Neurovascular bioelectronics medicine company Synchron Inc. has received good news in the form of a breakthrough device designation for its Stentrode. The U.S. FDA granted the designation for the fully implantable medical device that can translate brain activity or stimulate the nervous system from inside a blood vessel. As a bonus for patients, the device does not require open brain surgery. “As this is a first-of-its-kind device, we look forward to working closely with the FDA to prioritize development of the Stentrode and ensure access for patients with paralysis, as well as lay the groundwork for future indications for brain-computer interfaces,” said Thomas Oxley, CEO of Synchron.
Pooled testing was hailed early in the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to quickly and efficiently increase the number of people tested for the virus. But the approach has fallen short of its promise for a variety of reasons, from supply and labor shortages to high community infection rates. Now, a new testing method – recently approved for use by laboratories in Israel – could help chip away at some of those issues.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Abbott, B. Braun Medical, Cureapp, Foundation Medicine, Healeon, Med-El, Sanuwave Health.
Foundation Medicine Inc.’s string of 2020 wins continues, with the U.S. FDA giving its thumbs up to Foundationone Liquid CDx, the company’s comprehensive pan-tumor liquid biopsy test.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unveiled two interim final rules intended to deal with enforcement activities in connection with policies enunciated over the past four years, including the so-called Brand memo, which banned federal prosecutors from using federal agency guidance as leverage in prosecutions of private-sector entities.
The U.S. FDA has cleared the way for Abbott Laboratories sixth COVID-19 test, a near-patient, point-of-care antigen test that gives results in 15 minutes and can be run without laboratory equipment. The company has priced the Binaxnow COVID-19 Ag Card rapid test at $5 and is offering a complementary mobile app that allows people to display their test results when asked by organizations for verification.
With the FDA approval of Cassiopea SpA’s Winlevi (clascoterone cream 1%) to treat acne in patients 12 years and older, the European company hailed it as the first acne drug in 40 years with a new mechanism of action.
“Maybe this is not their final offer and maybe they’re not digging as deep as they perhaps could or should,” Michael Abrams, managing partner and co-founder of Numerof & Associates, said of the biopharma industry’s counteroffer to U.S. President Donald Trump on drug pricing. But the offer “is not inconsequential,” he told BioWorld, noting that it reportedly could deliver $100 billion in savings over 10 years. The proposal also offers the president the opportunity to say he delivered on his promise to lower prescription drug prices as he campaigns for re-election, whereas his threatened executive order granting Medicare and other federal programs “most favorable nation pricing” for prescription drugs would still be in the rulemaking process when voters head to the polls or their mailboxes in November.
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