Novocuff Raises $26 Million in Oversubscribed Series A Funding to Advance Technology Aimed at Reducing Preterm Births

July 17, 2024

Novocuff, Inc., a medical device company dedicated to improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing the risk of preterm birth, has successfully closed an oversubscribed $26 million Series A funding round after raising an initial $2 million seed round.

AXA IM Alts, through its Global Healthcare Private Equity Strategy, led the round with a $14 million investment, alongside significant participation from Laerdal Million Lives Fund, and continued support from existing investors and new investors Laborie, RH Capital, Avestria Ventures and March of Dimes.

In conjunction with the closing of the Series A financing, Curt LaBelle, Head of Healthcare Private Equity at AXA IM Alts, Lilly deSouza Burr, Vice President Global Health Investing at AXA IM Alts, and Becca Shmukler, Principal at the Laerdal Million Lives Fund, have joined Novocuff’s Board of Directors, which also includes Shacey Petrovic as Chair of the Board.

Series A proceeds will support Novocuff’s growth plans, including the expansion of its team, execution of a U.S. multi-center pivotal clinical trial, marketing authorization, and early-stage commercialization. Novocuff welcomes new hires, Kathryn Wine (Vice President of Clinical Affairs) and Marissa VanDeVeer (Clinical Engineer), who are joining the effort to bring this significant technology to market.

“We are thrilled to have the support of a strong and mission-aligned group of investors as we enter this exciting next phase of clinical development,” said Amelia “Amy” Degenkolb, CEO & Co-founder of Novocuff. “This funding catalyzes our ability to deliver a solution to a healthcare need for women, and their families and healthcare providers.”

Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) and cervical shortening are leading causes of preterm birth, affecting millions of families worldwide each year. Novocuff is pursuing a novel approach in its effort to provide a solution to these critical conditions. The company’s mission is to transform the standard of care and improve pregnancy outcomes for women and their newborns.

Novocuff has developed a groundbreaking medical device aimed at stabilizing and closing the cervix to retain amniotic fluid and sustain cervical length, with the goal of extending pregnancy.

“As the leading cause of infant mortality globally, preterm birth is a serious unaddressed global health issue. The near and long-term negative impacts on the patient, and the economic burden on health systems, have created a pressing and dire situation. Given the lack of solutions currently available to address this significant global health challenge, we are thrilled to directly contribute to Novocuff’s mission to improve pregnancy outcomes. We have followed Novocuff since its founding and are excited about the company’s progress and clinical data generated to date. Our investment should enable completion of a U.S. pivotal trial and the introduction of the Novocuff device to global markets, including low- and middle-income countries. This aligns with our commitment at AXA IM Alts of generating measurable and positive healthcare outcomes alongside attractive long-term financial returns for our investors,” said Curt LaBelle, Head of Healthcare Private Equity at AXA IM Alts.

The investment into Novocuff from AXA IM Alts follows its previous investment into Alydia Health, where Novocuff CEO & co-founder Amy Degenkolb played a key role.

“Tragically, preterm birth is the number one cause of infant mortality globally,” said Becca Shmukler, Principal at the Laerdal Million Lives Fund. “When we first met co-founders Amy and Donald and initially invested in the company, we were impressed by their novel technology, expertise, and commitment to addressing this sorely underserved market. Working with them across the last year has only grown our conviction in Novocuff’s potential to lower the mortality burden associated with preterm birth – perfectly aligned with the Laerdal Million Lives Fund’s life-saving mission. With this Series A financing, we are now looking forward to partnering with mission-aligned investors like AXA IM Alts to continue to work toward this goal.”

“Too many babies are born too soon, which is why preventing preterm birth and potentially poor outcomes for mom and baby is critical to March of Dimes,” said Eric Schaefer, Senior Director of Portfolio Strategy and Mission Investment at March of Dimes. “The investments we make through our Innovation Fund help to support the development of new solutions such as Novocuff’s device, which we hope will help address pregnancy complications that can lead to preterm birth. We are encouraged by Novocuff’s progress to date and look forward to the results from their upcoming clinical trial.”

With the Series A funding secured, Novocuff is poised to commence a multi-center U.S. pivotal clinical trial in early 2025. Novocuff is underway with identification of potential clinical trial sites; those interested should reach out for more information.

Chris McHugh Joins Zeus as Senior Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain

July 17, 2024

Zeus, a world leader in polymer extrusion and catheter manufacturing, is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris McHugh as the Senior Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain, a newly created role. McHugh is a pivotal addition to the leadership team, overseeing end-to-end operations across Zeus’ network of manufacturing facilities.

