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4 DNA sequencing predictions for 2023

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Continued innovations in bioinformatics paired with the falling cost of DNA sequencing are poised to spur research breakthroughs in 2023.

To gauge how the DNA sequencing field is likely to evolve, we reached out to Logan Zinser, SVP, finance, Element Biosciences and Keith Robison, principal engineer, NGS Computational Biology, Ginkgo Bioworks. In the following feature, the two muse on themes ranging from the growing availability of next-generation sequencing and multiplex testing.

1. Falling DNA sequencing costs will empower the data-savvy

As the costs of DNA sequencing continue to fall, companies will do more sequencing.

“At Element, we are enabling our customers to generate a tremendous amount of high-quality genomic data at an unprecedented price, so the challenge shifts toward making sense of those data,” Zinser said. “Working with our customers and partners, we ar…

What’s in store for cell and gene therapy in 2023

[Credit: National Human Genome Research Institute]

The complexity and diversity of cell and gene therapies and treatments still restrains the industry’s ability to identify and deliver the proper treatment and a positive patient experience. In 2023, I expect we will see a considerable increase in critical data gathering and machine learning analysis that will lead to substantive improvements. This use of machine learning requires a continual commitment to invest in technology as it develops to ensure the required infrastructure is in place to achieve the most significant advances. And, while the infrastructure required to optimize machine learning fully is still in development, we will begin to realize its impact on drug discovery and development and on our ability to deliver personalized medicine this year.

Such leaps forward in the cell and gene therapy industry requires a growing emphasis on innovation. And t…

How zuranolone could change the antidepressant market

[Zuranolone image courtesy of PubChem]

Sage Therapeutics (Nasdaq:SAGE) and Biogen (Nasdaq:BIIB) have filed a rolling NDA submission to the FDA for zuranolone, a potentially novel, rapid-acting, daily treatment for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and postpartum depression (PPD).

If approved, zuranolone could significantly alter the antidepressant market. A neuroactive steroid, the drug would be prescribed as a 14-day oral short-term treatment for MDD and PPD. By contrast, many patients taking traditional antidepressants do so for at least six months and often for multiple years.

Zuranolone could diversify the treatment landscape for depression

In clinical trials, zuranolone demonstrated efficacy in as little as three days in patients with MDD and PPD. Conversely, patients beginning a course of antidepressants must wait multiple weeks to determine whether they are effective.

“Ov…

7 imaging data management strategies to accelerate medical device innovation

[Image courtesy of Flywheel]

Medical device companies have massive amounts of data, but often, imaging data isn’t set to support R&D efforts. Here’s how to change that.

Jim Olson, Flywheel

Data is the lifeblood of R&D groups at medical device companies. However, unlocking the full potential of your organization’s data assets isn’t straightforward, especially for complex data such as medical imaging.

Medical imaging assets are extremely valuable for R&D efforts, but they are often disorganized and lack consistent labeling. This means that before they can be used for analysis and/or for machine learning or AI applications, they must be standardized and made accessible.

But curating complex medical imaging data poses a major challenge in many organizations. Even after data are organized, existing infrastructure and research processes can continue impeding success, and ultimately time …

Report: European Commission proposes to delay EU MDR deadline until 2028

Stella Kyriakides announced a plan to delay deadlines for EU MDR. [Image from Pietro Naj-Oleari/Wikimedia Commons]The European Union’s Health Commissioner today proposed pushing back the deadline for its new medical device regulation (MDR) law.

Reuters first reported the news yesterday and confirmed it today. Commissioner Stella Kyriakides proposed a delay for the deadline for companies to comply from 2024 to as late as 2028. According to the report, this comes because of a need to “prevent shortages of lifesaving equipment.”

The report noted that pushback from doctors’ associations and trade groups presented warnings around EU MDR implementation. The regulations came into effect in 2021. This change replaced the EU Medical Device Directive (MDD) with more stringent requirements on the companies that perform the audits for each device.

The change affects not only devices that are new to the EU market but those that entered the market…

Abbott increases quarterly dividend to 51¢ per share

Abbott (NYSE:ABT) announced today that its board of directors increased its quarterly common dividend to 51¢ per share.

This dividend represents an 8.5% increase, the company said in a news release.

It also marks the 51st consecutive year of dividend growth. Abbott said it represents the 396th consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by the company since 1924.

The dividend is payable on Feb. 15, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 13, 2023.

Shares of ABT rose 1.4% at $108.36 apiece in midday trading today.

Cardinal Health research finds acknowledged health inequities among oncologists

Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) today announced biannual research revealing a large number of healthcare inequities in oncology.

The latest edition of Oncology Insights features perspectives from nearly 200 oncologists nationwide. It focuses on patient diversity, health equity in oncology, care management and symptom monitoring.

Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health said its research found that 80% of oncologists say inequities exist throughout healthcare. Nearly half say those find a significant prevalence of these inequities in cancer care.

“This research shows that despite advances in cancer treatment, patients from some groups still encounter more frequent and severe barriers to quality cancer care, including lack of access to the standard of care recommended for the type and stage of cancer with which they have been diagnosed,” said Bruce Feinberg, VP and CMO for Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions.

Additionally, 80% of oncologists said h…

Medtronic declares 68¢ quarterly dividend

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced that its board approved a third-quarter cash dividend of 68¢ per ordinary share.

The dividend represents an 8% increase over the prior year. It falls in line with the dividend announcement made by Medtronic in May 2022.

According to a news release, it marks the 45th consecutive year in which Medtronic increased its annual dividend payment. It is payable on Jan. 13, 2023, to shareholders of record at close of business on Dec. 21, 2022.

The company announced the same 68¢ dividend for its second quarter in August.

Shares of MDT rose 0.5% at $78.16 apiece in mid-morning trading today.

NIH funds Illinois Tech project using machine learning to fully automate insulin delivery

[Image courtesy of Illinois Tech]Researchers at Illinois Tech received $1.2 million from the NIH to develop a machine learning system for an artificial pancreas’ insulin delivery.

Professor of chemical engineering Ali Cinar leads the project aimed at easing the burden on those with type 1 diabetes. NIH funding covers for years for developing the machine learning system. The researchers aim to integrate it into Cinar’s artificial pancreas system to enhance accuracy.

Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery Business News.

Eli Lilly discontinues Ypsomed collaboration to pursue its own U.S. insulin pump offering

Ypsomed announced today that Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) elected to stop its joint project with the company to enter the U.S. insulin pump market.

In November 2020, the companies entered into a commercialization agreement. The agreement entailed registering and commercializing Ypsomed’s YpsoPump under Lilly’s branding in the U.S. Ypsomed said that, over the past two years, it customized its pump for the U.S. market in preparation for commercialization. Burgdorf, Switzerland-based Ypsomed launched its Mylife YpsoPump in Europe in 2016.

Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery Business News.

The top drug discovery predictions of 2023

[Image courtesy of ipopba via iStock Photo]

Technology enabling the discovery and development of new drugs is rapidly evolving. We asked representatives from KBI Biopharma, Phylloceuticals and Provectus Algae for their drug discovery predictions on the platforms and technologies that will have the biggest impact on drug discovery efforts in 2023.

1. 2023 could be ‘massive showcase’ for ML in pharma

Drug developers are sharpening their focus on machine learning (ML) — exploring the use of algorithms to sift through massive volumes of molecular, biochemical and genomic data. “AI is contributing to the acceleration of the discovery and development of new drugs and will continue to have a significant impact in 2023,” said Sigma Mostafa, senior vice president and site head at KBI Biopharma.

Christopher Fisher

“As ML continues to become more accessibl…

Canary Medical integrates analytic module with Zimmer Biomet smart knee implant

The Canary Medical orthopedic analytics module integrates with the Persona IQ Smart Knee. [Image from Zimmer Biomet’s website]Canary Medical announced today that it introduced its first orthopedic analytic module: Canary Quantiles recovery curves.

Recovery curves utilize movement data measured by Canary Medical’s proprietary implantable Canturio TE tibial extension sensor technology. The sensor technology enables Zimmer Biomet’s Persona IQ smart knee implant.

Persona IQ with the Canturio TE tibial extension sensor technology collects activity measures and gait parameters for at least 10 years. By pooling parameters across the Persona IQ patient population, recovery curves provide population data for activity levels and knee kinematics. It also ranks each patient’s knee performance against peers. The technology does so based on age, group, gender and time since surgery, according to a news release.

Canary Medical said clinicians may n…