs Effortlessly—A Game-Changer for Mobility by @Khulood_Almani #Healthcare #TechForGood #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation #Tech https://t.co/cmPXzZc7II
Osteoporosis Exercise Scientist: The Lifting Protocol That Reduces Fractures by 78% Dr Belinda Beck
The video features Dr. Belinda Beck, a bone‑densitometry expert, who challenges the long‑standing belief that osteoporosis patients cannot safely engage in heavy resistance exercise. She explains that mechanical loading, proven in animal studies, triggers a dose‑response in bone tissue, and...
What Happens at Your Diabetic Eye Screening Appointment | NHS
The video, presented by NHS eye consultant Sharon, explains the purpose and process of diabetic eye screening, a routine test for people with diabetes aged 12 and over. It emphasizes early detection of diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of preventable...
Biosimilars And Complex Medicines For All With RNA Therapeutics' Sarfaraz Niazi, Ph.D.
The interview with Dr. Sarfaraz Niazi, CEO of RNA Therapeutics, explores his decades‑long journey from academia to industry and his pivotal role in shaping the biosimilar landscape. He recounts early work on biological drugs before the FDA had a formal...
The Question Everyone Is Asking, Who Owns Your AI Data - NEW
The video spotlights the unresolved question of who owns the data that fuels artificial‑intelligence models, especially in the health‑care sector where electronic health records (EHRs) are a primary source. Despite years of industry focus on data capture and model training, stakeholders...
2026 340B Program Update – 340B Rebate Model RFI Comments Due and Manufacturers Continue Restricting 340B Pricing
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has extended the comment deadline for its proposed 340B rebate‑model pilot to April 20, 2026, giving covered entities extra time to outline operational and financial impacts. At the same time, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have instituted...
College Professor Named Colo. EMS Instructor of the Year
Kristie Skala, a veteran paramedic and longtime Aims Community College professor, was honored as the Northeast Colorado Regional EMS Instructor of the Year. Skala helped launch Aims' first paramedic program in 2007 and now teaches in a 53,000‑sq‑ft simulation facility...
Ill. Village Considers Tax to Sustain Struggling Ambulance Service
Oakwood, Illinois is weighing a special 0.15% tax to keep its ambulance department operational after volunteer numbers dwindled. The proposed levy would generate roughly $290,000 a year, enough to sustain paid staff and avoid severe service cuts. Director Zach Weddle...
India Pushes Pharma Shift From Generic Volume to Biologics Innovation
Union Minister Anupriya Patel announced a $‑billion‑plus budget and regulatory reforms to steer India's pharmaceutical industry from a volume‑focused generics model toward biologics and biosimilars. The plan adds three new NIPER institutes and modernises the CDSCO, aiming to boost R&D...
Roche Secures CE Mark for Elecsys NfL Blood Test to Track MS Neuroinflammation
Roche announced that its Elecsys Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) blood test has earned CE mark approval in Europe, enabling clinicians to monitor neuroinflammation in relapsing‑remitting multiple sclerosis with a minimally invasive assay. The move could reduce reliance on MRI and...
Stryker Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Amplitude Vascular Systems, Adding Next‑gen IVL Tech
Stryker Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Boston‑based Amplitude Vascular Systems, a developer of next‑generation intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) technology for calcified peripheral arterial disease. The deal, undisclosed in price, aims to broaden Stryker’s peripheral vascular platform and accelerate...
OneAmerica's Jeff Levin Flags Demographic Surge Driving Long-Term Care Insurance Demand
Jeff Levin, senior executive at OneAmerica Financial, told Broadcast Retirement Network that the next decade will be an inflection point for long‑term care (LTC) insurance as baby boomers turn 80 and Gen X reaches 60. He highlighted that 54% of adults...