In this critical role, Chris McHugh will drive operational improvements across the company’s global network, focusing on embedding best-in-class operational excellence, safety, and efficiency principles throughout the organization. He will support the company’s growth objectives by establishing strong operating system processes and standards across the organization, developing and sustaining robust customer relationships, and building, managing, and developing a disciplined, focused, and outcomes-driven operations team with a culture of continuous improvement.

“We are confident that Chris’s leadership and vision will significantly contribute to our operational success and help to accelerate our growth trajectory,” says CEO Paddy O’Brien. “His addition to our team underscores our commitment to excellence and innovation in our supply chain operations and, ultimately, delivering exceptional value to our customers.”

Chris McHugh brings extensive experience in operations management, with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams and implementing transformative initiatives. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Operations at Cadence, Inc., a full-service medical device manufacturer and supplier. His expertise in optimizing processes and driving operational efficiency will be invaluable as Zeus expands its capabilities.

McHugh holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics from Michigan Technological University, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, and a postgraduate executive education in International Business from Columbia Business School.

“I am honored to join Zeus and contribute to its long-standing legacy of innovation and excellence,” said McHugh. “I look forward to working with this talented team to optimize our business processes and operational network to deliver world-class products and customer satisfaction.”

LG Electronics Launches 5MP Diagnostic Monitor for Breast Imaging

July 17, 2024

LG Launches 5MP Diagnostic Monitor for Breast Imaging

LG Electronics (LG) is accelerating its B2B medical device business, expanding its lineup of diagnostic monitors with the new 21HQ613D-B, which was recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for sale in the U.S.

Intended for digital mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis, the 21HQ613D-B is a 21.3-inch 5-megapixel (MP) IPS diagnostic monitor designed to deliver high-definition radiological images and maintains consistent image quality through its internal front calibration sensor and calibration software.

The 21HQ613D-B offers exceptional definition and brightness. Its LG IPS display provides a resolution of 2,048 x 2,560, a luminance of 1100cd/m² and a contrast ratio of 1800:1. Suitable for reviewing various types of medical images, including breast MRIs, CT scans and ultrasound, the diagnostic monitor features an internal front sensor that removes the need for an external calibration device. With LG Calibration Studio medical software, users can conveniently conduct DICOM calibration and quality assurance tests that comply with international quality control standards for medical monitors.

The 21HQ613D-B also incorporates helpful features to assist users in the close examination of medical images, such as Focus View Mode. Controllable with either a mouse or keyboard, Focus View Mode lets users focus in on a specific part of an image, dimming the rest of the screen in order to highlight the selected area. Additionally, Multi-Resolution Mode (5, 3 and 2MP) makes it possible to quickly adjust screen resolution to suit the type of image being viewed.

For a more productive and organized workspace, this diagnostic monitor supports daisy-chaining via DisplayPort connection. An easy and efficient way of linking monitors, daisy-chaining helps reduce desk clutter and simplify cable management. LG’s new 5MP diagnostic monitor also offers a comfortable user experience thanks to an ergonomic stand with adjustable tilt, height, swivel and bi-directional pivoting functionality.

The diagnostic monitor’s five hotkeys improve user convenience by providing a quick and simple way to adjust settings or switch between modes. Meanwhile, the Presence Sensor helps to conserve energy, automatically shutting off the display if no motion has been detected for five minutes. The Down Light and Wall Light features enable users to read documents when the room is dim or completely dark, the former illuminating the desk or table surface below the monitor and the latter casting light on the area behind it. For a better viewing experience, the Auto Luminance Sensor automatically adjusts screen brightness according to ambient conditions.

LG’s expanded lineup of diagnostic monitors covers the major display needs of large hospitals. Along with the new 5MP model, the company provides 2MP and 3MP monitors – primarily used for reading radiological images – and 8MP and 12MP products equipped with PBP (Picture-by-picture) mode, which allows simultaneous review of multiple diagnostic images.

“LG’s new 5MP diagnostic monitor is tailored for reviewing mammograms and breast tomosynthesis, providing a high-quality medical imaging display with both simple management and practical features for users,” said Stephen K. Hu, LG Business Solutions USA’s head of medical displays. “We’re dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions for the medical sector with our display technologies, and the addition of the latest 5MP monitor underscores this commitment to innovation.”

