LONDON – A veteran of the European vaccines industry has brought together three companies in three countries, in what is described as an ultra-fast-track COVID-19 vaccine development program. From a standing start less than three months ago, the three biotechs, Reithera Srl in Rome, Leukocare AG in Munich, Germany, and Univercells SA in Brussels, Belgium, have advanced to GMP manufacturing, with first-in-human studies due to start in June.

The Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) was designed to ensure that small businesses are able to stay in business during the economic damage incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Mark Leahey, president and CEO of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) says the program’s provisions are leaving some small device makers out in the cold, a predicament MDMA is working to resolve.

While many companies are looking to help monitor patients at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, 11 Health and Technologies Inc., of Irvine, Calif., is focused on those with chronic digestive diseases. The company recently said it was offering 12 weeks of free service using the Alfred Smartcare Platform to provide support for people with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer and ostomies.

BOGOTA, Colombia – Med-tech companies across Latin America that have traditionally focused on domestic and regional markets are in a race against time to supply ventilators to deal with worsening COVID-19 outbreaks.

Paris-based health care startup Cardiologs Technologies SAS has launched a clinical study to assess the use of its artificial intelligence (AI) platform to remotely monitor cardiac safety in COVID-19 patients being treated with the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. The study could help to detect and prevent serious cardiac effects of the drug.

The role of diagnostic and surveillance testing in the COVID-19 pandemic is unquestionably critical, but the volume and type of tests needed to bring the economy back online is complex. Susan Van Meter, director of Advamed Dx, said on an April 22 press briefing that while molecular and serological tests will continue to play a vital role, “we’re going to see millions of antigen tests available in the coming weeks,” a development that will prove crucial in efforts to restore normal economic activity.