As patients, we all know that millions (billions?) of dollars get thrown around in the Pharma and healthcare industries that may not ever touch us directly. Are all those dollars spent on marketing and research really providing the value they propose? Two related posts/discussions by industry insiders caught my eye lately:
The Downside (and Upside) of Drug Ads
In this piece from the Wall St. Journal Health Blog, Novartis CEO Dan Vasella admits that…
Read more »
Second in our series of getting to know the judges of this year’s DiabetesMine Design Challenge, please say hello to Ross Jaffe, MD, a board-certified internist and eminent venture capitalist with Versant Ventures in Silicon Valley, CA. His job is to lead investments in medical devices, drug delivery, and healthcare information systems companies. He was a founding investor behind TheraSense and Insulet Corp. (the OmniPod company), so he knows a thing or two about innovation…
Read more »
Speaking of Technology Friday! … I received notice this morning that Medtronic is swooping in to assist current users of the Deltec Cozmo pump being discontinued by Smiths Medical. They’re actually offering a pretty sweet deal:
For a 90-day period starting today, existing Cozmo users can “upgrade” to the Medtronic Paradigm pump system (which happens to be the only insulin pump connected with a continuous glucose monitor, if you wish to go the full route).…
Read more »
Two steps forward in diabetes technology were announced this week, My Friends:
First, the FDA has cleared a new wireless diabetes management system called inTouch™·diabetes. The system was created by West Chester, PA-based SymCare, Inc., a company started by Johnson & Johnson.
“The new web-based system uses a combination of objective biometric data, education and a rewards program to better engage patients in effective diabetes management.”
It’s not exactly clear from the press release if…
Read more »
I’ve been accused more than once of being too chipper about my diabetes. Heck — I have created “the sunny yellow blog,” after all. So when I received the following email this week, I sat back in my seat and took a deep breath. Writing a book about how much diabetes sucks certainly isn’t all fun and games for some:
Hello Amy,
I’m a writer living in New York City and have diabetes for over…
Read more »
