PARIS – Carmat SA has closed an $11.8 million loan in the form of a government-backed loan from a French banking syndicate. In an environment made uncertain by the COVID-19 crisis, Carmat will be able to continue its clinical development program on its total artificial heart, undisturbed. “This financing facility contributes to securing our cash position and extends our financial visibility through to the third quarter of 2021,” Stéphane Piat, CEO of Carmat, told BioWorld.

More than a third of the money raised through biopharma financings in 2020 was raised by companies developing either a therapeutic or a vaccine for COVID-19, yet completely wiping away those totals still leaves the year with $76.8 billion, a full 12% more than the next highest year.

PERTH, Australia – Immutep Ltd. completed a AU$29.6 million (US$21.72 million) placement that will allow the immunotherapy company to accelerate and broaden clinical development of its immuno-oncology and autoimmune programs.

The U.S. FDA cleared Alivecor Inc.'s Kardia AI V2 interpretive electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithm for use in its personal ECG app and devices. Currently, the Kardia line permits consumers to take a 30-second medical grade ECG at home and instantly see whether they are exhibiting symptoms of atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia or have normal heart rhythm.

GT Medical Technologies Inc. revealed that it has raised $16 million in a series B financing round led by MVM Partners, which was joined by existing investors Medtech Venture Partners and Bluestone Venture Partners. Funds will support the expanded commercialization of Gammatile Therapy, a surgically targeted radiation therapy (STaRT) that is intended to help patients with brain tumors.