Genprex, Inc. a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes announced its intention to transfer the Company’s diabetes clinical development program and its diabetes gene therapy assets into a new, wholly-owned subsidiary (“NewCo”). NewCo would focus on developing and commercializing GPX-002, a diabetes gene therapy drug candidate for the treatment of Type 1 (T1D) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D).

“Genprex’s diabetes program has received the attention of several potential investors, partners, collaborators and pharmaceutical companies, and we believe separating it from our oncology programs could help increase interest, expedite clinical development and unlock the value of our novel diabetes program,” said Ryan Confer, President and Chief Executive Officer at Genprex. “The new subsidiary would be positioned to be a pure-play diabetes-focused biopharmaceutical company, while Genprex would be a pure-play oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company. This contemplated separation of entities could enable potential direct investment and strategic collaboration into the advancement of the diabetes program. Diabetic patients are in need of advanced therapies, and we believe GPX-002 holds the potential for disease modification for long-term effectiveness, which could directly impact the global diabetes epidemic.”

The planned spin-out transaction would allow both Genprex and NewCo to enhance each company’s focus on meeting the needs of their respective markets, patients and stakeholders. The spin-out, if completed as presently contemplated, would result in NewCo focusing on developing GPX-002, while Genprex would retain its oncology clinical development programs and other oncology pipeline assets. The decision to pursue the reorganization demonstrates Genprex’s strong ongoing commitment to the Company’s streamlined, focused strategies and ongoing research and development prioritization initiative. The potential formation and transfer of the clinical development program into the wholly-owned subsidiary is currently anticipated to occur by the end of 2024, subject to adequate financing, the satisfaction of customary conditions and final approval from the Genprex management and Board of Directors.

The Company’s goal for separating the diabetes clinical development program from its oncology program follows closely behind Genprex’s recent announcement to re-focus its oncology clinical development program for streamlined, expeditious regulatory submission of its lead oncology drug candidate, Reqorsa® Gene Therapy. As previously announced, the Company continues to evaluate ways to optimize its clinical and research programs and operational strategies. Additionally, the Company is considering various strategic alternatives and opportunities to enhance stockholder value.

GPX-002, which has been exclusively licensed from the University of Pittsburgh, is being developed using the same construct for the treatment of both T1D and T2D. The same general novel approach is used in each of T1D and T2D whereby an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector containing the Pdx1 and MafA genes is administered directly into the pancreatic duct. In humans, this can be done with a routine endoscopy procedure. The diabetes product candidates are currently being evaluated and optimized in preclinical studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

“With the potential to address the entire diabetes market, we believe our gene therapy approach would position NewCo as an innovator in emerging diabetes therapies,” continued Confer. “The most significant advancement in the treatment of diabetes happened more than 100 years ago when insulin was first introduced to treat T1D patients. We believe our treatment has the potential to disrupt the diabetes market by replacing the daily burden of blood glucose monitoring and insulin replacement therapy, as well as the need for GLP-1 treatments in T2D.”

Lucid Diagnostics Inc. a commercial-stage, cancer prevention medical diagnostics company and subsidiary of PAVmed Inc. announced the execution of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Front Line Mobile Health (“Front Line”), a comprehensive medical care provider for first responders. The MOU focuses on the exploration of co-marketing and collaboration opportunities to promote and expand patient access to Lucid’s EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA test for the early detection of esophageal precancer, particularly among firefighters. Lucid previously collaborated with Front Line to facilitate its first major directly-contracted #CheckYourFoodTube Precancer Testing Event.

“Lucid Diagnostics is committed to widespread early detection of esophageal precancer,” said Shaun O’Neil, Lucid’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “We are honored to have provided EsoGuard precancer testing to thousands of firefighters across the nation. Every day they risk their lives to protect us, and Lucid is committed to protecting them in return. This partnership allows us to expand these efforts by leveraging Front Line’s resources and extensive expertise caring for firefighters. We are excited to further collaborate with Front Line to increase access to esophageal precancer testing for firefighters and drive revenue through contracted high-volume testing events.”

“At Front Line Mobile Health, we are deeply committed to protecting the health and safety of our nation’s firefighters, who face a 62% higher risk of developing esophageal cancer,” said Russell A. Burnham, APA-C, Front Line’s Team Principal and Chief Executive Officer. “Lucid’s EsoGuard Esophageal DNA Test is a powerful tool in this endeavor, offering early detection of esophageal precancer and thereby safeguarding the well-being of these brave individuals. We look forward to expanding our partnership with Lucid and leveraging our strong relationships with fire departments to broaden access to this potentially life-saving tool.”

