In this week’s edition of InnovationRx, Summer Health, a New York-based startup, has raised $11.65 million in Series A funding to provide 24/7 access to pediatricians for parents in need of urgent care for their children. The company offers message-based consultations within 15 minutes, simplifying access to care for families. With a focus on expanding beyond urgent care, Summer Health now offers specialty services such as lactation consultants and nutritionists. The company has raised a total of $19 million and is exploring opportunities to contract with employers and potentially enter the Medicaid market.
Veradigm, formerly known as Allscripts, has made a significant move by acquiring AI startup ScienceIO in an effort to leverage its data rights. The company aims to differentiate itself from other electronic medical records providers and address competitive challenges. With a focus on utilizing AI technology, Veradigm is looking to reinvent itself following a delisting from Nasdaq earlier this year.
In pipeline and deal updates in the healthcare industry, the FDA has approved tovorafenib for the treatment of relapsed pediatric low-grade glioma, a common type of brain tumor in children. Midi Health, a virtual clinic focused on menopause, has raised $60 million in Series B funding, while Sibel Health has received a $17.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for maternal health monitoring. ImmunityBio’s Anktiva plus BCG has been approved for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, and AI drug discovery company Xaira has raised over $1 billion in capital.
In other healthcare news, the FDA has confirmed the presence of remnants of the H5N1 bird flu virus in samples of pasteurized milk from the U.S. However, the agency assures that the milk supply remains safe. Health insurer Humana reported a $741 million quarterly profit and increased its Medicare Advantage enrollment forecast. Support for legal abortion has reached a record high, with 66% of voters believing it should be legal in most or all cases. The Supreme Court heard arguments on whether hospitals must provide abortions in emergency situations under federal law, even in states where abortion is banned.
In related news, patients treated by female doctors have been found to fare better than those treated by male doctors, according to new research. Surgeons at NYU Langone Health completed the world’s first successful combined heart pump and gene-edited pig kidney transplant surgeries. Across Forbes, stories feature a fintech billionaire rewarding home renters, a billionaire’s blueprint for building bullet trains in Las Vegas, and an analysis of a $46 million renewable energy swindle. Other articles highlight the dangerous spread of the Monkeypox virus, potential changes to U.S. healthcare policy under Trump, and the risk of health care price fixing with technological advancements.
