Mammoth Biosciences Inc., of South San Francisco, and London-based Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) have joined forces to develop a point-of-care test to detect active COVID-19 infections using Mammoth’s CRISPR-based DETECTR platform. The two companies hope to submit an application to the U.S. FDA for emergency use of the test before the end of the year.

Ortek Therapeutics Inc., of Roslyn Heights, N.Y., has officially launched its electronic early cavity detection system, the Ortek-ECD. The U.S. FDA-cleared device can detect dental lesions before they show up on X-rays, enabling less invasive treatment and preventing greater damage to the tooth structure. Ortek holds the exclusive license for the device which was developed at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine.

Proscia Inc., a Philadelphia-based company that focuses on artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled digital pathology solutions, recently made the Concentriq Dx digital pathology software available for use in reviewing and reporting of digital pathology slides in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dry eye disease is a common problem, and Sight Sciences Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., is looking to help those who suffer from the condition. Now, the company has seen the presentation of positive clinical data from the multicenter OLYMPIA study of Tearcare, which the company has heralded as the first wearable and intelligent eyelid technology for dry eye treatment.

Abbott Laboratories’ ID Now test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus made waves when it was introduced thanks to the rapid turnaround time the molecular test promised. But questions about the test’s performance have surfaced several times in recent weeks. The latest criticism comes from a study conducted at the New York University Langone Medical Center, which claims the diagnostic compared poorly against a competitor. However, the U.S. FDA said that it has questions about the swabs and transport media used in connection with the test. As a result, it will stand pat regarding the ID Now’s place in the emergency use authorization (EUA) program.

“Our window of opportunity is closing. If we fail to develop a national coordinated response, based in science, I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged, causing unprecedented illness and fatalities,” Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, said today as he testified at a House subcommittee hearing on the U.S. response to COVID-19.

Irvine, Calif.-based startup Ocutrx Vision Technologies LLC unveiled new technology that it said helps surgeons better visualize the operative field during surgical procedures. The OR-Bot Surgery Visualization Theatre combines augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and both human- and robot-controlled arms to facilitate exacting medical procedures without the need for physicians to look away from the patient.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has opened a priority track for patents related to the COVID-19 pandemic, another signal of federal government intent on overcoming this new plague. However, Scott Marty, a partner with the Atlanta office of Ballard Spahr LLP, told BioWorld that while the program offers some distinct advantages for pandemic-driven patents, inventors should have their filings in good form before entry because any delays incurred by a less-than-airtight application could lead the PTO to boot the application out of this program.

How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting cancer treatment plans? Oncologists are weighing switching treatment plans, and they have many questions. That’s where Nanthealth Inc., of El Segundo, Calif., is looking to help.