Posts

7 days in healthcare (December 11th-17th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, CRISPR therapy, which begins with sickle cell anemia, is great hope. In the end, the FDA approves two gene therapies for this disease, which affects 7.7 million people globally and is a chronic, debilitating disease that causes pain and reduces the quality and expectancy of life. New approved therapies include extraction, genetic modification and reinfusion into patients of their own hematopoietic stem cells. The problem is that these patients live mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and India, which are far from having the infrastructure to apply this therapy. The price of these therapies is about 2 million euros per patient, which again raises the problem of the problems of universalization of precision medicine. Ozempic, Alzheimer’s drugs and malaria vaccines among the scientific milestones of 2023 for Science magazine. For its part, Nature magazine chooses a non-human among its scientists of the year: ChatGPT.

As far as Global Health is concerned, in the end, an international agreement is reached on the end of fossil fuels. COP28 was the first global conference on the subject after the Paris agreement in 2015 (COP21) in which a global limit to temperature growth was established at 1.5º. On December 13, 2023, the agreement on net zero emissions by 2050 will be reached. Fossil fuels generate a lot of wealth, but they are also the bulk of CO2 emissions. The problem is that there is no system that forces governments to meet that objective. A global treaty on plastics is proposed by the United Nations General Assembly (March, 2022). Plastic pollution is a global threat, since plastic is persistent and less than 10% is recycled, almost 6 billion tons now pollute the planet. This contains more than 10,500 chemicals, which includes carcinogens, neurotoxicants, etc.

Regarding International Health Policy, design by the European Union of a Plan to avoid shortages of more than 260 critical medicines, which includes storage and incentives for production

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), one in ten Spaniards on the waiting list, record numbers in health. At this moment there are 820,000 people to undergo surgery, a figure never reached. The Ministry of Health wants to raise this problem with the communities at the in-person meeting of the Interterritorial Council in Asturias on December 21. In theory there are two solutions: either self-concertation (the disdainfully called “peonadas”) or agreements with the private sector. In both cases money is needed. It is also necessary to review the indications, circuits and priorities. The CIS Barometer is released (3rd wave, October 2023). 57.5% value positively the functioning of the National Health System, which means a great setback with respect to previous editions. In an article in El País whose first signatory is Félix Lobo, it is proposed to strengthen the Ministry of Health. In 45 years there have been 28 ministers. And organizations with a clear health component have been separated from the Ministry, such as the Carlos III Health Institute, the Government Delegation for the National Drug Plan and the Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN). Although this reinforcement is necessary, it must surely be complemented with what we could call “cohesion bodies”, among which could be HISPANICE, also proposed by FUNCAS.

In the field of Companies, on an international level, Cigna renounces creating a health insurance giant in the USA, by becoming part of Humana. AstraZeneca enters the world of vaccines. Regarding national news, Quirón advances in the construction of its hospital in Gijón (Asturias) and receives from the Ministry of Defense the management of the hospital on Isaac Peral Street (former Generalísimo Franco), closed for more than 30 years. Good results from Miranza and Ribera, the latter contemplating three new projects.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

  • Waiting lists
    • One in ten Spaniards on the waiting list, record figures in healthcare. At this moment there are 820,000 people to undergo surgery, a figure never reached. The Ministry of Health wants to raise this problem with the communities at the in-person meeting of the Interterritorial Council in Asturias on December 21. In theory there are two solutions: either self-concertion (the so-called “peonadas”) or conciliation with the private sector. In both cases money is needed. It is also necessary to review the indications, circuits and priorities (https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/diez-espanoles-lista-espera-cifras-record-sanidad-quiere-atajar_1_10708957.html)
  • It is proposed to strengthen the Ministry of Health
    • In an article in El País whose first signatory is Félix Lobo, it is proposed to strengthen the Ministry of Health. In 45 years there have been 28 ministers. And organizations with a clear health component have been separated from the Ministry, such as the Carlos III Health Institute, the Government Delegation for the National Drug Plan and the Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN) (https://elpais.com/society/2023-12-11/potenciar-el-ministerio-de-sanidad.html)

Companies

 

7 days in healthcare (February 13th-19th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it is worth highlighting the reference in the British Medical Journal on the questionable value of colorectal cancer screening, according to a double-blind study of the results of colonoscopy, with a large population followed up, without detecting reductions in the mortality from this type of cancer. The first vaccine against the syncytial virus, responsible for many deaths, both newborns and adults, is presented. The results of a test that detects prostate cancer with great precision, with a simple blood test, are published.

