The days when paclitaxel was the subject of controversy in connection with peripheral artery disease (PAD) seem to be drawing to a close, thanks in part to a new drug-coated balloon (DCB) by Trireme Medical Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif. Trireme’s Chocolate Touch device, a second-generation DCB with paclitaxel as an antiproliferative, fared well against a legacy paclitaxel device, thus opening a new front in the competition in the PAD space and seemingly relieving any concerns about the safety of paclitaxel.
Windtree Therapeutics Inc.’s positive top-line data from the phase II study called Seismic, testing istaroxime in cardiogenic shock (CS), a form of sudden heart failure (HF), add “a lot of interesting strategies and options” with the compound, also in development for acute HF, said CEO Craig Fraser.
Cairdac SAS closed its first funding round, raising nearly $18.5 million to increase development of an autonomous, leadless pacemaker transcatheter system (ALPS) powered entirely using kinetic energy from the heart. Five French private equity funds and banks participated in this series A round.
The FDA has given thumbs up to two clinical studies for a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system developed by HLT Inc. to treat aortic stenosis among high-risk patients. Those studies will include aortic regurgitation which also occurs when an aortic valve doesn't open and close tightly enough but for which there are few suitable, noninvasive treatments.
Valuations in the med-tech space lately call into question the old medical adage: “If you hear hoofbeats, think horses.” These days, you would be wise to consider unicorns in the differential diagnosis. Two new companies achieved the formerly rare status just this week. Viz.ai Inc.’s closing today of a $100 million series D financing propelled it into the stratosphere with a $1.2 billion valuation, joining Bostongene LLC which completed its own $150 million round Wednesday.
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