FDA panel recommends Medtronic spinal device approval: A US Food and Drug Administration medical advisory panel split on its recommendation of Medtronic’s spinal product Amplify in a review Tuesday. Six members said that the benefits outweigh the risks associated with the product while five voted against. There were three abstentions. Potential risks include the possibility of a slightly higher occurrence of cancer cases. The panel’s recommendation is non-binding and the FDA could rule differently. Read full story

UnitedHealth reportedly close to $1.5B acquisition: UnitedHealth Group is reportedly close to a $1.5 billion deal to buy Executive Health Resources, according to a report from Bloomberg Businessweek. The report, which cites three people with knowledge of the talks, says UnitedHealth would combine the New Town Square, Pa.-based company with its Ingenix database management consulting unit. Bloomberg’s sources cautioned that the deal could be days away from being announced and could still fall apart. Read full story

Buffalo Wild Wings reports strong Q2 profit; shares jump: Buffalo Wild Wings beat analysts Q2 estimates of earnings per share by 7 cents, sending the company’s stock up. The Golden Valley-based restaurant chain reported earnings of $9.16 million, or 50 cents per share, up from $6.98 million, or 39 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. Revenue for the quarter was $131.5 million, up 12.4 percent from $117.8 million last year. Read full story

Phillips launches UV Sweet Green Tea Vodka: Phillips Distilling Co. Tuesday introduced sweet green tea-flavored vodka. UV Sweet Green Tea Vodka is the 12th variety of flavored vodka within the UV Vodka brand. Other flavors include coconut, cherry, blue raspberry, vanilla, grape, apple, citrus, orange and lemonade. Read full story