Medical devices
The Trump administration is starting to overhaul its guidelines for companies that make mail-order DNA | Stat
The guidelines would help prevent bad guys from getting ahold of dangerous genetic material, like viruses.
Pharmaceuticals
U.K. nixes Gilead gene therapy citing cost, casting doubt on other approvals | The Wall Street Journal
U.K. regulators said Yescarta, a blood cancer drug, is too expensive for use in the NHS. The drug and a competitor, Kymriah, from Novartis, were both approved by the European Commission this week.
Merck takes part in test of medicine-delivery drones in Puerto Rico | Medcity News
Merck is testing drone delivery of medicines with Volans-I, Softbox, AT&T, and Direct Relief. Other companies, including Amazon, have tested drone delivery. And the Red Cross used drones after Hurricane Harvey to assess damage in Houston.
Technology
Multiple EHRs, lack of interoperability hamper Next Generation ACOs | Health Data Management
Next generation ACOs have trouble with getting data outside their networks, interoperability within their networks, and health IT costs, according to an evaluation report from the CMS. That translates to problems with care coordination and quality and performance improvement.
In other news
Phone numbers were never meant as ID. Now we're all at risk | Wired
When hackers get people's phone numbers, it makes it easier for them to steal the people's identities and sneak into their accounts, since smartphones have increasingly become tools of authentication.