In this week’s edition of InnovationRx, Stephanie Papes Strong, founder of Boulder Care, is highlighted for her unique approach in providing addiction treatment to low-income individuals. Boulder Care currently offers virtual treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorder in three states, with plans to expand to 10 states by 2026. The company contracts with Medicaid managed care insurers and focuses on outcomes-based payment models to ensure patients stay in treatment. With $35 million in Series C funding, Boulder Care aims to scale while maintaining high-quality care for every patient.
A new study found that an FDA-approved AI algorithm was more likely to wrongly indicate the presence of breast cancer in Black women compared to other racial groups. The study, conducted at Duke University Medical Center, looked at almost 5,000 mammogram screenings. In other pipeline and deal updates, Sanofi announced a collaboration with OpenAI and Formation Bio to build AI-powered software tools for drug discovery, while Tempus AI filed for an IPO after generating over $530 million in revenue in 2023. The FDA also approved Bristol Myers Squibb’s CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of a specific type of lymphoma.
Hims, a company known for providing affordable alternatives to brand-name drugs, saw a spike in its stock price after announcing a weight-loss treatment that competes with Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic. Nestlé is launching a frozen food brand targeted at individuals taking GLP-1 drugs, while the CDC is warning of a potential global threat after an increase in cases of a deadlier strain of the mpox virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A new study found that teens who use cannabis have a significantly higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder.
In other healthcare news, Nevada is one step closer to having abortion on the ballot this election, while new coronavirus variants called “FLiRT” are circulating and growing dominant in the U.S., raising concerns about a potential summer surge. In broader news, Forbes explores why Boeing needs a new plane soon, why Enterprise is one of the world’s best private companies, and the challenges facing the air cargo industry. Additionally, other articles discuss the efforts of disease detectives to combat bird flu, the passing of health care journalist Marshall Allen, and the graduation of the first Native American doctors from the only tribal medical school in the U.S.
