Drug to treat rare genetic liver disorder | A sleep app for easing PTSD | New cochlear implant
Drug to treat rare genetic liver disorder
ST. LOUIS, MO–Researchers at Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine, in collaboration with Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceuticals, have reported the first effective drug to treat a rare genetic liver disease that formerly could only be treated with a liver transplant. The study’s leader, Jeffrey Teckman M.D., is a leading authority on AAT deficiency, which affects one in 3,500 births and causes severe lung disease in adults or liver disease in adults and children.
Labcorp to integrate digital support platform from Redi.Health
COLUMBUS, OH–Health management tech company Redi.Health announced a collaboration with Labcorp Drug Development’s Patient Access Solutions, which works on behalf of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to deliver advanced technology and personal support solutions for patients and providers. Labcorp will integrate Redi.Health’s digital support platform to offer patients and care providers a variety of digital and traditional communications channels and tools with real-time data synching.
University of Cincinnati startup helps people breathe easier
Cincinnati, OH–A UC Venture Lab-backed startup called PEP Buddy has created a hands-free device that relieves breathlessness. The device not only helps adults who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but also offers benefits for people dealing with stress and anxiety.
Mouse brains offer new insights into how memories are formed
MINNEAPOLIS, MN–A University of Minnesota Twin Cities-led team has developed a new technique that allows scientists and engineers to visualize mRNA molecules in the brains of living mice. The research reveals new insights into how memories are formed and stored in the brain and could provide scientists with new information about diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
A sleep app for easing PTSD
MINNEAPOLIS, MN–NightWare is an app for the Apple Watch that’s aimed at easing the suffering of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Worn while the user is sleeping, the app can detect when the wearer is having a nightmare and then nudge them out of it without interrupting sleep.
Mayo Clinic to test new cochlear implant
WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN–Medtech company Envoy Medical is the creator of Acclaim, a surgically implanted cochlear device designed to restore hearing in those with severe hearing loss. Envoy’s product is different from the norm in that it doesn’t have any external components. The Mayo Clinic will test the Acclaim implant on three patients in an “early feasibility study.”