Key Specifications:

		LG Diagnostic Monitor (21HQ613D)
Display	Panel Type	IPS
	Size	21.3-inch
	Aspect Ratio	4:5
	Resolution	5MP (2,048 x 2,560)
	Color Gamut (Typ.)	NTSC (CIE 1931) 72%
	Brightness (Typ.)	1100cd/m²
	Contrast Ratio (Typ.)	1800:1
	Response Time (Gray-To-Gray)	5ms (GtG)
Feature	DICOM Compliant	Yes
	Hardware Calibration	Yes
	Display Mode	Multi-Resolution Mode (5/3/2MP), Focus View Mode
Video Signals	Input Terminals	DisplayPort x2, DVI-D (Dual Link) x1
User Convenience	Dual Controller	Yes
	Lighting	Yes (Down / Wall)
	Hot Key	Yes (5 keys)
	Presence Sensor	Yes
Physical Specifications	Adjustable Stand	Pivot (Bi-Directional) / Swivel: ±15° / Tilt.: -5°~20° / Height Range: 110mm

Zensar Technologies Acquires BridgeView Life Sciences to Boost Healthcare and Life Sciences Focus

July 17, 2024

Zensar Technologies, an RPG Group Company headquartered in Pune, India, and a leading experience, engineering, and engagement technology solutions company, announced today the full acquisition of BridgeView Life Sciences LLC.

The US-based leader in information technology and operations provides a comprehensive range of advisory, transformation, and managed services exclusively for life sciences customers endeavoring to launch products or new indications, assess and optimize their operations, or engage in merger or acquisition transactions. This strategic move strengthens Zensar’s Healthcare and Life Sciences (HLS) vertical and expands its pharma commercial and product launch expertise.

The acquisition positions Zensar to offer a more comprehensive suite of solutions to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. BridgeView’s “Preferred Services Partner” and “Services Partner” status with Veeva Systems’ Commercial Cloud and Development Cloud, respectively, solidify Zensar’s position as a trusted technology partner. Additionally, BridgeView’s partnerships with Reltio, Datavant, Snowflake, Salesforce, and IQVIA bolster its capabilities.

Commenting on this acquisition, Anant Goenka, Vice-Chairman of RPG Enterprises and Zensar Technologies, said, “Acquiring BridgeView Life Sciences aligns with our long-term growth strategy for our growing HLS practice. This acquisition deepens our services for existing clients and expands into new areas, especially for innovators and emerging pharma players underserved by technology. It reflects our commitment to anticipating client and market needs and providing solutions to critical challenges.”

The acquisition positions Zensar as a pivotal force in driving innovation and facilitating the digital transformation of life sciences companies, effectively addressing the industry’s key challenges.

Manish Tandon, CEO and Managing Director of Zensar Technologies, said, “BridgeView Life Sciences brings a team of seasoned professionals with deep life sciences knowledge and a successful track record. This aligns perfectly with our vision to be a leader in the HLS space. BridgeView’s expertise in biopharma cloud CRM, information management, analytics, and program management combined with their established client base will significantly enhance our HLS offerings and accelerate our go-to-market strategy.”

James Corbett, Co-founder and COO, and Mihales Karasavas, Co-founder and CCO of BridgeView Life Sciences LLC, stated, “We are thrilled to join Zensar. Zensar’s global reach and digital expertise will help us offer more solutions and reach a wider audience. This synergy allows us to address customers’ transformational programs effectively, improving patient lives faster. We look forward to a bright future together.”

As per industry analysts, the Veeva-specific IT services market is expected to reach US $2 billion+ by 2025. This acquisition positions Zensar to capitalize on this rapidly growing opportunity with a combined team dedicated to delivering superior Veeva solutions such as Veeva Network, Veeva Vault, and Vault CRM.

Atara Biotherapeutics Announces U.S. FDA Acceptance and Priority Review of the Biologics License Application for Tabelecleucel (Tab-cel®) for the Treatment of Epstein-Barr Virus Positive Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease

July 17, 2024

Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRA), a leader in T-cell immunotherapy, leveraging its novel allogeneic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) T-cell platform to develop transformative therapies for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the filing of its Biologics License Application (BLA) for tabelecleucel (tab-cel®) indicated as monotherapy for treatment of adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older with Epstein-Barr virus positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV+ PTLD) who have received at least one prior therapy. For solid organ transplant patients, prior therapy includes chemotherapy unless chemotherapy is inappropriate. There are no FDA approved therapies in this treatment setting.

The BLA has been granted Priority Review with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of January 15, 2025.

