RepliCel Life Sciences Inc (TSXV:RP)
RepliCel is a regenerative medicine company developing autologous cell therapies that address diseases caused by a deficit of healthy cells required for normal healing and function.
Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY) unit Genentech, in collaboration with Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD), initiates a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the combination of Actemra (tocilizumab) and remdesivir in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
The randomized 450-subject study, REMDACTA, will compare the combo to placebo + remdesivir.
Enrollment in another Phase 3, COVACTA, evaluating Actemra + standard-of-care (SOC) treatment in these patients is close to completion. Top line data should be available this summer.
A third Phase 3, EMPACTA, evaluating Actemra compared to SOC in ~375 of these patients in underserved areas has been initiated.
CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) announces that it will have a total of 1,000 COVID-19 sample collection sites up and running in the U.S. by tomorrow, May 29.
The ramp was steep considering that its first location, a site in Shrewsbury, MA, was established in mid-March.
It expects to be able to process up to 1.5M tests per month beginning next month contingent on availability of supplies and lab capacity. An independent reference laboratory will actually perform the testing, apparently signaling an end to its pilot study evaluating Abbott’s (NYSE:ABT) ID Now system in its MinuteClinics.
CVS up a fraction and ABT down a fraction premarket.
CNBC reports that Novartis (NVS +2.5%) has agreed to manufacture an adeno-associated virus (AAV) COVID-19 vaccine developed by scientists at Harvard, Mass Eye & Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital.
The company’s AveXis unit will make the vaccine “at no cost.”
Clinical trials are expected to launch in H2.
The FDA has signed off on emergency use of Gentherm Medical’s (NASDAQ:THRM) Hemotherm Model 400CE Dual Reservoir Cooler-Heater for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Specifically, it will be used to control the temperature of water flowing through a blood oxygenator/heat exchanger used to cool/warm blood during long-term respiratory/cardiopulmonary support in an extracorporeal (outside of the body) membrane oxygenator circuit.
The device is normally used to manage blood temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass and other cardiovascular procedures.
Cresco Labs (OTCQX:CRLBF): Q1 Net loss of $13.43M.
Revenue of $66.38M (+215.2% Y/Y) beats by $0.38M.
