Data from the Drai Martini study shows that artificial intelligence is shaking up the analysis of electrocardiograms. Results presented at the recent ESC Congress 2024, demonstrated that an AI algorithm, Deeprhythmai, developed by Medicalgorithmics Sp zo.o., has significantly higher sensitivity than human specialists in detecting heart rhythm disorders on long ECG recordings.

The European Medicines Agency advised its member state regulatory partners to closely track how they use LLMs in making regulatory decisions – a clear signal that some regulatory decisions may be inappropriately torqued by their well-known shortcomings.

Brightflow SAS raised €16.5 million (US$18 million) in a series A financing round that will go towards developing its right ventricular mechanical circulatory support system. The company is working towards bringing the first long-term fully percutaneous implantable pump for right-sided heart failure to the market, Sophie Humbert, CEO at Brightflow, told BioWorld.

In the first study to compare transcatheter aortic valve replacement or implantation to surgical aortic valve replacement exclusively in women, Edwards Lifescience Corp.’s Sapien 3 and Sapien 3 Ultra valves provided better outcomes.

Angiodynamics Inc. received CE mark approval for its Auryon atherectomy system which treats peripheral artery disease, including critical limb ischemia and in-stent restenosis. The regulatory clearance expands the company’s global reach as it sees increasing revenues from sales of the device.

Advanz Pharma Ltd. has won a stay on the withdrawal of its primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) drug, Ocaliva (obeticholic acid), after the European Commission (EC) said on Sept. 3 that the conditional marketing approval should be revoked. Following that, London-based Advanz launched a legal challenge, announcing on Sept 5 that the General Court of the EU has temporarily suspended the EC’s decision. As a result, the conditional marketing authorization for Ocaliva remains in place until further notice from the court, and the 7,000 existing patients – and new ones – will still have access to the farnesoid X receptor agonist.

Elixir Medical Corp. reported positive 12-month data from the Infinity-Swedeheart trial that compared its Dynamx coronary bioadaptor system to Medtronic plc’s Resolute Onyx zotarolimus drug-eluting stent in patients requiring percutaneous coronary intervention with coronary artery disease.

In what represents Vienna, Austria-based Valeriot GmbH’s first patenting, its founder and CEO, Michael Flatscher, describes their invention of a device, Autovein, for use in no-touch vein harvesting which overcomes the issues faced with traditional vein harvesting techniques which are laborious, prone to complications and challenging to master.

The dark matter of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is shades brighter, after the signing of two major deals between biotech pioneers and big pharma in the past week. Haya Therapeutics SA announced Sept. 4 that it has sealed a multiyear agreement with Eli Lilly and Co. to apply its lncRNA platform technology to identify targets in obesity and related metabolic disorders.