University of Minnesota

In The Know: Minnesota’s Healthcare News for November 29, 2018

November 28, 2018 | Tags: Abbott, Admedus, ANI Pharmaceuticals, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Boston Scientific, Cantel Medical, DiaMedica, Featured, HabitAware, HIll-Rom, Magstim, Mainstay Medical, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Ventures, Medibio, Medtronic, NeuroOne, Pursuit Vascular, Recombinetics, University of Minnesota

Boston Scientific Announces Recommended Offer to Acquire BTG plc.

HHS Deputy Secretary Hargan Announces DSIIS Participants and First Meeting Date

Biotech company DiaMedica sets IPO terms to rake in up to $20M

Confirm Rx: PopSci’s ‘Best of 2018’

ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ranked Number 366 Fastest Growing Company in North America on Deloitte’s 2018 Technology Fast 500™

Cantel Medical To Acquire Omnia For Europe Expansion

2018 CFO of the Year: Brian Mower, Medibio

Farm animals may soon get new features through gene editing

Blue Cross CEO Craig Samitt wants to be a disruptor for health care; here’s what that means for the Blues

Admedus reports $6.3 million revenues amid $12.7 million Star Bright backing

For Mayo scientist, spinal-injury research is personal

In the Fight Against Cancer, Sleeping Beauty Awakens

NHS clinical trial could pave the way for new depression treatment

NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation Announces Appointments to Artificial Intelligence Advisory Board

Mainstay Medical announces headline results from ReActiv8-B clinical study

Mayo partnership aims to teach digital stethoscope to detect heart trouble

Pursuit Vascular Announces Patent Notice of Allowance for its ClearGuard HD Antimicrobial Barrier Caps

Hill-Rom announces executive appointments

Our View: Mayo Clinic’s growth is good news for Rochester and state

Top Healthcare News For November 1, 2018: In The Know

October 31, 2018 | Tags: Bakken Museum, Bio-Techne, HabitAware, Heraeus Medical, Mayo Clinic, Medibio, Switchback Medical, University of Minnesota

Q&A with Aneela Idnani Kumar, who turned a bad habit into a Minnesota Cup-winning idea

Startups Help Medical Discoveries Reach Patients, Clinics

Heraeus acquires Evergreen Medical, PhysioTest

Mayo Clinic, Eko pair up on machine learning tech to screen for heart diseases

Switchback Medical acquires small Minnesota manufacturer

The University of Minnesota’s craziest, most interesting innovations

Medibio Signs ilumen™ Corporate Contract with a Large Australian Employer

Inspiring future scientists

Bio-Techne Releases First Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results

MedCity launches MedCitizens to help innovative healthcare startups be found

‘We’re just getting started’: Delta celebrates Northwest Airlines merger 10 years later

Top Healthcare News for October 25, 2018: In The Know

October 24, 2018 | Tags: Boston Scientific, Heraeus Medical, Humanetics Corporation, Mayo Clinic, Prevent Biometrics, SpineThera, Tactile Medical, University of Minnesota, Upsher-Smith

Boston Scientific posts better-than-expected earnings

The Journey: What ever happened to the ‘health dividend’?

Where and What is Medical Alley? It’s the Silicon Valley for digital health and med-tech companies.

Prevent Biometrics® Acquires Assets of X2 Biosystems, Consolidating Leadership in Head Impact Monitoring

SpineThera Acquired to Expand Non-Opioid Pain Management Portfolio

University of Minnesota Partners with Canadian Startup to Advance Development of Alzheimer’s Detection Tech

Medtech issues again take center stage in Minn. Congressional races

Tactile Medical Announces License Agreement for Certain Intellectual Property of Sun Scientific, Inc.

Heraeus Medical facilitates hospital-patient interaction with new digital solution

Upsher-Smith Launches Generic Version Of Onfi® (clobazam), CIV In Tablet And Oral Suspension Dosage Forms

Humanetics Corporation to Present at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology

Health Care Startup Day Minnesota Highlights Innovative Work in Minnesota

October 18, 2018 | Tags: Congressman Erik Paulsen, Ed Simcox, FDA, Featured, HHS, Jonathan Pearce, Medicaid, Medicare, National Institute of Health, Startup Day, University of Minnesota, Zipnosis

This week, the University of Minnesota and the Medical Alley Association had the privilege of hosting the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for Health Care Startup Day Minnesota. The event took place on University of Minnesota’s campus and drew the largest crowd HHS had seen for one of these events to date. It was the sixth stop on HHS’ two-year tour around the country to meet healthcare entrepreneurs and local startups. HHS Startup Day was a great opportunity to showcase the innovative working being done in Minnesota and build stronger relationships with these agencies.

