UnifiMed

Great conversation on HealthTech Hour about the impact of European healthcare startup regulations and the use of AI in healthcare!

Prepare for COVID vaccination season! The FDA has approved two updated COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming fall vaccination season, including Moderna's Spikevax, which targets the Omicron KP.2 variant. The new mRNA-based formulation is fully approved for individuals 12 and older and is available under emergency use authorization for children aged six months to 11 years. The approval of Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine emphasizes the growing importance of adaptable, variant-specific vaccines and reinforces the role of mRNA technology in biotech. This development will likely drive further innovation and investment in mRNA platforms and influence regulatory strategies for agile public health responses, solidifying the biotech industry's crucial role in addressing evolving global health challenges. How do you see the approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines influencing future vaccine development strategies? #COVID19 #Moderna #FDA #Vaccine

The newest update in weight loss and diabetes prevention! Eli Lilly and Company's popular weight loss drug, tirzepatide, has shown groundbreaking results in a recent long-term study. The drug reduced the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by a staggering 94% in obese or overweight adults. Not only did participants experience sustained weight loss over three years, but those on the highest dose saw a 22.9% average decrease in body weight. This marks a significant advancement in the fight against obesity and diabetes, showing the potential long-term health benefits of GLP-1 medications like Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro. With more than 1 in 3 Americans facing prediabetes and over 1 million having obesity, these findings could be life-changing and potentially shift future clinical guidelines for managing prediabetes and obesity.  How do you think these findings will impact healthcare? #Healthcare #DiabetesPrevention #Obesity #EliLilly #Pharmaceuticals

Government funding continues to advance cancer research! President Biden's recent visit to New Orleans spotlighted his administration's commitment to advancing cancer research through the "moonshot" initiative. During his tour of Tulane University, he announced $150 million in new funding to support eight research teams nationwide to improve cancer detection and treatment. This initiative not only highlights the potential for scientific breakthroughs but also underscores the importance of bringing these innovations from the lab to clinical practice. The substantial funding from the initiative—$400 million so far—demonstrates a strong governmental commitment to accelerating the translation of research into practical, market-ready solutions. This environment is ripe for medtech companies to collaborate with research institutions, leverage new funding streams, and bring transformative technologies to market. How do you think these advances will change healthcare outcomes? #PresidentBiden #CancerResearch #Medtech #Healthcarenews

AI is continuing to transform the healthcare industry with Stryker’s newest acquisition! Stryker has announced a definitive agreement to acquire care.ai, a company specializing in AI-assisted virtual care workflows and smart room technology. This acquisition will enhance Stryker’s healthcare IT offerings, addressing critical challenges like nursing shortages and staff retention by integrating care.ai’s technology with Stryker’s existing platforms. The move aligns with Stryker’s vision to provide smart, connected decision-making tools that improve caregiver and patient experiences. This acquisition shows how important AI and digital tech are becoming in medtech. This deal is all about tackling big challenges like nursing shortages by adding smart tools and making healthcare more connected and efficient. It’s a clear sign that the industry is focusing on creating systems that improve the experience for both caregivers and patients, keeping medtech companies ahead in innovation. What AI technology do you hope to see integrated into healthcare next? #AI #MedTech #Stryker #AIinHealthcare

As I shared a few months ago. Johnson & Johnson is not playing around. Their march into the Cardiac and Heart Failure space is powerful. https://lnkd.in/eHUXnbbE It is also great to see yet another Israel-birthed technology be picked up by a strategic and get incorporated into a portfolio which has intention. The J&J portfolio of Abiomed, Shockwave Medical, Biosense Webster, Laminar, Inc., V-Wave on a worldwide basis is setting up nicely in a core competency that they enjoy and comes naturally to them. "To those that have more, more will be given. To those that have less, more will be taken." Market intertia.

In an exciting development, GE HealthCare has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop advanced generative AI models and tools aimed at efficiently analyzing complex medical data. With nearly one-third of the world's data generated by the healthcare industry, much of which remains underutilized, this collaboration seeks to streamline data access and usage across various healthcare operations, including screenings, diagnoses, and workflow optimization. Taha Kass-Hout, MD, MS, GE HealthCare’s global chief science and technology officer, emphasized that this partnership will enhance the development of medical technologies by significantly enhancing data utilization, workflow efficiency, and innovation. This partnership may prompt other companies to adopt similar technologies, fostering a more competitive and dynamic industry landscape. How do you think this partnership might influence the medtech industry? #GEHealthCare #FutureofHealth #HealthTech #AI #GenerativeAI

Will the future of US healthcare be primary care-led? The emergence of primary care-led systems is becoming a critical discriminator between modern models that will save U.S. healthcare and those that will not. Despite the benefits of keeping patients well, the American healthcare industry profits most when we are sick. Kyna Fong, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO of Elation Health, emphasizes the urgent need for this paradigm shift. Shifting dollars towards systems focused on reducing costs and improving outcomes through primary care is essential. This transformation can prevent disease, avert health catastrophes, and save on wasteful spending. Read the full article in Fierce Healthcare https://ow.ly/RU2650SnSnS

Walgreens announces major strategic shift! Walgreens plans to close a “significant portion” of its underperforming stores and reduce its stake in VillageMD, marking a significant shift from its previous strategy to become a “consumer-centric” healthcare company. During the Q3 2024 earnings call on June 27, CEO Tim Wentworth mentioned that up to 25% of Walgreens' 8,600 stores could close over the next three years. "We are at a point where the current pharmacy model is not sustainable, and the challenges in our operating environment require we approach the market differently," Wentworth stated. Earlier this year, Walgreens had already closed 625 stores and announced the closure of 160 VillageMD clinics after a $6 billion net loss in Q2 2024. What are your thoughts on this major shift by Walgreens? How do you think it will impact the healthcare and pharmacy landscape? #HealthcareNews #Pharmacy #BusinessStrategy