With regard to Global Health, the New England Journal Medicine published an article on the correct path to eradicate polio, which is once again a problem in many countries, defending universal immunization against polio, in instead of virus eradication strategies. The Lancet reviews the One Health strategy, this approach that links climate change, animal health and human health as something that cannot be addressed separately. It is detected that poor countries desperately need access to cheap generics, since in these countries, due to less competition between manufacturers, generics are more expensive than in developed countries. Malaria is spreading across Africa as climate change allows the geographic spread of the mosquitoes that transmit it.

Regarding International Health Policy, there is a great debate in the United States about the future of Social Security and Medicare, with very opposed positions between Democrats and Republicans. In the UK, the number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment exceeds three million in England alone. In France, the very open debate on euthanasia continues with wide participation, with the involvement of President Macron himself. In Chile, the crisis in the private health sector threatens the entire Chilean health system. The collapse of the Isapres (Chilean health insurers) would mean that 3.2 million people would pass into the already congested public Fonasa system. Poland bans energy drinks for those under 18, a move welcomed by doctors in that country. The European Commission finalizes the European pharmaceutical strategy, with new approaches towards generics and orphan drugs. The EFPIA, the European employers’ association for pharmaceutical companies, criticizes what is becoming known about this reform, considering it harmful to competitiveness.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the cumulative incidence of covid continues to rise slightly. From a regulatory point of view, two important laws are approved: the so-called “trans law” and the new abortion law. From various sectors of the healthcare industry, objections had been made to certain elements of both laws, the consequences of which will have to be expected. As far as the medical conflict is concerned, it is increasingly clear that the conflict in Madrid is one thing and another in the other communities. Although the problems of Primary Care are national, and therefore the national government cannot inhibit itself as it is doing, what is specific to Madrid is the way in which the Community government approaches it, which simply attributes it to a “conspiracy of the left”, which contributes to its exacerbation, prolongation and expansion (it is also announces conflict among hospital doctors). Both the international press (Financial Times, Le Monde) and the national one (Zarzalejos in El Confidencial and others) strongly criticize this approach by the Community of Madrid, which has published a decalogue of excellence in Madrid’s healthcare, strongly criticized for its inaccuracies. In other communities, on the other hand, with all the difficulties, agreements are being reached. The national government also uses this conflict to enter into health, trying to neutralize criticism of the “yes is yes” law. Those who want politics out of healthcare don’t know what they’re saying. On the contrary, we need a political debate on high altitude and adult health. Just the opposite of what is happening. Private insurance policies are rising in price, something that the sector had been demanding for years.

At the Corporate level, at the international level, it is proposed that health information (largely from the NHS) be the basis of a British sovereign wealth fund, in the same way that a Norwegian sovereign wealth fund is based on information about oil. Grifols announces a savings plan that includes 2,300 layoffs, which has been highly received by the Stock Market, significantly raising the shares of this company.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

  • Chili
    • The crisis in the private sector threatens the entire Chilean health system. A 2010 court ruling prevents adjusting policies by age and sex. Although the measure had not been implemented, it seems that the government wants to do so. The collapse of the Isapres (health insurers in Chile) would mean that 3.2 million people would pass into the already congested public Fonasa system (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00321-5/fulltext)

National health policy

Companies

7 days in healthcare (January 9th-15th, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, everything seems to indicate that important advances in the diagnosis and treatment of certain diseases are coming in the not too distant future, with cancer vaccines, the new FLASH radiotherapy, the diagnostic revolution of virtual biopsies and the incorporation of certain devices (such as smart watches) in the prevention and monitoring of certain pathologies.