Minnesota was an obvious choice to host Startup Day as it is uniquely positioned with a vibrant community in the health innovation and care industry that is Medical Alley. The event provided opportunity for folks to interact, engage, and learn about the variety of work HHS does. Many healthcare companies are not sufficiently aware of all the relevant funding, regulatory, and collaborative opportunities from HHS.

The event featured a wide array of speakers. Ed Simcox, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at HHS, addressed how partnering with innovative companies is the way that HHS will be able to bend the cost curse of healthcare and help improve treatment outcomes. Congressman Erik Paulsen, who has been a strong supporter of investments in research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with the goal of improving our regulatory processes so new and groundbreaking treatments can be developed, continued to lead the charge to repeal the medical device tax to increase job growth and innovation. Jonathan Pearce, CEO of Zipnosis, described for the audience the pathway of a company from startup to growth. Other speakers included key leaders from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discussing FDA approval, reimbursement issues, proposed regulations, and how to access federal funding programs in Minnesota. Medical Alley Association President & CEO, Shaye Mandle led a panel discussion on the future of healthcare innovation featuring Jodi Hubler, Managing Director, Lemhi Ventures; Ping Yeh, CEO & Co-Founder, StemoniX, Inc.; John Brownlee, CEO, vidscrip; Dan Knights, CEO, CoreBiome. The event closed with a “Walleye Tank,” a series of businesses pitches from local healthcare startups.

HHS Startup Day was a great event bringing light to the incredible healthcare work being done here in Minnesota. Thank you to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the University of Minnesota and all the local entrepreneurs and industry leaders for making Healthcare Startup Day Minnesota a huge success!

6 Questions with Noleus Technologies’ Dr. Swarna Balasubramaniam of gBETA Medtech

October 15, 2018 | Tags: 6 Questions, Accelerator, Boston Scientific, Dr. Swarna Balasubramaniam, Featured, gBETA, Mayo Clinic, Medtech, Noleus Technologies, University of Minnesota

gener8tor, a nationally ranked accelerator program, has partnered with Boston Scientific to launch a healthcare-focused program in Medical Alley with additional support from the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic. Their first cohort wrapped up in June and the second cohort was announced in July.

Over the next few weeks, we will profile the second cohort of companies.

What does Noleus Technologies do?

Noleus designs and develops a disposable device that mitigates postoperative bowel swelling to accelerate patient recovery after abdominal surgery.

What difference does this make for patients?

Noleus will provide better patient care by addressing 1) faster bowel recovery, which means patients will be able to eat and drink sooner, and 2) earlier hospital discharge, thereby reducing the risk of hospital-acquired conditions.

What motivated you to take on this issue?

I have been frustrated by the problem of postoperative ileus (slow recovery of intestinal function) over the 20 years I have practiced as a colorectal surgeon. It leads to longer hospital stays and poorer outcomes. Recent developments have led to the understanding that the lack of bowel function is due to swelling. The opportunity to change the way we care for patients after abdominal surgery and improve outcomes is irresistible, and it drove me to develop this from an idea to early-stage start-up over 18 months.

What did you do before starting this company

I am a practicing board-certified colon & rectal surgeon with over 20 years of experience trained at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Southern California. I manage my own practice in addition to previously working in several other settings and am well versed in the business aspects of medicine in addition to clinical practice.

How can the Medical Alley community best support your work?

Medical Alley provides the right culture and ecosystem to bring together renowned clinicians and medical device experts to develop Noleus, a first-of-its-kind device.

And finally, Why participate in gBETA?

By partnering with gBETA, we develop a customized growth strategy for Noleus to ensure we deliver value efficiently and effectively to our customers. The program has an amazing network of experienced mentors that are essential in guiding and building Noleus.

