Cytovale Inc., a San Francisco-based medical technology company, has snagged an additional $3.83 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to conduct a pilot study of its Rapid Sepsis Diagnostic System for patients with potential respiratory infections, including SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. The patented technology, which can diagnose sepsis in less than 10 minutes, could speed up triaging and treatment of critically ill patients suspected of having the life-threatening condition.

TORONTO – A portable DNA-based test kit developed by Ottawa-based Spartan Bioscience Inc. has received Health Canada approval for COVID-19 testing – this at a time when hospitals are under enormous pressure to meet increased testing demand.

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.