Medical device accelerator Medtech Innovator and the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (Apacmed) have selected Opharmic Technology (HK) Ltd. as the grand prize winner of its Asia Pacific Accelerator program. Opharmic has developed a noninvasive ultrasound platform technology for a variety of biomedical applications, with eye drug delivery being one of the key applications.

With the support of Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB), Medtronic plc has launched the Medtronic Open Innovation Platform (OIP) in Singapore to develop med-tech and digital health solutions for Asia Pacific. The company will invest up to $50 million for this venture.

Medical device maker PHC Holdings Corp. listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange recently, raising around ¥20 billion (US$175 million). The listing was touted as the biggest IPO in Japan since 2018 but crashed spectacularly. The Tokyo-based company listed on the bourse’s First Section, and saw its shares slide 18% to ¥2,651 per share in their debut on Oct. 14. They were up 1.28% to ¥2,685 at the close of trade on Oct. 21. The 460 million shares that were issued priced at the bottom of a ¥3,250 to ¥3,500 range.

Microtech Medical (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd. raised around HK$1.98 billion (US$254.53 million) via its listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange, becoming the latest in a flood of med-tech companies listing in the city.

Oncology genomic testing company Berry Oncology Corp.’s latest research results showed promising data for its Hifi platform-based technology, its CEO Jun Zhou said during the first International Biopharma Industry Week held in Shanghai. With the Hifi liquid biopsy test, users can receive early screening of six cancers, including liver cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer, with an overall sensitivity of 87.6%, specificity of 99.1%, and overall tissue of origin precision in 82% of positive cancers.

PERTH, Australia – Australia’s TGA issued new guidance to help device manufacturers better understand new classifications for active medical devices, including software-based medical devices, and clinical decision support software.

A pan-cancer liquid biopsy solution that was developed by Twist Bioscience Corp. and Anchordx Medical Co. Ltd. has been launched globally. The companies will market the Twist Alliance Pan-Cancer Methylation Panel (Pan-Cancer Panel) jointly. The Pan-Cancer Panel is a solution for pan-cancer study including DNA methylation library preparation and targeted enrichment for next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Chinese med-tech firms are still flocking to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange despite recent disappointing performances. One of these companies is Shanghai Microport Medbot (Group) Co. Ltd., which is looking to raise up to $1 billion in a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO). Proceeds from the listing will be used for the R&D and commercialization of its core product Toumai Laparoscopic Surgical Robot.

PERTH, Australia – Molecular diagnostic company Speedx Pty Ltd. has invested in a Perth-based startup that makes the raw materials needed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 tests. The two companies will work to develop a new at-home rapid PCR test to ensure Australia can become self-sufficient with producing PCR tests. A rapid PCR test that gives an accurate result in minutes could be used at home or work.

Through a series of notifications, India’s drug regulator has classified a new batch of medical devices as well as a range of software used in medical devices according to risk, taking another step to strengthen regulatory oversight and shore up the domestic med-tech sector.