“The acceptance of the tab-cel BLA is a significant milestone towards making this first-of-its-kind treatment available to patients in the U.S.,” said Pascal Touchon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atara Biotherapeutics. “The FDA’s granting of priority review highlights the high unmet need in EBV+ PTLD, which is a devastating disease with limited treatment options and a poor overall survival rate. We continue to work closely with the Pierre Fabre Laboratories team to help prepare for the potential launch in the U.S. in early 2025, along with the potential label expansion multicohort Phase 2 EBVision trial.”

Tab-cel is an allogeneic, EBV-specific T-cell immunotherapy designed to target and eliminate EBV-infected cells. The BLA is supported by pivotal and supportive data covering more than 430 patients treated with tab-cel across multiple life-threatening diseases including the latest pivotal ALLELE study data that demonstrated a statistically significant 48.8% Objective Response Rate (ORR) (p<0.0001) and favorable safety profile consistent with previous analyses.

Tab-cel has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of rituximab-refractory EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease by the U.S. FDA and has orphan drug designation.

In December 2023, Atara announced the closing of the expanded global partnership with Pierre Fabre Laboratories for the U.S. and remaining global commercial markets for tab-cel, building on an initial partnership covering Europe, Middle East, Africa, and other select emerging markets. With the acceptance of the tab-cel BLA, Atara will receive a $20 million milestone payment from Pierre Fabre, with the potential to receive a $60 million milestone payment from Pierre Fabre contingent upon FDA approval of the tab-cel BLA. In addition, Pierre Fabre is reimbursing Atara for expected tab-cel global development costs through the BLA transfer and purchasing tab-cel inventory through the manufacturing transfer date. Atara is also eligible to receive sales milestones and double-digit tiered royalties on net sales of tab-cel in the U.S. and remaining global commercial markets referenced above.

Tab-cel was granted marketing authorization under the brand name Ebvallo™ in December 2022 by the European Commission. Marketing authorization was also granted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom in May 2023 and by Swissmedic in Switzerland in May 2024. In all three territories, Ebvallo is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older with relapsed or refractory EBV+ PTLD who have received at least one prior therapy. For solid organ transplant patients, prior therapy includes chemotherapy unless chemotherapy is inappropriate. Ebvallo was awarded the 2024 Prix Galien International Award for “Best Product for Orphan/Rare Diseases.”

Artificial Intelligence: Balancing Risks & Potential of a New Frontier in Health Care | By Brad Jobe, Chief Information Officer, TRIMEDX

July 17, 2024

Using artificial intelligence in clinical environments will change the cybersecurity landscape for health systems. While specific applications of AI can enhance health systems’ cybersecurity capabilities, others will raise new concerns over safety and privacy. To be successful, adopters of new technology must fully understand its risks and benefits while ensuring the technology is used to empower their clinical engineering and cybersecurity teams.

AI brings additional cybersecurity challenges

The use of AI brings about several new challenges executives must be ready to address. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has highlighted the risks posed by AI and is working with industry partners to help organizations secure their AI systems. As of May 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted some form of authorization for use to 882 medical devices claiming to incorporate AI or machine learning.

AI within health systems will often require software to access patient data and communicate with other sources to pull or share information. Network connectivity in hospitals is already on the rise, with one survey finding 74% of healthcare organizations had more than half of their medical devices connected to the network. More and more devices will likely become connected in the future, in part to power machine learning. While connected devices can improve patient care, they also create more network access points, a larger attack surface, and potentially new vulnerabilities.

The amount of data needed for AI technology within health systems is also a risk factor, especially when that includes electronic protected health information (ePHI). The World Economic Forum has reported the average hospital generates over 50 petabytes of data annually. While AI’s ability to analyze that data has many potential benefits, it also carries risk. Medical devices and electronic health records are critical security points because of the amount of personal data they transmit and store. If a network were compromised, AI systems that access these records to aid in clinical operations could become an additional entry point for unauthorized ePHI access.

AI technologies may also bring new software vulnerabilities that need to be managed. For example, machine learning programs could potentially be manipulated to produce inaccurate results if breached in an attack. If undetected, breaches could create ongoing threats to patient safety.

While many organizations are making use of AI technologies to innovate and increase efficiency, bad actors are also making use of the technology. Earlier this year, Microsoft said the “speed, scale, and sophistication of attacks has increased alongside the rapid development and adoption of AI.” Phishing emails are a particular area of concern for health systems and other organizations. Already, phishing is one of the most prevalent types of cybercrimes. The emails are scams designed to trick users into revealing personal information or clicking on malicious links.

