COVID-19: Page 21
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Abbott antigen test misses two-thirds of COVID-19 asymptomatic cases: CDC
Compared to gold standard PCR tests, the company's point-of-care BinaxNOW diagnostic had a 35.8% sensitivity when used to analyze samples taken from individuals without symptoms, according to the agency.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 21, 2021 -
CMS expands transcatheter mitral coverage, boosting Abbott's MitraClip device
Wall Street analysts said the national coverage determination could triple the patient base eligible for Abbott's MitraClip device, adding fuel to a growing and under-penetrated market.
By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 20, 2021 -
Forging trust in AI, sustaining the virtual care boom and other CES takeaways
"You can't just set a piece of software in front of somebody and say 'trust me,'" Christina Silcox, digital health fellow at the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, said at the consumer tech conference.
By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 19, 2021 -
Thermo Fisher buys Mesa Biotech for $450M to bolster rapid point-of-care testing
The all-cash acquisition, which includes the potential for an additional $100 million upon completion of milestones, adds Mesa's PCR test platform for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, RSV and strep A to Thermo's portfolio.
By Greg Slabodkin • Jan. 19, 2021 -
MedTech Europe calls for EU to retain support for digital health post-pandemic
The industry wants reimbursement changes and other measures to make digital health permanent.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 19, 2021 -
Philips to acquire Capsule Technologies in $635M deal, growing patient data capabilities
The move follows the medtech giant's $2.8 billion acquisition of cardiac monitoring company BioTelemetry in December, one of 2020's largest deals.
By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 19, 2021 -
Abbott, Quidel tout big COVID-19 testing year despite vaccine rollout: JPM21
"I don't see COVID just simply going away, but I do see it looking more like a flu-like seasonal test. And if you think about it globally, it's a pretty significant amount of volume," Abbott CEO Robert Ford said at J.P. Morgan's conference.
By Greg Slabodkin • Jan. 15, 2021 -
Boston Scientific Q4 misses Wall Street, a laggard in early medtech previews: JPM21
The fourth quarter miss points to "further softness" in the first quarter as COVID-19 cases surge, J.P. Morgan analysts said.
By Greg Slabodkin • Jan. 13, 2021 -
Steris inks $4.6B buy of Cantel Medical amid flurry of M&A
It's the biggest deal so far this year. Wall Street analysts said COVID-19 infection concerns should boost Cantel in the long term.
By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 13, 2021 -
3 takeaways from JP Morgan: Electives, M&A and looking past COVID-19
Execs from Medtronic, Baxter and BD are among those previewing the year ahead at the bank's annual healthcare conference.
By Greg Slabodkin , Ricky Zipp • Jan. 12, 2021 -
In medtech win, MDR-IVDR remote audits OK'd amid pandemic pressures
An official for MedTech Europe, which pushed for flexibility ahead of new medical device rules set to kick in later this year, called the move "significant and positive."
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 12, 2021 -
California proposes expanding Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors
The budget proposal seeks to increase access to CGMs among adults with Type 1 diabetes covered by the state's Medicaid program Medi-Cal. Abbott, Dexcom, Medtronic and Senseonics compete for the U.S. CGM market.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 11, 2021 -
FDA flags COVID-19 false negative risk from virus variant of Thermo Fisher, Applied DNA and Mesa tests
Sensitivity may be affected by emerging forms of the virus, though the agency said "the impact does not appear to be significant." In fact, the tests may help to spot where a fast-spreading variant is prevalent.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 11, 2021 -
Medtech M&A to take off after pandemic slowed deals in 2020: EY
Dealmaking in 2021 will be fueled by financial firepower across the industry at an "all-time high" of nearly $500 billion, according to the consultants.
By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 10, 2021 -
HHS allocates $300M for Abbott COVID-19 rapid tests or 'equivalent' testing tech
The agency has yet to decide if it will purchase Abbott's or a similar diagnostic from a rival, Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir said Thursday.
By Greg Slabodkin • Jan. 8, 2021 -
Quidel prelim Q4 revenue miss 'a big surprise' to Wall Street
Later-than-expected FDA approvals and supply chain challenges were among the factors, analysts suggested. But they are still optimistic about the company's near term prospects.
By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 8, 2021 -
PerkinElmer inks $591M Oxford Immunotec buy to challenge Qiagen in TB market
The deal comes amid a flurry of medtech M&A during the first week of 2021. Hologic inked two acquisitions in the women's health space and Stryker said it would buy sensor maker OrthoSensor.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 8, 2021 -
FDA tracks impact of COVID-19 mutations on test performance
The agency is concerned existing tests might miss new variants, Tim Stenzel, director of the FDA's Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health, said. Thermo Fisher's Taqpath COVID-19 assay may detect the U.K. version.
By Greg Slabodkin • Jan. 7, 2021 -
Wall Street paints rosy 2021 for medtech as electives snap back
After economic challenges throughout 2020, sell-side analysts predict procedure-dependent companies like Medtronic, Abbott and Zimmer Biomet to outperform this year as procedure volumes return.
By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 7, 2021 -
Hologic's $230M Biotheranostics buy its 2nd M&A deal of 2021
Some Wall Street analysts were surprised by the target, but others suggested the move could strengthen the company for a post-coronavirus environment.
By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 6, 2021 -
Color raises $167M to scale up US testing and telehealth services
The health technology company, with a valuation of $1.5 billion, intends to use the money to help build a national tech-based public health infrastructure capable of providing healthcare services to large populations.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 5, 2021 -
Hologic eyes future post COVID-19 with Somatex Medical tuck-in
The medical device maker is bulking up its women's health business as molecular diagnostics sales surge due to the pandemic. Wall Street analysts have said these lines are equipped to withstand market uncertainties.
By Susan Kelly • Jan. 5, 2021 -
FDA flags false negative risk of startup Curative's COVID-19 test
The Los Angeles-based firm was founded in January 2020 to focus on sepsis but has since pivoted to focus on coronavirus. Justin Mateen, founder of dating app Tinder, is its lead investor, according to Crunchbase.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 5, 2021 -
Medtronic, J&J and Edwards among medtechs to headline at JP Morgan
Players in the COVID-19 diagnostic sector and red-hot liquid biopsy space are also set to present, making the event a chance to assess the state of the industry as it tries to move on from a turbulent 2020.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 4, 2021 -
The top medtech deals of 2020 (and one that got away)
M&A activity bounced back in the second half of the year, with deals ranging from Teladoc's $18.5 billion Livongo buy to Stryker's drawn-out $4 billion acquisition of Wright Medical.
By Susan Kelly • Jan. 4, 2021