With regard to Global Health, it should be noted that climate change seriously threatens our health, according to The Lancet. Another important article in this magazine refers to the fact that the covid has revealed the inequalities between social groups and countries in dealing with the pandemic, as well as the absence of a global health architecture.

As for International Health Policy, with regard to covid, an editorial in The Lancet says that far from being overcome, 2023 brings new concerns, such as the impact of the situation in China or the new form XBB.1.5 in the United States. In China, the post-covid zero situation continues, officially acknowledging almost 60,000 deaths in the last month, despite the fact that the WHO insists on the request for more transparency in that country. In the United States, the abortion pill, according to the FDA, can already be purchased in pharmacies and by mail order, even in states where abortion is totally prohibited, which indicates the difficulty of shortcuts and of wanting to close doors to the field. In the United Kingdom the serious crisis of the NHS continues. The health minister of the shadow Labor cabinet publishes in the Financial Times an article with a long-term approach to reforms, something that, regardless of its content, we miss in Spain by all parties. An important editorial in The Economist where it says that part of the solution to the NHS’s problems involves solving the problems of Primary Care, proposing several changes, but without losing perspective that a large part of the problems are in hospitals, with the situation of waiting lists and emergencies. He also opposes the Labor Party’s proposal, made last week, to end the independent mini-company character of Primary Care in the UK, in order to make primary care physicians salaried. The Economist carries out a study that says that in the United Kingdom there are 260 deaths a week (more than 12,000 a year) as a result of delays in the emergency room. The British are turning more and more to private healthcare, as increase problems in the public sector. The EU devises plans to avoid medicine shortages and dependence on China.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), the drop in the incidence of covid continues, despite the situation in China and the American variant called Kraken. The Primary Care strike in the Community of Madrid is reactivated and a strike is on the brink in 8 autonomous communities, while the emergencies are collapsed. Despite the plans, recent studies show that almost half of public health workers are temporary. In relation to the Strategic Plan of the pharmaceutical industry, both BIOSIM and AESEG, as well as the representatives of orphan drugs, position themselves with requests, in a clear attempt not to leave this plan only in the hands of large innovative companies, as suggested by the photo of La Moncloa, with Sánchez meeting with the main leaders of pharmaceutical multinationals.

In the field of Companies, internationally, relevant news for Pfizer, BioNTech and AstraZeneca. In our country, it is worth noting the steps taken by Viamed (new hospital in Tarragona), Ribera (great growth in turnover in 2022), Miranza (which continues its growth), Korian (which is preparing to integrate Group 5) and the CUN (which has just renovated part of its hospitalization area). For its part, KKR has completed the acquisition of IVI, an important in vitro fertilization company of Spanish origin.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

Companies

7 days in healthcare (December 26th, 2022-January 1st, 2023)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, it is worth noting the ambitious project of the United Kingdom “Our Future Health”, which aims to place this country at the forefront of genomic research, and which seeks to carry out genetic analyzes of 5 million adult British volunteers, then looking at the correlation with lifestyles and medical records. Undoubtedly, this project will allow us to advance a lot in the knowledge of a wide variety of diseases.

With regard to Global Health, great concern in the world, since the large number of cases in China increase the probability that new variants will appear. There is no doubt that the covid – which had appeared, artificially or naturally, in China – has entered a new phase in which the epicenter is once again China.

