The sector was firing on all burners in the past week with fresh developments in devices, drug development, wireless health, and weight loss (just ask Larry Smarr). You can catch all the latest here.
—Sequenom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SQNM]]), which scrubbed the launch of its diagnostics test for Down syndrome a year ago over “mishandled data,” is resuming development on a new testing schedule. The company also raised $51.6 million for R&D, commercial product development and general corporate purposes.
—Cytori Therapeutics reported (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CYTX]]) announced encouraging results from two small, placebo-controlled studies of its fat-derived regenerative cell therapy in cardiac patients. The double-blind studies, which were conducted in Europe, should pave the way for a larger test in 150-250 heart attack patients, the company said.
—Pathway Genomics fired the next salvo in the personal genome-testing wars with its announcement that it will begin selling genetic tests this week at 80 percent of Walgreens stores nationwide. Consumers can choose the $249 test that looks for a total of 46 genetic and health conditions, or a $179 test that will look for either 23 genetic conditions or 23 health conditions.
—Sotera Wireless CEO Tom Watlington told me the company is preparing to test the ViSi, a wireless device that continuously monitors blood pressure, respiration, temperature, blood oxygen levels and heart rate, at five Southern California hospitals. If ViSi works, Sotera could begin marketing the device to hospitals during the first quarter of 2011, he said.
—Two San Diego companies were recognized for their innovations at the Wireless Life Sciences Investor Meeting in La Jolla, which was attended by 200 people, nearly double last year’s number. CortiCare, of San Diego, which provides remote and continuous electroencephalography monitoring of patients admitted to a hospital intensive care unit for signs of micro-seizures, was a finalist in the Best Clinical Applications category. Great Connections, which just moved to San Diego from Sweden, has technology that transmits ultrasound and X-ray medical images to any mobile device.
—Luke chatted with Internet pioneer Larry Smarr about his personal