https://www.bioworld.com/rss en-us Science Corp. launched its Prima retinal implant in Europe after receiving CE mark approval under the Medical Device Regulation, a significant milestone for the brain-computer interface (BCI) field. However, unlike most BCIs, which decode neural activity to translate thoughts into actions, Prima writes visual information into the nervous system to restore vision. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732763 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732763-science-gains-ce-mark-ability-precision-show-bci-capabilities Prima implant The Prima retinal implant. Credit: Science Corp. Scientists in Europe have added their voices to the many thousands of objections made against proposed changes to the oversight of U.S. federal research grants, under which political appointees and not peer review experts would have the final say on who and what gets funding. The concern is that awarding grants, based on the principle that research proposals must be in keeping with President Donald Trump’s policy priorities, poses a threat to open scientific inquiry and academic freedom, and also will undermine international research collaboration. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732893 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732893-europe-voices-concerns-on-changes-to-us-federal-grant-rules Blocks displaying microscopes and money bags An increase in the level of M&A activity and some sizeable financing rounds are encouraging signs for the med-tech investment environment, said Joey Mason, life sciences venture partner at Claret Capital Partners. He pointed to Medtronic plc’s acquisition of SPR Therapeutics Inc., and Neurent Medical Ltd.’s large fundraise earlier in the year, as evidence of the improving sentiment. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732749 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732749-med-tech-funding-outlook-improves-as-dealmaking-accelerates Coins and charts Scientists in Europe have added their voices to the many thousands of objections made against proposed changes to the oversight of U.S. federal research grants, under which political appointees and not peer review experts would have the final say on who and what gets funding. The concern is that awarding grants, based on the principle that research proposals must be in keeping with President Donald Trump’s policy priorities, poses a threat to open scientific inquiry and academic freedom, and also will undermine international research collaboration. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732748 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732748-europe-voices-concerns-on-changes-to-us-federal-grant-rules Blocks displaying microscopes and money bags AMT Medical BV reported positive one-year data from a study looking at its ELANA device, a sutureless coronary bypass technology designed to simplify one of the most technically demanding steps in coronary artery bypass grafting, and potentially expand use of the minimally invasive procedures.  device, a sutureless coronary bypass technology designed to simplify one of the most technically demanding steps in coronary artery bypass grafting, and potentially expand use of the minimally invasive procedures.]]> http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732738 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732738-amt-medicals-sutureless-bypass-tech-shown-to-be-safe-and-effective AMT Medical ELANA Heart Bypass system ELANA heart bypass system. Credit: AMT Medical BV U.K. biotech has recorded the strongest quarter for venture capital raised in five years, with companies attracting £2.05 billion (US$3.36 billion) in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026. While that figure is dominated by the £1.56 billion series B round raised by Google Deepmind’s AI drug discovery spin-off Isomorphic Labs Ltd, the remaining £498 million is a significant increase to the £279 million raised in Q2 of 2025. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732737 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732737-uk-biotech-reports-record-vc-funding-in-q2-2026 UK flag, coins, charts Leica Biosystems GmbH, agreed to buy Statlab Medical Products in a move that will strengthen parent company Danaher Corp.'s diagnostics and anatomical pathology portfolio with a broader range of consumables and instruments. Although the financial terms were not disclosed, RBC Capital Markets analyst Dan Leonard reckoned that the deal could be valued at more than $1 billion. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732725 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732725-danahers-leica-to-buy-statlab-to-expand-pathology-footprint Microscope and pathology slides GSK plc’s walk-away from refractory chronic cough prospect camlipixant because of dicey phase III results opened the door wider for Trevi Therapeutics Inc. with Haduvio (oral nalbuphine ER), which yielded positive phase II data in June. Shares of Trevi (NASDAQ:TRVI) closed July 17 at $19.07, up $1.71, or 9.9%. London-based GSK reported findings with camlipixant, a P2X3 receptor antagonist, from the Calm-1 and Calm-2 trials. The first met its primary endpoint, with camlipixant 50 mg twice daily showing statistically significant reductions in 24-hour cough frequency vs. placebo when measured at week 12. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732722 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732722-cant-hack-it-bellus-tolls-for-gsk-phase-iii-cough-drug Man coughing into hand Rebates on sales of patented drugs in Germany are to increase from 7% to 15.5%, following passage of an act to reduce healthcare spending across the board. There also will be a 9% rebate on patented vaccines, whilst at the same time prices will be frozen until 2030 and price-volume controls will be introduced to restrict the amount spent overall. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732693 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732693-industry-hits-back-as-rebate-on-drugs-more-than-doubles-in-germany Map of Europe highlighting Germany with its flag There is no doubt that investment into women’s health is increasing. According to a new report by W Group, in 2025, $1.55 billion in disclosed equity was raised by 85 women’s health companies, across more than 30 countries. However, challenges remain. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732611 Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732611-womens-health-investment-climbs-but-funding-challenges-remain Businesswoman pressing dollar sign on touchscreen Newronika SpA received CE mark certification for its latest adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) system, which includes the integration of Webbiobank, its proprietary cloud-based neural data platform. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732597 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732597-newronika-gains-ce-mark-for-adaptive-dbs-system-with-webbiobank Newronika aDBS system Newronika's adaptive deep brain stimulation system. Credit: Newronika SpA The Oxford Vaccine Group has delivered on its promise, and after starting work in mid-May has completed preclinical testing and is ready to begin a phase I trial of a vaccine against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus that is causing the current serious disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732596 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732596-first-purpose-designed-ebola-bundibugyo-vaccine-ready-for-phase-i Close-up of a medical syringe The U.K. is setting up a nationwide registry of people with dementia, who will be pre-screened and consented, to speed up recruitment to clinical trials and collect real-world evidence of effectiveness once therapies are approved. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732581 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732581-uk-to-launch-alzheimer-patient-database-to-speed-up-trials Scientist with blood test tubes Alongside its duties in evaluating safety and effectiveness of drugs and their postmarketing monitoring, the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Agency (MHRA) has now been handed a further brief to support economic growth. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732533 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732533-mhra-adds-economic-growth-to-its-drug-and-device-regulation-remit Economic growth illustration with coins, charts The synergy – or lack of it – between knockdown drugs and stabilizers in treating transthyretin (TTR)-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) became one of the topics for debate in the aftermath of the phase III fizzle with gene silencer Wainua (eplontersen), advanced by Astrazeneca plc and Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732529 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732529-combination-locked-out-in-attr-cm-dead-expert-says Human heart within crosshairs News of the unexpected phase III failure of the gene silencing drug Wainua (eplontersen) in the treatment of transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy sent Astrazeneca plc’s shares (NYSE:AZN) down $10.88 to close July 9 at $178.40. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732518 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732518-ionis-az-shares-down-on-unexpected-wainua-flop-in-cardiomyopathy Wainua autoinjector Credit: wainua.com The gene therapy specialist formerly known as EG427 has a new name and fresh momentum, after closing a €33 million (US$37.7 million) series C that will further advance clinical development of the lead program in chronic neuro-urology indications. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732419 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732419-eg427-raises-377m-series-c-for-hsv-gene-therapy Bladder Novartis AG is to pay $1.1 billion up front to acquire Myricx Bio Ltd., a preclinical-stage antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) specialist that is advancing a novel and more potent class of payload. With the first two programs due to enter clinical development before the end of the year, the Swiss pharma also will pay up to $400 million more in potential milestones. The centerpiece of the deal is London-based Myricx’s N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors, which in preclinical testing have prompted complete and durable tumor regression at well-tolerated doses in a range of solid tumors. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732468 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732468-novartis-to-pay-15b-for-myricx-bio-and-its-novel-adc-payloads 3D rendering of antibody drug conjugated with cytotoxic payload Novartis AG is to pay $1.1 billion up front to acquire Myricx Bio Ltd., a preclinical-stage antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) specialist that is advancing a novel and more potent class of payload. With the first two programs due to enter clinical development before the end of the year, the Swiss pharma also will pay up to $400 million more in potential milestones. The centerpiece of the deal is London-based Myricx’s N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors, which in preclinical testing have prompted complete and durable tumor regression at well-tolerated doses in a range of solid tumors. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732285 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732285-novartis-to-pay-15b-for-myricx-bio-and-its-novel-adc-payloads 3D rendering of antibody drug conjugated with cytotoxic payload Ipsen SA announced its second acquisition of the week, saying it will pay €700 million (US$797 million) for Memo Therapeutics AG and its phase III-ready drug potravitug, a treatment for BK virus-associated infections and nephropathy in immune-compromised kidney transplant patients. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732257 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732257-in-2nd-deal-of-week-ipsen-buys-memos-kidney-transplant-antibody Illustration of antibodies flying around a kidney The academic authors of the paper describing the pivotal trial of Amgen Inc.’s Tavneos (avacopan) have retracted it from The New England Journal of Medicine because the primary endpoint assessments of nine patients were “re-adjudicated” after the database was locked and the study unblinded. The New England Journal of Medicine because the primary endpoint assessments of nine patients were “re-adjudicated” after the database was locked and the study unblinded.]]> http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732242 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732242-nejm-paper-on-tavneos-pivotal-trial-retracted-by-academic-authors Photo of pen and marker on science journal article Deep brain stimulation (DBS) through implanted electrodes has enabled fundamentally new ways of treating certain disorders. More than 100,000 severely ill patients have received an implant to treat Parkinson’s disease, which is DBS’ greatest success story. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732241 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732241-deep-brain-stimulation-from-the-shallows-tomorrows-bci-technology Black wavy lines forming an abstract sound wave.png 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. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732228 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732228-roche-launches-axelios-1-sequencing-platform-to-rival-illumina DNA NGS genome sequencing Following an initial rebuff in February 2026, the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) is recommending approval of Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Daybu (trofinetide) for treating neurobehavioral symptoms of Rett syndrome, after it took another look at the file. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732227 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732227-ema-reverses-its-stance-on-acadias-rett-syndrome-therapy-daybu EU flags at European Commission building 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. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732225 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732225-ascending-bci-systems-deepen-national-security-ethical-concerns Brain made of chip and circuits 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. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732175 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732175-j-and-j-brings-dual-energy-cardiac-ablation-technology-to-europe Johnson & Johnson’s Thermocool Smarttouch SF platform J&J’s Thermocool Smarttouch SF platform. Credit: Johnson & Johnson The EMA is recommending withdrawing Amgen Inc.’s complement inhibitor Tavneos (avacopan) from the market in Europe, saying data provided at the time it assessed the MAA “were found to be incorrect and misleading and could no longer be relied upon for demonstrating Tavneos’ effectiveness.” http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732171 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732171-ema-to-pull-amgens-tavneos-over-incorrect-and-misleading-data Tavneos Credit: Amgen Inc. 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. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732170 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732170-investors-bet-on-transformative-bci-tech-for-neuro-disorders Digital brain with dollar sign Adhesives innovator H.B. Fuller Co. is offering £2.85 per share in cash to buy Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc, expanding its technologies, commercial footprint and manufacturing capabilities across the globe. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732163 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732163-advanced-medical-solutions-takeout-offer-worth-659m Acquisition target 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. http://www.bioworld.com/articles/732157 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.bioworld.com/articles/732157-merck-to-buy-bio-techne-for-113b-to-boost-life-sciences-portfolio Lab glassware and scientist