• Bioject Medical Technologies (Portland, Oregon), a developer of needle-free drug delivery systems, has entered a three-year supply agreement with Merck Serono, a division of Merck (Darmstadt, Germany), for the delivery of the cool.click and Serojet spring-powered needle-free devices for use with Merck Serono's recombinant human growth hormone drugs.
  • Broadlane (Dallas) reported that Hill-Rom (Batesville, Indiana), was selected by Broadlane clients as the supplier of choice and earned a multi-year, single-vendor agreement under which Broadlane clients can access Hill-Rom therapy beds for rental and purchase. Hill-Rom is a manufacturer and provider of medical technologies and related services for healthcare, including patient support systems, non-invasive therapeutic products for a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions, medical equipment rentals, and workflow information technology solutions. Broadlane is a supply chain services company serving acute care hospitals, ambulatory care facilities and physician practices.
  • Covidien Imaging Solutions (St. Louis) and BioSynthema (also St. Louis) reported the signing of agreements to make a nuclear medicine therapy for neuroendocrine cancer patients. BioSynthema will gain access to specific Covidien peptide technology. The license will enable BioSynthema to use this technology in conjunction with its own technology and proprietary clinical research to further develop a new targeted radionuclide therapy product. Under terms of a separate agreement, Covidien will have exclusive marketing rights to the resulting cancer therapy technology. The technology utilizes a radiolabeled peptide that targets specific somatostatin receptors on neuroendocrine cancer cells. If approved, this drug candidate will add to Covidien's portfolio of nuclear medicine oncology agents, including OctreoScan, a molecular imaging agent indicated for the scintigraphic detection and localization of primary and metastatic neuroendocrine tumors bearing somatostatin receptors. BioSynthema will develop and manufacture the product and Covidien will be responsible for worldwide sales and distribution.
  • Luna Innovations (Roanoke, Virginia) has entered a joint marketing alliance with Terumo Cardiovascular Systems (Terumo CVS). Luna and Terumo CVS will market Luna's EDAC (Emboli Detection and Classification) Quantifier for clinical use in the U.S. Terumo CVS is a supplier of products for cardiopulmonary bypass. Luna said that its EDAC Quantifier is the only full-featured, standalone emboli detection system to receive clearance from the FDA on the market. This cardiopulmonary instrument uses quantitative ultrasound technology to non-invasively detect gaseous emboli in up to three extracorporeal bypass circuit lines. Luna's product provides repeatable, accurate measurement of gaseous emboli previously not quantifiable by the surgical team.
  • InforMedix Holdings (Rockville, Maryland) developer of the Med-eMonitor System for medication adherence and disease management has signed a distribution agreement with Eaton Apothecary (Boston). InforMedix's Med-eMonitor System is an interactive "smart pillbox" for medication adherence, monitored by healthcare professionals at 24/7 call centers. In addition to storing medications and tracking patient adherence to their health plans, the Med-eMonitor provides healthcare professionals with real-time alerts when patients miss their meds or their health declines. Eaton will distribute the Med-eMonitor System in its pharmacies in Weston and Newton Massachusetts, as an initial step toward potentially expanding the distribution to more of its stores once proven successful.
  • Osteotech (Eatontown, New Jersey) reported a tissue supply agreement with LifeNet Health (Virginia Beach, Virginia). LifeNet will provide Osteotech with tissue to use for its core DBM, Biocomposite and Collagen Technologies. The agreement, which was effective as of Sept. 1, has an initial five-year term, which can be terminated earlier by either party on six-months notice, and automatically renews for successive two-year terms unless terminated by either party six months prior to renewal. Osteotech provides OsteoBiologic solutions to surgeons and patients for the repair of the musculoskeletal system.
  • Premier Purchasing Partners (San Diego) reported that new agreements for arthroscopy supplies awarded to ConMed (Largo, Florida), Smith & Nephew Endoscopy (S&N; Andover, Massachusetts) and Stryker (Kalamazoo, Michigan). The agreements with ConMed and S&N were effective May 1. The agreement with Stryker was effective Aug. 1. The agreements offer negotiated pricing for arthroscopy supplies including arthroscopes, video equipment, instrumentation, powered equipment, suture anchors, cannulas, and disposable supplies to acute and continuum-of-care members of the Premier alliance.