This Week’s Headlines

Google to Host Long-Term Clinical Study into Human Biology

Posted 4/19/2017

Google has announced an upcoming, long-term study into the lives of “healthy” adults. The 10,000 person study into human biology will be conducted by Verily, which was formerly known as Google Life Sciences. Points of interest in the study may be the correlation between sleep and blood test results, and particular proteins impacting cancer risks. The clinical study will further bridge the gap between technology and biological breakthroughs. Read the full article here.

FDA Approves First-Line Drug for Bladder Cancer

Posted 4/19/2017

Roche announced this week that its bladder cancer treatment, Tecentriq, has won FDA approval to treat advanced bladder cancer. The advanced approval decision makes Tecentriq the first pharmaceutical to be used as a first-line treatment of advanced bladder cancer. Tecentriq was the first drug to be approved in the treatment of bladder cancer. Roche is currently one of three companies testing approved bladder cancer treatment for other cancer therapies. Read the full article here.

Record Amount of FDA Drug Approvals in 2017

Posted 4/19/2017

The FDA has closed the first quarter of 2017 with a spike in drug approvals and endorsements. Over the last few months, the FDA has endorsed 13 drugs and officially approved 12 new drugs. This pace of approval tops recent years which have wavered between 6 and 10 approvals in the first quarter. This pace may slowdown in coming months, however, as the agency already has round 20 pending applications for pharmaceuticals and biologics for the coming year. Read the full press release here.

Lion Biotechnologies Partners with University of Texas for Lymphoma Trials

Posted 4/19/2017

Lion Biotechnologies has partnered with the University of Texas MD Anderson to conduct long-running clinical trials of its tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte in the treatment of ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and various sarcomas. The trials will be conducted at MD Anderson, but will be designed by a Lion and MD Anderson steering committee. Lion is hoping to gain data showing promising treatment for many other kinds of cancers in the future. Read the full press release here.

UnitedHealth Cites Increase in Profit Outside of ACA

Posted 4/19/2017

UnitedHealth has announced an increase in profits since its departure from the Affordable Care Act. After leaving the healthcare act as a care payer, the insurance company has cited an overall increase in profits from the private market. Due to the increases in profit, the 2017 fiscal outlook is expected to reach $200 billion in annual revenue. UnitedHealth has used these increases as positive reasoning for leaving the healthcare system, and as protection for the uncertain future of the Affordable Care Act. Read the full article here.