Latest news with #respiratoryinfections
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PHASE Scientific Expands INDICAID® Respiratory Portfolio with Exclusive U.S. Launch of Novel FebriDx® Test
FebriDx® is a first-in-class rapid test that differentiates between bacterial and non-bacterial respiratory infections, offering significant potential to address critical unmet needs in patient care by enabling more informed antibiotic use and aiding in the reduction of antimicrobial resistance. Introduction of FebriDx will enhance PHASE Scientific's INDICAID® portfolio and strengthen its leadership in point-of-care respiratory diagnostics. Partnership underscores PHASE Scientific's proven commercial execution in the U.S. market with its extensive nationwide clinical network, building upon its strengths in R&D innovation. GARDEN GROVE, Calif., July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PHASE Scientific, a fast-growing biotech company known for its science-driven innovation and commitment to improving healthcare outcomes, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive U.S. distribution agreement with Lumos Diagnostics for FebriDx®, a rapid point-of-care (POC) test that aids in the diagnosis of bacterial acute respiratory infection and differentiation from non-bacterial etiology in approximately 10 minutes using a single drop of blood. With strong product differentiation, FDA 510(k) clearance, and an anticipated CLIA waiver application within the next three months, FebriDx® is poised to transform how clinicians diagnose and manage respiratory infection. FebriDx® will become part of PHASE Scientific's INDICAID® portfolio – a trusted brand for high-quality, accessible rapid diagnostics. The partnership marks a significant milestone in PHASE's commercial expansion in the United States, building upon a nationwide network of urgent care centers, clinics, and healthcare providers and a proven track record of distributing over 100 million INDICAID® tests. "We are thrilled to partner with Lumos, a company that shares our commitment to shaping the future of healthcare through innovation and collaboration, and support them with our scalable go-to-market strength in North America," said Dr. Ricky Chiu, Founder and CEO of PHASE Scientific. "A powerful complement to our INDICAID® respiratory portfolio, FebriDx® is a first-in-class diagnostic that perfectly aligns with our mission to bring fast, actionable diagnostics to the frontlines of care. We are confident this will unlock synergistic opportunities, further advancing our impact on antimicrobial stewardship and clinical decision-making across the U.S. As we continue to expand the INDICAID® brand, we remain dedicated to strengthening our leadership in point-of-care solutions, empowering clinicians, and improving access to high-quality healthcare." Doug Ward, CEO of Lumos Diagnostics, commented, "This distribution agreement reflects a pivotal moment in Lumos' evolution. We look forward to working with the PHASE Scientific team to ensure that FebriDx® secures adoption in the U.S. market, delivering tangible clinical and financial value to the broader healthcare system. This agreement also validates the value of the FebriDx® technology and provides a clear pathway to the U.S. market, which we expect will accelerate rapidly should we receive a grant for CLIA waiver from the FDA. Transforming Respiratory Infection Diagnosis FebriDx® fills this diagnostic gap with a rapid, point-of-care test that uses a unique combination of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of bacterial from non-bacterial respiratory infections after 10 minutes. Its lateral flow format requires only a fingerstick blood sample and has been validated in a pivotal clinical study and demonstrated good diagnostic performance that can, in turn, improve diagnostic confidence and antibiotic stewardship decisions. By enabling faster, more informed treatment decisions, FebriDx® supports more targeted care in busy patient settings – currently including urgent and emergency care. A CLIA waiver study is progressing well, with anticipated study completion and application submission expected within the next three months. This would expand access to FebriDx® across a broader range of outpatient environments, representing a market opportunity of approximately US$1.5 billion. Driving Antimicrobial Stewardship FebriDx® plays a critical role in aiding in addressing the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which continues to strain public health systems and drive avoidable costs. By providing rapid, actionable results at the point of care, FebriDx® helps reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing – a key contributor to AMR – and improves clinical workflows by supporting more accurate triage and treatment. Clinical studies have demonstrated that integrating FebriDx® can lead to reduced antibiotic use, lower healthcare costs, and better patient outcomes. Its unique ability to guide appropriate prescribing makes it a valuable tool in everyday patient care. Strengthening U.S. Market Presence This agreement represents a major step in PHASE Scientific's strategy to reinforce its dual strengths in R&D innovation and commercial execution, as well as accelerate its leadership in the U.S. diagnostics market. Known for its proprietary PHASIFY™ technology and innovation pipeline in cancer and infectious disease diagnostics, PHASE Scientific is now demonstrating its scalable go-to-market strength in North America. About PHASE Scientific PHASE Scientific International Limited ("PHASE Scientific") is a fast-growing biotech company with a mission to inspire a new state