Swift Biosciences Inc. released an S gene panel for SARS-CoV-2 that covers 100% of the gene even with minimal viral titers. The S gene controls the spike protein, which enables the virus to bind to cells and affects transmissibility, and has accumulated multiple mutations in the concerning variants recently discovered in the U.K., South Africa, Brazil, Denmark and the U.S. The panel is expected to enable rapid scaling of surveillance efforts of the new strains and can be run by any lab using the Illumina system.
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting medical devices and technologies, including: Krishnamoorthi eyes ventilator contract; TGA fines company for failure to provide masks; U.S. PPE hoarder indicted; CAP supports Defense Production Act; South African variant in U.S.; GAO: More needs to be done to respond to COVID-19; Biden orders review of scientific-integrity policies.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Advanced Medtech, DNA Genotekm, Global Instrumentation, Perspectum.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has now had ample time to mutate, as reports of the proliferation of multiple variants make clear, and the U.S. FDA’s Tim Stenzel said the agency is now focused on three variants, including one recently reported from Israel. Stenzel said on the latest COVID-19 testing town hall that one of the key concerns regarding existing authorized tests is the potential for loss of sensitivity, a problem the agency hopes to overcome without the use of live virus.
Health care professionals (HCPs) might prefer a new respirator for each shift, but the ongoing shortage has left clinical sites with a need to employ dry heat for filtering facepiece respirator reuse. The U.S. FDA said on a Jan. 26 town hall that it will stick to an established policy that these devices can be processed with dry heat no more than five times, a practice that is likely to stick for the foreseeable future despite that administrators are required to provide fresh units when possible.
PERTH, Australia – Sydney-based Cyclopharm Ltd. raised AU$30 million (US$23.19 million) in a private placement that will enable the company to launch its Technegas combination product in the U.S.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Asieris, Bc Platforms, Chronomics, Curadigm, Dante Labs, Digbi Health, Echosens, Electrocore, Emocha, Fuzionaire Radioisotope Technologies, Gastrologix, Genedx, Nanobiotix, Nihon Medi-Physics, Nova Mentis Life Science, Orasure, Opko Health, Perkinelmer, Photocure, Qualigen, Sanofi, Soliton, Soundbite, Yi Xin.