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) reports AI is increasing the quality and quantity of phishing emails. Cybercriminals are using large language models (LLMs), to automate the entire phishing process, which can reduce the cost of the attack by more than 95% while still reaching the same or greater success rates as scams created by human experts. HBR warns it expects phishing to continue to become more common and more sophisticated in the coming years.

Health systems should consider working with a trusted partner who is well-versed in these emerging and advancing threats and has the latest technology to strengthen the organization’s cyber resilience.

AI can help health systems guard against cyberattacks

Health systems and their cybersecurity partners must establish ways to identify, assess, prioritize, and address the risks new technologies present. A key obstacle to meeting this challenge is the capacity for both IT and clinical engineering teams to keep pace with the quickly evolving risk landscape. As with BMETs, cybersecurity professionals are in high demand and short supply. A 2023 study estimated a shortage of 522,000 professionals in the cybersecurity workforce in North America alone.

As expanding cybersecurity needs outpace the growth of the workforce, AI can reduce the manual effort and turnaround time needed to execute a cybersecurity strategy. This allows teams to focus their time and resources where they will have the greatest impact.

Organizations can use monitoring tools with embedded AI algorithms to monitor connected device inventories. Detecting and reporting anomalous behavior is far easier and faster with a technology solution that is always on, as opposed to traditional monitoring methods. In addition to enabling monitoring on a greater scale, AI could increase the agility of cybersecurity programs. While typical software relies on updates from developers to respond to new information, true AI utilizes machine learning to adapt to new information quickly and more autonomously. AI will be able to identify new anomalies and possible cyberthreats sooner, helping health systems keep pace as new vulnerabilities are discovered.

The immense number of both new and previously identified vulnerabilities that healthcare cybersecurity teams need to monitor makes the case for a technology-assisted strategy. According to a recent Health-ISAC report, 1,000 vulnerabilities impacting almost as many healthcare products were identified in 2023—a 59% increase from 2022. Individuals in IT or clinical engineering could not realistically be expected to retain this much information themselves, let alone use it to address their organization’s needs. AI-powered technology has the potential to store vulnerability data efficiently, make it more easily accessible for cybersecurity projects, and connect it with supplementary information from other sources to increase its practical value.

AI can also be beneficial in deciding the right approach to addressing a cybersecurity risk, but it should be used in conjunction with human expertise. Understanding how possible solutions can impact clinical operations requires an in-depth understanding of a health system’s unique needs. AI software can help standardize the assessment of all the unique risk factors cybersecurity teams need to consider and match that information with potential solutions. The software can then prioritize an organization’s greatest threats and provide precise recommendations. However, the judgement and skills of cybersecurity professionals are then essential to both executing the recommendations and verifying how carrying out cybersecurity projects will impact the work of clinical teams.

Human expertise must remain a top priority

The potential benefits of AI technology that the healthcare industry could pursue in the coming years are numerous and exciting. However, it is imperative to understand and accept that new digital technologies come with their own cybersecurity risks that must be addressed. To effectively prioritize patient safety and privacy as AI becomes more common in IT and medical device applications, health systems must rely on experts dedicated to patient care, cybersecurity, and technology management.

The ideal role of AI is to support healthcare providers and technology professionals in making informed and compassionate decisions, not to replace them. Health systems that experience the greatest success in adopting and using AI-powered tools will be those that recognize the irreplaceable value of the expertise clinicians, biomedical engineering technicians, and cybersecurity teams bring to their organizations and patient care.

Editor’s Note: In his role as chief information officer at TRIMEDX, Brad Jobe provides strategic technology leadership in the areas of software, applications, information technology/operations, solutions, and IT security. Brad has over 25 years of leadership experience leading teams in IT security and information technology. Brad earned his MBA from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from South Dakota State University. He has multiple information security certifications, such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Information Security Manager, and Certified Information Systems Auditor.

Universities in Canada. Why Do Chinese Students Choose to Study in Canada?

July 17, 2024

In recent years, Canada has emerged as a leading destination for international students seeking quality higher education. Among the growing number of international students, Chinese nationals represent a significant portion. Why do Chinese students choose to study at Canadian universities over other options worldwide? Several key factors make Canada an attractive choice, ranging from its world-renowned educational system to its inviting social climate.

Quality of Education

One of the foremost reasons is the high quality of Canadian education. Canadian universities consistently rank among the top in the world, offering a wide range of programs in science, technology, business, arts, and social sciences. The robust research opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities make these institutions ideal platforms for academic and professional growth.