of health through innovative diagnostics and healthcare solutions. With operations in the U.S., mainland China, and Hong Kong SAR, PHASE delivers novel diagnostic tools and services for cancer and infectious diseases using proprietary technologies, empowering better disease detection, diagnosis, and management. PHASE Scientific's products and services have received certifications from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Union CE, and regulatory agencies in various countries, providing over 100 million testing products and services in more than 30 countries worldwide. PHASE Scientific has recently completed a US$34 million Series A funding round, representing the largest Series A raise in Asia's diagnostic technology sector since 2019. Other supporters include Gates Foundation, and US governmental agencies National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. For more information, please visit About FebriDx® FebriDx® is a unique, rapid point of care test that helps clinicians differentiate between bacterial and non-bacterial acute respiratory infections through a simple fingerstick blood sample after 10 minutes. By aiding clinicians make faster, better decisions at the point-of-care, FebriDx® has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, and lower overall healthcare costs – all while addressing the urgent global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). About Lumos Diagnostics Lumos Diagnostics specializes in rapid and complete point-of-care diagnostic test technology to help healthcare professionals more accurately diagnose and manage medical conditions. Lumos offers customized assay development and manufacturing services for point-of-care tests and proprietary digital reader platforms. Lumos also directly develops, manufactures, and commercializes novel Lumos-branded point-of-care tests that target infectious and inflammatory diseases. For more information visit Media Contact PHASE Scientificpr@ FGS GlobalPhaseSci@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE PHASE Scientific
Khaleej Times
07-07-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Cramped shared rooms raise respiratory, mental health risks, doctors warn
Living in a shared accommodation with many housemates packed into a single room brings more than noisy neighbours and bathroom queues; it also poses serious physical and mental health problems, according to some doctors in Dubai. With Dubai Municipality cracking down on illegal partitions and overcrowded flats, healthcare professionals hailed the initiative as a timely and much-needed step towards promoting better public health. Residents living in overcrowded or partitioned spaces often visit with repeated respiratory and skin infections, stomach issues, and aggravated chronic conditions, said Dr Dharmendra Panchal, an internal medicine specialist at Medeor Hospital, Dubai. ' Respiratory infections like flu, bronchitis, and even TB (tuberculosis) are common in such living conditions due to poor ventilation,' Dr Panchal said. 'We also see skin infections, stomach problems, and in diabetic patients, even severe complications like hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis.' Cramped flats often lack proper air circulation, which increases humidity and creates a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. 'When airflow is blocked and many people are in one room, we see a rise in breathing problems and worsening of asthma,' he added. During the summer months, residents in such accommodations are also at higher risk of dehydration, fainting spells, and heat exhaustion. 'Rooms without windows or ventilation can become extremely hot,' he said, noting: "They avoid drinking water to minimise bathroom visits, making the risk (even) worse." He also noted that many patients delay seeking treatment because of financial or logistical issues. 'This poses risks not just to them, but to others at their workplace or in shared homes.' Skin problems on the rise Dr Shahrzad Mojtabavi Naeini, a GP with International Modern Hospital, said overcrowded housing has led to a rise in dermatological complaints. 'I see many patients with bed bug bites, fungal infections, or bacterial conditions like impetigo or folliculitis,' she said. 'These are directly linked to poor hygiene, damp floors, and shared personal items in overcrowded flats.' She added that people also develop long-term skin problems due to unwashed clothes and lack of clean towels. 'Infections spread easily in shared living spaces. Even something simple like athlete's foot can become chronic.' She also said that the crackdown isn't just about housing laws, it's about healthier lives. 'Less crowding means less illness,' said Dr Naeini. No peace, no privacy From a mental health point of view, overcrowded housing also takes a serious toll. Dr Nada Omer Mohamed Elbashir, a consultant psychiatrist at Burjeel Hospital, said the lack of personal space can slowly damage mental health. 'People feel exposed, anxious, and constantly alert. They don't get proper sleep, and are often irritable or emotionally drained,' she said. 'Noise and lack of privacy make it hard to rest or even think clearly.' She noted that more patients now report sleep issues, anxiety, and low mood. 'When your home doesn't feel safe or peaceful, your mind never truly switches off,' she added. Doctors agree that reducing overcrowding will not only improve the quality of life for residents but also ease the burden on Dubai's clinics and hospitals. 'Dubai Municipality is doing the right thing when it comes to healthy living,' said Dr Shahrzad. 'They are not just enforcing rules — they are protecting people.'
