Gene ‘patents’ — a glimmer of light?

Early days, but still encouraging.

A Utah biotech outfit called Myriad Genetics has a test that can tell women if they carry mutations of two genes linked to a predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. But if a woman wants that test, she can get it only from Myriad, at a cost of more than $3,000. No other company or lab is allowed to provide the test because Myriad holds patents on the very genes themselves, under an exclusive license from the University of Utah Research Foundation. Or it did until Monday.

In deciding a lawsuit led by the ACLU and the Public Patent Foundation at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, U.S. District Court Judge Robert W. Sweet shot down seven of Myriad’s patents, ruling that as a product of nature, DNA could not be patented. And in concluding that the essence of DNA is not in the chemicals but in the information encoded therein, he rejected Myriad’s contention that DNA became patentable once it is isolated outside the body. As ACLU staff lawyer Chris Hansen said, “The human genome, like the structure of blood, air or water, was discovered, not created. There is an endless amount of information on genes that begs for further discovery, and gene patents put up unacceptable barriers to the free exchange of ideas.”

For people who object to the commercialization of any private data, gene patents are the ultimate intrusion. Having an assortment of companies own the legal rights to 20 percent of your unique self, as they do now, just feels creepy and wrong. And it’s all the more stinging to know that in Canada, where Myriad’s patents are not recognized, women worried about a family history of cancer can have a lab do that test for under $1,000. “The idea that our ability to look at [genes], to analyze them, to utilize them would be constrained by the issue of a patent strikes many people viscerally,” said James Evans, chairman of a federal task force on the effect of gene patents on diagnostics and patient care. “Genes represent something we see as quite fundamental to who we are. … If this decision is upheld, it in the end is a win for patients and providers.”

Steady on, boy, steady on

The CEO of salesforce.com has been drinking the Kool-Aid:

The future of our industry now looks totally different than the past. It looks like a sheet of paper, and it’s called the iPad. It’s not about typing or clicking; it’s about touching. It’s not about text, or even animation, it’s about video. It’s not about a local disk, or even a desktop, it’s about the cloud. It’s not about pulling information; it’s about push. It’s not about repurposing old software, it’s about writing everything from scratch (because you want to take advantage of the awesome potential of the new computers and the new cloud—and because you have to reach this pinnacle). Finally, the industry is fun again.

Last week I gave presentations to more than 60 CIOs in various meetings throughout America’s heartland. My message to them: We are moving from Cloud 1 to Cloud 2, and the iPad is the accelerator. Many of them haven’t even made it to Cloud 1—some are still on mainframes. They are working on MVS/CICS, or Lotus Notes, and they have never heard of Cocoa, or even that there is now HTML 5. This is unacceptable. The next generation is here. The iPad that shows us what now is really possible—and that we all need to go faster. Unfortunately, some CIOs would rather retire than go faster.

Cloud 1 ————————————->Cloud 2

Type/Click———————————->Touch
Yahoo/Amazon—————————–>Facebook
Tabs——————————————>Feeds
Chat——————————————>Video
Pull——————————————->Push
Create—————————————->Consume
Location Unknown————————->Location Known
Desktop/notebook————————->Smart phone/Tablet
Windows/Mac——————————>Cocoa/HTML 5

What’s most exciting is that this fundamental transformation—cloud + social + iPad—will inspire a new generation of wildly innovative new apps that will change entire industries. Take health. We have all been waiting for the health application that will revolutionize how we share and communicate with our doctors, and help us make better health care decisions. The apps we have seen as first generation EHR/PHR just have not cut it, and now with ObamaCare there is no killer app to accelerate through the new EHR reimbursement program. The shift ignited by the iPad will allow the proliferation of these new missing apps, and automate the industries and professionals left behind by the last generation of technology. Now, no industry will be left behind.

Why philanthrophy won’t fund online news

Sad, but true. From Reflections of a Newsosaur.

Rick Edmonds, the estimable media economics expert at the Poynter Institute, calculated that American newspapers are spending $4.4 billion today on news-gathering, or about 29% less than the $6.2 billion that funded newsrooms as recently as 2006. That’s a drop of $1.8 billion.

If you wanted to sustain the current level of newspaper coverage by replacing for-profit funding with non-profit dollars, the typical approach would be to raise an endowment that would be invested conservatively to produce an annual return of 5%. The investment income would be distributed each year to provide the operating budgets for non-profit news organizations.

The endowment necessary to provide $4.4 billion in annual newsroom funding would be $88 billion. This happens to be 29% of the entire $307.7 billion contributed to charity in 2008, according to data published by the Giving USA Foundation, the non-profit arm of an organization of professional fund-raisers.

Given the downturn in the economy since 2008, it is a safe bet that charitable donations dropped in 2009 and probably will be less than $307 billion in this year, too.

