Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Roche Gets Emergency OK For Test That Tells Difference Between Flu, COVID
Reuters: Roche Receives U.S. Emergency Approval For Coronavirus Vs. Flu Test
Drugmaker Roche (ROG.S) on Friday said it had received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a test to quickly detect whether a patient has SARS-CoV-2 or one of two forms of influenza. "With the approaching flu season, this new test is particularly important as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infections can hardly be differentiated by symptoms alone. Now, with a single test, healthcare professionals can confidently provide the right diagnosis and most effective treatment plan for their patients,” Roche diagnostics head Thomas Schinecker said in a statement. (9/4)
And in biotech news —
Boston Globe: Biofourmis Raises $100 Million For Remote Patient Monitoring Tools
Biofourmis, a Boston startup that makes technology to remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions and dangerous diagnoses, announced Thursday that it has taken in $100 million in new investment to help it advance products in the fields of cardiology, respiratory, oncology, and pain management. The company, which moved to downtown Boston from Singapore last year, uses wearable sensors to understand patients’ vital signs and help doctors make decisions about their care from afar. (Rosen, 9/3)
Stat: Oncorus, Three Other Biotechs Got Venture Funding A Year Ago. Did It Help?
Most biotech startups are free to tell the world as little or as much as they want about their work or their investor’s expectations. Unlike major pharmaceutical companies, which are legally required to report regularly to tens of thousands of investors, a biotech company’s immediate goals are often hinted at only in intermittent press releases. Usually the emphasis is on announcing an influx of new cash from venture capitalists, not detailing their business plans. (Sheridan, 9/4)
