News
Health tech news and industry developments from Charlotte and beyond.
Raleigh's Vogenx names Richard Gorman chief commercial officer
Vogenx named board member Richard Gorman to the new role of chief commercial officer, effective Oct. 12. He will lead commercial strategy for mizagliflozin in post-bariatric hypoglycemia and gastroparesis. He leaves the board. Vogenx completed its IPO in August 2026.
State Treasurer sues Atrium Health over State Health Plan payments, extends enrollment
State Treasurer Brad Briner sued Charlotte-based Atrium Health and asked a Wake County judge to stop its new Affordability Protection Program. The program would pay State Health Plan members who stay with Atrium providers to offset the higher costs the plan charges for non-preferred providers. Open enrollment now runs through Nov. 6.
Obatala Sciences opens first East Coast operation in Charleston
New Orleans biotech Obatala Sciences chose Blue Sky Labs in Charleston County for its first East Coast operation. The company is investing $656,000 and creating 46 jobs. It makes stem cells, culture media and tissue models for early-stage medical research. The site is already operating.
RTP's Dignify Therapeutics gets FDA nod to start human trials of DTI-117
The FDA cleared Dignify Therapeutics' IND for DTI-117, an on-demand treatment for neurogenic bowel dysfunction. A Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers should dose its first participants in November 2026, with early data in early 2027. NIH funds the study. The company also lists support from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
Atrium vs. the State Health Plan: the fight reaches open enrollment
Atrium Health launched an “Affordability Protection Program” that cuts copays and deductibles for State Health Plan members who keep using Atrium. The plan left Atrium out of its 2027 preferred tier and named Novant, UNC Health and Iredell instead. Treasurer Brad Briner says the subsidy could cost the plan, already facing a $1.5B deficit, more than $100M a year. It follows a September 14 deal that kept Atrium primary care, behavioral health, emergency care, rural hospitals and Levine Children's at the preferred cost.
High Point's vTv Therapeutics wins FDA orphan drug status for sickle cell candidate
The FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation to HPPD, vTv Therapeutics' oral drug candidate for sickle cell disease. In mouse studies at Augusta University, HPPD raised fetal hemoglobin and reduced red blood cell sickling. vTv says the designation supports partnering talks. Its type 1 diabetes drug cadisegliatin stays its priority.
$17M federal award expands rural behavioral health care in North Carolina
North Carolina received more than $17M through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program for mental health and substance use care: $4M for three new clinics, $3M for medication-assisted treatment units across five counties, $4M for mobile crisis teams in six counties, and $6.7M for youth crisis networks and perinatal mental health.
IQVIA launches AI models to predict clinical trial outcomes
IQVIA introduced IQVIA Life Science Models at TechIQ 2026. The models link molecular and treatment data with patient journeys to simulate trials and optimize protocols. They use NVIDIA Nemotron models and run on AWS. In initial tests across 50 trials and 270 endpoints, 85% of predictions were on target or clinically close.
Wake Forest School of Medicine wins $22.5M NIH renewal for Alzheimer's research center
The National Institute on Aging awarded $22.5 million over five years to renew the school's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. It is the center's second renewal since its founding in 2016. Its early screening methods for cognitive impairment are already used in Advocate Health primary care clinics through MindCare365.
Raleigh's Belhaven Biopharma starts pivotal study of nasal epinephrine powder
Belhaven Biopharma began a pivotal study of BBP01, a nasal powder form of epinephrine for anaphylaxis. The crossover study enrolls 60 healthy adults and compares BBP01 with a 0.3 mg auto-injector and a 0.3 mg manual injection. The company plans a pre-NDA meeting with the FDA in early 2027 and an NDA filing in 2027.
SCbio picks Charleston's Theripio Innovations for its Drive Accelerator
SCbio selected Theripio Innovations, a Charleston neuroscience startup, for its Drive Accelerator. Theripio's lead program targets MEF2C haploinsufficiency syndrome, a rare pediatric neurological disorder. SCbio runs its fall 2026 Drive cohorts with MassBio.
Charlotte's HealthTech Partners Global adds two rehab-tech partners and a Boston hub
HealthTech Partners Global signed an exclusive partnership with TecnoBody of Bergamo, Italy, and a strategic partnership with Evolution Devices of San Francisco, maker of the EvoWalk. It also opened a Boston-area service operations headquarters. The hub is now its main U.S. center for device inventory, logistics, technical service, parts and customer support.
