Much of the question of FDA regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is seen as revolving around changes to the statute, but that does not mean the FDA and other agencies are in wait-and-see mode. Representatives of both the FDA and Health Canada said on a March 22 webinar that guidances related to these algorithms will be posted later this year, thus opening the door to a more predictable premarket path for these products.

Murrysville, Pa.-based Philips Respironics Inc. has had its share of troubles with its devices for respiratory use, including several CPAP machines. The FDA reported March 21 that the company’s V60 and V60 Plus respirators are now the subjects of a class I recall due to the use of an expired adhesive that could ultimately lead to a shut-down of the devices, including instances in which the shut-down would not be accompanied by an alarm.

If the U.S. SEC adopts a rule it proposed March 21, all public companies registered with the regulator, including biopharma and med-tech firms, will have to add disclosures about climate change to their other reporting obligations.

The FDA unloaded on Neurofield Inc. for misbranding of its products, which are only approved as class II biofeedback devices, as neurostimulation and electroencephalogram (EEG) signal processing devices. The warning letter called on “Neurofield to cease any activities that result in the adulteration or misbranding of the Neurofield X3000/X3000 Plus, Neurofield Q21, Neurofield64 and Neurofield EEG.”

Google Health is expanding the reach of its Care Studio technology to clinical software company Medical Information Technology Inc. (Meditech). The companies reported a partnership at HIMSS 2022 to integrate search functionalities from the Google product suite within Westwood, Mass.-based Meditech's web-based Expanse electronic health record (EHR). The aim is to combine data from different sources into a standard format and offer clinicians a full ‘holistic’ view of patient records.

Myriad Genetics Inc. is launching a new suite of genetic tests designed for personalizing chemotherapy treatment. The Precise oncology offering includes Myriad’s precise tumor molecular profile test and two companion diagnostic tests, Mychoice CDx and Bracanalysis CDx. The company said the combination of germline, somatic and companion testing aims to maximize information for oncologists as they assign individual treatment plans. Results from each test are gathered as a single report accessed on an online portal.

The bipartisan PREVENT Pandemics Act, which seeks to put into U.S. law many of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, marked its first milestone March 15, with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee sending it to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation on a 20-2 vote.

The FDA issued a rare 518(a) Notification Order to Royal Philips NV last week that requires the company to take more aggressive measures to notify patients, physicians and distributors about the June 2021 class I recall of its continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) systems. The recall stemmed from health risks posed by the deterioration of the polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) noise reducing foam in the equipment.

Interrad Medical Inc. has formed a strategic partnership with Eloquest Healthcare Inc. to accelerate sales growth of what is described as the only subcutaneous catheter securement device in the world.

The list of FDA warning letters in recent months has conspicuous in its absence of letters to device makers, but that trend has reversed with three warnings posted March 8, including a warning letter to Cardioquip LLC.