Despite two significant coronavirus outbreaks in the last two decades that killed hundreds of people, dominated international headlines, and grabbed millions in research dollars, SARS-CoV-2 still caught researchers, national scientific advisors, pharmaceutical companies flatfooted when it emerged in late 2019. Why?
Deep Lens Inc.’s artificial intelligence trial screening and enrollment platform, Viper, will be integrated with Franciscan Health Cancer Center's electronic health record to enable matching of cancer patients with suitable clinical trials starting at diagnosis over the next month. By working together, the two Midwest-based organizations hope to increase the number of patients benefiting from clinical trials and overcome some of the challenges to participation posed by the pandemic.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. released updated software and new instructions for its Taqpath COVID-19 Combo Kit, a widely used COVID-19 test kit that is also the basis for several other coronavirus diagnostics, following issuance of a letter to clinical laboratory staff and health care providers by the U.S. FDA about the risk of false results with the test. Separately, the Waltham, Mass.-based company has released the first in a series of hematology-oncology assays designed to run on its Ion Torrent Genexus system.
Big Health’s digital therapeutic Sleepio may not only improve insomnia but also reduce symptoms of depression, a study to be published Aug. 19 in the Journal of Sleep Research shows.
Transit Scientific LLC’s XO Cross Microcatheter platform was used in its first cases worldwide last week following its May 2020 clearance by the U.S. FDA and showed improved control and imaging. The company designed the platform to facilitate guidewire support, guidewire exchange, and contrast media injection during complex peripheral vascular interventions such as late-stage peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI).
In a controversial move, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recently recommended that people with a cervix should have a primary human papillomavirus (HPV) test every five years starting from age 25 to 65 to screen for cervical cancer. The recommendations displace the Papanicolaou (Pap) test that has formed the backbone of cancer screening for decades and extend the time between tests by two years.
Immunoscape Ltd. closed an $11 million global equity financing round led by U.S.-based venture firm Anzu Partners along with University of Tokyo Edge Capital in Japan, and Indonesia's NPR Holdings. The company plans to use the funds to ramp up its immune profiling technology platform, which performs deep T-cell analysis, and expand partnerships to develop vaccines for COVID-19 and other viruses as well as targeted oncology therapies.
Clearcam Inc.'s Kelling device has an improved view of the market thanks to the closing of a $2.6 million series 2 seed financing round, led by investor and entrepreneur Frank Barbella, CEO of Solv Risk Solutions.
Cryoablation technology firm Icecure Medical Ltd. raised $6 million (₪20.7 million) in an oversubscribed equity offering. The Caesarea, Israel-based company (TASE:ICCM) plans to use the funds for continued expansion of operations in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Sight Diagnostics Ltd. raised $71 million in series D financing to expand its commercial operations and increase research and development efforts into disease detection from its fingerprick blood analyzer Sight OLO.
