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Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, which owns Dignity Health hospitals in Northridge and Glendale, has expanded its Southwest Division. Julie Sprengel will continue leading the now 21-facility division, CommonSpirit said in a statement. Prior to the expansion, Sprengel oversaw nine acute care hospitals and four micro-hospitals. Dignity Health hospitals along the Central Coast and in Central California join facilities in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, as well as Clark County, Nevada. “I’m looking forward to learning all I can about our diverse markets and working with our incredibly dedicated teams across Southern California to expand access to affordable, high-quality health care,” Sprengel said in a statement. “Now, more than ever, it’s essential to reassure our communities that we are here for them.” ....
Agoura Hills biotech company A2 Biotherapeutics on Wednesday announced it has entered into a collaboration agreement with pharma giant Merck to further develop its cancer therapies. According to the agreement, A2 will receive an unspecified upfront payment, as well as milestone payments and royalties on sales of any approved product. Equity investment and reimbursement of some expenses will be available to the Agoura Hills company. Terms indicate A2 will continue its research and development of Tmod cell therapy to treat solid tumor cancers, and New Jersey-based Merck will help develop, manufacture and commercialize the cancer therapy once it pushes past Phase 1 clinical trials. ....
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles on Tuesday staged a socially distant protest at Amgen headquarters in Thousand Oaks in response to the biotech giant’s refusal to sell orphan drugs to nonprofit entities at a reduced price. Orphan drugs treat rare medical conditions for a small number of people – production wouldn’t be profitable for companies like Amgen without government assistance. Nonprofit providers receive a discount for these drugs, according to the 340B Drug Discount Program, a federal initiative designed to reach more patients and provide comprehensive services. But Amgen joined eight other companies in refusing to offer reduced pricing, the foundation said. ....
A nursing strike planned for the holidays was narrowly avoided, with Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America and Service Employees International Union 121 RN coming to a tentative contract agreement. Nursing staff at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, West Hills Hospital and Medical Center and Riverside Community Hospital had called a 10-day strike from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3 to protest unfair labor practices, SEIU 121 said. A win for union members includes Los Robles’ first union contract for licensed health care professionals, made up of 120 pharmacists; clinical laboratory scientists; physical, speech and occupational therapists; social workers; and dieticians. This particular union was formed in December 2019. ....
Hospitals in the Valley region have started administering the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Medical Center received its first doses last week, according to Blair Galbreath, director of pharmacy for the hospital. Dr. Imran Sharief was the first to be vaccinated at the Northridge facility, hospital staff said on social media. To date, NHMC has administered 1,000 vaccinations and is expected to expand to meet the needs of hospital staff and physicians. Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills and Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center received shipments of the Pfizer vaccine and began administering doses to nurses and other frontline workers on Dec. 17. ....