Front Line is a veteran-owned company that specializes in providing comprehensive medical care for first responders, including fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical services. Front Line is a leading platform in public safety health and wellness and is dedicated to focusing on physical, behavioral, and operational health through patient education, disease prevention, and operational optimization.

Medtronic plc, a global leader in healthcare technology, expands the capabilities of Medtronic Customer eXperience Center (MCXC) in Singapore with the opening of its first Robotics Experience Studio in Southeast Asia. This underscores the commitment of Medtronic to enhance access to new technologies through collaboration, training and education within the healthcare ecosystem. The opening ceremony was held today in the presence of Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director of Singapore Economic Development Board, Sarah McGrath, Ambassador, Embassy of Ireland in Singapore, Majid Kaddoumi, Senior Vice President and President, Medtronic Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia-Pacific (EurAsia) and leading healthcare professionals from America, Korea, Singapore and India.

Since the opening of MCXC in November 2022, Medtronic has made substantial strides in medical education and upskilling, having trained more than 2,000 healthcare professionals (HCPs) across Asia and conducted nearly 1,400 training and experience sessions. The addition of the Robotics Experience Studio is set to amplify these efforts by providing cutting-edge resources for HCPs to hone their skills in robotic-assisted procedures and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

The launch event brought together leading medical experts from around the world and featured a panel discussion on the topic of the future of Robotics and AI in healthcare. Titled “The future of Robotics and AI in the healthcare landscape – a Global and Asian perspective”, the dialogue highlighted how Robotics and AI technologies are transforming healthcare, and the unique challenges and opportunities present in Asia’s diverse healthcare landscape, where rapid population growth and increasing life expectancy are driving demand for more personalized and sophisticated treatments. The discussion also included the readiness of current healthcare organizations, professionals, and systems to adopt Robotics and AI technologies, and the anticipated efforts to facilitate this adoption.

The advancement of medical technology in Robotics and AI have demonstrated significant improvements in patient outcomes which include reduced complications, faster recovery times and improved precision in surgical interventions. However, despite significant economic growth in some parts of Asia, the provision of equitable and accessible healthcare is still an ongoing challenge in the region.

Majid Kaddoumi, Senior Vice President and President, Medtronic Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia-Pacific (EurAsia), emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion in accelerating the adoption of advanced medical solutions and improving access to quality healthcare across Asia. “By enhancing our presence in this region, we’re not only tapping into the world’s most rapidly growing markets but also fostering a collaborative ecosystem. The Robotics Experience Studio will enable Medtronic to work closely with local stakeholders including healthcare providers, academia, industry forums and government to further bring new technologies closer to Asia for better patient outcomes,” he stated.

Expressing strong support for the initiative, Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director, EDB noted, “Medtronic’s latest investment underscores Singapore’s role as a leading hub for healthcare innovation and talent in Asia Pacific. The Robotics Experience Studio builds on Medtronic’s manufacturing and regional headquarters activities in Singapore to position for the evolving needs of its customers in the areas of robotics and AI for healthcare. We look forward to deepening our long-standing partnership with Medtronic.”

Feng Dong, Vice President, Medtronic Asia Region-Led Markets said, “Asia’s healthcare landscape is poised for significant growth, driven by demographic shifts and increasing demand for advanced medical technologies. Breaking down physical barriers to education and opening new frontiers of experience is key. The Robotics Experience Studio is an effort by Medtronic to bring technologies close-to-market and support skill enhancement in Southeast Asia. We look forward to meaningfully contributing to improving healthcare access and addressing the growing need in Asia for skill building and more efficient healthcare delivery. We believe that our innovative approach to medical and surgical education will shape the future of healthcare, transform patient care and outcomes, and positively impact health outcomes for millions in Asia.”

MCXC distinguishes through its innovative approach to medical training, offering a unique, non-tissue and cadaver-free experience. With training available over 20 different platforms, the Center leverages a variety of advanced simulator models to deliver comprehensive education. A Micra XR training program utilizes a blended learning methodology that combines holographic procedural animations with relevant physical model. This approach enables healthcare professionals to gain a deep understanding of the therapeutic principles and applications of Micra leadless pacemaker. To-date, Micra XR training app is approved in 155 countries and has drawn nearly 1,550 healthcare professionals from a diverse array of countries including the Philippines, Singapore, Egypt, South Africa, Poland, Hungary, and beyond.