About gBETA Medtech

gBETA Medtech is a free, seven-week accelerator that works with medical device, healthcare-related software, biotech and diagnostics startups. Part of gener8tor, a nationally ranked accelerator program, gBETA Medtech is in partnership with Boston Scientific and supported by the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota. For more information visit https://www.gbetamedtech.com/

To learn more about Noleus Technologies visit Website: www.noleustechnologies.com

Want to see all the gBETA cohort 2 companies’ demo? LiveBETA is October 10^th – details here: https://livebetamedtechsummer2018.splashthat.com/

October 11, 2018: In The Know

October 11, 2018 | Tags: 3M, ANI Pharmaceuticals, AtriCure, Be The Match, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, DMC, Fairview Health Services, HabitAware, InterRad Medical, Lite Run, MANOVA, Mayo Clinic, Minnetronix Medical, Recombinetics, Stella, Switchback Medical, Teleflex, University of Minnesota, Zipnosis

HabitAware, maker of bracelet that minds annoying habits, wins the Minnesota Cup

University of Minnesota Medical School Researchers Have Discovered How to Slow Aging

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services Announce “Strive” Product Portfolio for 2019

Teleflex Acquires Essential Medical

Mayo complex is early test of Rochester’s big plans

How digital therapeutics fit into the larger mental health ecosystem

CAR-T therapies face logistical bottleneck as market set to see major growth

AtriCure prices $72m offering

Switchback Medical debuts in Twin Cities metro

Minnetronix Neuro Launches Global Neurapheresis™ Consortium

$2.5M grant awarded to project helping injured employees get back to work

Health Summit To Bring Leaders Together In Minneapolis

ANI Pharmaceuticals Announces Launch of Authorized Generic of Atacand HCT® Tablets

Interrad Medical Announces Agreement with Vygon to Distribute SecurAcath in France

NIH Awards $86 Million to Improve Genome Editing Techniques

Medical Alley Innovation Summit Brings Healthcare Startups from All Around the World to Minnesota

Zipnosis Uses Voice of the Customer to Drive Platform Development

WuXi AppTec Group and Mayo Clinic Receive 2018 MedTech Insight Award for Best Alliance

Ceresti Health Secures Growth Capital from Stella

3M Releases Advanced Surgical Skin Prep Solution Aiding in Patient Infection Prevention

Lite Run wins innovation award for ‘spacesuit’ pants

Inaugural MANOVA Global Health Summit kicks off

Recombinetics, partners to develop genome editing solutions for bovine TB

6 Questions with Morari’s Jeff Bennet of gBETA Medtech

October 7, 2018 | Tags: 6 Questions, Accelerator, Boston Scientific, gBETA, Mayo Clinic, Medtech, Morari, University of Minnesota

Over the next few weeks, we will profile the second cohort of companies.

What does Morari do?

Morari is an early-stage medical device company that is developing an external device for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). Grounded in basic science and clinical study research, the Morari concept is intended to be a transdermal-based product using neuromodulation as a means of inhibiting the nerves of the penis, thereby delaying an ejaculation.

What difference does this make for patients?

It restores confidence in male sexual health by eliminating the embarrassment and frustration of PE.

What motivated you to take on this issue?

PE is the most prevalent male sexual dysfunction, estimated to affect 30 percent of men worldwide. It has a higher incidence than erectile dysfunction or an enlarged prostate, yet men rarely talk about it or seek treatment. We hope to create awareness for this medical condition and provide a better treatment option.

What did you do before starting this company?

I served as the Director of Marketing at IMRIS. Overall, I have over 20 years of sales and marketing experience with Vysis/Abbott, Medtronic, American Medical Systems, Boston Scientific, and IMRIS.

How can the Medical Alley community best support your work?

Continue to support events that bring together experts in the field on medical devices that are willing to help others. Also, generating awareness of sexual health and forums that provide discussion on this topic will help the overall community be more accepting of these conversations.

And finally, why participate in gBETA?

Starting a company can be a very intimidating process for someone who has never done it before. Being a part of gBETA, you are in an environment with others in the same position. These companies and individuals are a great resource for support and ideas on how to succeed. Also, the gBETA team has worked with hundreds of companies and can offer tips and tricks on what works and what doesn’t.

About gBETA Medtech

To learn more about Morari visit www.morarimedical.com

Want to see all the gBETA cohort 2 companies’ demo? LiveBETA is October 10^th – details here: https://livebetamedtechsummer2018.splashthat.com/

6 Questions with Lucia Health Guidelines’ Dr. Gil Ungab of gBETA Medtech

October 1, 2018 | Tags: 6 Questions, AFib, Boston Scientific, EKG, gBETA, Lucia Health Guidelines, Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota

gener8tor, a nationally ranked accelerator program, has partnered with Boston Scientific to launch a healthcare-focused program in Medical Alley with additional support from the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic. Their first cohort wrapped up about a month ago and the second cohort was announced on in July.

Over the next few weeks, we will profile the second cohort of companies.

What does Lucia Health Guidelines do?

