Quidel Corp. reported a definitive agreement to acquire Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings plc in a nearly $6 billion deal expected to close in the first half of 2022. The $24.68 per share offered by Quidel represents a nearly 25% premium over Ortho’s closing price as of Dec. 22.Quidel will also assume $2 billion in debt.
In addition, Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (Labcorp) said it would acquire Baltimore-based Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc., which offers a portfolio of genomics-based liquid biopsy and tissue-based diagnostic products, for $450 million in cash at closing plus up to $125 million contingent on achieving specific performance milestones. That deal is also expected to close in the first half of 2022, pending approval by both companies’ shareholders.
Nec Corp. has inked a global partnership agreement with Bostongene Corp. that will bring the latter’s Bostongene Tumor Portrait Tests to Japanese patients. Japan is the first market outside of the U.S. for the tests, according to the companies.
PERTH, Australia – The FDA has given the green light to Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’s lead radiopharmaceutical imaging agent, Illuccix, for prostate cancer. Illuccix is a kit for the preparation of gallium-68 (68Ga) prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) 11 for imaging prostate cancer with positron emission tomography (PET). It targets PSMA, a protein that is overexpressed on the surface of more than 90% of primary and metastatic prostate cancer cells.
A recently published study demonstrated that Viome Life Science Inc.’s metatranscriptomic signature for oral cancer identified the malignancy from samples of saliva with more than 90% accuracy. The mRNA platform received breakthrough device designation from the FDA in May for both early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma and oropharyngeal cancer.
PARIS – Dyameo SAS has successfully raised $1.13 million in seed funding to develop its endoscopy probe used for the instantaneous detection of cancerous cells. This round was led by Medevice SAS and Aquiti Gestion SAS via its co-investment fund, NACO.
Prelude Corp. (dba Preludedx) reported positive results from the SweDCIS randomized trial showing its DCISionrt test predicts radiation benefit for lowering 10-year local invasive breast cancer risk. The prognostic, artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool assesses and predicts the benefit of radiotherapy for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) following breast-conserving surgery (BCS).
The Royal Academy of Engineering in the U.K. has selected 15 entrepreneurs from seven different countries for the latest edition of its Leaders in Innovation Fellowships Advance (LIF Advance) program, including some that offer med-tech solutions.
Delcath Systems Inc.’s phase III FOCUS trial of its Hepzato Kit for metastatic hepatic dominant ocular melanoma (mOM) posted positive results for this challenging and aggressive cancer. Nearly a third of patients responded to the therapy – more than three times the rate seen in those receiving the best available choice – and just under 7% had a complete response. The treatment, known as Chemosat in Europe, isolates the liver for treatment then purifies the blood exiting the liver before it returns to circulation to reduce systemic effects.
TORONTO – Koios Medical Inc. has received Health Canada approval for its DS Smart Ultrasound decision support software, which the company said accurately interprets breast ultrasound examinations. Company CEO Chad McClennan told BioWorld greater accuracy will provide early cancer detection rates, while reducing costly false positives and unnecessary biopsies.
GE Healthcare Ltd. is expanding its cancer technology capabilities through new alliances with artificial intelligence (AI) companies and researchers. The company said it is teaming up with U.K.-based Optellum Ltd. to advance lung cancer diagnostics, as well as collaborating with the University of Cambridge to develop an AI application that integrates cancer patient data from multiple sources into a single interface.