Lunit, a leader in AI-powered cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, has partnered with Roche to integrate its Lunit SCOPE PD-L1 22C3 TPS into Roche’s navify® Digital Pathology platform.

This marks the initial deployment of Lunit’s AI technology with Roche, enhancing the tools available to pathologists and researchers and aligning with Roche’s aim to develop a collaborative digital pathology ecosystem.

Roche’s navify® Digital Pathology platform, which enhances the pathologist’s workflow, will now feature Lunit SCOPE alongside its existing AI algorithms.

This integration will offer a comprehensive set of digital pathology tools, advancing biomarker testing and supporting precision medicine to improve patient outcomes.

Initially, the collaboration will focus on the US, with plans to expand into Canada, the EU (UK), Korea, and Japan, reflecting the goal to enhance cancer diagnostics and treatment globally.

Lunit SCOPE PD-L1 22C3 TPS, an AI-powered tool, is designed to analyze the PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS), a crucial biomarker in cancer immunotherapy.

By automating the PD-L1 scoring process, it provides more accurate, consistent, and efficient assessments of this complex biomarker.

Since its introduction in 2021 for research use, Lunit SCOPE PD-L1 is now available through Roche’s navify platform, aiming to broaden access to this advanced AI technology.

“They are excited to collaborate with Roche and integrate our AI tools into their digital pathology ecosystem. This partnership is a significant step towards making Lunit’s technology accessible worldwide. Our goal is to advance precision medicine, improve workflow efficiency, and introduce new biomarkers for enhanced patient care.”

Lunit SCOPE PD-L1 TPS is intended for research purposes only and is not approved for diagnostic use.

RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) has announced that Iridium Network in Belgium has successfully treated its first patient using RaySearch’s oncology information system, RayCare®, alongside a Varian TrueBeam® linear accelerator.

Iridium Network, established in 2006, is the largest radiotherapy network in Belgium, offering specialized radiation oncology services across three hospital networks in the Antwerp region.

It is also recognized as a leading center of expertise on an international level. The network operates ten TrueBeam linear accelerators across four locations and treats over 6,000 patients annually with radiation therapy.

The collaboration between Iridium Network and RaySearch has been longstanding and significant. Iridium Network became a clinical partner to RaySearch in late 2015 with the acquisition of RayStation and has been instrumental in the development of RayCare.

In 2018, the network was the first globally to clinically implement RayCare, just two months after its release.

The interoperability certificate between RayCare 2024A and TrueBeam was issued in May 2024, covering all models in the TrueBeam family, including TrueBeam, TrueBeam STx, Edge, and VitalBeam.

Iridium Network has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first hospital to use RayCare clinically with TrueBeam.

RayCare’s role in enhancing consistency and automation is crucial for maintaining patient safety, efficiency, and high-quality care. It significantly improves the ability to provide advanced radiation oncology services throughout Iridium Network.

The integration of RayCare with TrueBeam marks an important milestone in advancing patient-centered cancer care, reflecting a successful collaboration between industry and clinical experts.

Paragon 28, has introduced the R3FLEX™ Stabilization System, designed to enhance stability in the ankle syndesmosis following injuries from fractures or high ankle sprains.

Ankle fractures are common, with over 470,000 projected cases in the U.S. for 2024. Injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis occurs in about 23% of these fractures, while high ankle sprains, affecting 7-15% of all ankle sprains, are isolated injuries to the distal tibiofibular syndesmotic ligaments.

Approximately 2 million acute ankle sprains occur annually in the U.S. Traditional treatments include surgical options like cortical screws or flexible fixation to maintain fibula-tibia alignment.

The R3FLEX™ Stabilization System allows surgeons to precisely adjust and visualize tension during the repair process. Its design helps restore soft tissue anatomy, potentially reducing the risk of arthritis and the need for hardware removal.

Unlike conventional methods that require external tibial hardware, the R3FLEX™ Implant is positioned internally on the tibia, minimizing the risk of injury to surrounding nerves and veins.

The system features a suture loop connecting the tibial and fibular components, creating a durable repair. The fibular component includes a thermoplastic urethane bumper, enabling controlled micromotion to mimic natural fibula movement.

The R3FLEX™ Stabilization System comes in a sterile kit with all necessary implants and instruments, streamlining the surgical workflow and inventory management.

This system enhances Paragon 28’s extensive soft tissue portfolio, which includes products such as the Grappler® Suture Anchor System, Bridgeline™ Tape, and the R3LEASE™ Stabilization System, offering comprehensive solutions for foot and ankle repair.