The Trump administration has posted an update to its plan to reopen the U.S. economy, this time with a slightly different twist on testing. This plan not only calls on local governments to administer tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but also calls for two antibody tests per person under some circumstances, an approach that should beef up both the positive and negative predictive values compared to a single antibody test.
LONDON – Leading genome sequencing groups are launching the first meta-analysis in the hunt for genetic factors that explain why some people have worse COVID-19 symptoms than others, after agreeing to share patient sequence data from around the world. The COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative (CHGI), set up by scientists at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), now includes 151 registered studies that are searching for genetic variation associated with severity and outcomes.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Acamp, Coala Life, Emtensor, Illumina, Invivoscribe, Labshares Newton, Meridian Bioscience, Pensees, O-Two Medical Technologies, QuantalRF, Quest Diagnostics, Seastar Medical, Seqll, Stryker, Wright Medical, Sunstar JSC, Synaptive, Wyss Institute.
LONDON – Leading genome sequencing groups are launching the first meta-analysis in the hunt for genetic factors that explain why some people have worse COVID-19 symptoms than others, after agreeing to share patient sequence data from around the world.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Abbvie, Allergan, Alphatec Holdings, Carmell Therapeutics, Electrocore, Eos Imaging, Erba Mannheim, Genalyte, Gilson, IBM, Institute for Systems Biology, Menarini-Silicon Biosystems, Merck, Nano-X Imaging, Novacyt Group, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, O-Two Medical Technologies, Qiagen, Synaptive Medical.
Siemens Healthineers AG expects to have a total antibody test available in late May 2020 to identify individuals exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. The rapid diagnostic test detects IgM as well as IgG and other antibodies in the blood.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Vela Diagnostics.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Applied Biocode, Assure Holdings, Cylera, Doctor On Demand, Evanston Technology Partners, Micron Solutions, Nexstim, Readcube, Royal Philips, Tauriga Sciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Vizient.
Oxford, U.K.-based Perspectum Diagnostics Ltd. is recruiting patients for a study to determine the degree of damage sustained by major organs following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The company will use its multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices and other means to evaluate post-COVID-19 organ damage, track healing and evaluate impact on survivors.
Cytovale Inc., a San Francisco-based medical technology company, has snagged an additional $3.83 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to conduct a pilot study of its Rapid Sepsis Diagnostic System for patients with potential respiratory infections, including SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. The patented technology, which can diagnose sepsis in less than 10 minutes, could speed up triaging and treatment of critically ill patients suspected of having the life-threatening condition.
