Professors go online to revolutionize drug discovery
Two chemistry professors at IUPUI are laboring to create the McDonald’s of research laboratories—low-cost and all over the world.
Health Care & Life Sciences
Articles
Long-term-care business to help Wishard cover construction debt
To pay for a shiny new downtown hospital, the parent corporation of Wishard Health Services will commit itself to yearly
debt payments 10 times as high as they are now. But Wishard officials have no doubt they can bear the extra load
because of places like Rosewalk Village, a nursing home that sits on the eastern side of Indianapolis.
PEASE: Archaic physical therapy laws drive up health costs
If you want to see a physical therapist in Indiana, you must first see a physician for a consultation
and referral. It’s the law. Indiana is one of only six states where patients are denied direct
access to physical therapy treatment, and one of only two states where evaluation without referral is
prohibited.
BATTEN: FTC could resolve antitrust concerns on health care reform
President Obama recently announced a cooperative initiative where health care industry leaders plan to
work together to reform the ailing health care system. Shortly after that announcement, the national
media machine spawned considerable concern among several health care groups that the cooperative effort might violate
federal antitrust laws for collusion and price fixing among competitors.
Drug industry funds Democrat-led panel on health care reform
The pharmaceutical industry—which for two decades has given twice as much in campaign donations
to Republicans as Democrats—organized a panel composed mostly of Democrats this month in Indianapolis
to argue its position on health care reform.
Potential obesity breakthrough boosts Marcadia
Favorable article in prestigious journal could draw attention to Carmel biotech startup.
State law aims to attract doctors to areas in need of care
A state law that went into effect July 1 attempts to attract young physicians and mental health practitioners to underserved
areas by forgiving part of their student loans. But Indiana’s budget woes prevented lawmakers from allocating funds
to support the program.
Health care marketers taking the pulse of consumers’ online habits
Health care marketers can adapt to, and even use to their advantage, the online search habits of consumers.
Understanding when and why people search for specific health-related terms is vital to attracting more
visitors (i.e. patients) to a Web site.
Biomet reports loss on special charges
Biomet Inc. yesterday reported a $170.9 million loss in its fiscal fourth quarter as the result of more than $300 million
in special charges.
Colts seal Farm Bureau sponsorship pact
The Indianapolis Colts have become one of the first National Football League teams to sell a corporate sponsorship patch
on players’ practice jersey.
BREAKING: FDA approves Lilly blood-thinner prasugrel
Eli Lilly and Co. finally won approval today from U.S. regulators to sell prasugrel, its highly anticipated blood thinner,
according to Bloomberg News.
Conseco reinsurance deal swaps profits for cash
Carmel-based Conseco Inc., still a bit strapped for cash, brought in a reinsurance company to shoulder some of the risk
of its life insurance policies. Minnesota-based Wilton Reassurance Co. will pay $57.5 million to Conseco as a ceding
commission to co-insure and administer 104,000 policies held by Conseco subsidiaries.
Endocyte, Purdue develop prostate cancer treatment device
Purdue University researcher Philip Low, also the chief science officer for West Lafayette-based Endocyte Inc., has developed
a prostate cancer “homing device” to help anti-cancer agents specifically target prostate
cancer tumors.
Hilbert in-law’s life insurance dispute takes odd turn
Local businessman J.B. Carlson contends the $15 million life insurance policy he took out on Stephen Hilbert’s mother-in-law
was legitimate, because she served on his firm’s board and was a key decision-maker. The mother-in-law, Germaine
“Suzy” Tomlinson, died at age 74 last September—just 32 months after the policy was issued.
Lilly asks FDA to review weekly diabetes drug
Drugmakers Eli Lilly and Co., Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Alkermes Inc. said yesterday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
has accepted their application for the once-a-week diabetes drug exenatide.
Indianapolis benefits firms merge
Two Indianapolis benefits consulting firms have finalized their merger, the companies announced this morning. Terms of the
deal between Benefit Associates Inc. and Benefit Consultants Inc., in the works since March, were not disclosed.
Lilly cancer drug OK’d for new use
Eli Lilly and Co.’s top rising-star drug has been approved by U.S. regulators for a new use, an event that could boost sales of
the medication. Alimta, a lung cancer drug, was approved as a maintenance therapy for non-small cell lung cancer
for certain patients, Lilly announced today.
Lilly kicks lobbying into high gear
Once again, Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. is running in the lead pack in dollars spent to bend ears on Capitol Hill. And that was even before the health care reform debate got rolling.
Minority suppliers diversifying into life sciences
The Indiana Minority Supplier Development Council has made life sciences companies its latest target—part of an even larger effort to attract minorities to the burgeoning life sciences industry under
way on a national scale.
If Dow AgroSciences sells, let’s hope it’s not to a rival
Private equity firms have a reputation as ruthless acquirers. They slash fat and jettison sluggish product lines, all in a quest to wring out higher profits and grow the parts of the business with the most potential. For Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences—or at least for its 1,200 local employees—a buyer like that would be a godsend. […]