An artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tool invented by researchers from a trio of Singaporean institutions could speed up the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The innovation uses electrocardiograms (ECGs) to diagnose coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.

PERTH, Australia – Researchers at RMIT University and St. Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne have flipped traditional 3D printing to create more intricate biomedical structures, advancing new technologies for regrowing bones and tissue. Instead of making the bioscaffolds directly, the team 3D printed molds with intricately patterned cavities and then filled them with biocompatible materials, before dissolving the molds away.

Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co. Ltd. plans to release a couple of new imaging solutions this month as part of continued and rapid growth in its home market and globally. The first to be unveiled by the Shenzhen, China-based company is the Resona I9, its latest general imaging diagnostic ultrasound system.

Researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) said they have used two-dimensional nanosheets (FePSe3) to develop a biomimetic nanosheet that can monitor tumor development, treat tumors and monitor the treatment progress in real-time. With positive results from mice, the team hopes to further test it on larger animals, then move on to clinical studies.

PERTH, Australia – Digital cognitive assessment technology company Cogstate Ltd. saw its stock skyrocket 60% on the heels of FDA accelerated approval of Biogen Inc./Eisai Co. Ltd.’s Alzheimer’s disease drug Aduhelm (aducanumab). Cogstate and Eisai signed a deal in October 2020 that granted Eisai global development rights and exclusive commercialization rights of all cognitive function tests developed by Cogstate.

Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) has been stepping up efforts to bring innovative medical devices to market faster and make the regulatory approval process more predictable and further speed up approval processes that have been known for long delays.

PERTH, Australia – After unveiling its new regulatory framework for custom-made and 3D-printed devices, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is now proposing further refinements due to pushbacks from stakeholder that manufacture custom-made and patient-matched devices.

HONG KONG – Singapore authorities have given provisional approval for a locally developed breath test for COVID-19. The test is developed by Breathonix Pte Ltd., a spin-off company from the National University of Singapore through its Graduate Research Innovation Program. The company said its Brefence Go COVID-19 breath test system was the first test of its kind to secure provisional authorization in Singapore.

The Guangzhou Sino-Israel Bio-industry Investment Fund (GIBF) has raised more than half of its proposed ¥2 billion (US$313 million) round. “The second fund, GIBF2, will focus on Israeli and European biotechnology companies, which are developing innovative drugs and are in phase II to III clinical trials,” Avner Lushi, the CEO and co-founder of the GIBF, told BioWorld.

Suzhou-based Intocare Medical Technology Co. Ltd. raised up to ¥100 million (US$15.66 million) in a series D funding round led by Qiming Venture Partners. Oriza Holdings, Oriza FOFs and Yuanbio Venture Capital also participated in the round. The company said the proceeds would be used for product R&D, clinical research, marketing promotion, and the launch of new offices and production sites.