Israel Active

Israel’s GeneSort detects specific genetic mutations linked to various types of cancer. Oncologists can then adapt treatments to the patient's specific genetic mutations, dramatically improving outcomes.  GeneSort has just been acquired by Hong Kong investment fund AID Partners for $23 million.

Jerusalem’s Herzog Medical Center, Israel's foremost center for geriatric, respiratory, mental health and psycho-trauma treatment, is opening Israel’s first environmentally-friendly pavilion. The 270-bed 8-floor facility includes a 200-bed underground emergency hospital.

Newsletter readers may remember when UK Lancet editor Professor Richard Horton visited Rambam hospital after writing an anti-Israel article.  In his latest publication, Horton has made a complete turnaround, publishing 15 positive Israeli medical articles.

Israel’s UroGen Pharma has three treatments for the treatment of cancers of the urinary system (bladder and kidneys). It has just raised $58.2 million on NASDAQ. UroGen’s MitoGel treatment for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma has received Orphan status from the US FDA.

Israeli bone regeneration biotech CartiHeal has raised $18.3 million to fund a trial that will help it achieve US FDA approval for its cartilage regeneration technology.  CartiHeal already has CE (European) marketing approval.

Israel’s Escala Medical has developed what it describes as “the only non-surgical, incision-free 20-minute solution for patients suffering pelvic prolapse.” It is targeting FDA approval by the end of 2017.

I reported previously about Israel’s Gordian Surgical and its safe suturing (stitching) system to assist minimally-invasive surgery.  Gordian’s Doni Mayerfield was interviewed recently on ILTV.

Israel’s Tandem Technologies has developed Tandem Snare – a device for precise removal and retrieval of polyps in the colon.  Tandem’s CEO Noam Hassidov described the device on ILTV.

Israel’s Body Vision Medical has integrated CT scans with X-rays to help surgeons remove small, early-stage lung-cancer tumors. Pre-surgery 3D CT images are overlaid with 2D X-ray images during the operation to produce high-resolution Augmented Reality maps of the tumors in real-time.

Researchers from Israel’s Technion and Harvard have a new theory on how Parkinson’s disease develops. The responsible toxic protein alpha-synuclein doesn’t spread like an infection but accumulates throughout the body. It could change the way the neurological disease is treated.