Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Abbott, Alafair Biosciences, Barm Advanced Communications, Bioventus, Certara, Ibex Medical Analytics, Integrated DNA Technologies, Iridex, Ligolab, Merit Medical Systems, Mevion Medical Systems, Microbix Biosystems, Mission Bio, MVP Health Care, Nemaura Medical, Perflow Medical, Persephone Biosciences, Proscia, Rhinostics, Roche, Shanghai Focus Healthcare, Swift Biosciences, Teleflex.
LONDON – The largest study of its kind to date has identified new biomarkers of inflammation that are both indicators of severe COVID-19 infection and distinguish it from severe influenza.
Positive COVID-19 efficacy numbers from Vir Biotechnology Inc. and Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) has prompted them to immediately seek an emergency use authorization (EUA) with the FDA and similar authorizations in other countries for their monoclonal antibody, VIR-7831. Meanwhile, the phase III Remdacta study of Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab) plus Veklury (remdesivir) vs. placebo plus Veklury, from Roche Holding AG and Gilead Sciences Inc., missed its primary endpoint in treating hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia receiving standard of care.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Alkermes, Astellas, Aveo, Biocryst, Biohaven, Bioxcel, Denali, Eli Lilly, J&J, Kadmon, Longeveron, Marius, Nouscom, Nuvation, RDIF, Spectrum.
MIT Media Labs spinoff Empatica Inc. secured the CE mark for its Aura system, a wearable solution for the monitoring and early alert of respiratory infections, including COVID-19. For use with people 14 and older, Aura is commercially available in Europe and the U.K., and for pilot purposes in the U.S. – pending FDA authorization. Aura’s algorithm analyzes vital signs from Empatica smartwatches, comparing data against the wearer’s historical baselines. In validation studies, Aura was able to detect patients with possible H1N1 influenza, rhinovirus or SARS-CoV-2 infection with 0.94 sensitivity. Detection occurred on average two days after infection.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Akesis, Breath Direct, Clew, Datar Cancer Genetics.
With COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing still scaling up and the scarcity of some supplies, most of the vaccine doses available so far have been distributed in 75 countries while 115 countries are still waiting, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said at the March 9 Global C19 Vaccine Supply Chain and Manufacturing Summit.
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