UnitedHealth asks healthcare providers for hack loan repayments

 UnitedHealth Group is demanding that healthcare providers repay the loans they received from the company after a cyberattack at its tech unit Change Healthcare last year, according to two providers on Friday.

The largest U.S. health insurance company loaned out $9 billion to providers who had been struggling after the massive ransomware attack in February last year shut down payment and processing systems, some of which took months to resume.

Healthcare providers said they have received emails from UnitedHealth's Optum unit in recent months demanding full repayment and threatening to withhold reimbursement.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.

UnitedHealth's Change Healthcare unit said in a statement that it planned to "work with providers" on repayment options.

"Now, more than one year post the event and with services restored, we have begun the process of recouping the interest-free funding we provided to providers," a spokesperson for Change Healthcare said.

The initial agreement stipulated failure to repay could result in payments garnished, the two providers said, but they described the terms as having taken advantage of providers desperate after the hack.

Catherine Mazzola, CEO of New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute based in Morristown, New Jersey, said her practice had been docked reimbursement totaling $68,000 from February 19 through March 29.

The funds withheld were reimbursements from New Jersey Medicaid plans, Mazzola said. Her practice took out two loans of $35,000 and $500,000, she said.

"The amount payable on this statement has been used to repay amounts owed under your agreement," a statement sent to Mazzola and viewed by Reuters said.

Mazzola added that her practice had already paid $40,000 since the hack.

Another provider, Christine Myer, said she received a letter on April 1 asking for full payment of her loan within five business days. Her primary care practice had taken out a total of $756,000 after struggling to stay afloat following the hack, she said.

UnitedHealth previously released a notice saying $3.2 billion of loans given to providers had been repaid as of October 15.

The breach at Change was the largest healthcare data breach in the U.S., affecting the personal information of nearly 200 million people. It caused widespread disruptions in claims processing, impacting patients and providers across the country.

https://www.aol.com/news/unitedhealth-asks-healthcare-providers-hack-203010426.html

Annexon Touts ‘Rapid’ and ‘Durable’ Improvements for Targeted Guillain-Barré Therapy

 

Jefferies analysts predict Annexon’s tanruprubart could be approved by mid-2026.

Annexon’s investigational antibody tanruprubart can improve functional outcomes in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome as early as one week into treatment, according to a Phase III readout on Wednesday.

In a Wednesday afternoon note to investors, Jefferies analysts said these findings indicate that tanruprubart “safely allows [Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)] patients to recover faster and more durably over placebo.” Annexon is meeting with the FDA to discuss the regulatory pathway for tanruprubart, building up to a potential approval in mid-2026, as per Jefferies.

Jefferies estimates an annual incidence of 7,000 GBS patients in the U.S. and 15,000 in the EU, which opens up at least a $1 billion opportunity for Annexon in those two regions alone.

The Phase III data, presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, demonstrated that patients on tanruprubart were 14 times more likely to show improved mobility, balance and lower limb function at week 1 versus placebo. Tanruprubart likewise boosted motor ability and eased limitations in upper and lower limb activity at this time point, as per Annexon’s Wednesday release.

These treatment benefits were durable through 26 weeks, at which point there were twice as many tanruprubart-treated patients who fully recovered as compared with placebo.

Wednesday’s findings build on prior evidence establishing tanruprubart as a potential treatment for GBS. In June 2024, Annexon released early data from the same Phase III study, showing that tanruprubart met its primary endpoint of significantly reducing disease-related disability. At week 8, patients on tanruprubart were 2.4 times more likely to be in a better state of health than placebo comparators.

Functional outcomes at the time were likewise better with tanruprubart, with patients being able to walk and going off ventilation roughly a month earlier than placebo counterparts.

To beef up its case for tanruprubart, Annexon also announced on Wednesday that a real-world study of the drug likewise showed a “rapid increase in muscle strength” versus current standards of care in GBS, comprising plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulin. Tanruprubart also elicited “more complete recovery” over standard care.

Tanruprubart is a monoclonal antibody that works by targeting and blocking the C1q protein in the peripheral and central nervous system. In GBS, the persistent activation of C1q damages nerves throughout the body, in turn leading to acute muscle paralysis and, if left unchecked, can result in disability and death. Tanruprubart’s mechanism allows it to prevent this damage, enabling patients to regain their muscle strength.

The underlying cause of GBS is unknown and there are currently no approved medications that directly treat the disease. Patients instead rely on immunoglobulin treatments or plasmapheresis to aid in recovery, which can take weeks or years.

https://www.biospace.com/drug-development/annexon-touts-rapid-and-durable-improvements-for-targeted-guillain-barre-therapy

'Lawmakers Seek to Boost US Biotech Sector, Keep China’s Growth in Check'

 

According to analysts at Jefferies, legislation such as the newly proposed bills that aim to streamline regulatory processes would be a positive for the biotech industry.