English Language Proficiency

While English is not the first language for most Chinese students, the medium of instruction in many of China’s schools is often English. This factor makes the transition to Canadian universities smoother. Furthermore, English proficiency is seen as an asset in the global job market, which makes studying in Canada a strategic choice for career-oriented students.

Cultural Diversity

Canada’s commitment to multiculturalism provides a welcoming environment for international students. Chinese students often find the inclusive ethos in Canadian society conducive to both academic life and personal growth. Canada’s large Chinese communities, especially in cities like Vancouver and Toronto, make it easier for Chinese students to adjust to life in a new country.

High Quality of Life

Canada consistently ranks high in terms of quality of life, including healthcare, public transport, and overall safety. These factors make it a preferred destination for Chinese parents concerned about their children’s well-being in a foreign country. The excellent student services at Canadian universities also contribute to the sense of security and community.

Immigration Opportunities

Canada’s favorable immigration policies make it easier for students to obtain work permits and eventually become permanent residents. For Chinese students who view education as a pathway to global opportunities, this is an attractive prospect. The Canadian government has been proactive in streamlining the immigration process for students, further amplifying the country’s appeal as a study destination.

Financial Viability

Studying abroad is an investment, and Canada offers a good return on that investment. Canadian universities offer various scholarships, bursaries, and work-study programs, making it financially viable for many international students. The cost of living is also relatively affordable compared to other Western countries, which adds to Canada’s attractiveness as a study destination.

Networking and Career Advancement

Canadian educational institutions often have close ties with industries, offering students ample internship and job opportunities. The alumni networks are robust and global, providing a platform for career growth and professional connections. For Chinese students, this can open doors to opportunities not just in Canada but also in other parts of the world.

Collaborative Learning Environment

The Canadian education system places significant emphasis on a collaborative learning environment. Teamwork is encouraged, which is often different from the competitive educational settings that many Chinese students may be accustomed to. This fosters a sense of community and helps students develop essential soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and leadership.

Research and Innovation

Canada is at the forefront of research and innovation in various fields, including healthcare, artificial intelligence, environmental science, and more. Chinese students who are inclined towards research find this particularly appealing, as it offers them an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge developments.

Alumni Success Stories

The success stories of Chinese alumni who have studied in Canada and gone on to achieve great things in their respective fields serve as motivation. These stories often circulate in educational and social circles in China, further establishing Canada’s reputation as an excellent destination for higher education.

Conclusion

In summary, Canada offers a holistic educational experience that goes beyond academic excellence. Its welcoming society, high standard of living, and promising career opportunities make it an ideal study destination for Chinese students. Combined with its world-class educational system and favorable immigration policies, it’s easy to see why Canada continues to attract a growing number of students from China each year. Whether it’s the robust academic programs, research opportunities, or the promise of a brighter future, Canada stands out as a land of opportunities for Chinese students seeking quality higher education abroad.

Ultrahuman Announces its App Store ‘PowerPlugs’ with the World’s First AFib Detection Technology on a Smart Ring

July 16, 2024

Ultrahuman, a pioneer in wearable technology, launches PowerPlugs, a platform for individual apps and plugins built on top of Ultrahuman’s health and wellness data stack. This is the world’s first in a smart ring form factor.

Recognizing each individual’s health journey is unique, PowerPlugs enable people to choose and focus on the aspects of their health that matter most. It’s designed for highly personalized health insights, ensuring that every individual can personalize their health tracking to their unique needs and goals.

At the forefront of PowerPlugs is AFib Detection, a PowerPlug that discreetly monitors your heart rhythm every night to detect signs of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).

Ultrahuman Ring AIR is the first smart ring in the world to offer AFib detection. AFib is the most common type of irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia. It can lead to serious health complications such as stroke and heart failure, if left undetected. Individuals with potential arrhythmia episodes or a history of irregular rhythms can now track AFib closely and seek early intervention.

Speaking on the launch, Mohit Kumar, Founder and CEO of Ultrahuman said “When it comes to health, one size doesn’t fit all. That’s why we built PowerPlugs for people to pick and choose what matters most for their health and wellness. Over the next few years, you could expect thousands of applications to be built on top of Ultrahuman’s comprehensive health data platform. Given our most comprehensive data stack of health markers from Ultrahuman Ring, M1 CGM, Ultrahuman Home and more to come, there’s infinite scope to build deep experiences over the next few years. Essentially, your Ultrahuman Ring will keep getting better after your purchase.”

“We’re launching our first few PowerPlugs with a novel game changing capability, AFib detection. This life saving technology comes with medical approval in limited markets currently and we’re aggressively launching new markets with regulator’s approval every few weeks.”

