Happify Inc. secured $73 million through a series D fundraising round and related financing to expand the company's digital health platform. Deerfield Management Company led the latest round, with participation by Omega Capital Partners, Ion Crossover Partners, and existing investors.
Inflammatix Inc. raised $102 million in series D financing to advance development and commercialization of its novel immune response diagnostics portfolio. D1 Capital Partners led the round, with additional funds provided by existing investors Northpond Ventures LLC, Khosla Ventures, Think.Health GmbH, and OSF Healthcare Ventures, among others.
Roche Holding AG will acquire Genmark Diagnostics Inc. for $24.05 per share in cash for a total of $1.8 billion on a fully diluted basis. The transaction will give Basel, Switzerland-based Roche access to Genmark’s molecular diagnostics portfolio. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021. The price represents a 43% premium on the Carlsbad, Calif.-headquartered diagnostics company’s share price as of Feb. 10, prior to media speculation about a potential acquisition.
Neuroclear Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Biosig Technologies Inc. formed to focus on the emerging field of bioelectronics, was allowed a utility patent by the U.S. Patent Office that the company exclusively licensed from Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Neuroclear aims to use neurostimulation technology to develop novel solutions to challenging physiological and neurological disorders. The company's first target and the focus of the patent is treatment of hypertension via electroporation of renal nerves.
I-O Urology Corp. launched its Carepath platform to provide remote patient monitoring for urologic conditions. The platform uses a compact portable system to capture real-time urine voiding data and a mobile app to facilitate accurate reporting and timely communication between patients and their health care providers.
Mahana Therapeutics Inc. obtained a CE mark for Parallel, a prescription digital therapeutic device to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in conjunction with other IBS treatments. Developed by a team of U.K. psychologists, the three-month program delivers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) via a web-based application.
Stimulating the liver with focused ultrasound decreased obesity, chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in preclinical studies, reported GE Research and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, the research arm of Northwell Health. In a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers demonstrated that nerve modulation with ultrasound in mice helped regulate neurons involved in food intake, glucose regulation and metabolism without negative side effects.
Cue Health Inc. became the first company to offer COVID-19 molecular testing for home use without a prescription following U.S. FDA emergency use authorization on March 5, 2021. The San Diego-based company’s isothermal nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) detects RNA from SARS-CoV-2 virus present in the nostrils. “The FDA continues to prioritize the availability of more at-home testing options in response to the pandemic,” said Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Cue COVID-19 Test for Home and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Use provides access to accurate and reliable testing at-home, without a prescription.”
Neurolief Ltd. received FDA clearance for its Relivion system for home treatment of acute migraine. The noninvasive multichannel brain neuromodulation system, worn as a headset, stimulates the occipital and trigeminal nerves.
Bionaut Labs emerged from five years in stealth mode raising $20 million to develop Bionauts, microrobots designed to deliver therapies to treat brain disorders. The financing will support the company’s therapeutic program in glioma through preclinical development and further research and development in Huntington’s disease.
