Industry news

Patient in Siberia walks with new Russian nanoceramics hip; German market dominance to be challenged

Marchmont Innovation News

Surgeons in Novosibirsk, in Siberia, earlier this summer performed a successful implantation of a nanoceramics-based hip joint prosthesis in a 53-year-old male, Russia’s first such surgery ever. The Russian endoprosthesis has been produced by NEVZ-Ceramics, a local innovation company, the Russian news agency Interfax reported . 

International project led by Russian scientist wins EU Nanotechnology Forum

Marchmont Innovation News

An international project led by a Russian scientist received the top award in the category of “Nanotechnology, New Materials and Production” at the most recent EU Nanotech Forum, Russia’s Sputnik News  reported .

Pharma M&A shoots up to $159B for first half, but prices could dampen the mood

Carly Helfand / FiercePharma

Think last year was an M&A record-breaker in biopharma? 2015 is on track to top it, a new report says. According to Mergermarket, in the first 6 months of this year, global M&A activity in the pharma, medical and biotech industries hit its highest half-year value since 2001 with $211.2 billion worth of deals. That's a 2.7% boost from H1 2014's $205.7 billion mark.

Early trends from India survey show TB drug resistance rates less than WHO estimates

EJ Lane / FeircePharmaAsia

Early trends from India's first survey on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis showed a lower rate of infections than World Health Organization estimates in findings that will help shape the government's treatment focus, the Indian Expressnewspaper reports.

For Big Ideas, Big Action Is Needed

Rita C. Peters / BioPharm International

At the 2015 Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) convention, held in Philadelphia in mid-June, all indicators showed that the industry was riding a record wave of success.

16 July 2015

Miramar Labs® Announces Global Expansion of miraDry® System into Chinese Market

Global aesthetic company Miramar® Labs, Inc., announced today that it has received State Food & Drug Administration (SFDA) approval for the marketing and sale of the miraDry® system in the People's Republic of China.  The approval follows US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of miraDry in January 2011and (CE) Mark approval in December 2013.

Overwhelming House Approval Moves "Cures" Legislation to the Senate

Jill Wechsler / BioPharm International

Despite opposition from consumer advocates that the bill would bring unsafe and untested drugs to the market—and from conservatives about excessive costs—leaders of the House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Committee orchestrated a 344-77 vote in favor of the long-debated 21st Century Cures Act. 

Playing catch-up on Big Biotech goal, Shire broadens M&A focus

Carly Helfand / FiercePharma

Shire's ($SHPG) $54 billion tie-up with AbbVie ($ABBV)--and the subsequent cancellation of that deal--shook up employees and stalled CEO Flemming Ornskov's plans to transform the company into a biotech the likes of giants Gilead ($GILD), Biogen ($BIIB) and Celgene ($CELG). It also took the Dublin drugmaker off course in one of its other endeavors: dealmaking.

Biotech legend Lee Hood gambles $36M on a plan to revolutionize healthcare

John Carroll / FierceBiotech

Sequencing pioneer Lee Hood has already started enough biotechs to create his own cluster. And now he's taking another shot at the founding scientist's role, joining hands with a pair of high-profile biotech investment groups which are contributing a $36 million B round for a startup that has its sights set on nothing less than transforming healthcare--and our attitudes toward it.

U.S. House passes provision to keep tabs on medical devices used on patients

Joseph Keenan / FierceMedicalDevices

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a far-reaching medical research bill on Friday that includes an amendment to better monitor the use of medical devices for patient safety. The provision in the bill was a result of the controversy over use of laparoscopic power morcellators.