Medtechs made it out of Q2 with minimal impact from delta. That could change in Q3.

After procedure-dependent medtechs reported strong elective returns in the first half of 2021, the delta variant is now posing a risk to the industry's recovery as hospitals once again shut down procedures.

By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 26, 2021

Hospital volume recovery on shaky ground amid delta, Kaufman Hall reports

Outpatient revenue fell in July, suggesting patients might again be delaying non-urgent care. The survey comes as elective dependent medtechs navigate the latest wave of the variant sweeping much of the South.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 25, 2021

Medtronic starts FY22 with electives boost, but delta hits in summer months

Executives said the variant hit in late July and continued into August, though predicted the surge would not be as bad as last year.

By Ricky Zipp • Updated Aug. 25, 2021

EU builds out MDR, IVDR guidance ahead of flurry of implementing acts

The European Commission has advice on notified bodies, quality management systems and COVID-19 tests, among other topics, as medtechs work to comply with the new and looming regulations.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Aug. 24, 2021

SPAC slashes value of LumiraDx merger by $2B on falling COVID-19 testing forecast

LumiraDx recently halved its full-year sales guidance after being buffeted by the same forces rocking larger COVID-19 test providers such as Abbott and Quidel.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Aug. 23, 2021

J&J chief Alex Gorsky to step down early next year

Citing family health reasons, Gorsky will transition to the role of executive chairman and pass his torch to Joaquin Duato, currently vice chairman of J&J's executive committee.

By Jacob Bell • Aug. 20, 2021

Biden said to rule out Woodcock as permanent FDA chief

A published report indicated the agency's longtime drug reviewer is no longer in consideration for the role, leaving it unfilled seven months into President Joe Biden's term.

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 20, 2021

Patients were still hesitant to seek medical care out of virus fears this spring, survey finds

Despite reopenings, one in 10 nonelderly adults put off needed medical care this spring, an April survey from the Urban Institute found.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 19, 2021

Predicting the future of healthcare: 10 takeaways from HIMSS21

Along with "guarded optimism" on the current state of the pandemic, some 19,000 on-site attendees in Las Vegas mulled what's next for AI, telehealth, cybersecurity, mental health and more.

By Rebecca Pifer , Hailey Mensik • Aug. 17, 2021

Amid delta surge, Thermo Fisher EUA for COVID-19 assays seeks to compensate for variants

FDA in January said accuracy of PCR tests from Thermo Fisher and others may be affected by variants. Testing chief Tim Stenzel said the agency is working to ensure EUA-authorized tests are still performing amid virus mutations.

By Greg Slabodkin • Aug. 16, 2021

Q&A with Philips' head of connected healthcare on new products, hospital tech adoption in the COVID-19 era

Roy Jakobs caught up with Healthcare Dive virtually on the sidelines of HIMSS21 to chat about provider burden, interoperability and new products.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 12, 2021

Boston Scientific gets FDA nod for single-use bronchoscope, sees $2B opportunity

The medtech giant is targeting a potentially lucrative market but will face competition from rivals with a longer history in the space, including Ambu and Olympus. A limited U.S. release of the device is set for the coming weeks. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • Aug. 11, 2021

Diabetes tech companies set sights on Type 2 patients as user numbers climb

With patients flocking to CGMs and insulin pumps over the past several years, companies like Dexcom, Insulet and Tandem are looking to further expand. 

By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 9, 2021

BD results called mixed amid bullish COVID-19 testing outlook

The medtech assumes no major system-wide hospital restrictions on electives, despite the rapid spread of the delta variant, raising eyebrows from one analyst group. BD also announced CFO Chris Reidy will retire.

By Greg Slabodkin • Aug. 5, 2021

FTC warns it may challenge deals later as it's hit by 'tidal wave' of merger filings

"Companies that choose to proceed with transactions that have not been fully investigated are doing so at their own risk," the regulator said.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 5, 2021

Nevro shares plunge 25% after sluggish Q2, execs brace for worse to come

Struggles in the second quarter led analysts to question whether the company is losing share to rivals such as Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Nevro refuted the idea that it's losing market share.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Aug. 5, 2021

Outpatient revenue drives hospital volume rebound in June, Kaufman Hall says

The report's year-to-date trends in outpatient visit growth add to color from medtech companies reporting electives rebounding in recent financial results.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 4, 2021

Roundup: Medtechs mirror pre-pandemic results in Q2 fueled by procedure volume recovery

After elective procedures began gradually rebounding in the first quarter of 2021, companies are reporting results close to or beating 2019 levels.

Aug. 3, 2021

Zimmer beats Q2 expectations, pandemic still a drag on large joint procedures

As the delta variant causes COVID-19 surges across the globe, CEO Bryan Hanson said on a Tuesday earnings call "it doesn't seem to be translating into the same revenue disruptions we've seen in the past."

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 3, 2021

Hillrom reverses course, will finalize $375M BardyDx acquisition

The decision ends a months-long fight by Hillrom to back out of the buy due to substantially reduced Medicare rate cuts for long-term cardiac monitoring. Hillrom expects the deal to close in the coming weeks.

By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 2, 2021

Pent-up demand drives Edwards' TAVR sales past forecasts, but slowdown predicted

While the delta variant was not directly discussed on the call, CFO Scott Ullem acknowledged "flare-ups of COVID in various regions" but downplayed any impact on the company's business.

By Nick Paul Taylor • July 30, 2021

Siemens Healthineers' diagnostic sales soar on EU demand for COVID-19 tests

Antigen test revenue grew more than 200% but is now expected to drop significantly. Unlike rivals Abbott and Quidel, which have seen fast-falling sales, the German medtech primarily serves Europe.

By Nick Paul Taylor • July 30, 2021

Supply constraints stymie Smith & Nephew's ortho recovery

Sales of knees and hips by the U.K. medtech underperformed rivals like Stryker and J&J, sending shares down in London. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • July 29, 2021

COVID-19 impact on US healthcare system will stretch for decades, Fitch says

Over the long term, hospitals will face increased pressure from tight labor and wage markets, especially for experienced staff, as well as rising pharmaceutical and supply chain costs, the ratings agency warned.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 29, 2021

Talk of Baxter-Hillrom tie-up grows as both companies focus on connected care

Hillrom CEO John Groetelaars in a Friday earnings call highlighted the growing importance of connected care, the focus area of Baxter's current M&A strategy. A Baird analyst said it sounded like a non-specific defense of a deal.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Updated July 30, 2021