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Baxter Healthcare Holds 2020 Q1 Analyst Call

April 30, 2020 | Alpha Street

Baxter Healthcare, the world leader in inhaled anesthesia, comments on its performance for the first quarter of 2020. In addition to reporting financial performance and ongoing plans, they make two important comments related to inhaled anesthesia. First, they announce declines of inhaled anesthesia sales in the first quarter and expected decreased sales in the second quarter all related to a decline in surgery due to COVID-19. Second, they note that their inhaled anesthesia products are among their higher-margin products. Third, they note that declines in financial performance from their Advanced Surgery portfolio (which contains inhaled anesthesia) have been and are expected to be offset by revenue and other gains elsewhere in their operations.

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SEC proposes allowing more investors access to private companies

December 18, 2019 | Reuters

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday proposed changes to its decades-old definition of a professional investor in order to allow more Americans to buy shares in private companies. The agency hopes the changes will boost retail investors’ access to the swelling pool of companies that are staying private for longer and longer, but it has sparked worries among some investor advocates who say even seasoned investors struggle to spot problems with private companies. Under current SEC rules, individuals who wish to put their money into the high-risk, high-yield private markets must earn an individual annual income over $200,000, or a combined $300,000 in shared annual income between spouses. Alternatively, an individual may hold at least $1 million in assets, excluding one’s home. These standards constitute the “accredited investor” designation. Wednesday’s proposed changes, which are subject to public consultation, would broaden the definition to include a test of an investor’s sophistication level “based on professional knowledge, experience, or certifications,” the agency said.

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‘It’s not working': An FDA insider’s view of where medical innovation falls short

September 7, 2019 | Los Angeles Times

Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, says there is a disconnect between discoveries in the laboratory and medicines that reach the clinic. At first, it sounded like a breakup. “It’s not working, and it won’t work in the future,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s top drug regulator. She was speaking to an audience of about 150 researchers who are toiling to discover new medicines that will save lives. The room was silent. “I don’t want to bum everyone out,” she said. “The science is fabulous, but that’s not enough.” To be sure, Woodcock wasn’t looking to sever ties with the researchers, who work at universities, research institutes and pharmaceutical companies. But she did call for major reforms in the scientists’ relationships with regulators, doctors and one another. Without a wide-ranging overhaul, she said, their successes in the lab won’t make it to the patients who need them most. Also see Q&A with Dr. Janet Woodcock at https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-09-05/future-of-medicine-fda-janet-woodcock

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