Senators Todd Young (R-IND) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) on Thursday filed a bill to help revitalize biotech in the U.S. as a key component of national security and economic productivity. The bill seeks to establish the National Biotechnology Coordination Office (NBCO), which would reside under the Office of the President and be responsible for harmonizing federal initiatives on biotech and for streamlining regulatory pathways.

Representatives Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), meanwhile, have introduced a parallel version of the bill in the House.

“We see strong support for optimizing regulatory processes and eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy” as a positive for the industry, Jefferies analysts wrote to investors Thursday evening, which in turn could lead to “quicker approvals.” The group referenced the new bills as one example but also noted “we will watch for other bills to come starting in the next few months which could touch more on incentives, supply chain onshoring, investment restrictions etc. [plus] other issues investors remain concerned about.”

Thursday’s proposed legislation, dubbed the National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025, is one of the principal recommendations from the recent National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) report that warned the government that China is growing “dangerously close” to overtaking the U.S. as the global leader in biotech innovation. Young is the chair of the NSCEB, while Padilla, Bice and Khanna are commissioners.

Jefferies noted that across the industry, “onshoring manufacturing [continues] to be a major theme of conversation.” At the head of this push are Big Pharma players like Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis, who in the face of President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff threats have unveiled multibillion-dollar investments in the U.S.

Still, Jefferies warned that China is unlikely to play passive and instead could enact a “retaliatory strategy that does not just utilize tariffs but takes advantage of other strategies such as cutting off API [active pharmaceutical ingredient] supply.” China holds about 90% of API production, as per the analysts.

The NSCEB report outlines some 50 recommendations that the U.S. government can take to maintain and widen its lead in biotech. One of these is the establishment of the NBCO to help ease what Young and Padilla called “regulatory burdens” on well-characterized products. The NCBO would also be in charge of the overall biotech strategy in the U.S.

The director of the NCBO would serve as principal biotech advisor to the president. It remains unclear who the prime candidates for this position would be.

https://www.biospace.com/policy/lawmakers-seek-to-boost-us-biotech-sector-keep-chinas-growth-in-check

'Houthis Offer Reciprocal Truce With US: 'Not At War With The American People''

A top Houthi official has offered Washington a truce in the Red Sea, if the US stops attacking Yemen. The Shia group and ally of Iran has made clear that it is not at war with the American people.

Still, the group known formally as Ansarallah has declared this week that the US has "failed" in its bombing operations which were renewed on March 15. Leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, declared Thursday that the "US failed to prevent military operations and secure maritime navigation for the Israeli enemy" as we detailed previously.

But the Houthis are apparently holding out the possibility that the conflict with US naval and aerial forces can cease. This week a senior leader of Ansarallah told Drop Site News in a rare interview, "We do not consider ourselves at war with the American people. If the U.S. stops targeting Yemen, we will cease our military operations against it."

The top official, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of Ansarallah’s political bureau and a longtime spokesperson for the Houthis, described further in reference to Israeli action in Gaza, "When the Zionist entity stops its genocidal crimes in Gaza and allows food, medicine, and fuel to enter, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement, we will cease all military operations against it."

"We only defended ourselves. There are also crimes of genocide in Gaza and a siege aimed at starvation. All nations should act to support the oppressed and the weak, as emphasized by international conventions and international human rights law," al-Bukhaiti added.

He went on to describe that while the Houthis are ready to halt all counter-attacks on US warships and vessels, the attacks on Israeli ships and Israeli territory won't stop until certain Gaza-related conditions are met.

"Operations against the Zionist entity will continue until our objectives are achieved," al-Bukhaiti said. "If Trump truly seeks peace, as he claims, his efforts should have been directed at pressuring Netanyahu to implement the ceasefire agreement, which includes lifting the siege on Gaza and allowing food and medicine to enter. Only then will we stop all military operations against the Zionist entity."

Last month the Trump administration appeared to approve of renewed Israeli military operations against Hamas, and the collapse of the ceasefire.

But interestingly, there could be basis of agreement or some kind of de facto truce at least between American and Houthi forces, given the prior statement from President Trump:

"The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you," Trump wrote in a post on TruthSocial on March 31. "Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also recently echoed the same in an interview with Fox News: "The minute the Houthis say, 'We'll stop shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting at your drones,' this campaign will end. But until then, it will be unrelenting."

However, Washington is still likely to come to the defense of its number one regional ally Israel. Yet Trump could be looking for an off-ramp as the Yemen war looks to become more and more unpopular on a political level at home. After all, he did present himself on the campaign trail as the 'peace president'.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/houthis-offers-reciprocal-truce-us-not-war-american-people

Benchmark raises Nutex Health stock price target to $150

 Benchmark analyst increased the price target for Nutex Health (NASDAQ: NUTX) shares to $150, up from the previous $60, while reiterating a Buy rating on the stock. The adjustment follows Nutex Health's fourth-quarter performance, where the company reported a significant adjusted EBITDA of $94 million. The company's impressive performance has driven its stock up 168% year-to-date, with a remarkable 93.8% revenue growth in the last twelve months.This was notably driven by its first-time revenue from the successful recovery of out-of-network claims, facilitated by the No Surprise Act (NSA) arbitration process.

