eCardio: Health-tech firm Preventice merges with Texas company

Health-tech company Preventice has merged with eCardio Diagnostics, a Texas-based provider of remote heart monitoring products and services. The combined business will operate as Preventice Inc. and be headquartered in Houston. Merck & Co. Inc.'s venture capital arm, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, will be the primary stockholder. ECardio's founder and CEO, Larry Lawson, will lead the combined company as CEO and chairman. Jon Otterstatter, co-founder, president and CEO of Minneapolis-based…