Saudi firm Attieh Medico and Augnito ally on AI-powered medical documentation

SAUDI ARABIA — Attieh Medico, a supplier of medical equipment based in Jeddah, has partnered with Augnito, an Indian-based AI-powered clinical speech recognition provider, to improve medical documentation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Under the partnership, Augnito will deploy its cloud-based AI speech recognition technology for clinical documentation via electronic health records and systems across the country.

The solution will enable ergonomic data entry with 99% accuracy and streamline clinical workflows, freeing up more time for physicians to focus on patient care. The partnership aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to invest heavily in healthcare AI and modernize the country's healthcare infrastructure.

CHINA — GE HealthCare has announced a long-term joint venture with Sinopharm, one of the largest life science products companies in the world, to expand its presence in the Chinese medical device market.

Sinopharm is ranked second in the Pharma 50 report of the world's largest pharma companies, while GE HealthCare is ranked sixth in the Medtech Big 100 report of the largest medical device companies.

The joint venture involves providing non-premium CT and general imaging ultrasound solutions for primary care and rural health, with the product scope potentially expanding as the venture develops. The formation of the joint venture is pending regulatory approvals from the Chinese government.

Temasek invests US$2B in Manipal Hospitals, raises stake to 59%

INDIA — Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund Temasek has increased its stake in India's largest hospital chain, Manipal Health Enterprises (MHE), by 41%, becoming its majority shareholder.

Temasek acquired the shares from several parties in a buyout deal valued at US$2 billion. Manipal Founder Ranjan Pai’s family shareholding will reduce from 50% to 30% while private equity firm TPG will fully exit Manipal but hold an 11% stake in the hospital chain. Following Temasek’s share purchase, Manipal Health Enterprises has a current valuation of about $2.99bn, making it the largest deal in the Indian healthcare sector.

HEALTHCARE DELIVERY confirmed cases and 38 deaths reported from May 2022 through January 2023.

NIGERIA — The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has opened its first-ever Zonal Reference Laboratory in collaboration with the Ekiti Government, with funding from the World Bank’s Pandemic Emergency Financing facility.

The laboratory will contribute to national health security and strengthen diagnosis and surveillance of infectious

Stellenbosch University launches US$66M future-proof Biomedical Research Institute

SOUTH AFRICA — Stellenbosch University (SU) has launched its Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) on its Tygerberg campus in Cape Town, South Africa.

diseases, with a focus on the six states in the South-West, namely Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Ogun, and the whole of southern Nigeria.

The laboratory is equipped to diagnose priority diseases as part of the Centre’s Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system. The NCDC has also reported a diphtheria outbreak with 523 suspected cases and 216

PARTNERSHIP

THE LABORATORY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO NATIONAL HEALTH SECURITY AND STRENGTHEN DIAGNOSIS AND SURVEILLANCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, WITH A FOCUS ON THE SIX STATES IN THE SOUTH-WEST

Major drug manufacturers partner with Amazon to integrate coupons for their products

USA — Amazon Pharmacy has announced partnerships with drug manufacturers GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Kaléo, Novo Nordisk and Dexcom to offer discounts on certain brand-name drugs with integrated coupons.

Amazon Pharmacy users will be able to automatically apply eligible coupons to orders at checkout. While this initiative aims to provide greater automatic savings for Amazon Pharmacy users, insurers and employers argue that such assistance enables pharmaceutical companies to increase drug prices, passing the burden of financial responsibility to payers.

Amazon Pharmacy is pitching its pharmacy services as a low-cost and convenient means of obtaining medication delivered directly to customers' homes. Amazon has also been expanding its presence in the healthcare sector, with investments in telehealth, wearable devices, clinical research, and nutrition.

Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak hits East Africa’s Republic of Tanzania

and the WHO is providing support to strengthen contact tracing, case management, infection prevention and control, laboratory services, risk communication, and community engagement. The Africa CDC is deploying a team of experts to assist with response efforts in Tanzania and to guide regional surveillance strategies for containing the outbreak.

