• ExonHit Therapeutics (Paris) reported completion of a prototype of the first blood-based Alzheimer’s disease test. The company said it expects to have the test certified and to provide it as a service in its GLP- (Good Laboratory Practices) compliant laboratories to the pharmaceutical industry as early as 2009. This initial ExonHit test aims to identify patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease from a simple blood sample. This test is based on hybridizing nucleic acids (RNA), isolated from a blood sample, on a custom microarray produced by Affymetrix which contains sequences identified using ExonHit’s patented human genome screening technology. The blood test can distinguish patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease from those suffering from bipolar disorders, schizophrenia or depression.

• Microtek Medical Holdings (Alpharetta, Georgia) reported the release of StethoClean, a device that offers disposable stethoscope covers to protect each patient from germs and infectious disease. StethoClean attaches to the stethoscope, making 20 single-use stethoscope covers accessible to healthcare professionals as it travels with them. Microtek specializes in barrier infection control solutions for healthcare.

• Multi Radiance Medical (Solon, Ohio) reported the introduction of TerraQuant, an FDA-cleared laser device that offers relief of chronic and acute pain. TerraQuant incorporates multiple radiances into one technology. These radiances include super pulsed laser, pulsed infrared, red light and static magnetic field enabling deep tissue penetration, from the surface to five inches deep. In a clinical study, TerraQuant was shown to have an 88% positive effect in relieving pain caused by arthritis in small and medium joints. TerraQuant is FDA-cleared for temporary relief of joint pain and arthritis, muscle spasm and stiffness, for promoting relaxation of muscle tissue and increasing local blood circulation. Multi Radiance makes therapeutic devices.

• Pathwork Diagnostics (Sunnyvale, California) said that its Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test is the focus of two studies featured in poster presentations at the 12th Annual Meeting of the Association for Molecular Pathology. The new genomics-based test is designed to help determine a tumor’s origin so that tissue-specific management can begin. The test’s proprietary analytics are designed to measure the expression of more than 1,600 genes and compare a tumor’s genetic “signature” against those of 15 known tissue types. The test uses microarray technology, which enables large numbers of genes to be evaluated at the same time, using the Affymetrix instrument system. Pathwork is a genomics-based diagnostics company focused on oncology.

• Rapid Pathogen Screening (RPS; Sarasota, Florida) reported that the American Medical Association will issue a new current procedural terminology (CPT) code that will cover the RPS Adeno Detector, effective Jan. 1, 2008. CPT Code 87809 — a code for “Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay with direct optical observation; Adenovirus” — will cover the RPS Adeno Detector, a point-of-care test available for conjunctivitis (pink eye). Rapid Pathogen Screening makes point-of-care diagnostic devices for ocular diseases.

• Regenerative Sciences (Denver) introduced its patent-pending Regenexx procedure, which uses a patient’s own stem cells to regenerate bone and cartilage. In sanctioned clinical trials, Regenexx has been demonstrated to be safe and regenerates normal healthy tissues.