News out of the Heart Rhythm Society 2024 meeting May 16-19 highlighted the rapid disruption pulsed field ablation (PFA) devices have wrought in cardiac arrhythmia treatment, so it is little surprise to see that PFAs are among the top five technologies with transformative potential identified by Clarivate plc in its Medical Technologies to Watch in 2024 report. The impact of the other four – continuous glucose monitors (CGM) for diabetes, neurostimulation devices, surgical robotics and renal denervation – has been just as revolutionary, if longer in being realized.

Despite the bullish outlook in its quarterly earnings call, which included raising the midpoint of its full-year guidance range, Abbott Laboratories stock slipped on its light second-quarter outlook.

In a sweet indication of an improving capital market for med-tech companies, Biolinq Inc. landed $58 million in bridge financing to support completion of the U.S. pivotal trial of its intradermal glucose sensor and submission to the U.S. FDA. The round brings the total raised to more than $170 million. With good response so far, the company is optimistic that it can attract more funding in short order. “Biolinq also plans to raise a series C financing of more than $100 million to support commercialization at the end of this year,” Biolinq CEO Rich Yang told BioWorld.

A metabolite that suppresses appetite and food intake after exercise could be the reason for the weight loss observed in patients treated with metformin to control blood glucose. A study conducted by a group of scientists at Stanford University showed how this antidiabetic drug induced the biosynthesis of N-lactoyl-phenylalanine (Lac-Phe), which has an effect reducing the body mass index.

Thermology Health Ltd. is looking to raise £3 million to £4 million (US$3.8 million to US$5 million) to help bring its thermal imaging technology to patients to better diagnose and prevent diabetic foot ulcers, Yuval Yashiv, CEO told BioWorld. The company’s AI-driven remote patient monitoring platform measures the temperature of the skin on the foot and detects whether an ulcer is forming, thereby preventing thousands of foot amputations and significantly reducing health care costs, said Yashiv.

Roche AG debuted a new continuous glucose monitor (CGM) at the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes conference in Florence, Italy, last week, but how appealing users will find it remains unclear – as is the market opportunity given the entrenched position of Abbott Laboratories and Dexcom Inc.

Reports of the death of the market for continuous glucose monitors in individuals with type 2 diabetes are greatly exaggerated, Abbott Laboratories studies show. Far from being unnecessary given the enthusiastic uptake of GLP-1 drugs, the devices significantly improve blood glucose control regardless of the drug used, duration of SLP-1 therapy or use of insulin, presentations at the International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes in Florence, Italy, demonstrated.

In a grand slam for Dexcom Inc., the U.S. FDA cleared its Stelo glucose biosensor system for over-the-counter marketing, making it the first integrated continuous glucose monitor available without a prescription. Designed for use by the 25 million adults with diabetes who do not use insulin and do not have problematic hypoglycemia, the FDA indication expanded the clearance for Stelo to include individuals without diabetes “who want to better understand how diet and exercise may impact blood sugar levels,” dramatically expanding the market opportunity.

Osang Healthcare Co. Ltd. is attempting a second listing on the Kosdaq market with an IPO, planned sometime in March, to fund the company’s growth beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Insulet Corp. received the greenlight from EU regulators to combine its Omnipod 5 automated insulin delivery (AID) system with Abbott Laboratories Freestyle Libre 2 Plus sensor to treat individuals aged two years and older with type 1 diabetes.