Page 105 - Aet News Today

The healthcare AI space will be an exciting one to watch over the next couple years, as investment dollars flow to startups and providers launch more AI pilots. Two of the most interesting trends to watch will be the use cases that healthcare organizations prioritize when deploying generative AI models, as well as M&A activity within the healthcare AI field, a CB Insights analyst declared during a recent webinar.

This week, virtual care company Babylon Health permanently closed its U.S. operations and laid off 94 employees. The news came after the company's rescue merger fell apart — Babylon had planned to go private through a deal with Swiss digital therapeutics firm MindMaze and Babylon creditor AlbaCore Capital.

Novo Nordisk isn’t putting all of its weight loss drug hopes in the same basket. Its acquisition of Inversago Pharma for up to $1 billion will bring a biotech whose lead drug candidate has early clinical trial data showing significant weight loss.

Suvida Healthcare — a startup providing primary care for Medicare-eligible Hispanic adults — is adopting Elation Health’s primary care-specific technology platform. The platform comprises an EHR, as well as software for patient engagement, telehealth and revenue cycle management. Suvida's chief medical officer said Elation beat out the competition due to its focus on both primary care and value-based care.

Amazon selected Maven Clinic to provide fertility and family building support to its global employees across 50 countries. This includes support from care advocates and unlimited access to its virtual specialists like OB/GYNs and reproductive endocrinologists.

Only 44% of Medicare Advantage enrollees said they “fully understand” their plan, while 50% said they “somewhat understand” it and 6% said they don’t understand it, according to a recent survey.

M&A activity in the healthcare sector continued to decline in the second quarter of 2023, with the number of deals reaching its lowest point in three years. However, a new report predicted that M&A activity could increase in the second half of this year due to healthcare companies’ continually shrinking valuations and their divestitures of non-core assets.

Flagship Pioneering-founded Alltrna is developing tRNA therapies to address genetic diseases driven by truncated versions of proteins. By addressing an aberrant genetic instruction underpinning many diseases, the startup is developing what it describes as a potential “universal solution.”

ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing an average 6% premium hike for 2024, with inflation being a driving factor, according to an analysis by KFF.

Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) penned a letter to Google leadership expressing concerns about Med-PaLM 2 — the company’s generative AI tool for healthcare providers that is currently being used by Mayo Clinic and other health systems. The letter requested that Google provide more clarity about its chatbot’s training, accuracy, ethical considerations and deployment in healthcare settings.