Roche Holding AG has rapidly developed a research-use only molecular PCR test to detect the rare Ebola Bundibugyo virus, to support response efforts amid the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The test comes as commentary in The Lancet this week underscored the urgent need for a fit-for-purpose diagnostic test, as it warned that the absence of reliable testing is hampering efforts to ascertain the scale of the epidemic and understand the transmissibility of this strain of Bundibugyo virus.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported findings from studies of CBT-001-2334, a radionuclide peptide targeting carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX/CA9) designed for diagnostic gallium labeling and downstream therapeutic isotope pairing. It features a DOTA chelator for use in theranostic applications through chelating either diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides. Because it has limited expression in normal tissue, CAIX is an attractive target in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Mammogen Inc. raised $30 million in equity financing in a series A round to support the clinical advancement and commercialization of its RNA-powered molecular diagnostics platform. The company’s lead product is Gentru-breast, a blood-based assay designed to detect molecular signatures associated with breast cancer from a simple blood draw.