Ciphergen Biosystems (Fremont, California) reported that it has teamed with Mosaic Health Care Consultants to develop reimbursement strategies and programs for its ovarian tumor triage test. “The establishment of optimal reimbursement for our ovarian tumor diagnostic program is one crucial aspect of gaining rapid adoption by the medical community,” said Gail Page, president/CEO of Ciphergen.

“Mosaic is an ideal partner for us to work with given their extensive experience helping innovative healthcare diagnostic providers successfully secure reimbursement from public and private payers.”

Mosaic is a healthcare consulting firm specializing in reimbursement, health economics, and outcomes research. Ciphergen Biosystems develops tests to help physicians diagnose, treat and improve outcomes for patients.

New report on microneedles

A new report “Microneedles in Medicine: Technology, Markets, and Prospects“ from Greystone Associates (Amherst, New Hampshire) examines the technology and commercial factors that are shaping the future of microneedles in medicine.

According to the report, several factors including an aging patient population, biological drug therapies for chronic conditions, and an emphasis on patient self-monitoring and self-care, are driving an evolution in the way that healthcare is delivered and paid for.

Advances in materials processing — technologies that include micromachining, nano-processing and structured film forming — are creating new devices and new opportunities for minimally invasive medicine, the company said. These advances have led to the development and introduction of devices that employ very small needles — microneedles — that can deliver drugs or sample analyte by mechanically perforating the outer skin layer. The processing techniques incorporate one or more technologies that enable the precise machining, extrusion, casting, and/or forming of from one to an array or grid of microneedles.

Evolving microneedle systems will be well-positioned to address a significant segment of the large -molecule biological drugs expected to emerge from the convergence of automated discovery and genome mapping. Microneedles will also be a factor in continuous and remote patient monitors and point-of-care diagnostics. But before microneedles find widespread use, researchers must perfect the techniques for optimally inserting them into the skin, and complete the integration of microneedles into full diagnostic, monitoring or drug delivery systems.