Novant sells 36 South Carolina urgent cares to Prisma, pivots to 24/7 virtual care
Novant Health is selling its 36 Doctors Care urgent care centers and about 500 employees to Prisma Health as it shifts its South Carolina strategy toward round-the-clock virtual care. The sites become Prisma Health Urgent Care when the deal closes November 1. Novant is still building freestanding emergency departments in Charleston and Bluffton.
Durham's Ramona Optics raises $25M Series A led by ARCH
Ramona Optics, which builds AI-enabled benchtop microscopes for universities and life sciences companies, closed an oversubscribed $25M Series A led by ARCH Venture Partners with Stealthpoint Ventures, ND Capital and others. The roughly 25-person team will use the money to grow sales and engineering support.
Charlotte's Duke Endowment funds NC CHAIN to bring AI to rural hospitals
The Duke Endowment committed $4.4M over three years to launch NC CHAIN, the North Carolina Collaborative Health AI Network. UNC Health, Duke Health, the Sheps Center and Duke-Margolis will share AI frameworks, vendor evaluations and technical help with rural and critical-access hospitals and clinics so they can adopt AI tools safely.
H3Pelvic wins $2.2M NIH SBIR Phase II grant for opioid-free pelvic pain therapy
Advisory5 alum H3Pelvic Therapy Systems, founded by Zack Lyon, won a Phase II NIH Small Business Innovation Research grant to advance its Contrast Applied Therapy device: a low-cost, tampon-sized thermal transfer system that cools or warms pelvic tissue with radiometric monitoring, for opioid-free relief from conditions like interstitial cystitis and endometriosis. The award follows the company's 2023 Phase I grant and runs through 2028.
Advisory5 × Northeastern Venture Mentoring Network
Advisory5 brings the founders Northeastern University VMN mentors have been waiting for. Inside the team-mentoring pilot built with Northeastern University’s Venture Mentoring Network — five ventures, nine founders, ten mentors — and the dedicated Northeastern Track it grew into.
Same Floor, Different Science, One Patient
Cody McHale walked forty feet down the hall at The Pearl and found Steve St. Onge. Inside the collaboration taking shape between Tract Bio and Clarametyx Biosciences — two biotech companies chasing the same patient on the same floor.
Moving Beyond Inertia: The Coaching Program Four Doctors Built From Within
At Wake Forest University School of Medicine, four faculty built COACH Catalyst — a coaching program with no dedicated budget that has empowered more than a hundred learners, staff, and researchers. Dr. Andrew South is gathering the evidence that it works.
Charlotte Health Tech Briefing — June 2026
Five startups graduated from the inaugural gBETA Charlotte Health cohort at The Pearl. SKG Lifesciences joined Advisory5 right after. Plus upcoming Charlotte events: Art Opening at Connect Labs, Charlotte Fintech Week, Community Access to Capital, and the Cellular Therapy Conference.
Philips and WellSpan Health sign seven-year AI imaging alliance
Philips and WellSpan Health announced a seven-year strategic alliance spanning CT, MR, digital X-ray, ultrasound, and image-guided therapy across all 12 WellSpan hospitals plus diagnostic and ambulatory surgery centers. Described by Philips as the first of its kind with a U.S. community health system. WellSpan is targeting recovery of more than 500,000 staff hours annually.
Novant launches Aubrey AI virtual assistant in the Charlotte region
Novant Health introduced Aubrey, an AI-enabled virtual assistant for perioperative care, with the first phased deployment for select procedures in the Charlotte region. Built with Qventus and described as the first of its kind in the Carolinas, Aubrey handles pre-op outreach, scheduling, and day-of guidance with human oversight throughout.
Novant Health launches NovaCatalyst to take MedVenta and MedQuest national
Novant Health spun up NovaCatalyst as a vehicle to commercialize internal service-line capabilities nationally — packaging MedVenta's virtual medication management and MedQuest Imaging's 50+ outpatient centers as outbound growth plays. Signals that Carolinas-built operating capabilities are now being exported, not just deployed in-system.
