Apple disables pulse ox in watches amid import ban

Today’s Big News

Jan 18, 2024

Bayer CEO Bill Anderson makes his mark with major restructuring, 'significant' job cuts 


BridgeBio taps investors for $1.25B to fund showdown with Pfizer 


Apple begins selling pulse ox-free Apple Watches after reinstated import ban 


As donanemab nears FDA judgment day, Lilly embraces competition in Alzheimer's disease 


Surrozen stops IBD program due to dose concerns and competition 

 

Featured

Bayer CEO Bill Anderson makes his mark with major restructuring, 'significant' job cuts

Bayer is launching a sweeping business overhaul that will “come at the expense of many managerial employees,” as the German conglomerate sees “no viable alternative.”
 

Top Stories

BridgeBio taps investors for $1.25B to fund showdown with Pfizer

BridgeBio Pharma is building a war chest for its showdown with Pfizer. Facing a deep-pocketed rival, the biotech has struck a set of financing deals worth up to $1.25 billion to support an anticipated launch and a schedule of phase 3 readouts for other assets.

Apple begins selling pulse ox-free Apple Watches after reinstated import ban

To comply with the now-reinstated import ban, newly sold Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watch models in the U.S. will no longer offer the blood oxygen measurement feature.

As donanemab nears FDA judgment day, Lilly embraces competition in Alzheimer's disease

While the first-mover advantage is often critical in the realm of drug launches, Eli Lilly is often happy to split the pie with its peers. That’s proven true in obesity, where the company recently introduced its dual-action GIP/GLP-1 agonist Zepbound against Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. The situation is shaping up to be much the same in Alzheimer’s disease.

Surrozen stops IBD program due to dose concerns and competition

Surrozen has halted the development of its clinical-stage IBD med, due in part to trouble with dose safety. The company says that "several" patients at higher dose levels experienced asymptomatic increases in liver enzymes.

Abbott launches first human trials of its pulsed field ablation system for afib as the sector grows

Abbott announced it has begun conducting the first human procedures using its new Volt system, through a clinical study of more than 30 patients in Australia.

After 17-year courtship, Sun and Taro finally agree on $348M buyout

It took 17 years for Sun Pharmaceutical and Taro Pharmaceutical to finally tie the knot. On Thursday, the companies revealed their long-awaited merger, with Sun of Mumbai, India, agreeing to purchase outstanding shares in the Israeli drugmaker for $43 each. The deal nets out to $348 million for a 48% premium on Taro's share price of $29.

Asia-based financial group launches $50M US biotech fund

Mirae Asset Capital Life Science has exited stealth mode with $50 million ready to go for certain U.S. biotechs.  

FDA issues warning over Exactech shoulder implants at risk of oxidation

The FDA noted in the safety alert that Exactech has “declined to initiate a voluntary recall” for the affected Equinoxe shoulder implants, but added that it is still working with the company to review information about the devices’ safety and effectiveness.

With manufacturing-related rejection, FDA turns its nose up at Satsuma's migraine nasal spray

In the latest update in Satsuma's migraine nasal spray saga, the FDA flagged issues with chemistry, manufacturing and controls in its complete response letter.

CG Oncology aims for $209M IPO, as more biotechs eye path to public markets

CG Oncology is hoping to raise $209 million from its upcoming IPO, blazing a trail to the public markets that seems to be enticing more biotechs in the first month of the year.
 
Fierce podcasts

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'Podnosis': Improving the diversity of voice tech 

A growing number of companies are introducing diverse voices to their virtual assistants or speech synthesis systems: Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Polly, Meta’s Voicebox. But what about diversity of voices in healthcare, where the stakes are higher?  
 

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