Lilly completes $180 million acquisition of Alnara
Massachusetts-based Alnara Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a privately held company
developing an enzyme-replacement therapy for disorders of the pancreas.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
Medicare driving health care hookups
The scramble by local hospitals to form their physicians and facilities into “clinically integrated” networks
that can do business with employers and health insurers has another huge motivating factor: Beginning January 2012, they can
also do business with Medicare, the massive federal program for seniors.
Indiana Medicaid chief: Feds leave states in dark
Indiana and other states face a struggle as they grapple with putting the health care changes into place in a relatively short
span of time while they also contend with the economic downtown and strained state budgets.
Lilly reveals plans to cut 340 IT jobs
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker eliminated 140 information technology jobs in June through retirements, resignations and some cuts. Another 115
cuts will be made this month, and the remainder by the end of the year.
Health care reform means changes for Indiana employers
Nearly four months after President Barack Obama signed a health reform bill into law, businesses are still grappling with its
impact on the health benefits they offer their employees.
Hilbert mansion to be auctioned
CNO Financial Group Inc. will resort to a sealed-bid auction to unload the lavish Hilbert mansion in Carmel, which has been
on the market for five years. Its latest asking price was $9.9 million.
WellPoint strikes up chat on health reform
WellPoint Inc. is turning from opponent of the health care reform law passed in March to “trusted adviser.” It launched a website, healthychat.com, where company representatives answer customers’ questions about the new health reform law.
Lilly, Roche dive deep into diagnostics
Two Indianapolis giants—Eli Lilly and Co. and Roche Diagnostics—are working hard to pair up drugs and diagnostic
tests to gin up more sales.
Lilly’s Alzheimer’s gamble takes aim at $10 billion in patent losses
Both of Lilly’s late-stage treatments are designed to reduce plaque in the brain called beta amyloid, thought by researchers
to be a main contributor to Alzheimer’s. A drug that stops or reduces memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s may be worth more
than $5 billion
a year, an analyst says, helping Lilly overcome the coming patent losses on several important pharmaceuticals.
Lilly to cut 170 manufacturing jobs by year’s end
Eli Lilly and Co. will cut 170 jobs—mostly in Indianapolis—from its manufacturing and quality division by the
end of the year as it continues its efforts to slim down before losing revenue from patent expirations on its bestselling
drugs.
Shifts at state hospitals to cut 500-plus jobs
The Logansport State Hospital will have 355 workers laid off and 80 vacant positions eliminated under the plan, while 106
people will lose jobs at the Richmond State Hospital.
Hospitals see dip in charity care after 2008
Unemployment in Indiana has moderated slightly, but more than 313,000 Hoosiers remain out of work. And with attempts to extend
benefits for the jobless stalled in Congress, it’s likely more people will struggle to pay medical bills.
PROXY CORNER: Baldwin & Lyons Inc.
Baldwin & Lyons Inc. provides property-and-casualty insurance for various industries, including trucking.
Regenstrief names new CEO
Dr. Bill Tierney will replace Dr. Tom Inui on Oct. 1 at helm of Indianapolis-based medical research organization.
Medical device firm eyeing Indianapolis growth
Greatbatch Medical wants to expand its facility on the east side of Indianapolis to accommodate its entrance into the orthopedics
market. The
New York-based company specializes in cardiovascular products.
Lilly’s Lechleiter: No change in plans
The global financial press keeps asking John Lechleiter for his end-game strategy to survive Eli Lilly and Co.'s nightmarish
patent challenges. And, like a broken record, the Lilly CEO keeps giving the same answer: pipeline, pipeline, pipeline—no
mega-merger.
Health reform rule could cost WellPoint
WellPoint Inc. has about $800 million riding on one arcane rule: how to calculate a medical loss ratio. The ratio quantifies
the percentage of customers’ premiums were spent on medical care, rather than overhead or profits.
Men on Viagra, Cialis show triple rate of sex diseases in study
The findings suggest that users of drugs to treat erectile dysfunction, including Eli Lilly’s Cialis, may be more likely to
engage in unsafe sex than nonusers.
Fort Wayne medical practice splits, following industry trend
More than 100 staff members of Indiana Medical Associates LLC likely will land at one of two area hospital systems. The move
mirrors national and local consolidation of practices with hospitals.
Connecticut to probe WellPoint security breach
Attorney general seeks more details on the breach, which may have compromised financial and health information on almost 500,000
people. He also calls on the Indianapolis-based insurer to provide affected customers with credit monitoring and theft protection
services.