The med-tech market in China has lured many device makers and investors into doing business there despite concerns about intellectual property (IP) theft. While some of those IP theft worries have eased, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) is still implementing an order that came into force June 1, creating an environment of massive regulatory uncertainty that will force device makers to navigate carefully when attempting to access the world’s largest med-tech market.

Lunit Inc. won an innovative medical device designation from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). The designation was for Lunit Insight MMG, its commercial artificial intelligence (AI) solution for breast cancer detection from mammography images. The company said that Lunit Insight MMG is now the first medical device of its type to receive the designation, and the company now has its second innovative medical device designation. “All of our commercialized products are now designated innovative medical devices by the MFDS. We will ensure that our Lunit Insight AI products allow medical staff to rapidly and accurately diagnose patients,” said Beomseok Suh, CEO at Lunit.

PARIS – Researchers at the Institute for Surface Technologies and Photonics in Weiz, Austria, and the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research Osaka University, Japan, have invented new ultra-flexible health monitoring patches that use harvested bio-mechanical energy. “These new devices represent a wireless e-health patch for accurate pulse and blood pressure monitoring,” Andreas Petritz, from the Institute for Surface Technologies and Photonics (the materials research unit of Joanneum Research FmbH), told BioWorld.

A comprehensive nontargeted metabolomics analysis has revealed previously unknown classes of disease-linked metabolites in whole blood samples from dementia patients, which may have significant therapeutic implications for managing the untreatable common cognitive disorder.

The Tokyo University of Science (TUS) has developed a self-powered diaper biosensor that can monitor urine sugar levels, which could be a boon for both diabetic patients and their caregivers. Caregivers at nursing homes currently open patients’ diapers every few hours to check for urination, thus increasing the caregivers’ workload. The psychological impact on the patient is also increased, for example when their sleep is disturbed.

Robotic technologies company Stereotaxis Inc. is scaling up its footprint in the Chinese med-tech market, with a deal to commercialize its robotic technology for heart rhythm therapy in China with Shanghai Microport EP Medtech Co. Ltd. The St. Louis-based Stereotaxis aims to introduce a second-generation robot called Genesis to the Chinese market that uses a magnetic navigation technology to treat heart rhythm disorders. Its partner, Shanghai Microport EP Medtech, is a division of one of China's largest med-tech manufacturers, Shanghai-based Microport Scientific Corp.

China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) will take effect on Nov. 1, 2021, making it harder for tech firms, including health care companies, to access and use consumers’ personal information. The PIPL was officially passed by the National People’s Congress on Aug. 20.

Berry Oncology Corp. raised $99.15 million in a series B1 financing round to expand in the early cancer screening industry as it is seeing a growing demand in the sector. This brings the total capital raised to what it says is “the highest level in China’s early cancer screening industry.” The round was led by China Merchants Capital Management Co. Ltd., along with existing investors Qiming Venture Partners and Legend Capital.

PERTH, Australia – On the heels of a A$90 million (US$67.12 million) initial public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange, device company Trajan Group Holdings Ltd. has doubled its share price and is well poised for its next stage of global growth. Trajan makes precision consumable products, devices and solutions that used in analyzing biological samples.

Health-tech startup Doctor Anywhere Ltd. (DA) has raised $88 million in series C fundraising, as the telehealth sector continues to be attractive for investors. The round is one of the largest private investments ever raised by a Southeast Asian digital health company and was led by growth equity investor Asia Partners. Novo Holdings, Philips, OSK-SBI Venture Partners, EDBI, Square Peg, IHH Healthcare, Kamet Capital and Pavilion Capital also participated.