Veterans in the U.S. suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) now have access to Neurovalens Ltd.’s Modius Spero, a wearable neuromodulation device, which can reduce their symptoms in as little as four weeks. The treatment, designed for at-home use of 30-minute daily sessions, was approved for use within the Department of Veterans Affairs after the company secured FDA de novo approval.
Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc.’s deal to buy Pacira Biosciences Inc.’s Iovera system for up to $140 million and Eurobio Scientific SA’s acquisition of Caredx Inc.’s lab products business for $171.2 million are symptomatic of a broader trend among med-tech and diagnostics companies using targeted acquisitions to strengthen specific areas of their portfolio.
AI, data and wearable technologies are transforming health care, giving patients greater access to information about their health and enabling faster, more responsive clinical trials, Anthony Costello, CEO of Medidata Solutions Inc., told BioWorld. As more people use wearable devices to monitor their health, they are increasingly able to react to those insights, while pharmaceutical companies are gaining a clearer picture how patients respond to treatments during clinical trials.
Roche Holding AG is looking to take a share of Illumina Inc.’s dominance in the gene sequencing market with the launch of Axelios 1, its next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform designed for accuracy, speed, flexibility, scalability and cost efficiency. The move signals a potential shift in the sequencing landscape as the technology aims to address critical bottlenecks in genomics.
Ready or not, the future has arrived. Novel AI and brain-computer interface (BCI) systems are no longer confined to the realm of science fiction. As an increasingly intertwined human-machine model moves closer to adoption in real-world clinical and military practice, technological advances are sparking concerns over public health, ethics and national security.
Johnson & Johnson this week launched its dual-energy Thermocool Smarttouch SF platform in Europe bringing another option to physicians looking to enhance their electrophysiology procedures. The system combines radiofrequency (RF) and pulsed field ablation in one device to treat atrial fibrillation, entering what is becoming an increasingly crowded market for cardiac ablation technology.
An estimated $2 billion has been invested in the brain-computer interface (BCI) space in the last two years and the level of funding is expected to continue. Investors are betting that a deeper understanding of the brain will allow BCI systems to address the significant unmet need affecting millions of people with neurological disorders. They are also chasing an opportunity where the market for BCIs could reach $400 billion – in the U.S. alone.
Merck KGaA has agreed to buy Bio-Techne Corp. for an enterprise value of approximately $11.3 billion, in a bid to strengthen its life sciences business. The company is offering $73 per share in cash, a 36% premium to Bio-Techne's one-month volume-weighted average trading price, and a 24% premium to the company’s previous close on June 24. The deal will expand Merck’s position in multi-omics, spatial biology, cell and gene therapy, precision diagnostics and advanced research tools.
With the pace of neurotechnology development accelerating, a wave of brain-computer interface (BCI) companies is emerging on the heels of the pioneers. In the latest installment of BioWorld’s series on the BCI field, Rotem Kopel, CEO of Ability Neurotech SA, explains that following in the footsteps of the established players has its advantages. “It's not too bad to be a fast follower to a company like Neuralink.” Ability and its peers are either building more complete systems, or exploring different approaches from electrodes with newer materials to nanoparticles, while addressing technical and clinical challenges identified by earlier entrants and targeting different indications.
Tissium SA secured €60 million (US$68 million) in a financing package, which includes €30 million in a series D2 round and a €30 million facility from the European Investment Bank. The funds will be used to support the company's commercial and clinical activities, as well as its pipeline development and expansion of its platform technology, which removes the need for sutures and leads to better nerve repair.
