HP Inc. is deploying its longstanding inkjet printer technology in a novel way to more easily and accurately dispense tiny amounts of drug candidates or treatments into patient samples for testing. It's currently working with a number of pharmaceutical companies, as well as academic and research labs, with this technology.

Alcon has abruptly taken its Cypass microstent off the global market due to problems with the five-year safety data. It found that endothelial cell loss (ECL) was greater with the microstent than in the cataract surgery-only control group. In the eye, these cells sit in the inner layer of the cornea to keep it dry and are crucial for maintaining fluid buildup and visual acuity.

Remarkably, Exact Sciences Corp. reaches most of the U.S. patients who are the recommended age to get screened with its Cologuard. Already, 62 percent of that population get the only FDA-approved, noninvasive, DNA-based colorectal screening test, which simply requires patients to mail in a fecal sample for testing.

Most sophisticated diagnostic tests are typically run on large machines that are stationary in a hospital or dedicated laboratory. But nanotechnology is expected to change that in the coming years, as it enables miniaturization down to sizes that are easily portable for point-of-care or even at-home use without sacrificing on accuracy.