Tagged News
ONWARD Medical Advances Brain-Computer Interface Technology with Fifth Successful Implant for Spinal Cord Injury Patients
• ONWARD Medical has successfully implanted its ARC-BCI® Therapy in two additional patients, bringing the total to five individuals with spinal cord injuries who can now potentially control movement through thought.
• The innovative DigitalBridge™ system creates a wireless connection between brain and spinal cord, using AI to decode neural signals and translate intention into movement, bypassing damaged neural pathways.
• With FDA Breakthrough Device Designation and growing clinical evidence, ONWARD's less invasive BCI approach is positioning the company as a leader in neurotechnology for restoring function after paralysis.
NIH-Funded Teams Develop Precision Gene Delivery Systems for Neural Cells
• Research teams funded by the NIH have created a versatile toolkit of gene delivery systems that can target specific neural cell types in the human brain and spinal cord with unprecedented precision.
• The new delivery platform uses modified adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) to transport genetic material into targeted cells, potentially transforming how scientists study neural circuits without requiring genetically modified animals.
• This breakthrough could accelerate the development of precise gene therapies for neurological disorders like ALS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease by targeting only affected cells rather than merely treating symptoms.
Basil Systems Secures $11.5M to Revolutionize Life Sciences Decision-Making with AI
• Basil Systems has raised $11.5 million in funding led by Golden Ventures, with participation from Hearst Ventures and Argosy Capital, to expand its AI-powered product lifecycle intelligence platform.
• The company has built BasilLink, the largest indexed dataset in life sciences with over 600 million records, providing real-time insights for regulatory submissions, clinical planning, and post-market surveillance.
• Already utilized by four of the five largest global medical device companies and in trials with major pharmaceutical firms, Basil's platform aims to transform fragmented regulatory and clinical data into actionable intelligence.
Synfini and Multispan Partner to Accelerate GPCR Drug Discovery Using AI and Automation
• Synfini, Inc. and Multispan have formed a strategic collaboration to co-discover and develop drug candidates targeting an undisclosed G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), combining AI-driven chemistry with specialized GPCR biology expertise.
• The partnership leverages Synfini's AI Cloud Foundry platform to accelerate "design-make-test-analyze" cycles in molecular discovery, with early collaboration milestones already achieved according to Multispan's CEO.
• Beyond their initial target, the companies will make their combined technology platforms commercially available as a "one-stop shop" for accelerated drug discovery, offering AI, automation, and cutting-edge biology services to external clients.
VantAI and Blueprint Medicines Expand Collaboration to Tackle "Undruggable" Targets with AI-Powered Proximity Therapeutics
• VantAI and Blueprint Medicines have expanded their strategic collaboration for the second time since 2022, incorporating additional drug programs focused on targets previously considered undruggable.
• The expanded agreement makes VantAI eligible for up to $1.67 billion in milestone payments plus royalties, highlighting significant industry validation for their AI-driven approach to induced proximity therapeutics.
• The collaboration will leverage VantAI's recently announced Neo-1 foundation model, the first AI system capable of generating molecular glues and other protein-protein interaction modifiers to address complex therapeutic challenges.
Poolbeg Pharma Secures £4.1 Million Fundraising to Advance Clinical Programs in Oncology and Obesity
• Poolbeg Pharma has announced a £4.1 million conditional fundraising to advance its POLB 001 Phase 2a trial for cancer immunotherapy-induced Cytokine Release Syndrome and oral GLP-1 proof of concept trial for obesity.
• The fundraising comprises a £2.655 million placing, £1.345 million in direct subscriptions, and up to £100,000 from a retail offer, with shares issued at 2.5 pence each, representing a 12% discount to the previous closing price.
• The proceeds will extend Poolbeg's cash runway into 2027, supporting multiple near-term clinical data catalysts including first patient dosing for POLB 001 in H2 2025 and topline data expected in H2 2026.
USC Spine Center Joins Pivotal CLARITY Trial to Evaluate Nociscan for Chronic Low Back Pain
• Keck Medical Center of USC has joined the CLARITY trial to evaluate Aclarion's Nociscan technology, which uses MR Spectroscopy and AI to identify sources of chronic low back pain.
• The randomized, multi-center CLARITY trial will enroll 300 patients across prestigious institutions including Johns Hopkins Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, and Texas Back Institute.
• Nociscan is the first evidence-supported platform to noninvasively distinguish between painful and nonpainful discs in the lumbar spine, potentially transforming diagnosis and treatment for 266 million people worldwide with degenerative spine disease.
Imec Unveils Revolutionary Miniaturized Ingestible Sensor for Non-Invasive Gut Health Monitoring
• Imec has developed a highly miniaturized ingestible sensor measuring just 2.1cm in length and 0.75cm in diameter, three times smaller than existing capsule endoscopies, capable of monitoring gut health for up to a week.
• The innovative device is the first to measure redox balance, a marker for oxidative stress and inflammation, alongside pH and temperature throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract without requiring unpleasant bowel preparation.
• Following successful testing in healthy volunteers, Imec plans to evaluate the sensor in patient populations with cancer and inflammatory disorders in collaboration with Radboud University Medical Center.
Biostate AI Secures $12M Series A to Revolutionize RNA Sequencing and Molecular Diagnostics
• Biostate AI has raised $12 million in Series A funding led by Accel to develop affordable RNA sequencing technology and AI-powered diagnostic models.
• The company's proprietary BIRT and PERD technologies reduce RNAseq costs by nearly an order of magnitude, enabling researchers to run 2-3 times more samples within existing budgets.
• Founded by former professors David Zhang and Ashwin Gopinath, Biostate AI aims to build "foundation models" for molecular medicine by analyzing billions of RNA expressions to predict disease evolution and drug responses.
Merck and imec Partner to Develop Advanced Microphysiological Systems Platform for Drug Discovery
• Merck and imec have announced a strategic partnership to develop an advanced Microphysiological Systems (MPS) platform that aims to improve drug discovery efficiency and reduce reliance on animal testing.
• The collaboration integrates organoid biology models with semiconductor hardware, incorporating biosensing and microfluidic capabilities to provide real-time insights from individual organs to multi-organ connected systems.
• The jointly developed modular system will feature standardized interfaces compatible with Merck's portfolio of stem cells and patient-derived organoids, enabling more reliable predictions of human organ responses to drug stimuli.