Scientists from Healthbiocare GmbH, System Biologie AG and the University of Austria have published data indicating pan-cancer detection could be achieved by combining genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in plasma. The scientists developed a classification model that distinguished between healthy subjects and patients with solid tumors with 95.4% accuracy, 97.9% sensitivity, and 80% specificity.
The guidances for in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) developed by the European Union’s Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) are only a reflection of the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR), but they do provide test developers with some important details.
San Francisco-based startup Mirvie Inc. has released data demonstrating how its RNA platform technology can predict preterm birth. The research, presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 42nd Annual Pregnancy Meeting (SMFM 2022), showed the company’s test predicted the condition months before symptoms occurred and identified biological pathways that drive changes in pregnancy.
Despite mandating earlier this year that private health insurance plans make over-the-counter COVID tests free to their subscribers, the U.S. CMS took until Feb. 3 to make the same benefit available to Medicare beneficiaries. The problem is that these tests will not be available to Medicare beneficiaries free of charge until “early spring,” the agency said, a point in time by which the latest surge of the pandemic is likely to have dissipated.
University of Edinburgh spinoff Biocaptiva Ltd. is taking its cell free DNA (cfDNA) capture device to clinical trials in 2022 following promising preclinical results. The company’s platform technology is designed to increase the quantity of cfDNA available for liquid biopsy testing. Current liquid biopsy practices obtain cfDNA via a venous blood draw but the concentration of tumor-derived ctDNA can be too low for comprehensive testing. Biocaptiva’ device emerged from research at the University of Edinburgh investigating liquid biopsy technologies.
Cancer diagnostics company Biofidelity Ltd. reported a $23 million series A+ investment round, led by Octopus Ventures with participation from SBI Investment Co. Ltd. and existing investors. Funds will be used for the commercial launch of the company’s first commercial assay Asypre-Lung. The oncology panel is designed to detect DNA mutations from tissue or liquid biopsy quicker than current approaches like gene sequencing.
Since COVID-19 hit the U.S. in 2020, the pandemic has taken more than 800,000 American lives. In that same time, cancer has claimed 1.2 million lives, President Joe Biden said Feb. 2 as he “reignited” the cancer moonshot he first launched in 2016 when he was serving as vice president.
LONDON – The first human challenge study of SARS-CoV-2 infection has reported initial results, showing it is safe to infect healthy volunteers with the virus in controlled conditions, and paving the way for the model to be used to accelerate clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines, antivirals and diagnostics.
The availability of rapid antigen tests for the COVID-19 pandemic has been far short of ideal in recent weeks despite a recent order by the Biden administration for half a billion tests. The question of whether additional federal dollars are forthcoming for additional tests is up in the air, however, due to congressional concerns that there is roughly $800 million in unspent federal dollars, a signal that any additional monies might not be made available any time in the near term.
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