University of Edinburgh spinoff Biocaptiva Ltd. is taking its cell free DNA (cfDNA) capture device to clinical trials in 2022 following promising preclinical results. The company’s platform technology is designed to increase the quantity of cfDNA available for liquid biopsy testing. Current liquid biopsy practices obtain cfDNA via a venous blood draw but the concentration of tumor-derived ctDNA can be too low for comprehensive testing. Biocaptiva’ device emerged from research at the University of Edinburgh investigating liquid biopsy technologies.
LONDON – “I really believe we can start using the word cure,” said the pioneer of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy Carl June, as he revealed two leukemia patients he treated in a phase I trial have now been in remission for 10 years. Both patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia achieved complete remission shortly after treatment in 2010. The genetic modification has remained detectable in their CAR T cells for more than 10 years of follow-up, June said, describing details of the case studies published in Nature Feb. 2.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Biocardia, Bone Solutions, Co-Diagnostics, Cosara, Dyad Medical, Exactech.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Anpac Bio, Axion, M-Solv, Blue Note Therapeutics, Castle Biosciences, Euroimmun, Exthera Medical, Fresenius Medical Care, Heartbeam, Livmor, Science 37, Physiq, Shineco, Weifang Jianyi Medical Devices.
New hires and promotions in the med-tech industry, including: Emulate, Inspire Technologies, Isotope Technologies Munich, Kaia Health, Retia Medical, Quipt Home Medical.
Based on the BCG Digital Ventures-Boston Consulting Group’s just issued 2022 Future of Digital Health: Health Care Innovation Predictions, the group expects 2022 to continue the trends seen over the last two years. Focus on “care anywhere” will support a continued increase in telemedicine use and, with it, advances in home-based testing, diagnostics and monitoring devices.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported Feb. 1 that it had recouped more than $5.6 billion in settlements in connection with False Claims Act litigation (FCA) in 2021, with $5 billion of that amount derived from action against the health care industry.
Cancer diagnostics company Biofidelity Ltd. reported a $23 million series A+ investment round, led by Octopus Ventures with participation from SBI Investment Co. Ltd. and existing investors. Funds will be used for the commercial launch of the company’s first commercial assay Asypre-Lung. The oncology panel is designed to detect DNA mutations from tissue or liquid biopsy quicker than current approaches like gene sequencing.
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