Abbott, Intuitive and J&J start medtech earnings season against a turbulent backdrop

The results will shed light on whether elective surgery recovery is enough to offset a range of headwinds, such as shortages of key components and rising freight costs.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 12, 2022

'One for the record books': Quidel posts $1B in revenue, beating previous high by nearly $200M

Despite the record quarter for the diagnostics company, William Blair analysts wrote Quidel hit the $1 billion mark “for the first and likely last time for quite a while.”

By Greg Slabodkin , Ricky Zipp • Updated May 5, 2022

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Medical device industry continues to turn to AI

While the industry continues to embrace artificial intelligence, there are still questions about how the new technologies need to be regulated and if they are effective.

By MedTech Dive staff

FDA sees 'appropriate' transition period for COVID-19 test EUAs when public health emergency ends

The FDA is planning to give holders of EUAs for COVID-19 diagnostics and other devices 180 days notice of its intent to end their authorizations, in anticipation of U.S. public health emergency declarations stopping.

By Greg Slabodkin • April 7, 2022

CDRH chief: Funding for test makers critical so US not caught flat-footed in next pandemic

Jeff Shuren told a House subcommittee that, to avoid testing shortages in the future, the federal government must "pre-position" manufacturers before demand exceeds supply.

By Greg Slabodkin • April 1, 2022

Notified body update dampens hopes of near-term surge in IVDR capacity

The European Commission's update reveals a growing pipeline of submissions that are approaching MDR designation but little hope of a near-term surge of in-vitro diagnostic capacity. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 30, 2022

FDA asks Congress for 14% bump in device budget for supply chain, cybersecurity programs

For the devices program, the FDA is asking for roughly $698 million, with approximately $466 million from the budget authority and $232 million from user fees.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 29, 2022

Plaintiffs sue Ellume over 'ill-gotten gains' from recalled COVID-19 tests

Both plaintiffs in the class action suit bought kits that delivered positive results, disrupting their travel plans, only for other tests to find they were negative.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 28, 2022

Abbott awarded $1B US Army contract for COVID-19 antigen tests

The award to Abbott Rapid Dx North America, for an undisclosed quantity of BinaxNOW tests, follows a $306 million contract in January as part of the Biden administration's efforts to purchase 1 billion at-home test kits. 

By Greg Slabodkin • March 25, 2022

FDA urges COVID-19 test makers with EUAs to seek full authorizations

Tim Stenzel, head of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health, told developers it's time to "get in line" for premarket review to ensure products can be marketed beyond the public health emergency.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 24, 2022

Dexcom's hospital glucose monitor leads latest FDA breakthrough designations

The regulatory privileges were granted to Dexcom after its at-home glucose monitors were allowed to be used in hospitals during the pandemic. AltPep, CardioStory, Insightec and Merit were also among the designations this month.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 22, 2022

FDA grappling with influx of illegal COVID-19 tests entering US

The agency has issued a flurry of recent warnings about diagnostics that have been illegally imported into the country as the demand for at-home coronavirus testing increased with the omicron surge.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 18, 2022

Illumina sues Guardant CEOs over trade secrets, sparking counterblast against 'retaliatory' lawsuit

Guardant called the lawsuit "frivolous and retaliatory" and framed it as a response to its concerns about the Illumina-Grail merger.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 18, 2022

As White House warns of 'squandering' gains, AdvaMed sets out plan to sustain COVID-19 test capacity

The medtech lobby is calling for the creation of a permanent public-private diagnostic testing forum and warm-base manufacturing agreements to maintain testing capacity in the event of future surges. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 17, 2022

US replaces EU as priority market for medtech industry: survey

A survey of more than 100 executives at medical device companies found 89% of medtechs plan to prioritize U.S. regulatory approval going forward. One CEO said the EU's Medical Device Regulation "is killing innovation."

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 16, 2022

GE Healthcare profit forecasts meet estimates; spinoff details remain cloudy

While GE's planned spinoff of its healthcare unit in early 2023 remains on track, the company said business and regional segment details, stand-alone costs and capital structure have yet to be worked out.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 11, 2022

Celltrion recalls 1.2M rapid COVID-19 tests for improper labeling

The company initiated the fourth recall of its rapid COVID-19 tests in recent weeks, which the FDA designated as a Class II recall.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Updated March 9, 2022

HHS sets out plans to make medical device, diagnostics supply chains pandemic-proof

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wants to shore up the public health supply chain by investing in personal protective equipment, durable medical equipment and testing. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 28, 2022

Roche's Foundation Medicine gets FDA breakthrough device nod in latest designations

Breakthrough status was granted to Foundation Medicine's test to detect molecular residual disease in early-stage cancer after curative therapy. A liquid biopsy from Datar Cancer Genetics was also given the regulatory privileges.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 25, 2022

Medtronic's Q3 revenue misses estimates as omicron curbs procedures

CEO Geoff Martha on Tuesday told investors the COVID-19 resurgence, which peaked in the final weeks of January, curbed procedure volumes. He expects them to recover in March and April.

By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 22, 2022

Quidel expects COVID-19 test demand to continue through Q2, but offers no 2022 guidance

CEO Doug Bryant told investors Thursday that Quidel is seeing testing demand moderate in February, but the first quarter will result in the largest revenue in the company's history. The company did not provide full-year guidance.

By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 18, 2022

EU issues guidance on high-risk IVDs, surveillance of legacy medical devices

The documents outline how notified bodies can meet In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation requirements to verify product batches of high-risk class D diagnostics, and manufacturer rules on quality management systems.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 17, 2022

Illumina continues to battle EU regulators over premature $8B Grail buy

CEO Francis deSouza told MedTech Dive that Illumina continues a two-front defense in the European Union — in the courts and with regulators — over its early acquisition of the cancer diagnostics test maker. 

By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 16, 2022

Diagnostics M&A expected to be strong in 2022 after dealmaking took off last year

Respondents to KPMG's survey predict that deal volumes and values for the diagnostics space will jump again this year as companies are ready to spend more of their COVID-19 cash.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 16, 2022

Labcorp, Quest warn COVID-19 testing demand will plummet in 2022

The rival lab giants told investors during their latest earnings calls that they expect coronavirus-related test volumes to nose-dive by as much as 75%.

By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 11, 2022

Ascension inks strategic relationship with Labcorp, expanding testing capabilities

Under the terms of the deal, Labcorp will manage Ascension's hospital-based laboratories in 10 states, and acquire select assets of the St. Louis-based system's outreach laboratory business.

By Rebecca Pifer • Feb. 10, 2022