Medscape
09-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Early Illness Plus Sensitization May Spell Trouble for Lungs
Sensitization by age 2 years to an allergen such as cow's milk, egg white, peanut, cat dander, or dust mites may influence how early-life respiratory tract infections affect lung function in adulthood, new research showed. Among sensitized children, each additional month of respiratory tract infection in the first 2 years of life was associated with poorer lung function at age 25 years. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed data from a prospective cohort study in Australia that recruited 620 infants (51.1% boys) born between 1990 and 1994 who had at least one parent or sibling with self-reported allergic disease, including asthma. Parents answered questions until the children were 2 years old about how often their child had had a cough, rattle, or wheeze in the past month. Skin prick testing was used to determine allergic sensitization at age 2 years. When participants were 18 and 25 years old, the researchers assessed lung function using spirometry. TAKEAWAY: At age 25 years among the participants with sensitization, each additional month of respiratory tract infection early in life was associated with a decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (Z-score, -0.06; P = .055). = .055). Among nonsensitized participants, each additional month of respiratory illness was associated with an increase in lung function (Z-score, 0.07; P = .012). = .012). Findings were similar at age 18 years and for other measures of lung function, but there was less evidence of an interaction at age 12 years. IN PRACTICE: 'Even in the absence of reported chronic respiratory symptoms, close monitoring and prevention of recurrent respiratory infections in children with sensitization may help minimize disease progression and functional impairment, and thereby enable attainment of optimal adult lung function,' the authors of the study wrote. SOURCE: Shyamali C. Dharmage, MD, PhD, with The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on June 2 in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. LIMITATIONS: The study relied on parent reports of respiratory tract infection. The researchers were unable to adjust for gestational age or birthweight because of missing data. Sensitization was assessed against a limited number of allergens. DISCLOSURES: The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.
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Travel + Leisure
12-05-2025
- Health
- Travel + Leisure
Why You'll See More Face Masks on Flights This Spring—and If You Should Be Wearing 1 Too, According to Doctors
As frequent travelers, the Travel + Leisure team spends a lot of time in airports and on flights. Needless to say, we're uniquely attuned to travel trends, whether it's popular travel outfits or trending luggage. Recently, we've noticed a trend that's worthy of a little extra attention: masking. The CDC recommends wearing masks when respiratory viruses are going around your community or if you're at risk for severe illness. On recent flights, we've noticed plenty of travelers masking up, and with the rise of reported cases of measles, whooping cough, and even tuberculosis, it begs the question: Are we at increased risk of contracting an illness while traveling, and should we be masking up on flights? I asked two medical experts to weigh in. According to Dr. John Dooley, MD, most healthy individuals don't need to mask up during travel, although there are still risks. 'I don't routinely recommend people wear masks on airplanes, but I have no objection whatsoever if it helps to lessen one's likelihood of picking up a respiratory infection,' Dr. Dooley told me. He adds that if someone on your flight is sick and coughing, there's a 'not insignificant chance' that they'll pass that illness onto others nearby, so masking can provide peace of mind. Plus, Dr. Dooley adds that 'most respiratory infection transmission does not occur on airplanes.' You're more likely to be exposed once you reach your destination—at a restaurant, museum, or large gathering, for example. Dr. Ken Perry, MD, adds that masks may not be as effective as once thought, although they still provide increased protection. Needless to say, it's probably a good idea for vulnerable individuals to mask up. According to Dr. Dooley, for these patients, 'it makes good sense to take the precaution of wearing a mask, however imperfect the degree of protection.' Dr. Perry agrees that extra precautions should be taken for the immunocompromised. He adds that this group includes patients who have had organ transplants and those who are undergoing chemotherapy, since these patients are 'far more likely to be susceptible to any communicable disease.' However, both doctors push back at the idea of taking extra precautions due to reported cases of measles, whooping cough, and tuberculosis. They agree that the risk is low. Nonetheless, travelers can learn more about the health risks associated with various destinations by using the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s travel information guide as a resource. At the end of the day, masks can provide peace of mind during travel. Dr. Perry tells me travel decreases stress and increases beneficial neurotransmitters in the brain. 'The reality is that if a mask allows someone to take a vacation when they would otherwise stay at home, then it is a means to a very beneficial end.' If you're in the market for a mask, whether you're immunocompromised, an anxious traveler, or you just always happen to sit next to a coughing passenger, we've found a CDC-approved mask at Amazon. While there are plenty of counterfeit masks available at Amazon, these N95 masks are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a research agency under the CDC. This mask is designed to block 95 percent of airborne particles, and one reviewer writes, 'It's comfortable enough I forget I'm wearing it sometimes.' According to Dr. Perry, masks may be 'more beneficial for the harmful contaminants in the air rather than preventing viral infections.' Consider this mask not just for air travel, but also for visiting highly polluted destinations. In addition to wearing a mask, you can also protect your health during travel by using hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Keep reading for more travel essentials at Amazon under $30. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
