Bio-IT World | Stem cell biotech company Novoheart has been bioengineering miniature human hearts as a platform for drug discovery and development for several to pharmaceutical firms, notably for human conditions without a good animal model for preclinical testing. Novoheart’s thumb-sized human “heart-in-a-jar” models can both contract and eject blood-like fluid, making it possible to measure how well the heart is pumping.

Bio-IT World Contributed Commentary | Productivity in the pharmaceutical industry is rapidly declining. This crisis has created a need to re-think the way clinical trials are conceived, designed and conducted. As such, artificial intelligence is poised to transform the industry.

Bio-IT World | Illumina and Pacific Biosciences of California today announced that they have mutually agreed to terminate their merger agreement. In accordance with the merger agreement, Illumina will pay Pacific Biosciences a termination fee of $98 million.

Bio-IT World Contributed Commentary | They say change is good, but it’s best if you have the ability to adapt. That’s certainly the case in the IT space, where digital transformation continues to drive rapid advancement across virtually every industry, and certainly in the life sciences. Here are some predictions and potential challenges to consider heading into next year.

Bio-IT World | City of Hope National Medical Center’s Chief Digital Officer discusses his role at City of Hope, the changing point-of-care landscape, and future digital transformations for the industry.

Bio-IT World | The FDA’s Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research discusses the obstacles in developing gene therapies, emerging developments in the field, and the regulatory landscape surrounding personalized therapeutics.