In just its second PCT filing, Ykrita Lifesciences Private Ltd. (YLS) continues to assemble intellectual property for its development of an extracorporeal bioengineered dual-cell liver regeneration (EBDLR) system which serves as a lightweight, portable, ectopic liver device to aid in the rejuvenation of the body’s own liver and treat acute liver failure without the need for surgery.

Incheon, South Korea-based Next Biomedical plans to offer one million shares on the Korea Exchange at a price band of ₩24,000 (US$17.42) to ₩29,000 per share. The IPO is scheduled for August 2024 and expected to raise ₩24 billion to ₩29 billion.

Molecular diagnostics company Genetic Signatures Ltd. is gearing up to launch its Easyscreen gastrointestinal parasite detection kit in the U.S. following its first FDA 510(k) clearance.

Researchers affiliated with the U.K.’s University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust filed for protection of a device for treating simple or complex anal or rectovaginal fistulas which is less invasive and more effective than existing treatments. The device combines a bioresorbable scaffold to heal the fistula and a thin comfortable seton to achieve drainage.

The Netherlands-based research company Stichting imec Nederland filed for protection of a smart toilet seat for the non-invasive measurement of physiological parameters, and especially for detecting a bowel movement and/or urination, and for characterizing excrement or feces in terms of a firmness level.

Eli Lilly and Co. continues its development of an oral drug delivery device that can successfully deliver a drug that would otherwise be ineffective when taken orally.

Endostart s.r.l. received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for Endorail, a magnetic balloon system which helps resolve intestinal looping and facilitates the efficiency and safety of colonoscopy procedures. The approval is an “important milestone” for the company as it will allow Endostart to bring its technology to the U.S. market to empower physicians, Alessandro Tozzi, co-founder and CEO of the company, told BioWorld.

China’s National Medical Products Administration has cleared China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Ltd. to advance radiopharmaceutical agent ITM-11 (177Lu-edotreotide) to phase III trials in gastroenteropancreatic-neuroendocrine tumors

Surgeon, CEO and founder of Hutom Corp., Woo Jin Hyung, is working to level the playing field in the operating room with artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, leveraging digital technology to optimize surgical outcomes.

Another med-tech acquisition was wiped off the charts after Japan’s Olympus Corp. rescinded the acquisition of South Korean medical device firm Taewoong Medical Co. Ltd. on March 7, after finding “data integrity issues” related to Taewoong’s products.