The NSA, which began in January 2022, initially led to a decline in Nutex's average payments by approximately 30% as payers often paid below the median contracted rate. However, with limited success in improving payments through negotiations, Nutex pivoted towards arbitration in mid-2024, taking advantage of a more streamlined process by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This strategic shift has contributed to the company's robust financial metrics, showing a healthy current ratio of 2.08, indicating strong liquidity to meet short-term obligations. This strategic shift resulted in Nutex submitting between 60-70% of visits for arbitration and achieving an over 80% success rate with claims in 2024.

Benchmark's analyst anticipates that Nutex will persist with this approach into 2025. The firm's revised model takes a conservative stance on the impact of these efforts. Additionally, Nutex's positive outlook is supported by initiatives aimed at increasing patient volumes, particularly by focusing on higher-value services. These strategies are expected to contribute to the company's ongoing growth and margin expansion

https://www.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/benchmark-raises-nutex-health-stock-price-target-to-150-93CH-3977013

Bullfrog AI and Connect Biopharma Interviews

 RedChip Companies will air interviews with Bullfrog AI Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:BFRG) and Connect Biopharma Holdings Limited (Nasdaq:CNTB) and on the RedChip Small Stocks, Big Money™ show, a sponsored program on Bloomberg TV this Saturday, April 12, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Bloomberg TV is available in an estimated 73 million homes across the U.S.

Access the interviews in their entirety at:

• BFRG: https://www.redchip.com/assets/access/bfrg_access.html

• CNTB: https://www.redchip.com/assets/access/cntb_access

In an exclusive interview, Vin Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Bullfrog AI, appears on the RedChip Small Stocks Big Money™ show on Bloomberg TV to discuss how the company is revolutionizing drug discovery and development with Bullfrog Data Networks™, a cutting-edge platform powered by its proprietary bfLEAP™ technology. Designed for small and mid-sized biopharma companies, Bullfrog Data Networks enables users to harness high-dimensional, multi-modal datasets, uncovering hidden relationships and pathways to accelerate target identification, clinical trial optimization, and drug repurposing. By providing affordable, AI-powered insights, Bullfrog AI enhances decision-making and efficiency across the industry-helping resource-constrained organizations do more with less while enabling larger enterprises to optimize R&D investments and streamline drug development. In addition to driving growth through its Data Networks platform, Bullfrog AI continues to advance its portfolio of licensed drug assets and partnerships with world-class research institutions like the J. Craig Venter Institute and the Lieber Institute for Brain Development.

Barry Quart, CEO of Connect Biopharma, appears on the RedChip Small Stocks Big Money™ show on Bloomberg TV to discuss the company's innovative therapeutics designed to transform the treatment landscape for inflammatory diseases driven by T-cell dysfunction. The company's lead candidate, rademikibart, is a next-generation, highly differentiated monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα), with potential applications in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-markets collectively representing multi-billion-dollar commercial opportunities. Backed by robust clinical data from a global Phase 2 study demonstrating superior efficacy, rapid onset of action, and a favorable safety profile, Connect is strategically positioned to enter clinical trials targeting acute exacerbations in respiratory diseases, an area of significant unmet medical need. With a newly strengthened U.S.-based management team experienced in successful drug development and regulatory execution, including having collectively received FDA marketing approval for 16 therapeutic products, and with deep expertise in business development, corporate strategy, finance and operations, Connect Biopharma is uniquely positioned as it moves toward pivotal clinical milestones and commercialization.

BFRG and CNTB are clients of RedChip Companies. Please read our full disclosure at https://www.redchip.com/legal/disclosures.

https://www.wtrf.com/business/press-releases/accesswire/1013676/bullfrog-ai-and-connect-biopharma-interviews-to-air-on-the-redchip-small-stocks-big-moneytm-show-on-bloomberg-tv/

Nvidia-Backed Recursion Pharma Soars After-Hours As FDA Eyes AI Over Animal Testing For Drugs

 Shares of Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. rocketed over 19% in Thursday's after-hours trading, boosting retail investor sentiment, after the U.S. health regulator unveiled plans to modernize drug testing methodologies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it would begin replacing traditional animal testing for monoclonal antibody therapies and other drugs with more "human-relevant" methods, including artificial intelligence (AI) models.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/nvidia-backed-recursion-pharma-soars-after-hours-as-fda-eyes-ai-over-animal-testing-for-drugs-retail-traders-elated/ar-AA1CIikC