Blog

Tiny, less invasive pump keeps weak hearts beating

Researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne’s (EPFL) Integrated Actuators Laboratory (LAI) have developed a small ring to be placed on the aorta to help those recovering from certain diseases or those waiting for a transplant.  In those circumstances, the heart is often weakened and needs some help pumping.

Pharma rep visits? They’re redundant, doctors say in new survey

December 27, 2017 The sales rep and physician study, now in its 15th year from DRG Digital’s Manhattan Research, found doctors say reps spend most of their time on material they already have or found on their own.  And the “stale detail” is even worse in some specialty areas.  Some 68% of the time pharma sales … Read more

FDA clears first MRI device for newborns

December 19, 2017 While MRI scanners may be used to image newborns, transporting babies out of the NICU to the MRI can put them at risk, said Vasum Peiris, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for the Pediatrics and Special Populations at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), in a statement.  “Having a system … Read more

Study: Machine learning could lead to objective measures for schizophrenia diagnosis

December 14, 2017 There is no single test for schizophrenia, so diagnosis typically involves observing symptoms and ruling out other potential causes for them, such as substance abuse or another mental health disorder.  And while scientists have observed differences in brain scans of healthy people and those with schizophrenia; however, these are not currently used … Read more

Cyndi Lauper showcases backstage psoriasis woes in Novartis’ new Cosentyx spot

December 12, 2017 “It was tough getting out there on stage,” she narrates, as the camera shows her in her dressing room, trying to disguise her psoriasis with spray makeup — and failing.  The commercial weaves Lauper’s story with those of two other patients, shown struggling with unwanted attention as people around them stare at the … Read more

Pharma’s U.S. reputation is bad — and Trump may be to blame: survey

December 07, 2017 Only 29% of groups recently surveyed by research firm PatientView believe pharma has an “excellent” or “good” corporate reputation, the most negative rating in the U.S. since 2013.  That compares with 38% of global patient groups that view pharma positively, according to a new U.S.-only breakout report by PatientView.  PatientView founder and CEO … Read more

EU watchdog asks if drug makers influence EMA decisions

December 05, 2017 Drug companies meet with the EMA to discuss their drugs and development programs throughout the R&D process.  The EMA sees such meetings as facilitating the speedy development of safe and effective medicines, leading it to make early, frequent engagement a cornerstone of its initiatives to cut the time it takes to get … Read more

Industry puts building Big Biotechs, attracting 2,000 Big Pharma discovery scientists on wish list for U.K. government

November 30, 2017 John Bell of the University of Oxford wrote the government-commissioned report in consultation with representatives of the life sciences sector.  The result is an ambitious list of goals and sketches about how to achieve them.  Having worked closely with members of the government while drafting the report, Bell expects most of the … Read more

Building a Strong FDA Workforce to Bring Scientific Advances to Patients

November 28, 2017 As a result, FDA continually faces the challenges related to building and maintaining a diverse, talented, and dedicated professional workforce.  However, we are committed to doing what is necessary to tackle these challenges and maintain a strong FDA — one that attracts and preserves world-class talent. Most recently, I have requested a … Read more