The PowerPlugs ecosystem can be accessed through the Ultrahuman App and is available in free and premium options.

Circadian Rhythm

Understanding the importance of aligning with natural circadian rhythms, the Ring AIR provides actionable recommendations tailored to your lifestyle. These suggestions include the optimal times to expose yourself to natural light, exercise, and wind down in the evening, aiming to enhance your energy levels, improve sleep quality, and bolster your overall health.

Pregnancy Mode

Pregnancy Mode adjusts health monitoring and recommendations specifically for pregnancy. It provides tailored advice on nutrition, activity levels, and health metrics that are crucial during this time. Gain insights into how to maintain your health and your baby’s development, with safety and well-being as the priority.

Cycle Tracking

Cycle Tracking offers a comprehensive overview of your menstrual cycle phases and predicts upcoming cycles with high accuracy. This tool provides personalized insights into your fertility windows and symptom patterns, enabling proactive health management and lifestyle adjustments. Empower yourself with knowledge to make informed decisions about your reproductive health.

Caffeine Window

Track and optimize your consumption of stimulants such as caffeine throughout the day. By understanding your body’s response to different stimulants, this tool advises on the best times for consumption to boost your alertness without affecting your nightly rest. Ideal for maintaining high energy levels and ensuring restful sleep.

Vitamin D

Manage Vitamin D intake through sun exposure. The app calculates the optimal times for you to step outside, based on your skin type, location, and current UV index, ensuring you get the most effective and safe sun exposure. It focuses on skin absorption, telling you precisely when to go out and estimating how much Vitamin D (in IU) your skin will absorb during your session. With real-time tracking and safety alerts to prevent overexposure, this PowerPlug makes maintaining healthy Vitamin D levels effortless and personalized.

Jet Lag

Jet Lag PowerPlug features personalized jet lag plans based on the users’ travel itineraries, sleep patterns, and chronotypes, leveraging evidence-based methods involving light exposure, melatonin supplements, caffeine, and naps. It offers detailed schedules to follow before, during, and after trips, helping reset the circadian clock efficiently.

Weight loss

Integrate meal planning with real-time glucose monitoring to optimize your fitness journey. Ultrahuman Ring AIR tracks calories burnt throughout the day. It syncs with automated food logging to provide a comprehensive view of calorie intake versus expenditure. This helps users maintain a balanced diet and work towards their fitness goals without the hassle of manually logging their data. This is a game changer for anyone optimising their weight loss journey.

Ovulation

Women can now understand ovulation cycles, helping them better understand their bodies and menstrual health. For women looking to conceive, accurate ovulation detection can significantly increase the chances of pregnancy by identifying the most fertile days. Conversely, for those practising natural family planning methods, knowing the ovulation period can help in avoiding pregnancy. Additionally, continuous monitoring can help identify potential reproductive health issues early, allowing for timely interventions.

Ultrahuman’s accessibility to health personalization doesn’t stop there. For the first time ever, developers can get access to Raw PPG, Accelerometer and Temperature data streams from the Ring AIR. Ultrahuman invites developers to build bespoke algorithms on top of these data streams from the Ring AIR using UltraSignal, Ultrahuman Ring AIR’s developer platform.

UltraSignal will help fuel more customization and innovation in health. Developers can build custom algorithms for Sleep, Stress, Movement, Fertility and more, creating their own Powerplug.

Digestiva Closes $18.4 million Series A Financing

July 15, 2024

Digestiva, a pioneering food biotech company, successfully closed its Series A equity financing round, raising $18.4 million.

This significant milestone was led by Magdalena, a global leader in sugar cane processing, with participation from UC Investments, and existing investors The March Fund and Astanor. The company’s groundbreaking enzyme technology platform was initially discovered by co-founder Dr. Wilson Mak, in the lab of renowned UC Davis faculty member Dr. Justin Siegel, a global leader in enzyme discovery, development, and design.

Digestiva’s innovative core technology focuses on the discovery and development of proprietary protease enzymes designed to address critical challenges in protein nutrition, functionality, and overall health. Millions worldwide struggle to extract optimal nutrition from dietary proteins, leading to inadequate growth, muscle development, and overall health, with problems that worsen with age. Digestiva’s revolutionary proteases enhance protein bioavailability, allowing people and animals to maximize nutritional benefits from existing diets without increasing protein consumption. These science-driven solutions have the potential to address global malnutrition and promote sustainable nutrition by improving health outcomes and reducing environmental impact.