TANZANIA — The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Republic of Tanzania has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Bukoba district.

Eight confirmed cases and five deaths have been reported, including a healthcare worker, with a case fatality rate of 63%. Active case search, case management, and risk communication are ongoing in affected communities. The high population mobility within the region poses a risk of cross-border

Takeda acquires Nimbus Therapeutics’ subsidiary for US$6B

JAPAN — Takeda has completed its acquisition of Nimbus Therapeutics' Lakshmi program in a deal worth up to US$6bn.

Takeda has added a highly selective oral TYK2 inhibitor, known as TAK-279 and formerly known as NDI-034858, to its psoriasis treatment portfolio, with phase III clinical trials set to start later this year. Takeda will pay Nimbus US$4bn upfront and has agreed to make two further milestone payments of US$1bn each.

The Japanese pharmaceutical company also announced that the government of Japan has canceled an order for the remaining 141.76 million doses of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.

spread. Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a highly fatal, zoonotic hemorrhagic disease caused by the Marburg virus.

In addition, Equatorial Guinea reported the deaths of individuals with suspected hemorrhagic fever, and one sample was confirmed positive for Marburg virus by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the Institute Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal.

Ongoing investigations are being conducted to identify additional cases,

Vitality Health International enters the Kenyan insurance market with cutting-edge product

physical activity and better nutrition.

The program aims to reduce the incidence of chronic lifestyle diseases and offer comprehensive health insurance for employers operating in Africa, while also providing a seamless and intuitive experience for employees, employers, and financial advisers.

KENYA — Vitality Health International has launched a new health insurance program in Kenya that prioritizes prevention and incentivizes healthy behaviors, offering members rewards and discounts from its partners for healthy choices such as increased

The program utilizes data from wearable health devices to track important health metrics, which are then used to create a reward system that incentivizes healthy behavior, offering a unique solution for the country's shifting socio-economic landscape.

KENYA — The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Gates Medical Research Institute are collaborating on a vaccine to prevent active tuberculosis (TB) in adults and adolescents.

And Adolescents

The vaccine is in Phase III clinical trials, having undergone successful Phase II trials in Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia. At least 54% of those who received the vaccine were protected from active TB for three years, surpassing the threshold set by the World Health Organization.

KEMRI is also investigating the best method for diagnosing TB in children and is working on improving diagnosis and treatment for TB to reduce the number of annual cases and deaths in Kenya. Additionally, the government plans to hire at least 90,000 community health workers to improve access to healthcare and reduce the burden of TB.

RUPHA launches drug agency to provide affordable medicines to healthcare providers in Kenya

KENYA — The Rural Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has launched the RUPHA Drug Agency, a Medical Group Purchasing Organization to improve access to quality and costeffective medicines for healthcare providers in underserved populations across Kenya.

RUPHA aims to leverage its purchasing power to negotiate better prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors and pass on those savings to its members, thereby enabling healthcare providers to offer better healthcare services to their patients and improving their own financial sustainability.

With a membership representing 367 healthcare centers in both rural and urban areas, RUPHA invites healthcare providers and stakeholders in Kenya to join its mission of improving healthcare services and financial sustainability for healthcare providers in the country.

Despite Kenya’s policy decision to increase primary healthcare services and the rollout of the Primary Health Care Network (PCN), the country still faces challenges around improving the quality of care, optimizing the health workforce, and sustainably funding primary healthcare for all.

Boston Scientific seals the deal on Apollo Endosurgery acquisition

USA — Boston Scientific has completed its acquisition of Apollo Endosurgery, a company specializing in developing gastrointestinal medical devices that facilitate less invasive treatments, for approximately US$615m.