Regarding International Health Policy, countries are preparing to put control measures at airports and borders against travelers from China, although the ECDC sees this type of control as unfounded and the EU has not adopted a common policy. Joschka Fischer (former – German Foreign Minister) publishes an in-depth article, whose conclusion is that, in contrast to what had previously been said that authoritarian regimes that do not depend on public opinion can impose drastic and effective measures in crisis situations such as covid, experience has shown that liberal democracies are more effective than autocracies in dealing with these situations. Great controversy in the European Union over the claim of the pharmaceutical industry to agree to produce new antibiotics, under the condition of increasing the patent term of certain drugs.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), Spain has approved airport control measures to control travelers from China, which will be in force between December 31, 2022 and February 15, 2023. Primary Care doctors have opposed the hiring of doctors without MIR training, since this seems more like an opportunistic measure than addressing the underlying problems of Primary Care. The central government, so little fond of publishing and preparing expert analyzes on the covid management, instead presents a self-assessment on its management. According to this report “Cumpliendo” (“Fulfilling”) 64% of the health promises have already been fulfilled and 35% are in process. Bearing in mind that none of the structural healthcare problems have been addressed (personnel regime, management model, governance, accessibility and waiting lists, etc.) this self-assessment seems to us grated on complacency and even propaganda. Unless the promises -which are said to have been fulfilled- have nothing to do with the real problems of the sector. An interesting initiative from the private sector through the IDIS Foundation, which announces the start-up of a pilot on interoperability, should be highlighted. The fact that companies that compete with each other -both from the insurance and provisioning fields- agree on the interoperability of medical records is something that deserves to be highlighted.

In the field of Companies, the American Congress has taken an unusual decision: criticize the FDA for its inadequate collaboration with Biogen for the approval of the drug against Alzheimer’s. At the national level, Atrys continues its growth, both in Spain and abroad (United Kingdom, Middle East and Latin America).

Biomedicine

Global Health

International Health Policy

National health policy

Companies

 

 

 

7 days in healthcare (September 26th-October 2nd, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of Biomedicine, to review the advances, still to be confirmed, in the treatment of two terrible diseases: ALS and Alzheimer’s.

Regarding Global Health, concerns continue about the evolution of polio, whose eradication was announced in 2019, but which is reappearing in several countries.

Regarding International health policy, it is worth noting the similarities between the covid-zero policy in China and the era of prohibition in the United States, something pointed out by The Economist. Very worrying is the “burnout” of doctors, a phenomenon highlighted by the New York Times in the United States, but which seems to be universal.

If we talk about National health policy (Spain), the debates on the Equity Law continue. The update of the RD on the minimum data set of the SNS leaves out the private sector, despite the opposition of the POP, IMAS Foundation, IDIS Foundation and ASPE. It is a modification of a 2010 RD, but in twelve years the private sector has developed a lot and it is no longer so easy to leave it out in certain decisions. The Senate rejects the PP’s motion to facilitate access to medicines and reduce the time it takes to join the SNS. Surely the motion of the PP was too vague and, at this point, it is necessary to explain very well the “what” and the “how” of any proposal.

At the corporate level, at the international level, big rise in Biogen shares, spurred by what appear to be hopeful results from its Alzheimer’s drug. At the national level, there are rumors that KKR and CVC could be trying to buy Quirónsalud, currently in the hands of the German group Fresenius, which has recently changed its CEO. The Murcian company Vócali develops the Inbox Medical software for transcription of medical reports.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

7 days in healthcare (August 21st-28th, 2022)

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Summary

From the point of view of biomedicine, the very encouraging results of the polypill published by a Spanish group led by Valentin Fuster should be highlighted. The Economist underlines the great future of gene therapies in medicine, with a list of diseases for which there is a therapy or is in advanced study.

Regarding Global Health, The Lancet publishes a report with some conclusions and lessons regarding future pandemics.

As for International Health Policy, both monkeypox and covid are plummeting in Europe. The controversial annulment of the Roe v Wade ruling in the United States, which leaves the right to abortion to the criteria and regulation of the states, continues to be talked about. American companies, including Walmart, the largest American employer, introduce this benefit for women, regardless of the state where they work.

If we talk about National Health Policy (Spain), covid continues to drop and especially the number of cases in the ICU. The Government approves the bill that creates the Public Health Agency, probably the largest, if not the only, far-reaching measure after the pandemic. The text of the law is not yet public, and therefore important aspects such as governance and functions are not known. The location is not known either, although the Government has advanced that it would not be in Madrid, which is not without controversy either. Next week the government will approve the abortion law, according to a text promoted by Podemos.

