Quest Diagnostics Inc. agreed to purchase Canadian laboratory testing giant Lifelabs Inc. from the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System for US$985 million (CA$1.35 billion), including debt, in a deal expected to close by the end of the year. Quest projects that Lifelabs, which will retain its brand, headquarters and management, will contribute US$710 million in the first 12 months after closing. Read More

The U.S. FDA granted Signum Surgical Ltd. de novo marketing clearance for its Biohealx technology as a treatment for anal fistula. Biohealx is a single use, bioabsorbable implant, designed to not only to treat the condition in a minimally invasive procedure but also promote healing, prevent fistula recurrence and protect patient continence. Read More

The problems with U.S. Medicare coverage for medical software are well known, but the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recently indicated that these problems are largely manageable for services delivered via managed care plans. Read More

Confidence in working with Chinese biopharma companies has dropped by 30% to 50% for U.S.-based life sciences companies, with Chinese contract development and manufacturing organizations the hardest hit, according to a recent LEK survey of global life sciences companies on the impact of the pending U.S. Biosecure Act. Read More

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition in which amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles accumulate in the brain. In addition to genetic factors, DNA damage and epigenetic alterations also play a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of this disease, altering gene expression, the functioning and maintenance of brain cells. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and chromatin accessibility are two hallmarks of AD whose study could reveal new ways of approaching this disease. Read More

BioWorld's offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day in the U.S. No issue will be published Thursday, July 4. Read More

New hires and promotions in the med-tech industry, including: Lifeward, Neuromod, Rewalk Robotics, Royal Philips. Read More

Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Menarini Silicon Biosystems, Theraguix. Read More

Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Alafair, Genetesis, Lantheus, Life Molecular Imaging, Owkin, Seastar. Read More

Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Avicenna.AI, Signum Surgical. Read More