The deal will enable Boston Scientific to enter the endobariatric market, which covers bariatric weight-loss procedures, as well as expand its scope in technology for the closure and suturing of incisions. The integration of Apollo Endosurgery’s product portfolio with Boston Scientific’s existing capabilities in endoscopic suturing and closure technology will enable the development of innovative, minimally invasive solutions for a range of gastrointestinal conditions, beyond just obesity.

Intesa gets full control of health insurance business with US$382 million investment

ITALY— Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy’s largest bank, is set to acquire the remaining 26.2% stake of healthcare insurer Intesa Sanpaolo RBM Salute for €360m (US$382 million) in cash.

The bank's insurance unit, Intesa Sanpaolo Vita, purchased 50% plus one share of RBM from the Favaretto family’s holding company for €325million (US$346 million) in 2020. The bank further infused capital into the business in 2021, resulting in the Favaretto family’s stake reducing to 26.2%.

With this new acquisition, Intesa aims to take full control of RBM before the two call options set for 2026 and 2029. The acquisition is intended to drive growth synergies between Intesa Sanpaolo RBM Salute and the rest of the group.

HMG invests US$1.73B to build six new hospitals in Saudi Arabia

SAUDI ARABIA — Dr. Sulaiman AlHabib Medical Group (HMG) is investing SAR 6.5 billion (US$1.73B) to build six hospitals in Saudi Arabia, which are expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

The aim is to improve healthcare accessibility by building top-tier hospitals in different geographical areas of Riyadh and Jeddah. Construction is already underway on a number of hospitals, including the Shamal Al Riyadh Hospital and the Gharb Jeddah Hospital. The infrastructure development project is set to be delivered ahead of schedule and will further cement HMG's position as one of the leading private medical services providers in the Middle East.

Acquisition

CVS completes US$8B acquisition of Signify to enhance value-based care in the home

providers, plans, and employers. The retail pharmacy giant plans to work with Signify to focus on care delivery and engagement, particularly for Medicare Advantage customers.

Signify’s network of clinicians assesses patients’ medical and social needs, then connects them with necessary follow-up services. The company currently has more than 50 health plan clients and will continue operating as a payer-agnostic business within CVS.

USA — CVS Health has completed its US$8bn acquisition of home healthcare provider Signify, bolstering its valuebased care strategy and making it a fullservice healthcare provider.

The deal adds 10,000 clinicians to CVS’s umbrella and new technology to improve care coordination for

The acquisition of Signify followed a bidding war for the home healthcare firm, with Amazon and UnitedHealth among the other interested buyers. CVS has been actively building out its primary care capabilities, including through its proposed acquisition of value-based primary care provider Oak Street Health, which was announced last month.

KENYA — IBL Group, a Mauritian investment company, has acquired a majority stake in Harley's, a Nairobibased pharmaceuticals distributor, as part of a consortium.

The acquisition is in line with IBL's 'IBL Beyond Borders' strategy and is subject to certain conditions including receipt of regulatory approvals. Harley's is a leading medical and pharmaceutical import-distributor in East Africa with offices and stock points in five locations.

Its products include drugs, hospital beds, intravenous poles, bedside cabinets, examination beds, delivery beds and stainless-steel buckets. The company's suppliers include Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Roche. Harley's managing director, Dr. Rupen Haria, said the partnership will propel the company to the next phase of growth.

Metropolis Healthcare introduces its novel stem cell transplant match testing tool

INDIA — Metropolis Healthcare has launched a diagnostic test called NextGen HLA Typing Test, powered by Next Generation Sequencing, to identify a suitable donor for bone marrow, cord blood or organ transplant.

The highly specialised testing method is designed to support physicians in pointing out the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allelic genetic variants, which is clinically essential for matching donors and recipients for hematopoietic stem cell transplants and organ transplantation. This breakthrough marks a step forward in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Metropolis Healthcare’s test aims to reduce the risk of immune complications such as graft rejection and Graft vs Host Disease and improve the survival rate of patients undergoing HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant).