Medtronic becomes the first in the U.S. to win FDA approval for a quadripolar cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker that is also safe to use under MRI if certain conditions are met.
Also, Bob Abraham, Pfizer's head of oncology research and development, talks about the ups and downs of drug development and Philadelphia becomes the first major city to pass a soda tax.
In the wake of the latest medical device merger and acquisition deal, and the belief that the consolidation trend will continue, here are a few thoughts on some deals I'd like to see this year.
Also, Soon-Shiong pulls in huge 2015 paycheck, Anthem remains bullish on Obamacare and Microsoft wants to store massive amounts of data on long-lasting DNA strands.
On the road to pursue his next endeavor, Manny Villafana shared about why after decades in the medical device industry, he's still at it.
St. Jude Medical (STJ) has had a strong presence in Asia dating back to the medical device company’s creation of the first mechanical heart valve, STJ’s Senior Vice President in Asia and President of STJ Japan Bill Phillips said. In the past 15 years, the company has made a push to become more directly involved there, […]
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Two top medical device companies turned up the heat on the renal denervation competition. Both Boston Scientific (BSX) and St. Jude Medical (STJ) delivered promising results from studies on their two respective renal denervation technologies at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference in San Francisco. Such technology uses radiofrequency ablation on the nerves leading to the […]
As global medical device companies try to take on more of the care continuum, they might be able to turn to that little Starbucks coffee shop just around the corner. It might seem sacrilege to compare the intricacies of neuromodulation with a perfectly brewed, expertly crafted cup of joe, but here I find myself. Why? […]
St. Jude Medical (STJ) announced FDA approval of its ILUMIEN OPTIS PCI Optimization System, and the product’s U.S. launch. The device gives physicians a real-time, 360-degree panoramic view of the arteries, to help with stent placement and to guide treatment for patients with coronary artery disease. But what’s the true value proposition between this new […]
St. Jude Medical (STJ) received an FDA safety alert for its Amplatzer ASO, a minimally-invasive implantable cardiac device used to treat atrial septal defect. The problem? In one to three of every 1,000 patients, ” tissue surrounding the Amplatzer ASO can break down (erode) and result in life-threatening emergencies that require immediate surgery.” More on the […]
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
St. Jude Medical (STJ) announced it has acquired Nanostim, Inc., a California-based early-stage medical device company focused on leadless pacemaker technology, for $123.5 million. The startup could stand to gain up to an additional $65 million if it meets certain milestones. This deal culminates a partnership that began on May 3, 2011, when STJ decided […]
After a difficult premarket approval process and tenuous relationship with the FDA, Atlanta’s CardioMEMS received a mixed message from an FDA advisory panel on its CHAMPION HF Pressure Measurement System, an implantable sensor monitor to help guide treatment in patients with congestive heart failure. The panel voted unanimously that the device was safe, the majority […]
Boston Scientific (BSX) announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its IntellaTip MiFi XP catheter and 501(k) clearance for its Zurpaz 8.5F steerable sheath, growing its EP mapping/ablation technology portfolio. This makes it the third major player–following both St. Jude Medical, which acquired Endosense, and GE, which invested in Acutus Medical–to […]
The growing A-fib market continues to gain the attention of the major players this week: GE Ventures helped Acutus Medical to close a $28 million Series B round. The San Diego-based startup is working to develop a minimally invasive, real-time 3-D Cardiac Chamber Imaging and Dipole Density Mapping system. This technology could help physicians locate […]
As predicted, the next incremental advances in the growing A-fib heart space may very well be in contact force catheter technology. St. Jude’s Medical is banking on it. The company just acquired Endosense, a Switzerland company that creates contact force ablation catheter technology, for $170 million. If Endosense meets an undisclosed regulatory milestone, it could […]
