Standard newborn screening can detect dozens of inherited diseases, but genomics technology enables testing for hundreds of them. A North Carolina program evaluating the feasibility of bringing genomics to newborn screening is expanding with an initial goal of testing 5,000 babies in the next year.

The Covid-19 pandemic changed the way we think of the role of diagnostics not only for clinicians but also consumers. The pandemic propelled innovation of in vitro diagnostics and the at-home test kits space for chronic conditions, sexual health, and more.

Illumina must pay a €432 million fine for closing its Grail acquisition before the European Commission finished its inquiry into the tie-up. The penalty is the maximum amount the regulator can impose on a company for breaching European merger rules.

Yaniv Sneor, the co-founder of Mid Atlantic Bio Angels and part of the Ask the Investor sessions at MedCity INVEST this week, explained what his firm looks for in life science startups.

Function Oncology goes beyond next-generation sequencing with a CRISPR-based technology that identifies targets for a patient’s cancer regardless of whether or not they are mutated. Now out of stealth, the company will present data validating its approach during the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting.

The Federal Trade Commission has ordered Illumina to divest Grail, the liquid biopsy company it acquired for more than $7 billion. The agency said Illumina’s proposed remedies are insufficient and the tie-up is likely to reduce competition in the R&D and commercialization of new cancer tests.

Hear from healthcare executives such as Nicholas Turos, vice president of business development with Babson Diagnostics, Marcus Perez, Altera Digital Health president, and Integra Connect COO Cory Wiegert on how they are meeting the challenges of healthcare innovation.

The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the way we think of diagnostics in our daily lives. In a recent webinar, BD Vice President for Diagnostics Nikos Pavlidis spoke with a clinician and an epidemiologist where they shared their perspectives on how testing developments have changed the way we track respiratory illnesses.

Perspectum — a company that makes medical imaging devices designed to improve the diagnosis of metabolic diseases and cancer — recently announced the second close of its $55 million Series C funding round. Its flagship product is a diagnostic tool that assesses and monitors chronic liver disease.

Lucira Health now has the first FDA authorized diagnostic that detects the novel coronavirus and influenza in a single test. But the regulatory decision comes too late for the diagnostics developer, which has filed for bankruptcy protection.

A webinar sponsored by BD scheduled for March 7 will explore how diagnostics companies are working with healthcare organizations to guard against the perfect storm of Covid-19, RSV and influenza. Register today!

In the runup to INVEST and the startup pitch contest, we highlight trends in investment and innovation across bipharma, diagnostics, medical devices, health tech: payer/provider, and health tech: consumer/employer. The deadline has been extended until February 28 and finalists will be announced March 31. Apply today!

With five tracks of startups across healthcare and life sciences, INVEST Pitch Perfect, scheduled for May 22-24 at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago, is MedCity’s largest startup pitch contest of the year. 

Check out news from BioMEMS Diagnostics, Rx Redefined, Ferrum Health and Avanlee Care.

As a daughter who has been through the wringer a few times, I write today to all health care leaders trying to build a better future.

Read about executive hires across healthcare and life sciences.

Startups will be plentiful at the upcoming HLTH conference at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas November 13-16. Here’s a glimpse of some of the healthcare pain points they’re addressing.

The FDA said it will review fewer Covid-19 diagnostics for emergency use authorization. The policy update follows an Office of Inspector General report that found the urgency to increase testing availability led to problems, including the authorization of many low-quality tests.

Andrew Dahl, founder and chairman of BioMEMS Diagnostics, shared how his business seeks to transform the diagnostics sector, in response to emailed questions.

Check out new developments from BioMEMS Diagnostics, Neuroflow, Druglike, Health Note, and Rhinostics.

Laboratory testing and clinical trial services giant LabCorp plans to spin off its drug development business as an independent, publicly traded company. It’s the latest in a string of corporate moves for the life sciences sector as companies look to streamline operations in order to focus on particular areas of growth.

Check out new developments from Seven Bridges, Healthmine, Bright Health, and My One Medical Source.

In addition to developing rapid testing for Covid-19, PRL has developed a non-diagnostic sequencing workflow for rapid variant detection and tracking.

Diagnostics developer Sherlock Biosciences has advanced its molecular diagnostic capabilities, which can now produce faster results on low-cost devices. The startup will use its Series B round of funding to expand the reach of its technology, potentially placing it directly in the hands of consumers around the world.

A month after Freenome closed $300 million in financing, Roche has invested another $290 million in the diagnostics developer. The cash infusion comes as Freenome continues a pivotal test in colorectal cancer while it also readies for clinical trials in other types of cancer.

The deadline to apply to the MedCity INVEST Pitch Perfect contest in Chicago, scheduled for March 28-30 at the Ritz Carlton, is January 31.

Genetic tests are becoming available for a wider range of applications. During a CB Insights panel discussion, Phil Febbo of Illumina and Alicia Zhou of Color explained what they think needs to happen to make these tests accessible and affordable for more people.

INVEST, scheduled for March 28-30, 2022 in Chicago, marks a return to in-person events for MedCity News. The conference, held in partnership with Mid-America Healthcare Investors Network, will spotlight healthcare innovation, investment trends, and share insights from healthcare executives.

General Electric plans to spin out its healthcare business into a publicly traded entity in 2023. It’s part of a broader restructuring as the company looks to turn around its business.

During these uncertain times, remember to proactively reach out to patients and encourage them to resume routine cancer screenings to prevent delayed diagnoses that might lead to worsened health outcomes