Systemic therapy of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants better preserved vision in patients with uveitis compared to Bausch & Lomb‘s long-lasting corticosteroid intraocular implant in a clinical trial supported by the National Eye Institute, a branch of the National Institutes of Health. In 7 years, visual acuity remained stable in patients receiving systemic therapy and declined by […]
Implants
Glaukos shares tumble despite Q1 beat
Shares in Glaukos (NYSE:GKOS) fell -10% today after the ophthalmic medtech company beat expectations on Wall Street with its 1st quarter results. The San Clemente, Calif.-based company posted profits of $878,000, or 2¢ per share, on sales of $35.9 million for the 3 months ended March 31, for bottom-line loss of -2% on sales growth of […]
Intersect ENT beats Q1 earnings, rev forecast
Shares in Intersect ENT (NSDQ:XENT) fell slightly yesterday after the drug-device maker met expectations on Wall Street with its 1st quarter results. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company posted a loss of -$6.8 million, or -23¢ per share, on sales of $20.5 million for the 3 months ended March 31, for bottom-line growth of 20% on sales growth of 22.8% […]
Braeburn’s risperidone implant meets primary endpoint in schizophrenia trial
Braeburn Pharmaceuticals said yesterday that a 6-month study of its risperidone implant in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder met its primary endpoint. Risperidone, the most commonly-prescribed therapy for schizophrenia, depends on consistent administration, but patients with schizophrenia sometimes stop taking their medication when their symptoms improve. Long-acting, injectable formulations of risperidone are on the market, […]
6 ways hydrogels are enabling medtech innovation
Hydrogels are water-based biomaterials developed specifically for human use, according to a Biomaterials journal article. They are a water-swollen polymeric material that doesn’t change its distinct 3D structure. They are formed from super-absorbent, chain-like polymers and are not soluble in water. However, their porous surface allows for nutrients and cell waste to pass through. They have shown the […]
Senseonics draws 3rd $5m tranche for implantable CGM
Senseonics (NYSE:SENS) said last month that it drew the 3rd installment of $5 million under its term loan facility with Oxford Finance and Silicon Valley Bank. The 3rd tranche, which closed on March 29 this year, was triggered by the 1st sale of the Germantown, Maryland-based company’s 2nd-gen transmitter in Europe. Senseonics previously borrowed $20 million […]
Integra, Dr. Reddy’s ink deal for DuraGen in India
Integra LifeSciences (NSDQ:IART) and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (NYSE:RDY) inked an exclusive distribution agreement for the DuraGen Plus and suturable DuraGen Dural Regeneration Matrices in India. According to the deal, Dr. Reddy’s will market and distribute the medical devices throughout India. The DuraGen Plus Dural Regeneration Matrix is indicated as a dural susbtitute for the repair of […]
Researchers win $1.8m NIH grant to develop implantable system for HIV prevention
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill won a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop an implantable drug delivery system for sustained HIV-prevention. The team said it plans to develop an injectable system that steadily releases pre-exposure prophylaxis over long periods of time. The injectable compound is […]
Study: Plants as 3D scaffolds for stem cells in biomedical implants
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are aiming to create novel biomedical implants using 3D scaffolds made from the decellularized husks of parsley, vanilla and orchids. The team described their work in an article published in Advanced Healthcare Materials. “Nature provides us with a tremendous reservoir of structures in plants,” lead author Gianluca Fontana said in […]
Fibrosis: How to prevent it in medical device implants
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston Children’s Hospital researchers have discovered a way to prevent fibrosis from forming around medical device implants by blocking certain cells. The body’s immune system usually attacks implanted medical devices that are used for drug delivery, sensing or tissue regeneration. Defense cells in the body try to isolate the […]