In the field of companies, Moderna’s lawsuit against Pfizer and BioNTech has been shocked, which it accuses of plagiarism of its mRNA technology in the covid vaccine. Amazon closes its telecare service, which once again demonstrates the difficulties of the large technology platforms in finding an adequate strategy for health, a sector in which they want to be above all else. In Spain, the export of drugs manufactured in Spain grows by 60% in one year.

Biomedicine

Global Health

International health policy

National health policy

Companies

 

 

 

 

7 days in healthcare (April 4-10, 2022)

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SUMMARY

From the point of view of biomedicine, it is worth highlighting the fact, highlighted by the journal Nature, that the WHO took more than two years to recognize the airborne transmission of covid. A new generation of vaccines that prevent cancer can make tumors disappear before they appear, according to an article in Science. The natural experiment from South Korea and Hong Kong shows that the “omicron” variant can be fatal in unvaccinated people.

As far as Global Health is concerned, the situation in Ukraine gives us difficult lessons in global health, explains the editor of The Lancet. It should be noted that the black American population already exceeds the white population in mortality from opioids. Until now, deaths from this cause occurred mainly in “non-colleged educated” whites.

Regarding international health policy, the European health agencies (EMA and ECDC) say that it is too early for the second “booster” of the covid vaccine. Ten years of “Choosing Wisely” the revolution in medical practice that tries to minimize worthless or low value health interventions.

If we talk about national health policy (Spain), the appearance of the 2022 Health Barometer (First wave) is important. It should be noted that waiting lists are the main concern of the population; the delay in a high percentage of cases to see a primary care physician; and that the positive perception of the public system decreases, while that of the private system increases. Report on health professionals, which says that within five years there will be a shortage of 9,000 doctors.

In the field of companies, from the international point of view, Moderna’s agreement with the non-profit entity IAVI to apply mRNA technology to various diseases should be highlighted. SpainCares confirms that Spain is not in an advantageous position with regard to health tourism.

BIOMEDICINE

GLOBAL HEALTH

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH POLICY

  • COVID

o The United States donates more than 100 million doses of covid vaccine for children (https://www.ft.com/content/3e5f9359-67a5-4f24-971e-51761119899b)

o Shanghai residents beg for food and medicine as authorities lock down the city (https://www.ft.com/content/3e439a10-860b-4ae6-9070-ad8546da8850)

o Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor, fails in Parliament with his plan to make the vaccine mandatory (https://www.ft.com/content/7d0610bf-3cf9-4edd-a392-e9d97dc9fade)

o COVID deaths rise in the UK, with infections at record highs (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/05/covid-related-deaths-rise-england-infections-record-high )

o The European health agencies (EMA and ECDC) say that it is too early for the second covid vaccine “booster” (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/world/europe/covid-second- booster-europe.html)

  • Other themes

o Ten years of “Choosing Wisely”, which revolutionized medical practice based on recommendations of “do not do”, to reduce low-value health care (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/ NEJMp2200422)

o Life expectancy in the US continues to decline in 2021, despite covid vaccines (https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/04/07/life-expectancy-covid/)

o Oklahoma passes one of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the US, following a Republican strategy (https://www.ft.com/content/cee6a170-fa23-47cb-b554-d457d68f225b)

o Important report by the Nuffield Trust on the recovery of health systems after covid, analyzing the situation in several countries (https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/research/health-system-recovery-from-covid-19- international-lessons-for-the-nhs)

o Great impact in the United Kingdom of the Ockenden Report, on maternity care, with the detection of serious problems, published by the British Government (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/final-report-of- the-ockenden-review/ockenden-review-summary-of-findings-conclusions-and-essential-actions)

NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY (SPAIN)