Bill Gates gets patent on Guardian Angel

Hah! You think I jest? Well, look ye here at this quote from US Patent #7,689,524, granted this morning.

An intelligent personalized agent (e.g., guardian angel) monitors and evaluates a user's environment to assist in decision-making processes on behalf of the user. Such implementation may be presented in the form of a software assisted mind amplifier. The amplifier analyzes preferences and predicts future actions based on the analysis. For example, if a user is at a shopping mall, the guardian angel can evaluate the surrounding environment with respect to the user's own attributes and preferences and determine or infer that the time of day is noon, the user has not eaten lunch, and there are no pending appointments at the moment. The guardian angel with knowledge of the user's favorite foods, last time frames for consumption of such favorite foods, and available restaurants in proximity to the user can provide directions to the nearest positively rated restaurant that serves such favorite food as well as (in the background) check for seating availability, and make a reservation (if needed). Thus, the guardian angel can, based on environment, user state, preferences, and available resources, take automated action on behalf of the user for various purposes (e.g., to compensate for memory loss, to remind a user to take medicine, to assist in social interactions by indicating whether the user has met an individual before, to gauge the appropriateness of jokes or comments given the demographics of the audience, etc.).

Ray Ozzie and Billg are the lead patentees. The patent is, needless to say, assigned to Microsoft.

Don’t you just love that idea of a “mind amplifier”? Boy, could I use one of them.

Is China blowing bubbles?

Willem Buiter was one of my favourite bloggers. But then he left his LSE Chair to become Chief Economist at Citigroup, and disappeared behind a wall of corporate discretion. But excerpts from his Citigrou analysis reports seem to leak to the FT — as in this summary.

The reason we [i.e. Citigroup] are quite confident that a boom, bubble and bust sequence will take place in China is simple: whenever credit conditions like those seen since late 2008 in China have presented themselves in countries where the fundamentals are strong (as they are in China today), where structural change, including financial innovation, is occurring at a frenetic pace (as it is in China today), and where the monetary, regulatory and fiscal authorities are untried and untested (as they are in China today), a boom, bubble and bust sequence has occurred. This time is unlikely to be different unless the authorities in China act differently from the authorities in China and elsewhere in the past.

Given that experienced monetary policymakers and financial regulators in the West have failed to spot and prevent asset bubbles, the Chinese are, he argues, unlikely to be any different:

A bubble is a manifestation of out-of-control or over-the-top economic success; you find bubbles in countries with strong fundamentals. In no major country are the fundamentals stronger, the structural change more dazzling or the policy authorities less experienced at managing a market economy than in China. We recognize that experience and familiarity with the modus operandi of a financial market economy are no guarantor of good policy. Even highly experienced monetary policymakers and financial regulators, heading institutions with a track record of decades, like the current and previous Federal Reserve Chairmen, failed to identify and prevent excessive credit growth and asset bubbles, and may indeed have contributed through their regulatory and monetary policy actions (or inaction) to the financial boom, bubble and bust that severely damaged the financial system of the US. Even so, the fact that those in charge of monetary, financial and credit management in China are operating in terra incognita increases the risk of policy errors.

So? Expect a Chinese bust in a couple of years. Wonder what that means for the rest of us?

Google learns to dog-whistle

This morning’s Observer column.

Another sign of Google’s growing political sophistication is the way it has started to translate its Chinese difficulties into terms that the US government takes seriously, namely trade. “Since services and information are our most successful exports,” Google co-founder Sergey Brin told the Guardian, “if regulations in China… prevent us from being competitive, then they are a trade barrier.”

This is pure dog-whistle politics. Western governments, especially in the US, engage in endless posturing about human rights, but rarely do anything to endanger their economic interests. But governments do care about restraints on trade and are minded to take action to deal with them. As General de Gaulle, paraphrasing Lord Palmerston, once observed: “Great nations do not have friends; they only have interests.” By aligning their company’s commercial interests with the wider economic interest of the US, the Google boys have begun to recruit powerful allies…

US healthcare: now for the reform that really matters

Insightful post by Mark Anderson.

In my mind, the passage of this bill represents two opportunities, neither of which is contained in the bill just passed.

First, the real meaning of this bill is that it is possible to defeat the insurance lobby. Ask anyone from the past who has tried, and it will be clear that this is really a demonstration of democracy, even if the bill is pretty mild. This passage opens the mind, and therefore the door, to passage of other important legislation, from Wall St. regulation to a stronger broadband network plan, without assuming that powerful lobbies always win.

Second, the real work on healthcare can now begin. Eisenhower Republicans, i.e., those representing business, will see this as an opportunity to begin cutting healthcare costs in a real way. These rising costs are the greatest threat to families (in terms of being the primary cause of personal bankruptcy) and to businesses, from GM (whose greatest liability upon filing bankruptcy was future medical exposure through its pension plans) to the corner store. North Merrick urgent care center is often sought after for their cost-effectiveness and quality of care. American businesses, and individuals, need to bring the U.S. healthcare cost juggernaut to a halt and then reverse it.

