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Medical devices and equipment

A portable system that produces tiny batches of biotech drugs might one day help get crucial medicines and vaccines to remote villages and war-torn regions where they're desperately needed, scientists hope.

Pharmaceuticals

After the Obama administration proposed overhauling Medicare Part B earlier this year, a plethora of patient advocacy groups quickly expressed opposition. A new analysis however finds that the vast majority of those groups received funding from the pharmaceutical industry, which may come out losers if the proposal goes into effect.

Aetna is notifying some doctors about their drug-dispensing habits | Washington Post

The giant health insurer Aetna is using the vast amount of data it collects from insurance claims by pharmacies and has begun contacting doctors whose prescribing habits are far outside the norm.

Research: Innovation suffers when drug companies merge | Harvard Business Review

A study shows that antitrust authorities have been too lenient when it comes to drug company mergers. The researchers found that regulators have been overlooking how these mergers reduce innovation and research and development.

Teva profit falls on write-downs | The Wall Street Journal

Teva Pharmaceuticals reported revenue growth in its latest quarter, but profit fell sharply on asset charges as the pharmaceutical company works to integrate its just-completed purchase of Allergan's generic business.

Physicians

The American Thoracic Society has released clinical practice guidelines on diagnosing persistent wheeze in infants, according to a document published online and in the Aug. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The new recommendations target pediatricians and pediatric pulmonologists and provide clinical guidance on the diagnostic evaluation of wheezing infants.