  • COVID

o Decrease in the incidence of covid: up to 420.17 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 60 years of age, according to the new measurement method (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/directo/coronavirus-ultimas-noticias/20220410)

o The mask will no longer be mandatory indoors on April 20 (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2022/04/06/624d770121efa0ed708b45bb.html)

o COVID only worries 30% of Spaniards, according to the COSMO Spain study, coordinated by the Carlos III Health Institute (https://www.actasanitaria.com/salud-mental/covid-19-solo-pretrabajo-30 -spanish-two-years-pandemic_2002232_102.html)

  • Other themes

o The 2022 Health Barometer (First wave) appears (https://datos.cis.es/pdf/Es3357mar_A.pdf). Some data of interest: the waiting lists, the worst valued by the Spanish (https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20220407/8184215/listas-espera-peor-valorado-espanoles-barometro-sanitario-2022.html ); 55% of patients take more than 7 days to get an appointment with their family doctor (https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20220408/8185940/55-pacientes-tarda-mas-7-dias-conseguir- family-doctor-appointment.html); lowers the positive perception of the public system and increases that of the private (https://www.diariofarma.com/2022/04/07/cis-baja-la-percepcion-positiva-del-sistema-publico-y-aumenta-la-de-la-privada)

o Within five years there will be a shortage of almost 9,000 doctors (https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20220404/8174200/cinco-anos-faltaran-9000-medicos.html), according to the report “Supply-need for medical specialists 2021- 2035”, prepared by Patricia Barber and Beatriz González López-Valcárcel (https://cgcom.es/sites/default/files//u395/2022informeofertanecesidadespecialistasmedicos2021_2035.pdf)

o “Case of masks” a loot of 2,000 million for the purchase of material during the state of alarm (https://elpais.com/espana/2022-04-10/caso-mascarillas-un-botin-de-2000-millones -in-the-law-of-the-jungle.html)

o WAIT Report: Spain falls in time for access to new medicines (https://www.diariofarma.com/2022/04/06/espana-ha-autorizado-el-53-de-los-farmacos-aprobados -in-europe-between-2017-y-2020), to see the WAIT report: https://www.efpia.eu/media/602652/efpia-patient-wait-indicator-final-250521.pdf

o Published the “Report on the initial budgets of the Public Administrations” (AIREF, April 7, 2022) (https://www.airef.es/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PRESUPUESTOS-INICIALES/Informe-Ptos -initials-2021-.pdf)

o Spain leads the world consumption of benzodiazepines (https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20220402/espana-lidera-consumo-mundial-benzodiazepinas-13438583)

COMPANIES, EMPLOYERS AND OTHER AGENTS IN THE SECTOR

  • International News

o Moderna reaches an agreement with IAVI (non-profit association) to apply mRNA to various diseases (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/moderna-llega-a-un-acuerdo-con-iavi-para-aplicar -mRNA-for-various-diseases.html)

o Pfizer buys the British biotech company ReViral for 481 million euros (https://www.expansion.com/empresas/industria/2022/04/08/624fd580468aebc31f8b46bb.html)

  • National News

o David Medina (Spaincares): “In the tourism-health binomial, we are not in the top ranking” (https://www.plantadoce.com/adn/david-medina-spaincares-en-el-binomio-turismo-salud -we-are-not-at-the-top-of-the-ranking.html)

o Savana closes a round of 23 million euros, hand in hand with Conexo Ventures (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/savana-cierra-una-ronda-de-23-millones-de-euros-de- the-hand-of-connected-ventures.html)

o Sanitas shoots up sales of health insurance by 47%, with 377,000 new policies (https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/04/07/companias/1649322015_528839.html)

o PharmaMar and CNIO allocate 1.2 million euros to testing breast cancer drugs (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/pharma-mar-y-el-cnio-destinan-12-millones-de- euros-to-test-drugs-against-breast-cancer.html)

o Miranza underpins its expansion, reaching 80.6 million euros (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/miranza-apuntala-su-expansion-tras-incrementar-sus-ventas-un-35-hasta-806 -millions-of-euros.html)

o Farmasierra celebrates its 25th anniversary, reinforcing R&D (https://www.diariomedico.com/farmacia/industria/empresas/farmasierra-celebra-su-25-aniversario-advancing-towards-a-model-industria-40. html)

o Pfizer will export gene therapies from Spain to America (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud/noticias/11706685/04/22/Pfizer-exportara-a-America-terapias-genicas-desde-Espana.html)

 

7 days in healthcare (January 31-February 6, 2022)

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SUMMARY

As far as biomedicine is concerned, the report on the value of death by The Lancet stands out; also the development of the nasal vaccine against COVID; the new horizon of transplants, derived from the possibilities of genetic editing of animal organs; and, the revolution that the new cancer vaccines based on mRNA technology may entail.

