California-based startup Exo is redefining medical imaging—replacing bulky machines with a handheld ultrasound device that plugs into a smartphone. Now, the company is reportedly raising a $100 million round, with Samsung eyeing a stake and potential partnership via its medical arm, Samsung Medison. Exo’s device blends AI, silicon tech, and app-based workflows, allowing clinicians to scan organs like the lungs or heart and instantly share results. It’s already backed by giants like Intel, BlackRock, Sony, and RA Capital—and has raised over $320 million to date. With a future where every smartphone could double as a diagnostic tool, Exo may not…
Author: Abhay Panchal
In an eye-opening conversation on The Recharge Biomedical Podcast, inventor and aerospace engineer Torrey Smith unveils the future of GI diagnostics: PillBot—a self-powered, camera-equipped capsule that swims through your stomach, controlled in real time. No wires. No sedation. No hospital bed. Inspired by science fiction and engineered through cutting-edge material science, PillBot promises to replace traditional endoscopy with a painless, non-invasive experience. Already being tested for upper GI uses, the tech could one day treat diseases from within, opening the door to a new era of “Pill Surgeons.”
In this episode of “Counsel That Cares,” Arjan Peters from Capstone moderates a conversation with his colleague Grace Totman, Holland & Knight healthcare attorney John Saran and Association for Responsible Healthcare Investment CEO Regan Parker about the evolving landscape of private equity investments in healthcare. They explore recent federal and state regulatory developments, including transaction reporting laws, antitrust scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and notable battleground states pushing new legislation. The episode also highlights the impact of public perception shaped by high-profile healthcare closures, importance of transparent investment narratives and strategic approaches for investors to proactively engage with…
In 2012, six in ten physicians owned or worked in private practices. Fast-forward to 2024, and that number has dropped to just 42.2%, according to the latest AMA survey. Behind this steep slide: low payment rates, rising resource costs, and relentless administrative burdens. Specialties like ophthalmology and orthopedic surgery still show stronger private practice presence—but even here, the tide is turning. Most independent doctors now work in very small practices, while hospital- and private equity-owned groups grow larger and more dominant. Doctors cite a common reason for selling: the power to negotiate higher payer rates and offload regulatory headaches. But…
Omada Health, a pioneer in chronic care management, is eyeing a $1.1 billion valuation as it preps for its IPO under the ticker OMDA on the Nasdaq. With a focus that’s evolved from prediabetes to full-spectrum cardiometabolic and MSK care, Omada is betting big on virtual, data-driven coaching for the chronically ill. Its revenues surged to $169.8 million in 2024, yet net losses remain significant—$47.1 million last year, with $9.4 million already reported in Q1 2025. Still, Omada’s offer of 7.9 million shares at $18–$20 each comes on the heels of Hinge Health’s successful IPO, suggesting investor appetite for virtual…
Imagine a treatment that doesn’t just mask gastrointestinal pain but addresses its root by recalibrating the intricate communication between your brain and gut. Neuromodulators are emerging as a transformative approach in managing chronic GI discomfort, especially in conditions where traditional therapies fall short. These agents, which include certain antidepressants and antipsychotics, are being repurposed to modulate the gut-brain axis, offering relief to patients with disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia. By influencing neurotransmitter pathways, they help in normalizing gut motility and reducing visceral hypersensitivity.
At City of Hope, a powerful blend of precision oncology, spatial transcriptomics, and artificial intelligence is unlocking long-standing mysteries in colorectal cancer—particularly why it’s surging in young Hispanic and Latino individuals. Using the 10x Genomics Visium platform, researchers mapped gene activity across tumor regions, revealing immune-cancer interactions and mutational hotspots previously undetectable. But the real disruptor? A proprietary Precision Medicine AI Agent (PM-AI) that integrates DNA, RNA, clinical, and social health data within hours—not weeks. Could this be the beginning of a new era where AI delivers personalized care before patients even step into the clinic?
Imagine diagnosing upper GI bleeding without an endoscopy. A new ingestible capsule, PillSense, is doing just that—providing real-time detection of gastrointestinal blood in just 10 minutes. In a study presented at DDW 2025, this FDA-approved tool not only proved safe and highly accurate but also altered clinical decisions in 80% of cases. Patients with negative results had dramatically shorter hospital stays, fewer transfusions, and avoided unnecessary EGDs—all with no adverse outcomes. With hospital resources stretched thin, this tiny device could help triage patients faster, reduce costs, and prioritize care for those truly in need. But is it the end of…
Legacy ChatGPT models have historically stumbled on gastroenterology board exams. But DeepSeek, a new medical AI model, just changed the game—scoring a remarkable 81.5% when search-augmented, far outpacing ChatGPT-3 and ChatGPT-4, both of which failed to meet the passing threshold. Tested on 455 questions from the American College of Gastroenterology, DeepSeek’s performance hints at a future where AI could supplement medical training—or even clinical reasoning.
Over half of all babies experience gut issues—and a third of school-aged children suffer from allergies. But what if a personalized nutrition plan, powered by AI and microbiome science, could change that trajectory? Swedish-Danish startup Alba Health has just raised $2.5 million to scale its precision gut health platform for kids aged 0–12. Using metagenomics and research-grade analysis, the company delivers tailored dietary insights to parents—already seeing viral growth fueled by word-of-mouth. Backed by investors behind Oura and led by experts like Professor Willem de Vos, Alba is also running the PREVENT Study, tracking hundreds of families to decode how…