Medtronic submits 510(k) filings to expand Hugo robotic-surgery system into general surgery and gynecology
Medtronic submitted 510(k) filings to expand the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery platform into U.S. general surgery (including hernia repair) and gynecologic surgery, completed enrollment in the Embrace Gynecology IDE study, and received clearance for ProGrip Advanced mesh in robotic ventral hernia repair. Hugo is already in use at leading U.S. medical centers; relevant for surgical robotics activity at IRCAD North America in Charlotte.
Advocate Health embeds Lind AI in the EHR for cancer-trial matching
Charlotte-based Advocate Health partnered with Lind to embed clinician-guided AI for cancer-trial matching directly inside the EHR. A retrospective study at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist showed 94% agreement with clinical reviewers across more than 1,700 eligibility criteria. A first prospective trial is already underway.
Advisory5 featured in Charlotte Business Journal
Charlotte Business Journal published a deep look at how small businesses are adopting AI faster than the large enterprises around them. Advisory5 founder Igor Gorlatov talked about building an organization from the ground up using AI as core infrastructure. The piece also includes perspectives from Ally Financial, Lavoie CPA, and AI Collective.
gBETA Charlotte Health cohort heads toward May 28 showcase
Charlotte's inaugural gBETA Health cohort is heading into its May 28 Final Showcase at The Forum at The Pearl. The five-company cohort — 9+1AI, Casandra.ai, Inolyt, Pump for Joy, and SKG Lifesciences — will present their progress to investors, partners, and the local health innovation community.
UNC Health plans community hospital in Wilmington
UNC Health announced plans for a new hospital at the southeast corner of South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard, targeting a 2030 opening. The 62-acre site sits under a mile from Novant's main Wilmington campus. Initial service lines: emergency, cardiology, OB-GYN, and oncology. UNC has spent ~$4M studying local needs.
Wake Forest University opens campus at The Pearl
A 6,500-square-foot campus on the 10th floor of the Howard R. Levine Center for Education supports business, professional studies, law, and study-away programs. It joins the university's medical school inside the Atrium Health / Wexford innovation district.
HealthTech Partners Global picks Charlotte for U.S. headquarters
HealthTech Partners Global established its U.S. headquarters in Charlotte and announced an exclusive strategic partnership with Fourier Rehab, alongside the appointment of Matt Laporte as U.S. Vice President of Sales.
SouthPark medical office trades for $59.5M as Charlotte health hub heats up
Anchor Health Properties acquired the Novant Health-anchored Azalea Building at 6324 Fairview Road for roughly $59.5 million, signaling continued investor appetite for medical office in Charlotte's SouthPark corridor.
CaroMont Health to invest $200M in oncology expansion
CaroMont Health will invest $200 million to expand oncology services across Gastonia and Belmont, anchored by a new 125,000-square-foot cancer center on its Gastonia campus.
Panthers and Atrium Health name Uptown training facility
The Carolina Panthers and Atrium Health unveiled the name of the team's new Uptown practice site, the Atrium Health Training Facility, extending Atrium's brand presence deeper into Charlotte's sports and entertainment core.
Charlotte Health Tech Briefing: April 2026
April 2026 Charlotte Health Tech Briefing covering Health Innovation Day, spring cohort founders, opportunities, and upcoming Charlotte ecosystem events.
Novant Health wins approval for $346M hospital in Union County
Novant Health cleared state approval to build a $346 million hospital in fast-growing Union County, expanding its footprint into one of the Charlotte region's highest-growth suburbs.
Five Startups Join gBETA Charlotte Health
The inaugural cohort brings together startups in cardiac diagnostics, diagnostics infrastructure, antimicrobials, maternal health, and wound care, with three of the five companies based in Charlotte.
Health Innovation Day 2026 — Companion Guide
Eight chapters on AI, procurement, patient trust, wearables, startups, clinical expertise, and funding. Case studies, sourced data, and myths debunked.
Piedmont Medical Center announces service realignment across Rock Hill and Fort Mill
Piedmont Medical Center is shifting obstetrics and neonatal services to Fort Mill while expanding trauma, surgical, neurosurgery, and cardiovascular care in Rock Hill.
Piedmont Urology recognized as a UroLift Center of Excellence
PHC Piedmont Urology in Statesville was recognized for exceptional experience and patient outcomes with the UroLift procedure.
Advocate Health to Launch Nation's Largest Hospital Drone Delivery Network
Zipline drones will bring faster, tech-driven delivery of medications, supplies and critical lab samples, improving patient care. Advocate Health announced it will launch the nation's largest hospital-based drone delivery network from Charlotte.