In terms of global health, the AstraZeneca vaccine is the most widely used worldwide, due to its contribution to COVAX. More than 2,500 million doses have been placed globally.

In international health policy, the most striking is the study by Johns Hopkins University, which minimizes the effectiveness of confinement, which contrasts with previous studies; the 900,000 deaths from COVID in the United States and the 500,000 in India; the WTO continues to request the release of vaccine patents. In Europe, it is worth highlighting the new clinical trial system approved by the European Union and its new approach to cancer.

National health policy continues to be dominated by COVID. The numbers of cases are decreasing, which speaks of the decline of the “sixth wave”. However, deaths are still very high. The announcement that oncological biomarkers will be included in the portfolio of the National Health System is very important. Cancer mapping in Spain presents very striking results, with a high concentration of cancer incidence in certain geographical areas. Subject to study and act.

In company news, the leading role of venture capital companies is notable, with the large operations underway by Sandoz (a generic and biosimilar branch of Novartis) and IVI (a Spanish fertility company). The interest of private equity companies is concentrated around these companies. Also the acquisition of MIR Asturias by CVC and the Alfonso X University. The attempt by Correos to enter pharmaceutical distribution will bring a tail.

BIOMEDICINE

  • Report on the value of death: while in developed countries there is hypertreatment around death, in most countries death occurs without access to basic pain treatment (The Lancet, January 31, 22)
  • The nasal vaccine may be better for successive doses. There are a dozen such vaccines in development in phase 3 trials (NYT, February 2, 22)
  • The “stealth” variant (stealth) does not generate alarm, but it can slow down the decline in the number of cases (NYT, January 31, 22)
  • The sub-variant “ómicron” BA.2, more contagious than the original (FT, 31 January 22)
  • The new variant BA.2, already present in 57 countries, according to the WHO (FT, February 3, 22)
  • New variant of the HIV virus, discovered in the Netherlands (FT, February 3, 22)
  • Genetic editing of pig hearts: a new horizon for transplants (FT, February 2, 22)
  • Cancer vaccines: the new mRNA revolution (El País, Vozpópuli, February 4, 22)
  • Amidst the wide debate on abortion, a simple pill seems the most viable option (The Economist, 5 February 22)

GLOBAL HEALTH

  • AstraZeneca, the most distributed vaccine through COVAX, has already given 2,500 million doses worldwide (ConSalud, January 31, 22)
  • Humanitarian groups denounce that sanctions against Mali may have very adverse health consequences (The Lancet, February 5, 22)

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH POLICY

  • COVID

o A study by Johns Hopkins University (Applied Economics Studies magazine) questions the effectiveness of confinement in reducing mortality, which contrasts with the analysis published in Nature in June 2020, which estimates that three million deaths have been prevented in Europe by confinement, 450,000 in Spain (El Independiente, February 3, 22)

o The UK approves the Novavax vaccine (FT, 3 February 22)

o The American army begins to fire its members who refuse the vaccine (The Guardian, February 2, 22)

o The New Zealand border will be reopened in phases from the end of February, the Prime Minister announces (The Guardian, 2 February 22)

o The United States reaches 900,000 deaths from COVID (The Guardian, February 4, 22)

o India exceeds 500,000 deaths from COVID (The Guardian, February 4, 22)

o Europe facing a “long period of tranquility” in the pandemic, says the WHO, due to the lesser severity of the “ómicron” variant, the high percentages of immunization and the good weather (The Guardian, February 3, 22)

o The WTO (World Trade Organization) wants an agreement to release vaccine patents this month (El Español, February 1, 22)

o The German Vaccine Commission recommends the fourth dose for vulnerable and health groups (El País, February 3, 22)

o Beijing seals off several communities for two cases of COVID (The Guardian, January 31, 22)

o The COVID vaccine is already mandatory in Austria, with a great social fracture (Expansión, February 5, 22)

