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Synthetica Bio lates to tap generative AI to spur drug discovery innovation

Interest in generative AI has skyrocketed in 2023. While the generative AI market is already substantial, worth $10 billion in 2022 according to Grand View Research, it is set to balloon by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.6% from 2023 to 2030. It’s no wonder that a slew of companies — including Exscientia, Insilico Medicine, Atomwise and BenevolentAI — are eager to tap the technology to expedite drug discovery.

Enter Synthetica Bio

The latest entrant in the generative AI scene is Laguna Beach, California-based Synthetica Bio. The startup aims to explore generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to enable real-time data processing. The company, founded by Simon Arkell and Alex Dickinson, entrepreneurs with a successful track record in companies like the predictive analytics firm Predixion, digital pathology startup Deep Lens, biotech Helixis and the molecular diagnostics firm Chromacode, has formed strategic partnerships to propel its platform de…

Medtronic neuromod vet joins miniature brain pacemaker developer Motif Neurotech as CTO

Steven Goetz. [Image courtesy of Motif Neurotech]Minimally invasive bioelectronic maker Motif Neurotech announced today that it named Steven Goetz as its chief technology officer (CTO).

Goetz joins after spending more than 26 years in the Neuromodulation unit at Medtronic. There, he led engineering and innovation initiatives for implantable device therapies for a wide range of diseases.

Houston-based Motif Neurotech develops a miniature brain pacemaker designed to stimulate the brain. The company aims for the device to restore healthy circuit activity and treat mental health disorders.

Inserted during a 20-minute procedure, the pea-sized device goes in the skull, above — and not touching — the brain. It can deliver at-home therapy with minimal side effects compared to drugs or less precise brain stimulation. Motif Neurotech has its lead product under development for treatment-resistant depression.

Goetz’s responsibilities include leading all R&…

The flaw that likely caused Medtronic’s massive ICD and CRT-D recall — and why they’re too risky to replace

Medtronic has recalled implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators that may fail to deliver life-saving shocks for cardiac patients. [Photo courtesy of Medtronic]

Medtronic identified a likely design flaw that can cause defibrillator implants to halt life-saving shocks for cardiac patients.

An insulation defect appears to be to blame for Medtronic’s massive Class I recall of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), including cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds).

The FDA said it has not yet determined a cause and that Medtronic is investigating. But Medtronic — the world’s largest medical device manufacturer — identified the likely problem in an urgent medical device correction notice sent to healthcare providers.

Medtronic identified 348,616 devices in the U.S. for the recall, distributed from Oct. 13, 201…

Sanofi puts AI ‘Plai’ app at the center of drug discovery and clinical trial operations

[Keitma/Adobe Stock]

The French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has unveiled a new AI-powered app called Plai, developed in partnership with AI platform Aily Labs. This move is part of Sanofi’s plan to become the pioneer in fully integrating AI into all operations, according to CEO Paul Hudson.

Plai, designed to compile and process Sanofi’s internal data from various departments, creates bespoke “what if” scenarios to guide decision-making. Sanofi aims to exploit Plai’s analytical capabilities to enhance strategic planning.

From ChatGPT and Google Maps to Plai

Sanofi’s AI aspirations are longstanding. In 2022, the company launched its inaugural digital accelerator, supporting the adoption of digital, data and AI across operations. That same year, Sanofi acquired Amunix Pharmaceuticals, tapping its AI technology to develop targeted cancer therapies that spare healthy tissue.…

Ra Medical says demand is rising for its non-invasive electrophysiology mapping system

Ra Medical Systems (NYSE:RMED) today announced an increase in clinical adoption for its VIVO system across hospitals.

The product line falls within Ra Medical’s electrophysiology division, called Catheter Precision. Catheter Precision recently expanded its sales and clinical support team in the U.S. as part of a full product launch for VIVO. Earlier this month, Ra Medical also began to expand its distribution channels outside the U.S.

VIVO (view into ventricular onset) is a 3D, non-invasive mapping system. It enables physicians to identify the origin of ventricular arrhythmias pre-procedure. This streamlines workflows and reduces procedure time. Ra Medical’s Catheter Precision division received both FDA clearance and CE mark approval for VIVO.

Patricia Kennedy, chief commercial officer at Catheter Precision, said VIVO remains under review with “several notable accounts.” Kennedy added that hospitals increasingly leverage technolog…

Philips stock down on ‘lumpy’ order intake in Q2

Philips (NYSE: PHG) + today reported 9% year-over-year sales growth in its second quarter, but investors appeared to sour on an 8% decline in comparable order intake.

The Dutch medtech giant’s stock closed down more than 5% at €19.63 apiece on the Amsterdam stock exchange today. PHG shares were also down more than 5% at 21.84 apiece on the NYSE this afternoon. MassDevice‘s MedTech 100 Index, which includes stocks of the world’s largest medical device companies, was down slightly.

Excluding the impact of export control procedures related to Russia and its invasion of Ukraine, the order intake decline would have been 4%. Philips CEO Roy Jakobs acknowledged that order intakes will be “lumpy” this year, but he said the company is working hard to deliver strong order intake growth in the second half of the year.

Jakobs reported positive news and not-so-positive news: “The order fu…

Johnson & Johnson looks to split off Kenvue, focus on MedTech and Pharma

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) + today announced its intention to split off at least 80.1% of the shares of Kenvue.

The New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company plans for the split of its former consumer health business to take place through an exchange offer. Kenvue completed its IPO in May 2023.

Through the planned exchange offer, Johnson & Johnson shareholders can exchange all, some or none of their stock for Kenvue common stock. The company expects the exchange offer to be tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In connection with the planned split-off, J&J received a waiver of a 180-day lock-up. This relates to shares of Kenvue common stock held by the company from the joint lead book-running managers of the IPO.

“The separation of Kenvue further sharpens Johnson & Johnson’s focus on transformational innovation specifically in Pharmaceutical and MedTech,” said Joaquin Duato, chair and C…

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences helps labs comply with looming deadline

NEWS RELEASE: Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Leading the Way to Help Labs Comply with Confidence for Upcoming Annex 1 Regulation Deadline

Revised Annex 1 Takes Effect August 25, 2023

The Met One 3400+ Series portable airborne particle counter for cleanroom monitoring [Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter Life Sciences]

INDIANAPOLIS – (July 24, 2023) – Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, a global leader in laboratory automation and innovation, continues its relentless commitment to providing laboratories of all sizes with individualized and tailored support to meet the evolving list of regional and global compliance requirements.

Cleanroom laboratories manufacturing sterile medicinal products in the European Union (EU) must make critical changes by August 25, 2023 to ensure Annex 1 Regulation compliance. This is a substantial update to the initial version released in 2008 an…

Inspire Medical Systems picks former Medtronic exec as new chief strategy officer

New Inspire Medical Systems Chief Strategy Officer Carlton Weatherby. [Image from Carlton Weatherby on LinkedIn]Inspire Medical Systems (NYSE: INSP) today announced the appointment of Carlton Weatherby as its chief strategy officer (CSO).

Weatherby’s appointment goes into effect today, July 24, 2023. He joins Inspire from Medtronic, most recently serving as VP and GM of the medtech giant’s Spine & Biologics business. Weatherby took on that role in 2021, previously serving as VP of strategic sales. He had various roles in corporate development in his time at Medtronic, which he originally joined in 2011.

Inspire said in a news release that Weatherby brings more than 15 years of experience in commercial and corporate strategy and business development in medical devices.

“We are very excited to welcome Carlton to the Inspire team,” said Tim Herbert, president and CEO. “Carlton’s vast experience in leadership roles across medtech, as well as his…

Baxter launches PerClot absorbable hemostatic powder

PerClot requires no premixing, which means it can be applied to a bleeding source during surgery within second. [Image courtesy of Baxter]Baxter (NYSE: BAX) + announced today that it launched the PerClot absorbable hemostatic powder in the U.S.

PerClot, a passive, absorbable hemostatic powder, received FDA approval in May. Artivion developed the powder and transferred full ownership to Baxter as part of a sale agreement struck in July 2021.

Artivion designed PerClot to control mild bleeding in specific surgical procedures. It comes ready to use for patients with intact coagulation. The powder’s granules have a molecular structure that rapidly absorbs water to form a gelled adhesive matrix. This provides a mechanical barrier against further bleeding. It also results in the accumulation of platelets, red blood cells and coagulation proteins.

“PerClot is a strong complement to Baxter’s leading hemostat por…

J&J’s Biosense Webster launches AFib mapping catheter

The Optrell mapping cathter. [Image courtesy of Biosense Webster]Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE: JNJ) + Biosense Webster announced today that it launched the Optrell mapping catheter with TrueRef technology.

Irvine, California-based Biosense Webster designed Optrell as a high-density diagnostic catheter powered by its Carto 3 system. It features small electrodes arranged in a fixed array formation. These provide high-definition electrophysiological mapping of complex cardiac arrhythmia cases.

Optrell with TrueRef maps cases like persistent AFib, redo AFib ablation, atrial tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia.

Biosense Webster received FDA 510(k) clearance for Optrell with TrueRef in 2022. In addition to this U.S. launch, it plans to make the technology available in Japan later this year.

Get the full story at our sister site, Medical Tubing & Extrusion.

Radiated, ‘humanized’ mice offer insights into implant rejection

A look at human immune cells that help explain implant rejection. [Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins]

Researchers at Johns Hopkins say they discovered an advanced “humanized” mouse model that helps predict the immune system’s reaction to medical implants.

The team set out to evaluate why human bodies frequently reject implanted biomaterials, Few ways currently exist to predict this or to prevent it from happening, the researchers said.

Joshua Doloff led the team, which included biomedical engineering graduate students Victor Quiroz and Amanda Rakoski. The team published the results from the model in Science Advances.

“By directly studying how human immune cells interact with implants in a mouse, we can unlock a much deeper level of mechanistic understanding of implant rejection responses,” said Doloff. “It’s our hope long-term that this newly identified humanized mouse model varian…