The overproduction of cytokines by the immune system, often called "cytokine storm" is often present in many life threatening illnesses that are seen in the intensive care unit such as sepsis, burn injury, trauma, lung injury and pancreatitis. Cytokine storm often causes excessive inflammation that can trigger organ failure, the leading cause of death in the ICU. The current standard of care therapies are typically supportive care with little to no active therapies to battle the cytokine storm.
Genalyte (San Diego) said that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to develop multiplexed diagnostic assays for the early detection and monitoring of Type 1 diabetes that will run on Genalyte's innovative Maverick Detection System.
Andain (Beverly Hills, California), a company specializing in technologies for biotech, medical and life sciences fields, reported the development of its miniature fully disposable and programmable insulin pump.
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Pete O'Heeron, CEO of a private company called SpinalCyte, a company developing an application to treat degenerative disc disease using cells derived from human skin for the Nov. 9th edition of Medical Device Daily . O'Heeron was especially enthusiastic about the application, which would promote autologous regrowth of the spinal disc nucleus using human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). If such a technology could garner approval, it could potentially replace implants in patients. Although, this has only been test in animal models - the technology holds great promise. I think this story was right on...
