By Thomas Lee
News Well
Harvard researchers create stem cells from skin
Researchers at Boston’s Harvard Stem Cell Institute discovered a way to reprogram human skin cells so that they become stem cells, bypassing the creation of stem cell lines from human embryos.
Research published in the journal Cell Stem Cell details how the team, led by Derrick Rossi, used RNA from stem cells to transform ordinary skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. The technique avoids using a virus to carry new genes into the cells — and the controversial destruction of human embryos to derive stem cells.
Electromed’s IPO broker buys 200,000-share over-allotment
Electromed Inc. (NASDAQ:ELMD) sold 200,000 additional shares of stock to the underwriter of its initial public offering, Feltl & Co. Inc., in an over-allotment option.
The $4.00-per-share deal will bring the IPO’s net proceeds to approximately $6.0 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, according to the New Prague, Minn.-based respiratory device maker. Electromed makes the SmartVest airway clearance system, which uses high-frequency chest wall oscillation to help clear the lungs of mucus and other secretions.
ProUroCare inks $3 million funding deal
ProUroCare Medical Inc. (OTC:PUMD) signed an equity deal with Juno Beach, Fla.-based Seaside 88 LP worth $3.1 million.
The Minneapolis-based company will receive $875,000 in the first tranche of funding from the sale of 1.4 million unregistered shares of common stock to Seaside for $0.625 per share, according to a Securities & Exchange Commission filing.
Meridian Bioscience wins Canadian OK for C. difficile test
Meridian Bioscience Inc. (NSDQ:VIVO) obtained a license to begin selling its illumigene C. difficile molecular test in Canada.
C. difficile is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Meridian’s illumigene C. difficile test can detect the presence of the bacteria in a sample and deliver results within an hour, according to Cincinnati-based company.
St. Jude wins Japanese approval for another pain management neurostimulator
St. Jude Medical Inc. (NYSE:STJ) landed approval for its Eon Mini spinal cord stimulation system from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
The St. Paul, Minn.-based medical device maker touts the implantable device as the world’s smallest and longest-lasting rechargeable neurostimulation system for chronic pain management.
Abiomed launches training program for heart pumps
Abiomed Inc. (NSDQ:ABMD) started a new education program for hospitals.
The Danvers, Mass.-based company is selecting healthcare institutions to be training centers for its Impella cardiac assist devices. Abiomed wants hospitals to adopt protocols that include the early administration of its heart pumps for patients with distressed hearts. Abiomed said use of its devices reduces re-admissions and improves heart muscle recovery.
Feds re-open probe into FDA scientists’ complaints
Federal investigators are taking another look at complaints by Food & Drug Administration scientists that senior managers at the federal watchdog agency pressured them to approve medical devices, despite the reviewers’ concerns about health risks.
The inspector general’s office of the Dept. of Health and Human Services is re-opening its investigation of the scientists’ complaints, which they made public last year in an open letter to President Barack Obama.
Dems look to expand FDA’s recall powers
In the wake of a secret recall of defective but not dangerous medicine by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are looking to expand the Food & Drug Administration’s power to force companies to recall defective products.
In the spring of 2009, Johnson & Johnson paid contractors to buy up lots of the pain reliever Motrin it wanted to secretly pull from the market without making a public recall announcement. Company officials claim the FDA was in the know about the secret program, but the federal watchdog denies any knowledge.
Bruker, BD partner up on microbe tests
Bruker Corp. (NSDQ:BRKR) subsidiary Bruker Daltonics Inc. signed a co-development and co-marketing deal with Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Becton, Dickinson & Co. (NYSE:BDX) BD Diagnostics division.
ProChon touts Biocart knee cartilage repair results
ProChon Biotech Ltd. touted the results of a study on knee cartilage defect patients treated with its BioCart system.
Thirty-one Israeli patients received the arthroscopically administered treatment to correct a single full-thickness cartilage defect in the femoral condyle, according to the company. The BioCart autologous cartilage system uses proprietary fibroblast growth factor technology to help regenerate damaged cartilage.