• ATS Medical (Minneapolis) reported the first North American commercial implant of the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis. ATS says the bioprosthesis uses design concepts intended to preserve native aortic root geometry and function. Through this approach, the prosthesis more closely mimics native valve function providing excellent hemodynamic performance that may contribute to improvements in key determinants of cardiovascular performance such as coronary blood flow and left ventricular mass regression. ATS makes cardiac surgery products and services.
  • Corgenix Medical (Denver) reported FDA clearance for the company's IgG Anti-AtherOx test kit. This laboratory test uses the company's AtherOx technology to detect antibodies in individuals with important autoimmune diseases. AtherOx technology uses oxidized low-density-lipoprotein (oxLDL) complexed with the plasma protein B2GPI. Although oxLDL has been implicated in cardiovascular disease, determination of oxLDL/B2GPI complexes, rather than oxLDL alone, may be a more physiologic and accurate way of assessing the risk of progressive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus-like disorders. The IgG test kit indication is used for the detection of IgG antibodies to complexes formed by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) with B2-glycoprotein I (B2GPI) in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus-like disorders (antiphospholipid syndrome). Corgenix makes diagnostic kits for vascular diseases, immunology disorders, and bone and joint disorders.
  • Inovio Biomedical (San Diego) reported the publication of data from preclinical studies performed in collaboration with scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), demonstrating a 77-fold increase in dendritic cells at the site of administration of a DNA vaccine delivered with electroporation compared to a similar amount of DNA delivered using a DNA injection alone. This result suggests that electroporation provides a strong adjuvant effect capable of priming the immune system, partially explaining the apparent enhancement that electroporation has provided in enhancing the potency of DNA vaccines in humans. Inovio is focused on developing multiple DNA-based immunotherapies and DNA vaccines.