Author name: Leonardo Arias

The healthcare behemoth expects to have roughly 78% of its MA enrollees in plans rated four stars or higher, a key cutoff for valuable bonuses in the privatized Medicare program.

The hospital lobby wants the Trump administration to investigate Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb, citing the suspicious timing of their 340B rebate proposals.

Executives at Novartis have not been shy about a desire to buy more companies, with cardiovascular a big focus. In total, the Swiss pharma has put $17.23 billion on the line in M&A and licensing deals this year.

The company will now complete final commercial activities in preparation for targeting the 2.5 million peripheral vascular procedures performed in the U.S. each year.

A judge dismissed several claims brought by startup Particle Health against the EHR giant, but allowed some federal allegations to continue in court. 

Pulse Biosciences will study PFA in cardiac surgery. Meanwhile, Galvanize Therapeutics also named  a new CEO, and PFA pioneer Steven Mickelsen has launched another company.

After receiving a complete response letter for its pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency candidate, Saol Therapeutics anticipates it will need “several years” and “significant financial resources” to address the FDA’s concerns.

The findings throw cold water on allegations from hospital groups that MA plans contribute to shrinking margins.

Regeneron’s antibody duos significantly lowered eye itching and redness, as well as pin prick reactivity, in people with cat and birch allergies. Still, BMO Capital Markets expressed uncertainty about the assets’ “commercial potential in a highly generic market.”

Novartis has been investing heavily in its cardiovascular pipeline this year, forging partnerships with Flagship startup ProFound Therapeutics and China’s Argo Biopharmaceutical, among others.