Health insurer Highmark inked an outcomes-based contract with AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) for Symbicort, the pharmaceutical company’s drug designed to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Highmark said its contract with AstraZeneca is one of the first outcomes-based deals involving a respiratory drug and will apply to commercial members of its national and core markets in Pennsylvania, […]
Respiratory
Study: Propeller’s digital asthma tech informs policy, improves health
Results from a large, real-world study of asthma patients found that digital health technology can improve patient outcomes and inform city-planning policy, Propeller Health touted this month. The company teamed up with local government in Louisville, Kentucky and a nonprofit group to assess how environmental conditions can influence asthma symptoms using connected inhalers and a […]
AstraZeneca taps Owlstone’s breath biopsy device to identify asthma, COPD biomarkers
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) inked a deal with Owlstone Medical to use the diagnostics company’s breath biopsy device to identify biomarkers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the companies announced today. Owlstone’s ReCiva breath sampler, which has CE Mark clearance in the E.U., captures volatile organic compounds in a patient’s breath. A VOC profile can […]
Curetis wins FDA nod for respiratory infection diagnostic system
Molecular diagnostics company Curetis said today that it won a de novo clearance from the FDA for its Unyvero System and lower respiratory tract infection cartridge. Combined with the cartridge, the Unyvero System evaluates samples for the presence of infectious respiratory disease in under five hours. The device can also tell doctors if it detects any […]
Sunovion launches inhaled COPD therapy in U.S.
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals launched its Lonhala Magnair drug in the U.S. for the long-term maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the company reported today. Sunovion touts its drug as the first nebulized long-acting muscarinic antagonist approved to treat COPD in the U.S. The product is delivered using the Magnair nebulizer […]
FDA clears Adherium’s inhaler sensor for OTC sales
The FDA gave Adherium (ASK:ADR) the go-ahead to launch over-the-counter sales of its Smartinhaler sensor for AstraZeneca‘s (NYSE:AZN) Symbicort asthma inhaler, the company touted last week. Adherium’s product installs directly onto a patient’s inhaler to monitor and boost medication adherence. The device records the time and date that a patient uses their inhaler and transmits […]
Pulmatrix prices $15m underwritten public offering
Pulmatrix (NSDQ:PULM) today priced an underwritten public offering of 23,500,000 units, including one share of common stock, one Series A warrant to buy one share of common stock and one Series B warrant to buy one share of common stock per unit. The Lexington, Mass.-based company also gave underwriters a 30-day option to buy an additional […]
Convexity Scientific launches pocket-sized nebulizer
Convexity Scientific announced today that the company launched its Flyp nebulizer for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The handheld, pocket-sized device was approved by the FDA in May last year. Convexity’s nebulizer includes a vibrating internal disk that produces an inhaled aerosol mist to deliver medication deep into patients’ lungs. The device […]
Bellerophon Therapeutics misses EPS estimates in Q4
Shares in Bellerophon Therapeutics (NSDQ:BLPH) fell slightly today after the company missed earnings expectations on Wall Street with its fourth-quarter and full-year results. The Warren, N.J.-based company posted a net loss of -$24.2 million, or -44¢ per share, for the 3 months ended Dec. 31. The company’s bottom-line losses grew -227% compared with the same period […]
Adamis Pharma’s EpiPen alternative succeeds in human factors study
Adamis Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:ADMP) has positioned its emergency allergy treatment as a cheaper alternative to Mylan‘s (NSDQ:MYL) EpiPen device. The company has also set out to prove that its epinephrine injector is easy to use, even by people using an auto-injector for the first time. Data from a human factors study conducted by Adamis were presented this week […]