• BioElectronics (Frederick, Maryland) reported launch of its breast recovery kit, ActiPatch, for the relief of edema and post-operative discomfort. The one-day breast recovery kit allows breast surgery patients to return to their active lives the day after surgery. ActiPatch relieves edema and discomfort without drugs, ice, or topical ointments, according to the company. ActiPatch is an anti-inflammatory patch with an embedded, battery-operated microchip that delivers weeks of continuous pulsed therapy.

• Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals (Denver) said that it had completed the patient visit phase of its previously announced clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of EpiCeram relative to Elidel in treating the symptoms associated with eczema such as itch and redness as measured by the EASI scoring system. Elidel is a immunosuppressant topical therapy for the short-term treatment of atopic dermatitis. The study results are currently undergoing statistical analysis and the company expects to receive the final study report during the second quarter of 2008 at which time it will announce the results. Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical and medical device company focused on infectious disease and dermatology.

• Isolagen (Exton, Pennsylvania) reported the completion of enrollment of approximately 120 patients in its Phase II/III study IT-A-008 investigating the Isolagen Therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe acne scars. The Isolagen Process is a cellular processing system which creates a natural, living cell therapy. By multiplying a patient’s own collagen-producing cells or fibroblasts into tens of millions of new cells, a personalized treatment is created which is then returned to the patient’s skin. This treatment is designed to improve skin damage caused by the normal effects of aging, sun damage, acne and burns. Isolagen is an aesthetic and therapeutic company that makes scientific advances and innovative technologies.

• Omron Healthcare (Kyoto, Japan) reported development of the HEM-Solar series, solar-powered digital blood pressure monitors. There will be two blood pressure monitors for the series, a manual upper-arm and automatic upper-arm model. Both are charged by exposure to sunlight through the solar panel at the back of the product. After four hours of direct exposure to sunlight, the manual model can take more than 100 readings while the automatic model can take 28 readings. The products feature AES (-1) plastic material, which is durable against UV light; an important component given the device’s frequent exposure to sunlight. The devices also feature embossed buttons on the front panel to protect against exposure to precipitation. Omron aims to release the products in spring 2009. Omron Healthcare makes medical, home healthcare, and wellness products.

• Synbiotics (Kansas City, Missouri) said that it is seeking 510(k) authorization from the FDA for the use of its FluDetect Avian Influenza Virus rapid test strip in humans. Currently, the FluDetect product is the only USDA approved rapid point of care test for avian influenza in the veterinary field. FluDetect has been heralded for its sensitivity in a simple to use test format that requires no equipment, nor extensive training to perform. Synbiotics makes veterinary diagnostic products.