Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven tools have the ability to design new drugs, with a bit of help from humans, said Anders Hogner, from Astrazeneca plc’s R&D department at the Bio-IT World Conference & Expo Europe in London. “We don’t have anything out there yet,” he added, but the company appears to be working on it.
The Cari-Heart, a medical imaging technology which detects signs of inflammation around coronary arteries, can predict the risk of a cardiac event, independent from clinical risk scores and the interpretation of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), according to data from a study presented at the recent American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.
Apollo Neuroscience Inc. recently introduced a new software called Smartvibes for its Apollo wearable device to help people lower their stress levels and sleep better. There are a growing number of wearable technologies that have sensors that continuously measure physiological signals to help individuals monitor and manage their health conditions.
With hybrid closed-loop systems for automated insulin delivery increasingly being seen as life changing for people with diabetes, Vicentra BV has teamed up with Diabeloop SA and Dexcom Inc. to launch a system to help people with type 1 diabetes manage their condition.
Astrazeneca plc launched a health-tech business aimed at bringing to market digital technological solutions that will optimize clinical trial design and delivery. The company, called Evinova, will offer solutions to reduce the time and cost of developing new drugs, bring care closer to patients at home and reduce the burden on health systems.
Surmodics Inc. reported positive two-year data from the SWING trial, the first-in-human study to look at the safety of its Sundance Sirolimus drug-coated balloon (DCB) when used to treat occlusive disease of the infrapopliteal arteries. Results presented at the VEITHsymposium in New York showed that the Sundance Sirolimus DCB demonstrated an excellent safety profile and achieved primary patency of 71.4% at 24 months in the per protocol analysis population.
One-year data from Xeltis AG’s first-in-human Axess vascular conduit trial showed outstanding results in patients with end stage renal disease who were deemed unsuitable for arteriovenous (AV) fistula creation. The results, presented at the VEITHsymposium in New York, showed 100% secondary patency, 78% primary assisted patency and no infections were observed in data from 20 patients implanted with the Axess conduit.
Gilde Healthcare Partners BV finally closed its Venture & Growth VI fund after raising €740 million (US$803 million) in commitments. The venture capital firm added €140 million to the €600 million unveiled earlier in the year due to strong interest from institutional investors.
Senior leaders and investors in the health care sector expect mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity to continue to pick up next year but this will be corporate led rather than private equity, according to a report by global investment bank Jefferies.
