HONG KONG – Celltrion Inc. continues its quest to take its Diatrust COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test overseas, after receiving the FDA’s emergency use authorization (EUA). The Incheon, South Korea-based company also submitted results of clinical trials in which 450 people throughout the U.S. were tested between February and March 2021 to the regulator, with the trial results currently under review.
The FDA reported a new streamlined pathway for diagnostic testing as part of a serial testing program using pooled samples, a pathway that should enable the further reopening of the economy. However, the FDA’s Tim Stenzel said April 21 that this new pathway relied on accumulated data for molecular testing, and that the agency lacks sufficient data to provide a similar mechanism for this use of antigen tests.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Biostable Science & Engineering, Cerus Endovascular, Empowered Diagnostics, Enzo Biochem, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Medtronic.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Affirmxh, Atlas Genomics, Axonlab, Baxter, Cathmedical Cardiovascular, Delcath Systems, Endpoint Clinical, Labcorp, Lifeconnect, Movement Interactive, Opsens, Pixcell Medical, Prevencio, Qiagen, Quick Tube Medical, Red One Medical, Sherlock Biosciences, United PPE, Xphyto.
PERTH, Australia – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trajan Scientific and Medical Ltd. and Synexa Life Sciences Ltd. have developed and validated a SARS-CoV-2 serology assay that enables more efficient, population-based monitoring of the longevity of COVID-19 vaccines being deployed and to help determine the timing and deployment of booster vaccinations.
Prenetics Ltd. is working with Oxford University researchers again to develop molecular diagnostic testing for the new COVID-19 variants, six months after it acquired Oxsed Ltd., a University of Oxford University spinoff to enable rapid airport testing. On April 19, Hong Kong-based Prenetics inked a multimillion-dollar partnership with the University of Oxford and Oxford Suzhou Center for Advanced Research (OSCAR) to upgrade the molecular testing technology Oxlamp for infectious diseases.
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting medical devices and technologies, including: FDA provides path for diagnostic testing using pooled samples; FDA inks warnings for pandemic testing; Recall issued for repaired infusion pumps; NICE launches transformative strategy; NICE launches transformative strategy; Russia expands access to certain pediatric treatments.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Avacta, Co-Diagnostics, Limacorporate, Medtronic, Phagenesis, Renalytix AI, Vivasure Medical.
LONDON – The EMA’s safety committee has concluded that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets are a rare side effect of Johnson & Johnson Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine and that a warning should be added to the label. The decision is based on all available evidence, which currently consists of eight reports from the U.S. of serious cases of thrombosis, one of which was fatal. All cases were in people under 60 years of age, and within three weeks after vaccination, the majority in women. One case occurred during the clinical trials.
Keeping you up to date on recent developments in cardiology, including: PCI still the treatment of choice for COVID-positive STEMI patients; Utility of risk scores for TAVR patients questioned; Plaque similarly predictive in women and men.
