The French and German governments have just announced a major project to develop a digital platform for the early detection of new respiratory pathogen epidemics, and then monitor their spread and inform decisions on appropriate counter measures. The COVID-19 crisis has confirmed the need for a resilient multi-stakeholder surveillance and control system to manage current and future epidemics or pandemics.
Rennes University Hospital in France has just this April completed a surgical procedure in the operating room wirelessly, thanks to the 5G network. Cardiologist Erwan Donal performed a heart operation there on a simulation manikin, monitored remotely from Athens, Greece, by heart surgeon Alexandros Stefanidis, from the department of cardiology at the General Hospital of Nikea.
Getinge AB is acquiring 100% of the equity in fluorescence imaging company Fluoptics SAS, a company using the technology as an aid to surgery. Getinge will, through its subsidiary Getinge Infection Control SAS, acquire all outstanding shares in Fluoptics and will pay around $27 million in cash on closing the deal.
Ecential Robotics SAS and Amplitude Surgical SA reported a long-term partnership to develop a robotic solution for knee surgery. These two French-based med-tech firms are combining their technology used for intraoperative 2D/3D imaging and surgical navigation in orthopedics.
The Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, has just been awarded funding from the European Research Council to establish proof of concept for new type of flat-plate positron emission tomography scanner (PET) that can be attached to the patient’s body to accurately monitor cancer proton therapy results in real time.
Nanobiotix SA has just presented new data from an open-label preclinical study evaluating the action of its nanoparticle-enhanced radiotherapy, NBTXR3, with the triple blockade of PD-1, LAG-3, and TIGIT on mice carrying cancerous cells. PD-1, LAG-3 and TIGIT are three checkpoint inhibitors which regulate the natural killer cells usually targeted in combination therapy in immuno-oncology.
A research team led by neuroscientists and neurosurgeons from Paris-Saclay University have recently managed to demonstrate that electrical stimulation of the thalamus can restore consciousness when this has been impaired.
Carmat SA just completed a funding exercise, raising nearly $44 million to resume production and implantation of its Aeson total artificial heart, designed for patients suffering from end-stage bi-ventricular heart failure. The capital raise was achieved by issuing 4.05 million new shares on the Paris Euronext exchange, at a fixed price of $10.81 a share.
Cairdac SAS closed its first funding round, raising nearly $18.5 million to increase development of an autonomous, leadless pacemaker transcatheter system (ALPS) powered entirely using kinetic energy from the heart. Five French private equity funds and banks participated in this series A round.
The German Medical Technology Association, BVMed, and the French medical technology industries association, SNITEM, have issued a joint warning highlighting the risk of collapse in patient care throughout the EU.
