Huntington’s disease is a fatal hereditary disease that results in the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It erodes a person’s physical and mental abilities, usually beginning in their 30s and 40s, and to date has no cure. Now Austin-based Asuragen Inc. is joining forces with Wave Life Sciences USA Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., to develop companion diagnostics (CDx) for Wave’s investigative allele-selective therapeutic programs targeting the genetic cause of the disease. Read More
Radiologist burnout is a common problem. To combat this issue, Berkeley, Calif.-based Rad AI has launched with a $4 million seed round led by Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused venture fund. Other participants in the round were UP2398, Precursor Ventures, GMO Venture Partners, Array Ventures, Hike Ventures, Fifty Years VC and various angels. Read More
The FDA has posted the names of the companies that will take part in the ethylene oxide (EtO) challenge in response to the recent state action against EtO device sterilization sites, but the agency also has opened a pilot program for a streamlined notification process for changes to sterilization that should be faster and leaner than the usual PMA supplement. Read More
LONDON – Mologic Ltd. has started recruitment in a 263-patient trial to validate its urine-based home test for anticipating exacerbations of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD). The lateral flow immunoassay self-test detects five biomarkers of the lung disease in urine that are indicative of inflammation and infection. Read More
Hafnium nanoparticles that home onto microfractures in bone make the tiny cracks visible in spectral or color computed tomography (CT) imaging. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Maryland created the nanotechnology to work in conjunction with spectral molecular imaging developed by New Zealand-based MARS Bioimaging Ltd. (MBI). The research appeared in Advanced Functional Materials. Read More
