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SFGate |
The two acquired firms - Good Start Genetics of Cambridge, Mass., and Irvine's CombiMatrix - specialize in testing pregnant women and fetuses for genetic abnormalities that may increase the likelihood of developmental problems in the child. The tests are ordered by obstetricians and reproductive endocrinologists for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization, or IVF. Several other firms already compete in the prenatal genetic screening market, including South San Francisco's Counsyl, San Carlos' Natera and San Diego's Sequenom, which is owned by the lab diagnostics giant LabCorp. Prenatal screening has become more widely available in recent years, as the technology to screen for genetic abnormalities continues to advance rapidly. [...] some experts have cautioned against interpreting the results - which can yield false positives - without seeking the advice of a medical expert or genetic counselor. Unlike direct-to-consumer genetic tests like those sold by 23andMe, these tests are ordered by a physician and increasingly are covered by major commercial health insurers. Invitae currently partners with biotech firms MyoKardia, BioMarin and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to share patients' genetic information, with their consent, to be used in the development of drugs to treat genetic disorders, including patients' participation in clinical trials.
Aug 1, 2017
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Reuters |
Diagnostics company Laboratory Corp of America Holdings (LH.N) said on Monday it would buy privately owned contract research organization (CRO) Chiltern International Ltd for nearly $1.2 billion in cash to expand its oncology offerings.
Aug 1, 2017
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NPR.org |
Research findings from Stanford University released Monday could point the way to a long-sought diagnostic laboratory test for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and possibly a first-ever treatment.
Jul 31, 2017
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Diagnostics World Brief | GenomeDx Biosciences yesterday announced that it is launching the Color Hereditary Cancer Test as part of its product offering to urologists. Data from the Color Hereditary Cancer Test will be added to GenomeDx’s Decipher Genomics Resource Information Database research platform.
Jul 28, 2017
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UC San Francisco | Atul Butte, who is helping to guide UCSF into a new era of computational science and medicine, has been named the Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg Distinguished Professor at UCSF.
Jul 28, 2017
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CIDRAP | In a wide-ranging talk on the AMR threat, Hosam Zowawi gave an overview of how drug resistance has emerged since the discovery of penicillin, and how it now threatens the medical breakthroughs—like organ transplants and chemotherapy—that were enabled by the introduction of antibiotics.
Jul 27, 2017
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Diagnostics World | Elena Grigorenko, VP of research and development at Diaterics, talks about what happens when science outpaces reimbursement, how to develop and validate a genetic drug resistance panel, and whether the industry is ready for next-generation sequencing.
Jul 25, 2017
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Diagnostics World Brief | Edana Holliday of Rx Clinic Pharmacy is featured on this podcast from Cambridge Health Tech Institute for the Next Generation Diagnostic Summit. Holliday speaks about how Rx Clinic Pharmacy is working to integrate point-of-care testing and pharmacogenetic testing into their practice, and how use of these methods can bring doctors and pharmacists into new collaborations.
Jul 21, 2017
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RAPS |
The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared an MRI device intended to be used on newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. Traditional MRIs can be used on babies, but usually require transferring them out of NICU. The new device can be placed inside the NICU.
Jul 20, 2017
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The New York Times | Diagnostic tools were used to solve the case of a man's combination of hiccups and odd neurological symptoms.
Jul 20, 2017
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Diagnostics World Brief AliveCor and the Mayo Clinic today announced a collaboration to develop tools for medical and non-medical personnel to easily screen for long QT syndrome (LQTS), a heart rhythm condition that can cause rapid heartbeats. AliveCor plans to combine its AI technology with Mayo’s patented algorithms to detect LQTS early.
Jul 19, 2017
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Xconomy | A small study in Seattle called the Pioneer 100 Wellness Project, published in the August issue of Nature Biotechnology, aims to build evidence that comprehensive testing of healthy people can stave off disease. Study leaders include genomics pioneer Leroy “Lee” Hood, who for years has pushed for a data-intensive form of healthcare described with four P’s: predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory.
Jul 18, 2017