tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-537311 2012-05-23T10:43:13-04:00 The Latest News In Medical Devices and Diagnostics. From Elsevier Business Intelligence, Windhover Information and Medtech Insight - The ULTIMATE free weekly device e-newsletter. TypePad tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e2016305bc7fb0970d 2012-05-23T10:43:13-04:00 2012-05-22T17:45:01-04:00

Pfizer and Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical together invested $545 million to create a Chinese generics joint venture. Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma expanded its cancer pipeline though the acquisition of Boston Biomedical. Driven by a large amount of FOPOs, biopharma financing totaled $1.8 billion in February, while device companies raised $248 million.

Josh tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e20168ebb21f8b970c 2012-05-22T17:59:08-04:00 2012-05-22T17:59:25-04:00

There are signs that the field of deep brain stimulation (DBS) has gained a certain momentum of late: three start-ups raised venture rounds in 2011 and there have been two acquisitions in the space within the past year. DBS enables the giants in cardiac rhythm management – Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, and Boston Scientific –to leverage existing technology platforms from CRM to address a new area once served primarily by drugs, and start-ups can help them by validating new disease targets and increasing procedural accuracy and efficiency. The space is appealing because with a single platform, companies can address several diseases with large populations, such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. But the opportunities remain far from certain with this highly complex technology.

Josh tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e2016305bc8c51970d 2012-05-22T17:51:23-04:00 2012-05-22T17:52:35-04:00

Central venous catheters are commonly employed to deliver long-term dialysis, nutrition and chemotherapy, but nearly 10% of patients have an upper-extremity venous occlusion that renders the vein impenetrable by standard access techniques. When access is not possible through traditional “outside-in” routes, Bluegrass Vascular Technologies’ Surfacer system allows for central venous access through the femoral vein in the leg. The device features a bullet-shaped catheter tip with a proprietary side-exit needle that allows the physician to enter into the occlusion and create a new tissue channel, from the inside out.

Josh tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e2016766a7157e970b 2012-05-21T13:43:25-04:00 2012-05-21T13:43:25-04:00

The Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee was charged May 16 with helping CMS better define the evidence threshold under which the agency should or should not pursue a coverage- with-evidence-development policy.

Josh tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e20167668aace2970b 2012-05-16T13:54:35-04:00 2012-05-16T13:54:35-04:00

Transcatheter LAA closure devices are starting to amass the level of data required to demonstrate their safety and effectiveness, and, if all goes well, the long-awaited FDA approval of the first such device – Boston Scientific’s Watchman – could finally occur sometme next year. Although LAA closure devices have already taken off in some European countries, US physicians continue to struggle with lingering uncertainties, about the learning curve, procedural safety and how LAA closure will stack up against newer anticoagulant drugs. Regardless of how these issues are eventually resolved, industry leaders see a big opportunity for a successful device in the LAA closure space, with market estimates of $1 billion considered conservative by some.

Josh tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e20167668a91bd970b 2012-05-16T13:33:38-04:00 2012-05-16T13:33:38-04:00

Participants expect the program to tangibly reduce time to market and improve companies’ prospects for raising money.

Josh tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e20167668a84ab970b 2012-05-16T13:23:11-04:00 2012-05-16T13:23:11-04:00

Since its spin-out from Tyco, Covidien has spent close to $5 billion acquiring public and privately held device companies, with more than $1 billion of that being spent just over the past six months. The string of purchases bulked up every one of Covidien’s existing medical device businesses. In the recent acquisition of superDimension, Covidien paid $300 million plus earn-outs for the maker of the iLogic system, which uses electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy technology. The purchase means Covidien’s sales force will begin calling more on interventional pulmonologists, potentially creating an exit route for other pulmonary start-ups.

Josh tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e20168eb7ea216970c 2012-05-14T11:43:46-04:00 2012-05-14T11:43:46-04:00

Bipartisan FDA user fee reauthorization and reform legislation sailed unanimously through the House Energy and Commerce Committee May 10, with many similarities to a Senate version that has also passed out of committee.

Josh tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e20167665b3f3f970b 2012-05-09T13:25:11-04:00 2012-05-09T13:26:06-04:00

In the field of assisted reproductive technologies, only incremental advances have been made since the first in vitro fertilization procedure in 1978. Now OvaScience has a breakthrough product that addresses the single largest barrier preventing older women from getting pregnant: poor egg quality. With two programs based on a newly discovered cell type, the company has a technology that’s disruptive, proprietary and highly differentiated. OvaScience raised $37 million in its Series B round in April.

Josh tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83452f00669e20167665b35ff970b 2012-05-09T13:16:32-04:00 2012-05-09T13:16:32-04:00

Brief summaries of recent medtech market and industry developments. This month we cover Covidien’s continuing buying spree, and other medtech M&A.

Josh