NEW YORK – Roche said this week it has launched the Digital Pathology Open Environment, which allows software developers to integrate their image analysis tools for tumor tissue with Roche’s uPath software for pathologist workflow. The open environment allows for the secure exchange of data so pathologists can access algorithms from third parties in addition to Roche’s menu of artificial intelligence-based image analysis tools, the company said. Global software developers are also able to distribute their digital products through Roche’s software.
Myriad Genetics this week said it has completed the sale of certain assets and intellectual property related to its autoimmune business unit, including the Vectra rheumatoid arthritis test, to the Laboratory Corporation of America for $150 million in cash. Utah-based Myriad announced its intent to sell these assets to Labcorp in May.
Danaher announced this week that its board of directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.21 per share of its common stock, payable on Oct. 29 to shareholders of record on Sept. 30. The board also approved a quarterly cash dividend of $11.88 per share of its 4.75 percent Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, payable on Oct. 15 to shareholders of record on Sept. 30. It approved a quarterly cash dividend of $12.50 per share of its 5 percent Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, payable on Oct. 15 to holders of record on Sept. 30.
Abbott this week declared a quarterly common dividend of $.45 per share payable Nov. 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 15.
Co-Diagnostics this week announced that CoSara Diagnostics, its joint venture for manufacturing and sales in India, has received clearance from India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization to manufacture and sell its Saragene RT-PCR in vitro diagnostic tests for the dengue and chikungunya viruses. The Saragene test kits use Co-Diagnostics' CoPrimer technology for the qualitative detection of these mosquito-borne pathogens.
Konica Minolta Precision Medicine said this week it is changing its name to Realm IDx to reflect its focus on integrated diagnostics, which brings together genomics, radiology, pathology, and artificial intelligence. Realm IDx aims to provide insights for the prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. The firm is a subsidiary of Konica Minolta.
The US Attorney's Office District of South Carolina said this week that Alpha Genomix Laboratories has agreed to pay $35,000 upfront to settle claims that the lab paid unlawful kickbacks to Aiken Counseling Group to induce genetic testing referrals from Apri 2015 through December 2016. Alpha Genomix will also pay a percentage of gross annual revenues up to a total of $200,000 to resolve the claims. The US Department of Justice alleged that the lab disguised its kickbacks by paying the salary of an individual who worked primarily at Aiken Counseling Group. Most of the referrals for genetic tests were not legitimately ordered by a physician and were not medically necessary. Medicare and South Carolina Medicaid paid for the fraudlent claims, DOJ said.
In Brief This Week is a selection of news items that may be of interest to our readers but had not previously appeared on 360Dx.