Volpara Solutions today released results from a study of its Volpara Density measuring software, touting the benefits of the software for improving mammography performance measures. The study included 111,898 mammograms from 53,239 women who were part of the Dutch Breast Screening Program, the New Zealand-based company said. Results from the study suggest that automatically measuring […]
Oncology
NantKwest launches clinical trial for natural killer cells
NantKwest Inc. (NSDQ:NK) said yesterday that the FDA approved an Investigational New Drug Application for its natural killer cell therapy phase I clinical study. The company is evaluating its genetically engineered, allogenic natural killer cell therapy in patients with cancer. The study, which NantKwest touts as the 1st of its kind, will determine the safety […]
Scientists develop nanoparticles to ‘suffocate’ tumor cells
A team of researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the East China Normal University have developed polyvinyl pyrrolidone modified nanoparticles that serve as a deoxygenation agent against tumor cells. The therapy, which is described in Nature Nanotechnology, targeted cancer cells by cutting off the tumor’s blood supply to deprive and ‘suffocate’ […]
Elucent Medical raises $7.2 in Series A for next-gen breast clip device
Breast cancer-focused medical device startup Elucent Medical has raised $7.2 million in a Series A round of financing, according to an Xconomy report. The funding round for the Eden Prairie, Minn.-based company closed late last year, according to Xconomy, who spoke to co-founder and CEO Laura King. Elucent is developing a more sophisticated version of […]
Cytori buys Azaya’s nanoparticle tech in stock deal
Cytori Therapeutics (NSDQ:CYTX) said this week that it bought San Antonio-based Azaya Therapeutics and its nanoparticle cancer drugs in a stock deal. Azaya shareholders will receive $2 million in CTYX stock. San Diego-based Cytori will also pay $2 million upfront for costs associated with Azaya’s new manufacturing facility in San Antonio. Cytori will acquire a […]
Medical isotope producer Shine Medical raises $27.2m
Shine Medical Technologies said last week in an SEC filing that it raised $27.2 million in a round of debt financing. Over 200 investors have contributed to the $29 million offering, which made its 1st sale on October 11, 2013. Monona, Wis.-based Shine Medical makes radioactive isotopes for medical diagnostic purposes such as detecting and treating cancer, according to the […]
POC Medical raises $21m for portable breast cancer screener
POC Medical Systems said today that it raised $21 million in Series A financing to fund clinical testing and commercialization of its portable breast cancer screening test, MammoAlert. The round was led by BioVentures Investors and also included Sirius America Insurance Company, IFG Healthcare and MIA Investment Limited. The MammoAlert test, which can produce a […]
FDA clears next-gen Sonablate prostate device from SonaCare
SonaCare Medical said today that it won 510(k) approval from the FDA for the latest version of its high intensity focused ultrasound prostate tissue ablation device. The Sonablate device was the 1st of its kind to receive regulatory approval for the focused ablation of prostate tissue, according to SonaCare. The next-gen version features a tool […]
Merrimack sells liposome injections to Ipsen for $575m
In a deal that could earn the Cambridge, Mass.-based pharmaceutical company over $1.03 billion, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:MACK) said yesterday that it is selling its liposome injection cancer drugs, Onivyde and generic Doxil, to Ipsen (EPA:IPN). Merrimack is also slashing its employee headcount down to just 80 people, after laying off 22% of its 400 employees […]
Celsion’s ThermoDox activated by ultrasound in pediatric cancer study
Celsion (NSDQ:CLSN) and Children’s National Health System are teaming up to tackle refractory solid tumors in pediatric patients using a heat-activated chemotherapy drug and noninvasive ultrasound. The Phase I clinical trial, which launched last November, is the 1st of its kind in the U.S. Lawrenceville, N.J.-based Celsion’s ThermoDox is a heat-activated liposomal doxorubicin. In combination with MRI, […]
Taris Biomedical closes enrollment in phase Ib trial for drug-device combo
Taris Biomedical said today that it closed initial enrollment in its phase Ib clinical trial following positive results. The study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of its drug-device combination product that releases gemcitabine continuously into the bladder for 7 days in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Although the study was slated to enroll […]