The pressure to replace animal testing with human-relevant assays that are more predictive of human-drug responses has now reached a tipping point, and there is a movement toward greater acceptance of these potentially more translatable tests.

Boston Scientific Corp. recently reported new four-year data on its Farapulse pulsed field ablation platform, which demonstrated that patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation achieved better long-term success than those treated with thermal ablation. The data come as sales of the Farapulse system in the U.S. have begun to slow amid rising competition from other PFA technologies, particularly Medtronic plc’s Affera platform.

Microbiome specialist Microbiotica Ltd. announced positive data from a phase Ib study of MB-310, an orally administered live biotherapeutic product for treating ulcerative colitis, with 12 of 19 treated patients achieving clinical remission, compared to three of 10 patients in the placebo arm.

Sava Technologies Ltd. reported positive clinical data showing that its multi-molecule biosensor technology can reliably monitor glucose levels beneath the skin in real time.

Genentech Inc. is covering more bases in multiple sclerosis, with its latest swing on fenebrutinib hitting a rare phase III noninferiority win against Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Wall Street pushback against relaxin player Tectonic Therapeutic Inc. was sharp, but a trial design that differs could save the drug from the fate of Astrazeneca plc’s long-acting relaxin-2 analogue, AZD-3427, which the pharma giant has “removed from phase II,” where it was being tested in a trial called Re-phire, because of less than ideal efficacy.

Global investors in med tech are confident about exit opportunities in the year ahead. The strategics have already started making acquisitions, the IPO window – which reopened last year – is expected to remain active, and the investment firms have companies in their portfolios that are well-positioned for exit. With fundamentals in the sector still robust, 2026 is expected to reward companies that deliver clear clinical value.

Breye Therapeutics ApS reported positive phase Ib data for its oral gap junction modifier drug danegaptide in diabetic retinopathy and is now raising a €50 million (US$59.6 million) series A round to move into the next phase of development.