  • Other issues

o New clinical trial system in Europe, which Farmaindustria sees as an opportunity (diariofarma, February 1, 22)

o The EU will act against inequalities against cancer (ConSalud, February 3, 22)

NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY (SPAIN)

  • COVID

o The sixth wave is being left behind, the cases and hospitalizations are slowing down, although not the deaths that already exceed 6,000 since November (El País, February 5, 22)

o The mask outdoors will no longer be mandatory from next Thursday (El País, February 4, 22)

o Health has not yet closed the purchase of 344,000 doses of Paxlovid (El Español, February 3, 22)

o The AEM authorizes the HIPRA vaccine to go to phase 3 of clinical trials (The Objective, February 1, 22)

  • Political ads

o The new public health center, affected by the decentralization of public offices (diariofarma, February 1, 22)

o The approval of oncological biomarkers, announced as a pending objective of the expansion of the NHS portfolio (diariofarma, February 1, 22)

o The Minister of Health says that the Anti-Tobacco Law needs to be updated (ConSalud, February 4, 22)

  • Other issues

o 27% of pharmaceutical innovations approved in 2021, subject to special financing conditions (diariofarma, February 1, 22)

o Access to new cancer drugs takes more than 19 months in Spain, while in Germany it takes two months, according to doctors and patients (La Vanguardia, February 2, 22)

o Health plan to make rural pharmacies more viable (ConSalud, January 28, 2022)

o The private e-prescription is consolidated (diariofarma, February 2, 22)

o The cartography of cancer in Spain has been published, with very striking results, according to the “Atlas of Cancer Mortality in Portugal and Spain” (El Periódico de España, February 5, 22)

COMPANIES, EMPLOYERS AND OTHER AGENTS IN THE SECTOR

  • American pharmaceutical companies (J&J and three of the largest drug distributors in the United States) agree to pay 590 million dollars to Native Americans for the opioid crisis (El País, February 1, 22)
  • Pharmaceutical cold distribution, new Correos service (Redacción Médica, February 2, 22)
  • Pfizer-Biontech requests authorization from the FDA for the approval of the vaccine for children under 5 years of age (El País, February 1, 22)
  • Private equity companies consider offers of more than 25,000 million dollars for the generics unit of Novartis, Sandoz, Blackstone, Carlyle and EQT, among the most interested (FT, February 1, 22)
  • KKR, CVC, Permira, Bain, Carlyle and PAI outline their bids to take over the fertility company of Valencian origin IVI, the bids range from 1,500 million euros (CincoDías, January 31, 22)
  • Atrys enters the continuous market, as of February 7 (PlantaDoce, February 3, 22)
  • Sanitas gains ground and plans to open 7 rehabilitation centers in 2022 (PlantaDoce, February 1, 22)
  • Adeslas and Caixabank extend their agreement in the Bankia network for 650 million euros (CincoDías, January 27, 22)
  • MIR Asturias acquired by CVC and Alfonso X University (La Nueva España, February 3, 22)
  • Quirón acquires Clínicas Vida and strengthens its care network in Tenerife (PlantaDoce, January 28, 22)
  • Vitaldent expands throughout Andalusia and opens a new clinic in Benalmádena (PlantaDoce, February 3, 22)
  • Group 5 opens a residence for serious mental disorders in Madrid (PlantaDoce, February 3, 22)
  • Prim is reinforced with the purchase of Herbitas laboratories (Expansión, February 4, 22)
  • Pharmamar leads a consortium of companies for the development of advanced therapies (El Economista, February 3, 22)