This week's news from the Health TechZone included a number of innovations to treat disease. It also included some disturbing news about surgical technology and negative patient outcomes.
According to projections from Frost & Sullivan, the European HIV drug market, may deliver revenue as high as $9.24 billion by 2019, thanks to a transition to oral pills and some new drugs in the pipeline. In 2012, the market earned $5.58 billion, which means that it is projected to almost double over the next six years.
New alternatives to traditional antiretroviral (ARV) drugs include PK boosters, maturation inhibitors and attachment inhibitors. Easy consumption and higher adherence to combination therapy will allow these new medications to boost the prospects of less common drugs.
Also this week, MMRGlobal received a Notice of Allowance from the Australia Patent Office for its anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody assets. This antidote, which includes proteins found on the surfaces of ordinary B-cells, has been approved to treat B-cell lymphoma in a number of countries. In experiments, it is also being used to treat immune thrombocytopenic purpura and systematic lupus. Anti-CD20 may also provide protection from transplant rejection.
For sleep apnea patients using the Phillips Respironics System One positive airway pressure (PAP) machine, Phillips Respironics has developed a Web-based SleepMapper solution. The program is designed to provide feedback, education and troubleshooting advice for patients. Sleep apnea patients are notorious for not abiding by usage recommendations for their PAP devices, and access to easy troubleshooting and information about their sleep patterns may improve compliance.
In more sobering news, the Da Vinci surgical robot continues to come under scrutiny. CNBC has begun a four-part series investigating the devices, and the FDA has also decided to look into some problematic incidents.
The makers of the Da Vinci robot, Intuitive Surgical, have been sued by the father of 24-year-old Kimberly McCalla. During a routine hysterectomy, the robotic arm lacerated a major artery and caused significant bleeding. The lawsuit also claims that the robot burned her intestines and another artery. McCalla died two weeks after the operation.
Intuitive Surgical received more bad publicity when Dr. Younes Bakri, director of gynecological oncology at West Virginia University, provided a video showing electric arcing from a Da Vinci robotic arm. Electric arcing can cause burns and other heat-related damage to internal organs.
This news summarizes the last week in the Health TechZone. Check back with HealthTechZone to get the latest healthcare technology news.
