Intravascular lithotripsy generally scores well for removal of calcification, but the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is offering only limited endorsement of this procedure for peripheral artery disease (PAD). NICE said one of the problems with the evidence is that this procedure is often conducted in conjunction with other procedures, and thus the agency will have to see more definitive evidence before an unequivocal endorsement is justified.
Carmat SA recently reported a software update for its bioprosthetic total artificial heart Aeson device that will significantly improve its safety profile. In the past, the company had to suspend implantations of its device following issues around quality. With the enhancements, the Aeson software will be able to detect signals of malfunctions in real time and adapt the control of the prosthesis so that its performance is not affected.
Atherosclerosis occurs in arterial regions with disturbed blood flow, where endothelial cells are exposed to stress, thus activating proatherogenic signals that promote endothelial dysfunction and reprogramming, among others. Researchers have identified heart development protein with EGF like domains 1 (HEG1) as a flow-sensitive gene in murine artery endothelial cells.
Echoing trends seen last year, the med-tech industry concluded 2023 with a continued surge in deal value juxtaposed against a more substantial decline in M&A value. Deal value for the year, including licensings, collaborations and joint ventures, reached $10.63 billion from 1,656 deals, the highest annual value in BioWorld’s records.
Cytokinetics Inc. received a slightly last minute Christmas gift in the form of positive top-line data from the pivotal phase III study of aficamten in treating symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Innovent Biologics Inc. and Sanegene Bio USA Inc. (Sanegenebio) have announced they have entered into a collaboration agreement to co-develop SGB-3908, an siRNA drug candidate targeting angiotensinogen (AGT) for the treatment of hypertension.
Vectorious Medical Technologies Ltd. is seeking patent protection for a method for predicting the occurrence of a heart condition by receiving a multiple measurements of blood pressure acquired in a patient’s heart.
Luma Vision Ltd. raised $22 million in financing that will allow the company to secure U.S. FDA approval and prepare for commercialization of its 4D cardiac imaging technology platform, Verafeye. The series A3 financing round was led by existing investors EQT Lifesciences, ABV Uni Fund and imec.xpand. Luma also added three new investors comprising an undisclosed multinational strategic investor, Atlantic Bridge Growth Fund and Bayern Kapital.
Robocath SAS said it performed the world’s first-in-human remote robotic coronary angioplasty between two cities in China, Beijing and Urumqi, located 1,700 miles apart. The procedure was carried out using the company’s R-One robotic platform, via a 5G connection, and paves the way for long-distance endovascular procedures.
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