Results from a new peer-reviewed study show people develop emotional bonds with artificial intelligence (AI) therapy chatbots in a similar way to in-person therapists. The study evaluated 1,205 people using a mental health app developed by Wysa Ltd. to assist symptoms of anxiety or depression. The chatbot guides users through therapy exercises including cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy, meditation, breathing and yoga to build mental resilience skills.
Diagnostic testing group Clinisys Inc. has acquired cloud-based laboratory operations software company Apollolims in an undisclosed deal. Headquartered in Chertsey, U.K., and Tucson, Ariz., Clinisys will expand its public health, toxicology, and molecular diagnostics offering through the acquisition. The deal builds on the company’s combination with Sunquest and Horizon announced in January.
Newstem Ltd. filed a presubmission to the U.S. FDA for a de novo request and an in vitro diagnostic device with the EMA for its Newstem software diagnostic device (NSDD). The bioinformatics-based platform is a personalized diagnostic to inform oncologists about the presence of mutations in tumors and predict a patients’ resistance to chemotherapy treatments. The technology utilizes specialized stem cells (haploid cells) that carry just one set of chromosomes.
Israeli startup Sanolla Ltd. won U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for its smart-infrasound stethoscope Voqx. The artificial intelligence (AI)-based device is the first stethoscope cleared by the U.S. FDA to detect infrasound and audible information to identify clinical conditions. The auscultation capabilities are designed to support early assessment of cardiopulmonary conditions.
Pangea Biomed Ltd. picked up $7 million in seed financing to fast-track development of its multicancer, multitherapy response predictor Enlight. The platform combines machine learning and RNA sequencing to map tumor molecular signatures and predict how different cancer types will respond to oncology drugs. Pangea said instead of using transcriptomic data, it is utilizing ‘unsupervised’ AI techniques that harvest information about gene interactions.
The U.S. FDA has given the green light to a pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair device developed by Misgav, Israel-based Escala Medical Ltd. The mesh-free, non-surgical repair system is designed to anchor sutures to ligaments of the pelvic floor in an incision-free procedure. Escala, which is a portfolio company of Israeli government franchised incubator Trendlines Group Ltd., believes the device will help the 1 in 5 women in the U.S. affected by POP.
A brainwave biomarker licensed by digital therapeutic startup Empower Therapeutics Inc. showed potential to identify patients with high sensitivity to pain. In a new study carried out by researchers at the University of Birmingham, U.K., the biomarker predicted which patients had a pain score of seven out of 10 or higher (severe pain) following lung surgery.
Elekta AB signed a commercial agreement with GE Healthcare Co. Ltd. to expand hospital access to radiotherapy. Marlborough, Mass.-based GE Healthcare said it will combine its precision imaging solutions with Elekta’s radiation therapy portfolio to provide hospitals worldwide with a more comprehensive oncology offering.
Cardiorenal is advancing a digital solution for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with a new seed investment. The Grenoble, France-based startup’s product Tenor attracted $3.7 million from investors to secure regulatory clearance in the U.S. and Europe.
Health tech firm Qure.ai Technologies Private Ltd. has secured a $40 million investment from investors including Novo Holdings and Healthquad to expand its portfolio of automated artificial intelligence (AI)-based imaging diagnostics. The company’s suite of technologies incorporates deep learning and AI to interpret radiology images such as X-rays, CTs, and ultrasounds in less than a minute.