Alongside the successful Series A financing, Digestiva has entered into an exclusive manufacturing partnership with Magdalena. Under this agreement, Magdalena will enable the scale-up production of enzymes to help Digestiva reach its commercial milestones.

Digestiva is currently executing multiple pilot projects aimed at accelerating commercialization and achieving initial revenue milestones. Its first precision protease enhances the processability, nutritional quality, digestibility, and bioavailability of proteins. This enzyme releases an optimal mix of amino acids and peptides, offering versatile applications in nutrition and protein processing. The protease technology has shown promise in pilot human studies and industrial processes, potentially revolutionizing the quality of protein ingredients from various plant and animal sources. Digestiva aims to commercialize applications in pet food, animal feed, and human nutrition markets. The company has developed a cost-effective production method using precision fermentation and has attained Self-Affirmed GRAS, making its first product market-ready.

“We are very pleased with the high caliber of investors participating in our financing round and the strategic alignment in scaling our breakthrough technology to deliver a significant positive impact on the future of human and animal nutrition. We are excited to partner with Magdalena to manufacture our enzymes, ensuring both cost efficiencies and long-term supply security for our customers. Digestiva is a prime example of the groundbreaking biotechnology emerging from the UC Davis ecosystem,” said John Melo, CEO of Digestiva.

Mabwell Receives NMPA Approval for Clinical Trial of Novel Nectin-4 Targeting ADC in TNBC

July 15, 2024

Mabwell (688062.SH), an innovative biopharmaceutical company with entire industry chain, announced its novel Nectin-4 targeting ADC (R&D code: 9MW2821) has been approved by the NMPA to enter Phase II clinical trial as monotherapy or in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

The Phase II clinical trial recently approved aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 9MW2821 as monotherapy or in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor in patients with locally advanced or metastatic TNBC. The study includes two cohorts: Cohort A will enroll patients with locally advanced or metastatic TNBC who have previously received taxane/anthracycline-based chemotherapy and topoisomerase inhibitor based antibody-drug conjugate treatment, and will receive 9MW2821 monotherapy; Cohort B will enroll patients with locally advanced or metastatic TNBC who have not previously received systemic therapy, and will receive a combination treatment of 9MW2821 and a PD-1 inhibitor.

Clinical results previously presented at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting showed that among the 20 patients with locally advanced or metastatic TNBC treated by 9MW2821 and evaluable for efficacy assessment, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 50.0% and 80.0% respectively. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 5.9 months, and the median overall survival (mOS) was not yet reached, with one patient achieved complete response (CR) and had been in CR for 20 months and is currently sustained to be CR. Additionally, 9MW2821 has recently been granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic Nectin-4 positive TNBC.

About 9MW2821: 9MW2821 is the first site-specific conjugated novel Nectin-4-targeting ADC developed by Mabwell using ADC platform and automated high-throughput hybridoma antibody molecular discovery platform, and is the first drug candidate to enter clinical study among the Nectin-4-targeting ADCs developed by Chinese companies, and the first therapeutic drug candidate targeting Nectin-4 in the world to reveal clinical efficacy data of cervical cancer (CC), esophageal cancer (EC) and breast cancer. 9MW2821 has been granted FTD by FDA for the treatment of advanced, recurrent, or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Feb. 2024, and also respectively granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and FTD for the treatment of EC and recurrent or metastatic CC progressed on or following prior treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen in May 2024. Then, it has been granted FTD for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic Nectin-4 positive TNBC in July, 2024.

9MW2821 achieves site-specific modification of antibody through proprietary conjugate technology linkers and optimized ADC conjugation process. After injection, 9MW2821 can specifically bind to Nectin-4 on the cell membrane surface, be internalized and release cytotoxic drug, and induce the apoptosis of tumor cells.

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Novocuff, Inc., a medical device company dedicated to improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing the risk of preterm birth, has successfully closed an oversubscribed $26 million Series A funding round after raising an initial $2 million seed round.

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Zensar Technologies, an RPG Group Company headquartered in Pune, India, and a leading experience, engineering, and engagement technology solutions company, announced today the full acquisition of BridgeView Life Sciences LLC.

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Conclusion

Ultrahuman, a pioneer in wearable technology, launches PowerPlugs, a platform for individual apps and plugins built on top of Ultrahuman’s health and wellness data stack. This is the world’s first in a smart ring form factor.

Digestiva, a pioneering food biotech company, successfully closed its Series A equity financing round, raising $18.4 million.

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