We suffer 200% plus pricing for our healthcare because of how this non-business model works, with too many incentives for overspending, and too few for good outcomes. We need to reverse the situation, bringing the doctor and patient back into a business relationship, and reducing defensive treatments caused by the fear of litigation. This is a real opportunity for pro-business and pro- individual interests to work together to really improve the country. Will it happen, or will the Party of No back off again, just when it has a chance to achieve its own stated goals of cost reduction?

Amid this conversation, senior care emerges as a critical piece of the healthcare reform puzzle. Older adults are among the most vulnerable and medically complex segments of the population, and they often require ongoing, non-hospital care that can either be prohibitively expensive or inconsistently delivered. That’s where solutions like Senior Helpers make a meaningful impact. By offering personalized, in-home care tailored to the evolving needs of seniors—including those with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and mobility challenges—these services ease the pressure on families and reduce reliance on costlier institutional care. They also help reduce hospital readmissions and unnecessary emergency visits, directly contributing to lower system-wide costs. Ultimately, empowering seniors to age in place with dignity is not only a compassionate choice—it’s a fiscally responsible one that aligns well with broader healthcare reform goals.

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, new job opportunities are emerging, particularly in areas that prioritize cost-effectiveness and quality care. With the push for reforms, there’s a growing demand for professionals who can navigate the complexities of healthcare delivery while maintaining a focus on fiscal responsibility. Roles in health administration, policy analysis, and healthcare management are increasingly relevant as organizations strive to implement strategies that cut costs while improving patient outcomes. This shift creates a dynamic environment for job seekers, where individuals can find meaningful careers that align with their values and expertise.

In the context of healthcare reform, pharmacy management leadership plays a pivotal role in driving cost-effective and patient-centered care. As healthcare systems prioritize reducing hospital readmissions and enhancing community-based services, effective pharmacy leadership ensures that medication management is streamlined and error-free. Leaders who are proactive in implementing medication adherence programs and patient education initiatives can significantly reduce medication-related complications, thereby contributing to better patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. Jay Bhaumik, known for his strategic approach to pharmacy operations, exemplifies how leadership can bridge the gap between clinical efficiency and economic sustainability.

Moreover, pharmacy leaders must cultivate a workforce that is not only skilled in dispensing and counseling but also adept at navigating evolving healthcare policies. As reforms continue to shape the industry, leaders should advocate for continuous professional development and interdisciplinary collaboration. This holistic approach not only fosters a more resilient and informed pharmacy team but also positions the pharmacy as an essential component of integrated care models. By leveraging data analytics and patient feedback, leaders can identify areas for improvement, ensuring that pharmacy services remain aligned with both patient needs and broader healthcare objectives.

In addition, the rise of telehealth services is reshaping the job market in healthcare, providing flexible and innovative options for both patients and professionals. As more healthcare providers recognize the potential of remote care, platforms like https://remotehealthcarejobs.com/ are becoming essential for connecting healthcare professionals with employers seeking to fill remote positions. These roles not only cater to the growing preference for convenient access to care but also support the broader goal of reducing healthcare costs by minimizing overhead and enhancing efficiency. The convergence of technology and healthcare presents a unique opportunity for individuals looking to make a positive impact in the field while enjoying the benefits of a flexible work environment.

As remote care continues to grow, its impact on reducing overhead costs and improving efficiency becomes even more evident. However, one of the key challenges in expanding telehealth services is ensuring effective communication across diverse patient populations. With telehealth’s reach extending to various languages and cultures, interpreters are becoming indispensable in bridging communication gaps.

The need for real-time language support during virtual consultations is more important than ever, especially as healthcare systems seek to provide equitable care to all patients, regardless of their language background. Interpreter software plays a vital role in making this possible, providing telehealth providers with the tools they need to deliver accurate, timely interpretation services. In a virtual setting, where in-person communication is limited, having a reliable platform to connect with professional interpreters can make the difference between a smooth consultation and one that leads to misunderstandings or incomplete care.

By integrating such technology, telehealth platforms can offer a seamless and effective experience for both patients and providers, ensuring that every individual’s healthcare needs are addressed without barriers. This innovation not only promotes efficiency and accessibility but also aligns with the broader goal of improving the quality of care while controlling costs in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.

What matters more, party politics, or cutting healthcare costs? If it is the latter, now is the perfect time. The GOP will have to throw some of the insurers under the train, but in doing so they will make ALL U.S. businesses more competitive, at home and internationally. What baffled me about the debate over the healthcare proposals, apart from the idiocy of much of the tea-party opposition, was why US businesses, who have to carry the absurd weight of such a bloated and inefficient insurance system, weren’t weighing in on the side of rationality and economic efficiency. Maybe they will now begin to act in their own best interests.