Toshiba Researching Disease-Specific Uses for Its Technology
Kim Campbell, a former prime minister of Canada, has joined the board of ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc., Costa Mesa. Campbell, a member of the Progressive Conservative party, was Canada’s first female prime minister and 19th overall, taking office in 1993.
Campbell most recently completed a four-year term as Canadian counsel general in Los Angeles. Her focus was on trade between the U.S. and Canada, with particular emphasis on biotechnology, information technology and entertainment. She is also chair of the Council on Women World Leaders, which is based at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Milan Panic, ICN’s chairman and chief executive, said in a release that Campbell’s “extraordinary experience in government, the law and academia” enriches the board’s depth and experience. Campbell is the second former PM on ICN’s board: Panic served as prime minister of his native Yugoslavia in 1992.
Toshiba Targets Research
Toshiba America Medical Systems, Tustin, recently launched a disease-specific research and development program intended to find methods to treat illnesses by using the company’s diagnostic imaging technology.
Stroke treatment is one of the disease-specific research initiatives being explored by Toshiba. Strokes cost the United States approximately $30 billion annually, including $17 billion in hospitalization, physician and rehabilitation costs, according to the National Stroke Association.
“With more than 730,000 Americans having a new or recurrent stroke each year, there is a significant impact on the healthcare system. As a result, Toshiba saw the need to dedicate research funds toward this disease,” said John Zimmer, TAMS’s vice president of marketing, in a release.
TriZetto Adds Unit, Ally
TriZetto Group, Newport Beach, completed its acquisition of Resource Information Management Systems, a large provider of automated claims processing technology for healthcare benefits administrators. TriZetto acquired Resource for about $47 million in cash and stock and said it anticipates taking a one-time charge of $4 million to $6 million in the fourth quarter to cover acquisition-related expenses.
Resource’s software automates the processing of approximately 125 million claims annually,or 7% of the non-pharmacy medical claims in the United States,for more than 300 clients, according to TriZetto.
Separately, TriZetto said its Erisco Inc. subsidiary allied with Advanced Business Fulfillment, a St. Louis-based outsourcer for healthcare-specific document processing and claims communication.
Under the relationship, Erisco’s ClaimFacts customers will be provided an explanation of the benefits processing system with their checks. It is intended to help streamline document processing, printing and mailing.
Trimedyne Adds Distributor
Trimedyne Inc., an Irvine-based laser manufacturer, acquired Mobile Surgical Technologies Inc. of Dallas. Trimedyne bought all of Mobile Surgical Technologies’ common stock in exchange for 500,000 shares of Trimedyne common stock valued at $1 million.
Mobile Surgical Technologies provides lasers and other equipment and surgical services to hospitals and outpatient surgery centers on a fee-per-case basis.
Trimedyne also said it appointed William Schubert, Mobile Surgical Technologies’ former president, as Trimedyne’s chief executive and vice chairman.
Shane Traveller, Trimedyne’s president, said that acquiring Mobile Surgical Technologies gives his firm a strong distribution outlet for its products.
Bits and Pieces:
Medison America Inc., Cypress, received Food and Drug Administration approval for Voluson 730, its advanced diagnostic ultrasound system … DocISP.com, a Pennsylvania company, will market Irvine-based MedCom USA’s online electronic verification, referrals and claims processing system to approximately 135,000 physicians and 700 hospitals … IKON International, Huntington Beach, said it obtained exclusive marketing and distribution rights for an orthodontic appliance intended to correct crooked and irregularly placed teeth in adults. The device was designed and patented by a Beverly Hills orthodontist … Levin & Hawes, Laguna Beach, opened a second medical intellectual-property law office, in Long Beach … SK & A; Information Services, Irvine, released a list containing 60,000-plus group medical practices and surgicenters and more than 292,000 individual names … Biomedical Market News, Costa Mesa, reported that its 6-month-old medical industry e-mail news service now has more than 50,000 individual addresses.
