Med-tech IPOs continue to make it out onto a strong stock market, even as global economic uncertainty prevails amidst the unfolding pandemic. Single-cell biology research company Berkeley Lights Inc. priced an upsized IPO to raise $178.2 million to back its tools that are used to help develop antibody therapeutics, cell therapies and, more broadly, synthetic biology products.
Diversified health care player Abbott Laboratories did better than expected when it reported second quarter earnings. The Abbott Park, Ill.-based company is one of the earliest to start reporting for this period, which in the U.S. was characterized by an initial heavy impact from the ongoing pandemic.
Novocure Ltd. and Merck & Co. Inc. will work together to test the use of electric fields at specific frequencies in combination with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The pair plan to start a phase II pilot study during the second half of Novocure’s Tumor Treating Fields in combination with Keytruda as a first-line treatment for intrathoracic advanced or metastatic, PD-L1 positive NSCLC.
Researchers around the globe are still struggling to understand the basic biology of COVID-19 infection, including how it works in the body and how to most effectively combat it. To aid them in their efforts under the weight of the ongoing pandemic, single-cell research tool company 10x Genomics Inc. has launched an updated version of its Chromium Single Cell Immune Profiling product.
Biointellisense Inc. received an FDA clearance in January for its Biosticker to monitor patient vital signs at home for as long as 30 days. It was just starting to launch, when along came the novel coronavirus. Now, the Band-Aid-sized monitor is being used to monitor COVID-19 patients at home, as well as chronic disease patients.
Plymouth, Minn.-based Nonin Medical Inc. gained a U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for its Co-Pilot wireless hand-held multiparameter system (H500). The system is expected to be used by first responders to evaluate various oxygenation and respiratory-related parameters in patients after incidents such as cardiac arrest, traumatic injury, carbon monoxide or smoke inhalation.
After the recent conclusion of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions, virtual diabetes management company Onduo LLC held an event with the ADA and diabetes researchers to discuss how technology can help to bridge that gap to empower more diabetes patients.
Researchers working as part of the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) have recently validated an open-source algorithm that can be used to measure blood flow using existing 3D ultrasound technology from major manufacturers. They published their results in the June 30, 2020, issue of Radiology.
