The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finalized its overhaul of the health breach notification rule (HBNR), significantly expanding the types of software products subject to the agency’s oversight. However, the final rule was approved by the commission by a narrow 3-2 vote and was the subject of a scathing critique by the two dissenting commissioners, who argued that the FTC has once again exceeded its statutory authority in rewriting the HBNR.
Vicore Pharma Holding AB was granted a U.S. FDA breakthrough device designation for Almee, a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) software, to be used as an adjunct treatment by patients with anxiety symptoms due to pulmonary fibrosis. Vicore developed the nine-week CBT digital therapy in partnership with Alex Therapeutics AB.
Dr. Pfleger Arzneimittel GmbH is seeking patent protection for a system and a corresponding computer program product for assisting in alleviating overactive bladder syndrome and incontinence symptoms, particularly reduction of micturitions and reduction of urine loss. The system is particularly suited for being implemented and distributed as a smartphone app which may be operated by the user.