Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
NHS launches rapid genomic brain tumor diagnosis pilot
- National Health Service (NHS) England has announced a major pilot of a rapid genomic test that can deliver definitive brain tumor diagnoses in days rather than weeks, helping clinicians make treatment decisions sooner and improving access to suitable clinical trials.
- The technology can analyze tumor DNA during surgery and, in some cases, deliver results in under two hours. This allows samples to be tested during an operation and provides surgeons with timely information to help determine how much of the tumor to remove.
Oura postpones IPO plans
- Oura delayed its U.S. initial public offering as market volatility, higher rates and valuation concerns have weakened investor appetite for new listings.
- Despite Oura’s strong business performance, profitability, and growing demand for its smart rings, leadership has chosen to wait for more favorable market conditions before going public, reports Reuters.
CMS finalizes international reference pricing model for Medicare Part B
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized the GLOBE model for Medicare Part B, which will use pricing benchmarks from comparable countries to lower drug costs and beneficiary out-of-pocket spending. The program begins Jan. 1, 2027, and runs through March 2032.
- According to Fierce Healthcare, the model targets one of Medicare’s fastest growing spending categories and will apply to about 25% of traditional Medicare beneficiaries, while excluding biosimilars, orphan drugs, plasma-derived products, and certain cell and gene therapies.
FDA backs new home monitoring technologies to reduce readmissions
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration selected the first five participants for its READI-Home innovation challenge, which supports development of at-home medical devices aimed at reducing hospital readmissions and gives participants an opportunity to engage the FDA earlier, including getting feedback on device design and testing.
- Initial participants include companies developing home-based monitoring and care technologies for seizures, infant heart conditions, blood collection, cancer treatment monitoring and cardiac function assessment. This reflects the FDA’s broader push to expand healthcare delivery in the home, according to Medtech Dive.
AI-powered initiative launched to transform clinical trials
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health launched the SURPASS program, which uses AI, digital twins and real-time analytics to accelerate clinical trials, reduce patient burden, lower costs and generate evidence with fewer participants.
- According to BioSpace, the initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen U.S. clinical research competitiveness against China, with complementary programs focused on speeding site activation, modernizing patient consent and expanding use of patient-generated real-world data.
For more insights in life sciences, check out RSM’s industry outlook.
