If finally fully approved in its first indication, the HGF gene therapy could become a first-in-class therapy for PAD - but only after years of challenges in clinical trials.

A preview of the emerging health care companies profiled in the current issue of Start-Up. This month's profile group, "Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering," features profiles of BioCeramic Therapeutics, Histogen, Humacyte and Tissue Regenix. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: Braintact, CleveX, Coherex Medical and Lytix Biopharma.

Patients undergoing a biopsy of a skin lesion will soon have the option to be treated in-office with a novel device that is quicker and more cosmetically acceptable than traditional methods. So says CleveX, which is developing the ExiClip, an inexpensive, compact, single-use product for biopsy, skin lesion removal and wound closure. The ExiClip procedure can be performed in less than five minutes. Tissue is pulled through the lesion aperture, then finger holds on the device are squeezed together that cause a proprietary skin clip to secure the skin tissue. Immediately afterwards, a blade moves across the aperture and excises the tissue. Hence, biopsy and closure occurs almost simultaneously.

A roundup of recent medtech strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions and financings.