Drug Delivery Business News Archives - Page 3 of 4

Teva launches connected inhaler for asthma, COPD

Teva (NYSE:TEVA) announced today that it has launched a Bluetooth-enabled version of its ProAir albuterol sulfate rescue inhaler.

The ProAir Digihaler’s sensors connect to a companion mobile app to provide inhaler-use information to healthcare providers. The new inhaler is available by prescription to U.S. patients age 4 and older, according to the Tel Aviv, Israel-based company.

The ProAir Digihaler is designed to detect, record and store inhaler event data, including timestamp and inhalation characteristics such as peak inspiratory flow. Patients are then able to view this data on the app, which informs them if their inhaler technique needs improvement. Patients can share these data with their healthcare providers.

The FDA approved the ProAir Digihaler in December 2018. It is part of a portfolio that includes the AirDuo Digihaler, which dispenses fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder, and the ArmonAir Digihaler, which di…

Xeris Pharmaceuticals launches autoinjector for severe hypoglycemia

Xeris Pharmaceuticals today said it has launched its Gvoke HypoPen glucagon injection to treat severe hypoglycemia.

The autoinjector is designed to treat severe hypoglycemia in adults and children with diabetes that are ages two years and older. The premixed autoinjector has no visible needle and has a reliable delivery method. According to the company, 99% of people were able to use the device correctly and 99% of adults and 100% of kids had their blood sugars raised to safe levels.

It is available in 0.5mg/0.1mL doses for children who weigh less than 100 pounds and 1mg/0.2mL for adolescents and adults who weigh more than 100 pounds.

“We are excited to announce that Gvoke HypoPen is now available. The simplicity and reliability of Gvoke HypoPen has the potential to change people’s ability to confidently respond to a severe hypoglycemic event in a timely manner,” CEO Paul Edick said in a news release. “In addition, as we prepared for launch, we had…

Abbott, Tandem seal deal to combine CGM, insulin delivery tech

Abbott (NYSE:ABT) and Tandem Diabetes Care (NSDQ:TNDM) announced today that they have completed their agreement to combine the former’s glucose-sensing technology with the latter’s insulin delivery systems.

The deal, announced in October, will combine Abbott’s Freestyle Libre CGM with Tandem’s t:slim X2 pump to monitor glucose without fingersticks. The agreement covers the technical development of device integration and associated commercial support activities.

“We’re excited to integrate our insulin delivery systems with Abbott’s glucose-sensing technology, and we look forward to expanding options for our customers so that they can combine devices that best suit their personal needs,” said Tandem president & CEO John Sheridan in a news release. “We are proud to have an insulin pump capable of remote software updates that can make access to future integrations possible for in-warranty t:slim X2 users at the time of …

Inivata launches lung cancer liquid biopsy test

Inivata today announced it has launched its InVisionFirst Lung liquid biopsy in the U.S. through a commercial partnership with NeoGenomics.

The device is a ctDNA next-generation sequencing liquid biopsy assay testing 37 genes that are relevant to the care of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The results are delivered within seven days and the test is covered by Medicare and other private insurance payers.

“Today is a significant step in the commercialization of InVisionFirst-Lung. NeoGenomics has proven capabilities in this field and, since signing our agreement in May this year, I have been hugely impressed by their commitment to bring this important technology to clinicians and patients in the US. Our teams have been working closely together to prepare for this launch and I look forward to our continued collaboration,” Inivata CEO Clive Morris said in a news release.

NeoGenomics has an extensive direct national sales team that serves the needs…

Insulet installs thousands of solar panels at global HQ

Insulet (NSDQ:PODD) announced today that its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility will be powered by solar-based, renewable energy.

The Acton, Mass.-based facility is set to turn to the new energy source, beginning this week. The company covered its 58,000 square-foot manufacturing facility with approximately 2,800 solar panels to, during optimal climate conditions, generate enough energy to fully support the corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility.

Get the full story at our sister site, MassDevice.

