Sonalasense Inc., a company working in the field of sonodynamic therapy, is collaborating with the Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow Neurological Institute to conduct a first-in-human clinical trial of its noninvasive sonodynamic therapy for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM). The sonodynamic platform technology uses a dual approach with aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and MRI-guided focused ultrasound to target glioblastoma cells for destruction.

PARIS – Cardiawave SAS has been granted authorization by the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety to extend its clinical trial in France and treat patients with calcific aortic stenosis (AS).

HONG KONG – New approaches to trials, digitalization and the effective use of advance technologies like artificial intelligence are reshaping how clinical trials are conducted, drugs are discovered, and new devices are developed, said participants at the Asia-focused Phar-East 2020 conference on Dec. 8.

With hospitalizations rapidly rising as the COVID-19 pandemic washes across the world in a winter wave, researchers are racing to develop treatments that protect the increasing number of ventilated patients. One option focuses on protecting muscles critical to breathing.

The drug-eluting balloon (DEB) has not displaced the drug-eluting stent (DES) for treatment of infarcts, but that may be changing with the results of the PICCOLETO II study.

Data from a newly published case series underscores the effectiveness of Cytosorbents Corp.’s blood purification technology in treating critically ill COVID-19 patients.

GT Medical Technologies Inc. revealed that it has raised $16 million in a series B financing round led by MVM Partners, which was joined by existing investors Medtech Venture Partners and Bluestone Venture Partners. Funds will support the expanded commercialization of Gammatile Therapy, a surgically targeted radiation therapy (STaRT) that is intended to help patients with brain tumors.

Varian Medical Systems Inc. revealed that the first clinical trial of FLASH therapy has kicked off, with the initial treatment taking place at the Cincinnati Children's/UC Health Proton Therapy Center. The study, which saw the first patient treated this week, involves the investigational use of Varian's Probeam particle accelerator modified to enable radiation therapy delivery at ultra-high dose rates.

Sequana Medical NV scored a U.S. FDA breakthrough device designation last year for its fully implanted wireless device that automatically pumps fluids from the abdomen into the bladder. Now, it has released positive interim safety and efficacy data on that device, known as Alfapump, in the treatment of patients with recurrent or refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis.

HONG KONG – Helio Health Inc. has new data that demonstrate the high accuracy and screening value of its cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation blood test for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).