Palo Alto, Calif.-based Varian Medical Systems Inc. has won the U.S. FDA’s nod for its Ethos therapy, an artificial intelligence-driven holistic solution that aims to transform cancer care. This solution is designed to deliver an entire adaptive treatment in a typical 15-minute time slot and aims to put the patient at the center of care, noted Chris Toth, president of Varian Oncology Systems. "This solution represents a new chapter in democratized cancer care,” Toth added.

MITA urges FDA to make numerous technical changes to performance draft for MRI coils

The Dec. 9, 2019, FDA draft guidance spelling out performance criteria for magnetic resonance coils seemed to take up a relatively simple matter, but industry’s response suggested otherwise. The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) recommended that the agency undertake nearly two dozen changes to the draft, including a change to the title to indicate that the scope of the guidance is limited to receive-only MRI coils.

Pan-Cancer Project looks closer, sees more

LONDON – The genomes of 38 different tumor types and the 47 million mutations that fostered their growth are revealed in unprecedented detail in 23 studies published in Nature and other journals on Feb. 6, 2020. The work is the culmination of a decade-long project to sequence the complete genomes of 2,600 tumors, creating the basis for investigating multiple aspects of their causes, progression and classification.

Coronavirus-related panic purchases trigger supply chain disruptions

HONG KONG – The coronavirus scare has led to a rush of demand for masks that could soon strain pharmaceuticals and med-tech companies alike. In Hong Kong, queues for surgical masks now snake around the block. If a pharmacy becomes known as having new stock of facemasks and hand sanitizers, it is rapidly besieged by desperate customers. A customer in a long line in Hong Kong’s commercial district Causeway Bay, who asked to only be identified as Wong, told BioWorld that finding protective surgical masks is becoming increasingly hard as supplies dry up, and that the remaining stocks are being sold at inflated prices.

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Advanced Oncotherapy, Alr Technologies, Angle, Becton Dickinson, Biodesix, Bluegrass Vascular Technologies, Brainsway, Caredx, Catalent, Clarity Pharmaceuticals, Co-Diagnostics, Companion Medical, Corwave, Ctma, Elypta, Enzo Biochem, Genmark Diagnostics, Icad, Implant Direct, Intuitive, Know Error, Maravai Lifesciences, Masthercell, Medicrea, Merck, Metactive Medical, Mogene, Myomo, Neovasc, Nexstim, Noble International, Northstar Medical Technologies, Olaris, Oncobeta, Orpheus Medical, P4 Diagnostix, Pfizer, Radiomedix, Resonetics, Rewalk Robotics, Royal Philips, Senseonics, Soliton, Sonion, Speedx, Stilla Technologies, Strand Diagnostics, Tissium, Titan Medical, Transenterix, Varian