Tandem Diabetes Care acquires Sugarmate mobile app

Nearly 30,000 diabetes who rely on insulin use the Sugarmate app. [Image courtesy of Sugarmate]

Tandem Diabetes Care (NSDQ:TNDM) said today that it has purchased Sugarmate — as mobile app that helps people better manage their diabetes.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Nearly 30,000 people relying on insulin pumps or multiple daily injections presently use the Sugarmate app.

Sugarmate cofounder Josh Juster will join Tandem as a VP and will continue to lead Sugarmate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the insulin pump maker.

Sugarmate’s creators designed it to help people visualize their diabetes therapy data in an innovative way. They can log glucose data and health and nutrition information and receive notifications and alerts that can also go to designated family and caregivers.

“Our acquisition of Sugarmate represents an exciting addition to our digital offerings, and …

This wearable patch could treat skin cancers

[Image from Purdue University]

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a wearable patch that could bring an improved treatment experience to people with melanoma.

Conventional melanoma therapies leave patients suffering from the toxicity and side effects of repeated treatments because of aggressive and the recurrent nature of melanoma cells, according to the researchers.

The Purdue University wearable patch features a gradual slow dissolution of silicon nanoneedles to allow for long-lasting and sustainable delivery of cancer therapeutics.

“We developed a novel wearable patch with fully miniaturized needles, enabling unobtrusive drug delivery through the skin for the management of skin cancers,” Chi Hwan Lee, a Purdue assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering, said in a news release. “Uniquely, this patch is fully dissolvable by body fluids in a programmable…

Lantheus, Progenics complete merger

Lantheus Medical Imaging (NSDQ:LNTH) parent company Lantheus Holdings announced the completion of its merger with Progenics Pharmaceuticals.

Progenics, an oncology company developing medicines and artificial intelligence-based technologies for finding, fighting and following cancer, entered into a merger agreement with Lantheus that was first announced on Oct. 2, 2019.

Get the full story at our sister site, MassDevice.

HHS spending $347m to boost supply of COVID-19 vaccine, treatment vials

The U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Dept. of Defense (DoD) announced a joint effort to increase manufacturing for vials earmarked for COVID-19-related drugs and vaccines.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), as part of HHS, collaborated with DoD to provide funding for U.S.-based companies Corning Inc. and SiO2 Materials Science.

Get the full story at our sister site, Pharmaceutical Processing World.

Insulet resumes next-gen Omnipod pivotal study following software issues

Insulet (NSDQ:PODD) today said it has resumed its pivotal study of its next-generation Omnipod Insulin Management System after pausing the study in March due to a software anomaly.

The company paused the study about halfway through completion to correct an issue that could result in the system using an incorrect glucose value that had the potential to impact insulin delivery, according to the company. No adverse events it had been reported due to the software issue.

Get the full story on our sister site, MassDevice.

B. Braun’s top North American executive to retire

Caroll H. Neubauer will retire at the end of August as the head of B. Braun’s North America operations.

B. Braun announced today that Caroll H. Neubauer will retire at the end of August after 24 years leading the Melsungen, Germany–based medical and drug delivery device giant’s North America operations.

Jean-Claude Dubacher, a former Johnson & Johnson and Abbott executive who already took over Neubauer’s role as CEO of B. Braun Medical at the start of the year, has now also assumed Neubauer’s position as chair and CEO of B. Braun of America, effective June 1. Neubauer will stay on until Aug. 31 as executive director of B. Braun of America.

Get the full story on our sister site MassDevice.

These tiny fibers may prove better at delivering drugs to the brain

[Image courtesy of Johanna Zech, for Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg]

German researchers have developed mats made of biodegradable fibers only a few microns thick that could prove advantageous to deliver certain drugs to the brain.

The drug nimodipine, for example, could prevent nerve cells from dying after brain surgery. Health providers already use it to treat cerebral hemorrhages, but it degrades very quickly and has undesirable side effects when delivered intravenously, according to the research team out of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and University Hospital Halle.

“The neurosurgeons wanted the drug to be applied locally in order to reduce potential side effects,” said professor Karsten Mäder from the Institute of Pharmacy at MLU.

Mäder and his colleagues turned to PLGA, a biodegradable polymer commonly used in medtech, and incorporating nimodipine into th…