COVID-19 severity remains open to several questions. Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have revealed how SARS-CoV-2 causes acute inflammation instead of the symptoms of a common cold. This effect could be initiated by the peptide fragments of the coronavirus released when the host eliminates the virus, which can form pro-inflammatory complexes that trigger an amplified immune response.

The U.S. Medicare program for coverage of U.S. FDA-designated breakthrough devices has gone through some significant alterations over the past few years, but there is legislation on Capitol Hill that would codify this program at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Mark Leahey, president and CEO of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA), told BioWorld that one of the sources of drag on this kind of legislation is how the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scores the legislation, a problem that might not be resolved until CBO works through other legislation.

There is no doubt that the fundraising environment in Europe remains challenging for med-tech companies. Currently it seems like “the winner takes it all,” with companies that have de-risked their portfolio able to find investors to provide funds, while for those at the earlier stages, finding capital continues to be ‘tricky,’ Raphaël Wisniewski, partner at European private equity firm Andera Partners, told BioWorld in an interview.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a sweeping plan that is designed to help manage vector-borne pathogens, such as the Zika virus, with the ultimate goal of reducing the related disease burden to zero.

Spyglass Ophthalmics Inc. is seeking patent protection for intraocular drug delivery devices and methods of delivering therapeutic agents to the eye. The methods include implanting an intraocular implant into the eye and adjacent to a fluid-permeable membrane of the patient’s eye.