Emulate‘s small airway-lung chip could help researchers study viral-induced exacerbations of asthma, according to data presented this week at the American Thoracic Society’s annual meeting. The studies were conducted as part of the company’s partnership with (NYSE:MRK). The collaborative project was designed to enable development of new anti-inflammatory treatments for patients with asthma, according to Emulate. […]
Clinical Trials
Novartis’ Ultibro Breezhaler tops inhaled corticosteroid for COPD in head-to-head study
Novartis (NYSE:NVS) said today that a new analysis of its head-to-head Flame trial showed that inhaled corticosteroids may not be necessary in some chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with high blood eosiophil counts. The data demonstrated that the company’s Ultibro Breezhaler provided better or similar benefits compared to Seretide, an inhaled corticosteroid, in COPD patients […]
Symic Bio raises $30m for peripheral vein graft failure therapy
Symic Bio said yesterday that it raised $30 million in a Series B financing round, led by existing investors and HEDA Ventures. Funds from the round are slated to support the company’s clinical programs, including a drug designed to prevent peripheral vein graft failure, SB-030, and a therapy for pain management of osteoarthritis of the knee, […]
Anika touts Phase III data for Cingal knee therapy
Anika Therapeutics (NSDQ:ANIK) touted data today from a Phase III trial for its Cingal hyaluronic acid-corticosteroid combination viscosupplement as a treatment for osteoarthritis-related knee pain. The data showed that treatment with Cingal yielded better immediate and short-term pain relief compared to hyaluronic acid alone and better pain and stiffness relief through 26 weeks compared to saline. […]
Triple-combo inhaler for COPD wins recommendation for approval in EU
Chiesi Group said today that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommended that the EMA approve its extra-fine triple combination inhaler for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Trimbow device combines an inhaled corticosteroid, a long-acting beta2-agonist and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist. The healthcare group said it is […]
ViaCyte looks to cell replacement therapy to cure Type I diabetes
ViaCyte said today that it will begin clinical trials of its novel islet cell replacement therapy in development as a potential cure for Type I diabetes, after landing regulatory wins from the FDA and Health Canada. The company’s PEC-Direct candidate delivers stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitor cells in a device that is designed to enable direct […]
EuroPCR Roundup: Bioresorbable stents show promise, but metallic drug-eluting stents remain standard
Updated to include a statement from an Abbott spokesperson. Abbott‘s (NYSE:ABT) bioresorbable scaffold has been plagued with a myriad of troubling data, including a study that showed that the device is associated with an increase in thrombosis and target lesion failure. In April, Abbott restricted use of the Absorb devices to clinical registry studies. In response […]
BTG touts Ekos data from pulmonary embolism trial
BTG (LON:BTG) touted data today from the Optalyse PE trial showing that pulmonary embolism can be treated effectively with Ekos over a shorter period and with smaller doses of thrombolytic drugs compared to the current standard. The 101-patient trial randomized participants to receive therapeutic anticoagulation and Ekos acoustic pulse thrombolysis therapy at different doses for different lengths […]
BoneSupport launches trial of antibiotic-eluting bone graft
BoneSupport said today that the 1st patient has been enrolled in the pivotal investigational device exemption trial for its injectable antibiotic-eluting bone graft substitute. The company’s Fortify trial plans to evaluate Cerament G’s ability to improve the traditional management of patients with open factures of the tibial diaphysis. The trial is slated to enroll up […]
Medtech stories we missed this week: May 19, 2017
From FDA clearances to touting study data, here are some medtech stories we missed this week but thought were still worth mentioning. 1. XpandOrtho wins FDA 510(k) clearance XpandOrtho announced in a May 17 press release that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its electronic soft tissue balancing instrument for total knee replacement surgery. The […]