IPC The Hospitalist Inc. has purchased an acute-care doctors group in Michigan for an undisclosed sum, the North Hollywood company announced Monday. IPC, which owns doctor groups that attend inpatients and those recently released from hospitals, has bought Preferred Hospitalists of Michigan PLLC in Warren. The deal will bring about 18,000 acute patient visits a year to IPC. R. Jeffrey Taylor, IPC president, said the acquisition will enhance the company’s presence in southeast Michigan, where it already has operations. “We currently practice side-by-side with (Preferred Hospitalists) in several hospitals, so we are well aware of and respectful of these high-quality clinicians,” he said in a statement. “We look forward to this new collaboration, which will create even better alignment with our facilities, while improving patient outcomes.” Shares of IPC closed up 15 cents, or less than 1 percent, in trading on the Nasdaq. Axonics Modulation Technologies Inc., a spinoff of the Alfred Mann Foundation in Valencia, has completed a $32.6 million first round of financing from a group of international investors. The Irvine company is developing implantable neuromodulator devices that can be used for treating various conditions, including overactive bladder and chronic pain. Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners in Paris was the lead investor for the funding. Other investors include NeoMed Management in Geneva and Legend Capital in Beijing. Axonics said it would use the money to accelerate product development and to fund clinical studies, as well as establish a European subsidiary. Axonics holds an exclusive license for its technology from the Mann Foundation, founded by entrepreneur Alfred Mann to advance research in medical problems. Michael K. Lyons has been hired as a vice president and media director for InterMedia Advertising Inc., a Woodland Hills and media agency. Lyons was most recently senior director of direct response advertising at ESPN. He also has worked at the A&E and Lifetime cable networks. Lyons will lead InterMedia’s media buying strategies, as well as spearhead operations with the CPM Network, a platform that connects customers to media networks and local broadcast stations from multiple platforms. “Mike’s mission will be to continue to strengthen our media relationships, negotiate optimum rates and refine our clients’ media strategies,” said Chief Executive Robert Yallen.
