Oncology genomic testing company Berry Oncology Corp.’s latest research results showed promising data for its Hifi platform-based technology, its CEO Jun Zhou said during the first International Biopharma Industry Week held in Shanghai. With the Hifi liquid biopsy test, users can receive early screening of six cancers, including liver cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer, with an overall sensitivity of 87.6%, specificity of 99.1%, and overall tissue of origin precision in 82% of positive cancers.

PERTH, Australia – Australia’s TGA issued new guidance to help device manufacturers better understand new classifications for active medical devices, including software-based medical devices, and clinical decision support software.

A pan-cancer liquid biopsy solution that was developed by Twist Bioscience Corp. and Anchordx Medical Co. Ltd. has been launched globally. The companies will market the Twist Alliance Pan-Cancer Methylation Panel (Pan-Cancer Panel) jointly. The Pan-Cancer Panel is a solution for pan-cancer study including DNA methylation library preparation and targeted enrichment for next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Chinese med-tech firms are still flocking to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange despite recent disappointing performances. One of these companies is Shanghai Microport Medbot (Group) Co. Ltd., which is looking to raise up to $1 billion in a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO). Proceeds from the listing will be used for the R&D and commercialization of its core product Toumai Laparoscopic Surgical Robot.

PERTH, Australia – Molecular diagnostic company Speedx Pty Ltd. has invested in a Perth-based startup that makes the raw materials needed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 tests. The two companies will work to develop a new at-home rapid PCR test to ensure Australia can become self-sufficient with producing PCR tests. A rapid PCR test that gives an accurate result in minutes could be used at home or work.

Through a series of notifications, India’s drug regulator has classified a new batch of medical devices as well as a range of software used in medical devices according to risk, taking another step to strengthen regulatory oversight and shore up the domestic med-tech sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed India’s pharmaceutical and medical device industries towards the more widespread use of blockchain as part of a significant digital transformation effort underpinned by growing use of the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning (ML) and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

South Korea’s Cgbio Inc. has entered a partnership agreement with Singapore-based NDR Medical Technology Pte. Ltd. to introduce and test an automated needle targeting (ANT)-X system to assist surgeons during minimally invasive surgery. The system will combine artificial intelligence (AI) and medical image processing, based on core technology from NDR Medical.

Shanghai Wision AI Co. Ltd. (Wision AI) has shared positive data from a first-of-its-kind study on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) computer-aided polyp detection (CADe) system during colorectal cancer screening in a U.S. patient population. Published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, it marks the world’s first external independent randomized controlled trial of AI in the medical field conducted in the U.S.

India is turning to digital means in a bid to manage illnesses within its borders, with both public and private corporations getting in on the action. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi (AIIMS), a public medical institute in the state of Delhi, has developed two mobile apps for patients with chronic mental illness and their caregivers. The first app is Shaksham, for patients with chronic mental illness, while another, called Disha, will be for patients who are undergoing their first such episode of symptoms.