Being able to detect cancers early can substantially improve survival, but most early detection tests for cancer rely on expensive and sophisticated molecular techniques that might be difficult to implement in resource strapped environments. Two new studies published last week attempt to overcome this problem.
Nervtex Co. Ltd.’s diagnostic assessment software Modas for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease has been given NMPA approval in China. Using smart mobile devices, Modas can process video data collected from people with potential or existing movement disorders when they are in any specific motion state.
Act Genomics (Hong Kong) Ltd. won U.S. FDA approval for its genomic profiling test for solid tumors, Actonco. This marks the first time an Asia-based company has received FDA clearance for a comprehensive genomic profiling test.
Nuralogix Corp. is taking its selfie-based health monitoring platform to the next level, offering continuous health and vital signs tracking during video calls. The launch of Anura Telehealth is the newest addition its Anura app, which uses video cameras on smartphones and other consumer devices to extract facial blood flow information and provide a personalized snapshot of health and wellness.
CRISPR, or clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats, is transforming biomedical research, and making rapid inroads into the clinic, with its ability to easily target specific DNA and RNA sequences. CRISPR itself is made of RNA. It recognizes target sequences and delivers CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins, nucleases that cut the target sequence. In two papers published online in Nature on Jan. 4, 2023, researchers have demonstrated that a recently discovered type of Cas protein, Cas12a2, can degrade double-stranded DNA when its associated CRISPR guide RNA recognizes its target sequence.
The U.S. FDA has approved Polarean Imaging plc’s drug-device combination product, Xenoview, for use with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating lung ventilation in adults and children aged 12 and older. The hyperpolarized contrast agent, which is prepared from the Xenon Xe 129 gas blend, is expected to be commercially available in the U.S. starting next month.
Numares Health AG received $21.2 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) in support to its automated and software based IVD platform for obtaining high-quality nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics data from blood or urine biopsy samples.
Seekin Inc.’s cancer mutation detection kit Pancanseek for leukemia patients has received a CE-IVD mark, expanding the company’s reach in the testing space.
A new acute coronary syndrome detection system developed by Neuome Peptides Pte. Ltd.’s aims to make tests for the frequently lethal condition faster, more precise and less invasive. Neuome’s Truheart is a point-of-care assay for cardiovascular disease that is used in the company’s established Instadetect assay development platform. The assay measures the biomarkers troponins I and T and myoglobin.
Earlysight SA is developing a novel ophthalmology device that can be used to diagnose certain degenerative eye disorders long before onset of first symptoms. Earlysight and researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have reported positive results for their first clinical trial of Cellularis in the journal Ophthalmology Science.