The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $3.2 billion budget proposal for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that will boost the regulatory agency’s abilities to approve new medicines and medical devices, as well as protect the nation’s food supplies.

Glympse Bio secured $46.7 million in a Series B fundraising round that will be used to support continued development of the company’s novel biosensor platform in fibrotic diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), oncology and infectious diseases.

U.S. industrial conglomerate 3M Co. has partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop a rapid antigen test for COVID-19.

Thermo Fisher Scientific and Daiichi Sankyo have partnered to co-develop a companion diagnostic device for patients who have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 

Gilead Sciences Inc. expects supply of the potential COVID-19 drug remdesivir to exceed two million courses by year-end, more than double the company’s previous target of 1 million.

Gilead

Gilead Sciences Inc is developing easier-to-administer versions of the company’s antiviral treatment remdesivir for COVID-19 that could be used outside of hospitals.

Unlisted Covis Pharma B.V. started a late-stage U.S. randomized trial of the company’s asthma drug Alvesco in non-hospitalized patients with symptomatic COVID-19, hoping the inhaled drug treats symptoms and limits viral replication.

Deaf-owned software company Wavio announced a strategic partnership with AREA 23, an FCB Health Network Company, which includes a major investment deal for the development and product launch of “See Sound.” Created by AREA 23 and Wavio, the revolutionary home device is scheduled to launch during 2020. The partnership provides the FCB Health Network with company equity in Wavio and revenue share on product sales.

Physician-patient engagement has changed rapidly and significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with remote conferencing and digital communications becoming increasingly important, according to a new survey of 500 U.S physicians by health and wellness marketing agency AbelsonTaylor.

Nasal Swab, COVID

Origin, a 3D printing specialist for medical devices, completed clinical trials and validation of the company’s 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swabs for use in COVID-19 test kits.