Duke Health taps new CEO from rival hospital system
Duke University Health System has appointed Dr. David Zaas as its new CEO, effective May 1, 2026. Dr. Zaas joins Duke Health from a top leadership role at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
OrthoCarolina expands ASC network after end of CON restrictions
OrthoCarolina is moving ahead with ambulatory surgery center expansion projects in Matthews and Mallard Creek after North Carolina lifted certificate-of-need restrictions.
Cone Health Launching Mobile Clinics to Expand Cardiovascular, Prenatal Care Access
Cone Health is rolling out two new mobile clinics across the Piedmont. One provides cardiovascular screenings for high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. The other focuses on gynecologic services including prenatal and reproductive care.
CVS Health Foundation Invests $2.24M in West Charlotte Wellness Program
CVS Health Foundation announced a $2.24 million investment to improve quality of life in West Charlotte through the Westside Wellness Collab, providing fresh produce and hot meals to nearly 20,000 Historic West End residents.
Charlotte Health Tech Briefing - March 2026
Six startups pitching at the Health Innovation Pitch Party. Mayo Clinic opening its data vault. gBeta launching a health cohort at The Pearl. Advisory5 relaunching with a new model.
CNSA named top private practice in neurological surgery nationally by Castle Connolly
Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates was recognized by Castle Connolly as the No. 1 private practice in neurological surgery nationally and No. 1 in North Carolina.
Novant Health hires veteran surgeon to launch robotic heart program in Charlotte
Novant Health has launched a robotic mitral valve repair program that is minimally invasive with much faster recovery. The technology can reduce hospital stays from a week to two days.
Health Innovation Pitch Party 2026: Meet the Six Startups Selected
Six health tech startups have been selected for this year's Health Innovation Pitch Party in Charlotte, spanning behavioral health AI, pediatric wellness, women's cardiometabolic health, cardiac diagnostics, smart catheter systems, and mobility health for aging adults.
CaroMont launches $15M campaign to expand the regional healthcare workforce
CaroMont Health launched the CaroMont Health Cares Campaign to fund scholarships, mentoring, certifications, and career support across the region.
CaroMont launches workforce scholarship campaign
CaroMont Health launched the CaroMont Health Cares Campaign, a $15 million effort to expand the regional healthcare workforce through scholarships, mentoring, certifications, and career support.
N.C. State Health Plan partners with Novant Health to broaden surgical access
The Department of State Treasurer announced Novant Health's addition to the State Health Plan. The partnership will expand the Plan's Lantern surgical benefit by broadening access to no-cost, high-quality surgical care for many Plan members in North Carolina.
90 Percent of Y Combinator Startups Are Now AI Companies - Here's Why That's Alarming
In YC's summer 2025 batch, 154 of 170 startups were AI companies. In the fall, 140 of 154 were. That's 90 percent of each cohort devoted to AI - a concentration unlike anything the 20-year-old institution has seen before.
OrthoCarolina startup Axolo Health finds promise in VR treatment for phantom limb pain
An OrthoCarolina patient testing a therapeutic virtual reality device designed to lessen phantom limb pain for amputees. The device, designed by OrthoCarolina doctors Glenn Gaston and Bryan Loeffler, was recently registered as a Class 2 medical device by the FDA.
Advocate Health invests $1M into A Home For All
The Charlotte-based health system will invest an additional $1 million into A Home For All, an initiative addressing homelessness and housing instability in Mecklenburg County. This is in addition to commitments made as part of The Pearl innovation district near Pearl Park.
Charlotte Radiology faces scrutiny over follow-up care after abnormal mammograms
NC Health News reported that some women screened through Charlotte Radiology's mobile mammography program struggled to access timely follow-up care.
Metrolina Eye merges with Mecklenburg Eye Associates
Metrolina Eye Associates merged with Mecklenburg Eye Associates, creating a larger full-service eye care platform in the Charlotte region and adding locations in Rock Hill, Uptown, and University.
Carolina Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center to join CaroMont Health
CaroMont Health said Carolina Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center will join the system on June 1, creating an expanded orthopedic and sports medicine program for Gaston County and surrounding communities.
Carolina Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center to join CaroMont Health
Carolina Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center is set to join CaroMont Health, expanding orthopedic capacity and strengthening the integrated care footprint in Gaston County.
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