Lucia Health Guidelines has created a clinical decision support tool that leverages machine learning and the power of cloud computing to help maintain clinical guidelines at the point of care. Lucia is initially focused on Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) and ensuring proper treatment in the Emergency Department. Lucia’s technology will provide all clinicians a tool to confidently identify AFib on EKG and initiate guideline-recommended treatment to prevent strokes.

What difference does this make for patients?

By getting patients on a proper treatment plan when AFib is first encountered we hope to prevent the devastating outcome of a stroke. A study last year by Dr. Xian of Duke University found that 58,000 to 88,000 strokes per year could be prevented by appropriately following guidelines.

What motivated you to take on this issue?

My father had a stroke from undiagnosed AFib. His strength and courage in dealing with his disability inspired me to become a Cardiac Electrophysiologist. I know firsthand how catastrophic a stroke can be for the patient and the whole family.

What did you do before starting this company?

I am a private practice Cardiac Electrophysiologist in San Diego, California. I have served on R&D advisory boards for many of the major device companies. I helped local San Diego healthcare startups and then co-founded my first healthcare software startup a few years ago.

How can the Medical Alley community best support your work?

Our healthcare system is complex, and I don’t always have the answer to my questions. An organization like yours provides the right resources for navigating that complexity and connecting to those willing to help. My time spent working with and visiting the device companies over the years has shown me what a great community exists in the Twin Cities area.

And finally, why participate in gBETA?

I did not participate in an accelerator with my first startup. There is so much more I can learn from a program like gBETA and the mentorship they provide.

About gBETA Medtech

To learn more about Lucia Health Guidelines visit: www.luciaguidelines.com

Want to see all the gBETA cohort 2 companies’ demo? LiveBETA is October 10^th – details here: https://livebetamedtechsummer2018.splashthat.com/

6 Questions with SuraMedical’s Marja Engel and Jon Engel of gBETA Medtech

September 26, 2018 | Tags: 6 Questions, accelorator, biotech, Boston Scientific, Diagnostics, gBETA, Jon Engel, Marja Engel, Mayo Clinic, Medtech, MIT, SuraMedical, University of Minnesota

Over the next few weeks, we will profile the second cohort of companies.

6 Questions Series

SuraMedical takes the guesswork out of the treatment of chronic leg wounds by remotely monitoring the critical aspects of standard care: compression, elevation, and ambulation. SuraMedical’s solution improves treatment consistency and lowers costs for wound care centers, in-home nursing services, and long-term care facilities treating chronic wounds.

What difference does this make for patients?

Chronic leg wounds are an enormous problem, impacting over 2 million patients every year in the US alone. In addition to the substantial costs of treating wounds that may take six months or more to heal, these patients experience considerable social distress: pain, loss of sleep, restricted mobility, reduced work capacity, and social isolation. SuraMedical’s WoundAlert promises to return patients to their normal lives more quickly and at a lower cost.

What motivated you to take on this issue?

At the 2016 MIT Grand Hack, Jon met a wound care physician, Dr. Noah Rosen, who expressed his frustration at being unable to treat his patients to the full extent of his abilities given the lack of information he had about what happens outside his office. Jon was drawn to a tractable technical problem that fit well with his competencies, and the two formed SuraMedical in 2017. As we learned more about chronic wounds, we quickly uncovered members of our own families that have suffered from them — given the prevalence of the condition, almost everyone knows someone who has — and were surprised by the proximity of a devastating condition that remains almost entirely unrecognized by the lay community. Every conversation is a chance, not just to advance towards a practical improvement in the care of these patients, but to elevate awareness of a significant and growing problem.

What did you do before starting this company?

Jon was a research scientist at Corventis, a cardiac monitoring startup that was acquired by Medtronic in 2015. Marja was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company, then a VP of Marketing at Ecolab before joining SuraMedical earlier this year.

How can the Medical Alley community best support your work?

Startups are hard: Resources are scarce, the ratio of unknown-to-known is impossibly high, and naysayers abound. And healthcare startups — with a complex web of stakeholders, long development and approval timelines, and real human stakes — are harder still. The Medical Alley community can help by openly discussing healthcare’s major unmet needs, patiently teaching innovators about the intricacies of the healthcare marketplace as we seek viable commercialization pathways, and opening their doors as partners to trial even early-stage solutions.

And finally, why participate in gBETA?

One of the major risks for all startups is spending too much time in isolation, which can create an echo chamber. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to interact with and be challenged by the gBETA team, our fellow founders, and the network of mentors and healthcare experts affiliated with gBETA and its co-sponsors. We are closing our feedback loop far more effectively with gBETA’s help and look forward to maintaining that momentum well beyond the end of the formal program.