Backed by the likes of Google and Merck (NYSE:MRK), Cambridge, Mass.-based LifeMine Therapeutics launched today by closing a $55 million Series A round. The company calls itself the first to “massively scale the genomic discovery of powerful new drugs from eukaryotic microbes”. LifeMine plans to use artificial intelligence to hunt down drugs hidden within the DNA […]
Google backs Decibel Therapeutics in big data hearing loss play
Decibel Therapeutics said today it landed an investment from GV, formerly Google Ventures. GV agreed to make an equity investment in the Boston-based company and lend its capabilities in big data sciences and analytics to Decibel’s efforts in developing therapies for hearing loss and tinnitus. “We are delighted to work with GV to amplify our […]
Verily launches biosensor-equipped Study Watch for clinical study patient monitoring
Verily Life Sciences, the medical arm of Google parent Alphabet (NSDQ:GOOGL), today unveiled its Study Watch, a wearable device designed to passively capture health data. The watch, intended to create a method of unobtrusive biosensing, is equipped with multiple sensors, including an electrocardiogram, and can monitor heart rate, electrodermal activity and inertial movements, with a battery life of up […]
This contact lenses breakthrough could enable glucose monitoring
Biosensing contact lenses may not be able to self-heal like “The Terminator,” but they could measure blood glucose and detect other signs of disease in the future. Oregon State University researchers are set to present a study that suggests transparent biosensors that are embedded into contact lenses could provide insight for doctors and patients without […]
How virtual and mixed reality are changing drug delivery and device design
Kai Worrell believes that virtual and mixed reality may change the way companies design medical devices, and he’s putting that idea into practice. “We think it’s going to transform the way we do feasibility testing and cognitive walk-through simulations,” he said. “We think it’s going to help us understand the cognition of our users, clinical […]
Sunovion, Novartis ink licensing deal for inhaled COPD drugs
Novartis (NYSE:NVS) said today that it out-licensed its U.S. commercial rights for 3 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease drugs to Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. Novartis will commercialize the Utibron Neohaler, Seebri Neohaler, and Arcapta Neohaler inhalation powders outside of the U.S. The Switzerland-based company will manufacture the inhaled powders for Sunovion, according to the agreement. “Given the evolving market […]
Novartis backs off from 2016 date for testing Google autofocus lens
Novartis (NYSE:NVS) is reportedly backing off a 2016 start date to test its autofocusing contact lens in clinical trials, but it told Reuters that the product is “progressing steadily” in its collaboration with Google (NSDQ:GOOGL). In 2014, CEO Joe Jimenez said he hoped the lens would be on the market in 5 years and last year he said his […]
