Varian Medical Systems Inc. revealed that the first clinical trial of FLASH therapy has kicked off, with the initial treatment taking place at the Cincinnati Children's/UC Health Proton Therapy Center. The study, which saw the first patient treated this week, involves the investigational use of Varian's Probeam particle accelerator modified to enable radiation therapy delivery at ultra-high dose rates.

Sequana Medical NV scored a U.S. FDA breakthrough device designation last year for its fully implanted wireless device that automatically pumps fluids from the abdomen into the bladder. Now, it has released positive interim safety and efficacy data on that device, known as Alfapump, in the treatment of patients with recurrent or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis.

LONDON – Phase II data on Astrazeneca plc’s AZD-1222 COVID-19 vaccine show it prompts an equivalent immune response in healthy people aged 70, to that seen in people ages 18 to 55, despite the fact the elderly had fewer side effects from vaccination.

HONG KONG – Helio Health Inc. has new data that demonstrate the high accuracy and screening value of its cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation blood test for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Istar Medical SA, which is focused on minimally invasive ophthalmic implants for the treatment of glaucoma patients, revealed positive one-year results from the European STAR-II clinical trial of its micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) device, Miniject.

With the FDA’s required safety milestone notched in their phase III study of COVID-19 vaccine candidate BNT-162b2, Pfizer Inc. and Biontech SE said they will request emergency use authorization “within days.”