Ziopharm up on FDA sign-off on study involving Sleeping Beauty platform

Ziopharm Oncology (ZIOP +3.3%) perks up on average volume in reaction to its announcement that the FDA has signed off on a National Cancer Institute-sponsored study evaluating T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapy using the company’s Sleeping Beauty platform for the treatment of solid tumors.

Sleeping Beauty is a non-viral gene transfer technology that the NCI will use to generate neoantigen-specific T cells.

The company will host a conference call on Wednesday, June 12, at 8:30 am ET to discuss its non-viral TCR-T program.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3470491-ziopharm-3-percent-fda-sign-study-involving-sleeping-beauty-platform

Humana, Epic to collaborate on real-time benefits check

Humana’s real-time benefits check tool will be integrated into Epic’s e-prescribing workflow.

Humana Inc. and Epic Systems announced plans to collaborate on a push towards value-based care Tuesday morning, with an agreement to integrate Humana’s real-time benefits check (RTBC) tool into Epic’s e-prescribing workflow.

IntelligentRx, Humana’s RTBC tool, will allow Epic to deliver “real-time pharmacy data throughout its network” and reduce administrative costs for providers, according to a Humana press release.

Alan Wheatley, president of Humana’s retail segment, said that almost half of the Louisville-based insurer’s patients currently see a doctor who utilizes Epic, which will extend the benefits from the partnership.

“The nexus of these technologies will both improve the provider experience and patient access to care by empowering them to weigh evidence-based outcomes with patients’ individual medication cost and coverage,” Wheatley said in a statement.

Alan Hutchison, vice president of population health at Epic, echoed Wheatley’s sentiments, adding that the payer-electronic health records collaboration aims to “improve quality and transparency for patients.”

Humana stated its expectations for the collaboration as increasing the timeliness of data exchanges, improving medication adherence, and reducing the cost of specialty care.

The collaboration announcement comes one week after Humana publicly rebuked rumors that the insurer was exploring a merger with Centene Corporation.

https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/finance/humana-epic-collaborate-real-time-benefits-check

CVS service aims to help employers manage nontraditional benefit options

• CVS’ pharmacy benefit manager launched a vendor benefit management service allowing its employer clients to offer nontraditional tools aimed at improving employee health.
• The program announced Tuesday will allow employers to contract and manage their relationship with third-party vendors that offer employee benefits, which could be both digital and non-digital tools.
• The first third-party vendor in the program and available for CVS Caremark members to adopt is Sleepio, a digital program aimed at improving sleep sold by Big Health.

The move fits into the broader effort by employers, payers and others to tackle social determinants of health, paying attention to nutrition, transportation and other non-traditional health measures. Digital tools like apps and wearables are at the forefront of that trend.

This is not CVS’ only venture related to digital health tools for clients. Early this year, the company said its insurance arm, Aetna, will offer an app aimed at pairing the patient’s medical history with the Apple Watch capabilities to help members set health goals.

Although executives say the pharmacy giant’s nearly $70-billion acquisition of Aetna is complete, the companies are still facing a hurdle in implementation as a federal judge reviews their merger settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The judge is set to hear more arguments on the matter next month.

As social factors influencing health become more of focus, payers are ramping up efforts to offer related services. And CMS is pushing these tools as well. Medicare Advantage plans, for example, now have the flexibility to cover the cost for healthy food options for some beneficiaries or carpet cleaning for those with asthma.

A report by health benefits platform Castlight underscored the trend, finding the average employer offers 14 digital health tools, either offered by a health insurance plan or a third-party vendor. Every generation is using digital health tools, though millennials are slightly more likely to use digital tools to address health problems, that report showed.

However, a recent Health Affairs study found questionable evidence on whether the efforts are working.

Despite the prevalence of digital health tools, “they have not have not yet demonstrated substantial impact on disease burden or cost in the US health care system,” according to its review of U.S.-based digital health companies.

https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/cvs-caremark-service-aims-to-help-employers-manage-nontraditional-benefit-o/556605/

Achieve Life Sciences (ACHV) PT Raised to $20 at Ladenburg Thalmann

https://www.streetinsider.com/Analyst+Comments/UPDATE%3A+Achieve+Life+Sciences+%28ACHV%29+PT+Raised+to+%2420+at+Ladenburg+Thalmann/15600561.html

Hoth Begins Production of BioLexa Therapeutic for Upcoming Trials

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOTH), a biopharmaceutical company focused on unique targeted therapeutics for patients suffering from indications such as atopic dermatitis-also known as eczema-as well as dermatological and chronic wound disorders, today announced it has signed contracts with providers for production of their BioLexa therapeutic, in preparation for upcoming toxicology and clinical studies.

Hoth has begun preparations for the testing of its formulation for both active and vehicle stability.  The Company has engaged the services of both Particle Sciences, Inc. and Regis Technologies, Inc., in order to fulfill the necessary formulation and production of both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) of its biopharmaceutical.  The BioLexa Platform is a proprietary, patented antimicrobial therapy designed for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. The therapeutic offers a non-corticosteroid approach treating atopic dermatitis.

“Management is extremely pleased to announce this significant step in our developmental track,” stated Robb Knie, CEO of Hoth Therapeutics.  “Atopic dermatitis often has a negative impact on patients’ overall health and quality of life.  Current treatments, such as topical corticosteroids and other treatments frequently carry harsh side effects.  Hoth looks forward to initiating these clinical trials, as we believe that our BioLexa therapeutic has the potential to become a much needed treatment for this underserved market.”

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hoth-therapeutics-to-begin-production-of-biolexa-therapeutic-for-upcoming-toxicology-and-clinical-trials-300864323.html

Enzo eyes profitability via cutting lab costs

Enzo said that it is in “active discussions with several leading life sciences and medical device companies,” and automated systems manufacturers to develop strategic relationships covering three platforms — molecular diagnostics, immunohistochemistry, and Enzo’s ELISA platform. The conversations are focused on automation and manufacturing, distribution and marketing, and product sales. The company’s goal is to announce at least one relationship by the end of calendar year 2019, Enzo said.

Additionally, the company said that it is introducing a new business model for labs in which Enzo will be the “central capability” for smaller labs. Such labs would capitalize on Enzo’s scale in high-value and lower-cost operations, proprietary intellectual property and products, and long-term experience in innovation and commitment to medical solutions.

The formal rollout of the program is anticipated by the end of 2019, Enzo said.

To return to profitability, it said that it is working to aggressively control operational costs in the lab segment. Further, it is developing growth initiatives to capitalize on the firm’s intellectual property and integrated approach to manufacturing. Lastly, it will pursue revenue opportunities through IP development and innovation. Such efforts will leverage opportunities in licensing its IP, as well as business development and litigation, it said.

Cost reduction improvements are expected to continue throughout fiscal 2020, and a return to operating profitability at the labs is anticipated to happen in early calendar 2020, Enzo said.

https://www.genomeweb.com/business-news/enzo-biochem-fiscal-q3-revenues-decline-22-percent#.XP_XDtJKjIU

Zoetis started at Overweight by Barclays

Target $120

https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZTS/ratings