A bioelectronic platform that stimulates the vagus nerve to reduce inflammatory activity and restore balance in the immune system is the ultimate aim of Setpoint Medical Inc. The Valencia, Calif.-based startup is preparing to start a U.S. pivotal trial for its most advanced program in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) later this year or early next.

More than 70% of individuals using Big Health’s newest digital therapeutic, Daylight, achieved remission of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) within 10 weeks, and the benefit persisted for at least six months, according to results published in Depression and Anxiety.

Startup Scipher Medicine, of Waltham, Mass., is developing a blood test to predict which rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients will not respond to Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapies.

VANCOUVER – Sorrento Therapeutics Inc., which is working to build a comprehensive lineup of COVID-19 products, has in-licensed a self-contained test for SARS-CoV-2 that may produce accurate results in half an hour.

The results of Reducer 1, an international, three-arm observational study of an initial 241 patients with refractory angina were remarkable, Neovasc COO Bill Little told BioWorld.

Exero Medical Ltd. aims to improve monitoring the gastrointestinal system after surgery with a wireless, biodegradable anastomotic leak sensor implant. It has started a tiny five-patient, first-in-human study as a proof of concept for its technology.

Strata Oncology Inc. has inked an agreement with newcomer Elevation Oncology to ramp up patient identification and enrollment for the latter’s phase II CRESTONE study evaluating the use of seribantumab in patients with recurrent, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors of any origin that have a neuregulin-1 (NRG1) gene fusion.

DUBLIN – Synairgen plc has detected what appear to be promising efficacy signals in a phase II trial of its inhaled formulation of interferon-beta 1a, SNG-001, in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

HONG KONG – Incheon, South Korea-based Celltrion Inc. will start manufacturing its COVID-19 treatment for clinical trials and commercial distribution, even though it’s only reached phase I.

A first-of-its-kind clinical trial conducted by digital health startup AppliedVR suggests the computer-based technology is both feasible and effective for treating chronic pain in a patient’s own home.