INDUSTRY NEWS

Stay up-to-date on the latest industry, member, and policy related news.

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ONL Therapeutics Closes $65 Million in Oversubscribed Series D Financing

September 13, 2024

ANN ARBOR, Mich., September 13, 2024 – ONL Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for protecting the vision of patients with retinal disease, today announced that it has secured $65M in Series D financing. Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc. led the round that was backed by a consortium of investors that included…

CMS Finalizes Expedited TCET Coverage Pathway

August 28, 2024

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a new Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) Pathway to expedite Medicare coverage of some FDA-approved breakthrough products. Under this finalized pathway, eligible US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated breakthrough devices that fall within a Medicare benefit category can obtain national coverage for several years…

First Drugs Subject to Inflation Reduction Act Price Provisions

August 28, 2024

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced recently the prices that they have set for the first 10 medications as an outcome of the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug provisions. For the first time, the law provides Medicare the ability to directly “negotiate” (in effect, set, as otherwise significant penalties are imposed) the prices…

FTC HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING ON PBMs

August 28, 2024

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a virtual open meeting on the heels of issuing its Interim Report on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). A press release summarized the report’s findings. Members of the public and other stakeholders provided arguments for PBM reform at the virtual meeting, citing the many ramifications that PBM business practices have had on patient…

TransPharm Preclinical Solutions: Pioneering Infectious Disease Research from Jackson, MI, with a Global Reach – MichBio Member Feature

August 19, 2024

On January 22nd, 2007, Pfizer Global Research and Development in Ann Arbor closed its doors, resulting in thousands of job losses. Just two days later, Dan Ross established TransPharm Preclinical Solutions. Ross’s motivations for starting the company were numerous, with the loss of his beloved job being a significant factor. Determined to continue working in…

State Supports Establishing Innovation Evergreen Fund

July 11, 2024

A new $60 million Michigan Innovation Fund to help launch Michigan-based startups got the support of the Michigan legislature last month, as it was included in the $82.5 billion state budget lawmakers passed for the 2025 fiscal year. While the $60 million met most lawmakers’ expectations, three House representatives are sponsoring a pending bill package that would…

MichBio Helps Sell Michigan LifeSciences at SelectUSA Summit

July 11, 2024

MichBio was honored to be part of Team Michigan at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, the highest profile event in the United States to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organizations (EDOs), and industry experts to make deals happen. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Investment Summit is a one-stop shop for…

Proposed USPTO Rules Likely to Cause Harm

July 11, 2024

The US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding Terminal Disclaimer Practice to Obviate Nonstatutory Double Patenting. The intent is to make it cheaper and easier to strike down whole families of patents to prevent them “from potentially deterring competition.” “BIO [Biotechnology Innovation Organization] believes that the proposed…

MichBio Attends 2024 BIO Convention As State Ambassador

July 11, 2024

Stephen Rapundalo, PhD, MichBio President and CEO and Emily Brockman, Director, Member Relations, joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) in hosting the State of Michigan Pavilion at this year’s BIO International Convention, the largest global event for the biosciences industry. The 2024 event witnessed 19,500 industry leaders attending from 70 countries, and a record…

New One-Day Surface Metrology and Tribology Class, November 14, 2024

June 26, 2024

LIVONIA, MI (July 7, 2024) – Registration is now open for the new one-day Surface Metrology and Tribology class which will be held in Livonia, Michigan, Nov. 14, 2024. The 1-day class offers a unique opportunity to learn the fundamentals of surface roughness, friction, and wear analysis, and their applications in manufacturing and product development.…

New TrialAssure LINK® AI 2.0 Medical Writing Technology Debuts to the Pharmaceutical Industry at the DIA Annual Conference in San Diego

June 17, 2024

SAN DIEGO (June 17, 2024) – TrialAssure, a leading provider of pharmaceutical technology advancing clinical trial disclosure, data sharing, and transparency, announced today the release of TrialAssure LINK® AI 2.0. This new version is updated and designed to assist pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies, clinical research organizations, and other service providers in creating drafts of common regulatory…

Cayman Chemical Expands Molecular Diagnostic Research Offerings Through Partnership with PCRassays.com

June 6, 2024

ANN ARBOR, MI, JUNE 5, 2024—Cayman Chemical, a leading supplier of research tools for the life science community, has widened their portfolio to include molecular-based detection kits through a strategic partnership with PCRassays.com. PCRassays.com offers more than 200 qPCR-based assays for infectious diseases, over 50 of which are multiplex assays, including panels for wound, upper respiratory, urinary tract,…

Stryker to Acquire Artelon, Expanding Soft Tissue Fixation Solutions

June 5, 2024

Stryker (NYSE: SYK), a global medical technology leader, has signed an agreement to acquire Artelon, a company specializing in soft tissue fixation products for foot and ankle and sports medicine procedures. This acquisition aims to bolster Stryker’s capabilities in ligament and tendon reconstruction. Artelon’s synthetic technology enhances biological and mechanical reconstruction, with over 60,000 implantations…

Michigan’s Bio-Industry Strategic Roadmap to be Updated

May 29, 2024

MichBio, the association for Michigan’s biosciences industry, announced during the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference that it is launching a statewide effort to update the Michigan Bio-Industry Roadmap for Success. The Roadmap is a strategic plan released in early 2016 for growing Michigan’s biosciences industry into a global leader.  “Michigan’s bio-industry is at a critical point…

Independent Contractor or Employee? It’s Time for Employers to Reassess.

May 28, 2024

By Melvin J. Muskovitz, Esq. The U. S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a new rule addressing worker classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). While the rule, which went into effect on March 11, 2024, has some aspects that favor employers, it is intended to narrow the scope of workers deemed to…